Name: Dosem
Start: 2022-05-14T22:00:00.000-05:00
End: 2022-05-15T04:00:00.000-05:00

Spain

Dosem

Dosem is one of the leading Spanish acts shifting the conversation in dance music towards the uplifting late 90s tinged sounds of melodic techno and house. Quickly after his first releases in 2006, he found his footing in melodic house and techno. A quickly-evolving space that seeks to meld the driving pace of techno, the swaying funk of house, and the transcendent melodics of early progressive house into a sound that’s just at home on the beach or poolside as it is on the massive stacks of festivals and in the darkest of clubs.




Growing up in the Spanish city of Girona, Dosem had an early opportunity to learn the crucial skill of warming up, a necessary skill (and lost art) for any DJ who hopes to one day rock the headlining slot. He showed early promise for his ability to control a room and secured a residency at one of the bigger local clubs.




As his star rose, he effortlessly flowed into his current role as a world-class selector while also producing music back at home. He truly broke out in 2014 with the release of his first album, Origin. Since then, he has become an international DJ, regularly releasing with Anjunadeep and playing on the biggest stages worldwide.





For over 10 years Spanish DJ and Producer Dosem has spent his time exploring a sound that's drenched in soul, teeming with funk, and brilliantly infused with swaying melodics. He is admired by his music industry peers as an innovative and influential voice in the Spanish underground and celebrated by fans across the world. A passionate and technical DJ, he's blessed the stages of clubs and festivals around the world including Ultra Music Festival, Loveland, Awakenings, Sonar, 

Monegros Desert Festival 2022

Finca Les Peñetes

United Kingdom

Ministry Of Sound

Berghain

Berghain's story begins long before opening its doors in 2004. Understanding its deep ties with Berlin's unique history is perhaps the key to understanding the reverence that the club itself inspires. 

The fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989 gave birth to a quasi-anarchic society. A product of political disorder and a cherished ideal of freedom, best represented by the vibrant nightlife community that swiftly emerged. 

Techno music was political, disestablishmentarian, and usually illegal, yet universally accessible through abandoned corporate buildings and warehouses. 

This was the tableau in which club promoters Michael Teufele and Norbert Thormann rose to fame. In the late 90s, they ran Snax, an infamous male-only fetish night with the tagline "for pervy men only," operating from various locations around Berlin as was typical of the city's underground nightlife scene. 

In 1998 the duo was offered a permanent location in Friedrichshain, formerly East Berlin. Once a train repair depot, the industrial lot gave way to Ostgut. Though Snax parties continued to run on the side, Ostgut was an inclusive space for men and women of any sexuality. A few years into its career, the club expanded, somewhat embodying the future Berghain blueprint. 

Rampant hedonism found a home in the club's dark nooks and crannies. Local talent was platformed, and DJs like Galluzzi and Dettmann began to build their careers. A new, upper section was opened to cater to house music fans, while another space dedicated solely to the sexual activities of gay men opened in the same club. Named Panorama Bar and Lab.oratory, respectively,  these spaces still exist in Berghain.  

Yet, Berghain, as it exists today, was not physically in Ostgut's original location. Forced to give way to government construction projects, Ostgut closed its doors in 2003 with a party that revelers speak of to this day. Teufele and Thormann eventually established new roots in a disused power plant. They named the new club Berghain, a nod to the two districts the club sits between, Kreuzberg and Friedrichshain. 

In 2004, the club opened, commencing with the Panorama Bar and eventually expanding into the space it is known as today. The club's launch came at a crucial time for Berlin's techno scene: the early noughties saw many of Berlin's clubs closing their doors and attendance to the Love Parade, a notorious annual street techno festival, dwindling until it was eventually canceled in 2004 and 2005. Berghain's opening thus reignited the city's excitement for techno, recreating the adventure and anarchy of the 90s. 



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Sven Marquardt is a living, breathing constant throughout the club's history and undoubtedly its future. Becoming entrenched in Berlin's gay punk scene at an early age, the bouncer started working for Teufele and Thormann's Snax nights in the 90s and today mans the doors of Berghain. 

The heavily-tattooed man has become a living legend as a gatekeeper to Berghain. Yet, neither bouncer nor gatekeeper aptly describes his role. He is most accurately a selector and perhaps the most difficult to impress in the world. Countless guides to getting past his scrutiny exist: wear black, come alone, speak German.

Marquardt denies a formulaic approach, instead suggesting that he attempts to create contrasts and excitement within the club's walls through the people he picks. 



Though the club intends to establish a place of expression and freedom for all, the door selection process gets heavily criticized for its unscripted subjectivity that leaves space for discrimination. The club came under public scrutiny in 2015 when Black DJ and producer, Felix Da Housecat, took to Twitter to complain of racism within the door selection process. 

The story is not a one-off and potentially mirrors Berlin's issues with racism and unintegrated migrant communities. Yet, as pressure on the club's policy mounts, so does its cultish aura of protection. One woman of color, who wished to remain anonymous, warns me of those who view Berghain as their "church." 

Photo Credit: Stefan Hoederath/Getty Images



This is not to write the club itself off as a playground for the privileged: the vast majority speak of the institution as a surviving slice of Berlin's early anarchy and a meaningful place of expression. 

Oliver, 49, has been attending the club for 15 years. He tells me he would head to this "most hedonistic spot on earth" as an antidote to spending grueling days working in the world's most conservative societies. He speaks passionately about the club:

"One of the definitions of happiness can be that moment on a Sunday morning, sometime between nine o'clock and midday, when you are standing at the bar with all hell breaking loose and the blinds open and the light shines on the vampire's faces."

A surprising number of Berliners claim to have met their partners amidst the club's dark corners, reinforcing the idea that its hedonism still holds the same depths as its history. 

Post-lockdown, Berghain temporarily became an art exhibition. The club's reopening is almost symbolic of the return to freedom in its most liberated form. When doors finally reopened, hopeful revelers reportedly queued for up to eight hours only to be largely turned away. Berghain will weather many a storm as a powerful legacy of Berlin's nightlife. Let us hope it can continue to live up to its ideals of freedom and diversity as it attracts an ever greater crowd. 

Words by: Kiran Armanasco

Dosem - DJ Set (Live from Girona Old Town)

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Release Date: 25th September 2020

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Dosem closes out 2020 with a live mix from his hometown of Girona, featuring tracks from his recent album ‘Dream Decoder’ and a range of unreleased IDs and favourites.

A limited amount of ‘Dream Decoder’ LPs is available, consisting of five club mixes selected by Dosem: https://anjunadeep.ffm.to/dreamdecoder.oyd

--

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In the studio, he's a machine. Infusing scintilating soulful emotion into every record. He's released on respected labels Anjuna, Toolroom, and Lapsus. And he's been called upon to work with and remix for some of dance music's most lauded artists including 

Eli & Fur

Will Clarke, the bearded Britt with the pounding techno beats has completely reshaped his career over the last two years. His shift from Dirtybirdesque house to thumping techno, with a purpose, has been effortless. And the veteran DJ and producer is clearly in the most comfortable space of his career. Releases like "U Take Me Higher," "Hallelujah," and "My Church" (with MK) have proven his aptitude for crafting warehouse-ready cuts that are body rocking and emotionally reverent. 



“I'm trying to write songs that have a bit of a meaning,” Clarke told Gray Area earlier this year. 

He also revealed his dance music origin story. He was first inspired to DJ after seeing 90s icons Faithless perform when he was still quite young. Clarke began DJing as a teenager. And with such a long history, the thought occurred to us that he'd be the perfect person to tap for a playlist of classic techno cuts. His knowledge of dance music is deep, so we knew his list would be a treat. You can check out what he has to say about his favorite jams below, and listen to the playlist via Spotify.

Joey Beltram - Mentasm (1991)

“Absolute belter, I've always loved what Joey did for the techno scene way before I was even working in the genre. However, I recently met him and he’s such a lovely dude which just made it all even better. Do meet your idols, it's key."



Laurent Garnier - Crispy Bacon (1997)

“This came out in 1997, I was seven and it still sounds fucking amazing today and better than most techno tracks currently being released.  If there was an Electronic Music Hall Of Fame, Laurent would be the first person to be inducted”



Maceo Plex - Conjure Sex (2014)

“More of a modern day classic for me, this record just hits different on the dancefloor. Maceo is current day god, everything he touches is unreal."



Jeff Mills - The Bells (1996)

“Do I really need to explain why I love this record? Nope didn't think so”


MK - Burning (1992)

“Yes to all the techno snobs out there saying this isn't techno. No shit Sherlock! It's still better than any record out there and was released 20 years ago”




Bobby Peru, Paul Woolford - Erotic Discourse (Dense & Pika Remix) [2008]

“The original is fucking solid but I remember hearing this in a club once and falling in love with it. It started my love for the Dense & Pika boys who I personally think are some of the best producers around today”


Plastikman - Spastik (1993)

“So simple yet so beautiful, the first time I heard this I was a little confused but after a few listens I was sold, absolute genius record”


Burial - Archangel (2007)

“I have spent many nights in the studio listening to this whole album, it brings back so many memories of when I first started going to Ibiza and I would play his records during the sunset. Again, not quintessential techno but an absolute masterpiece.”


Green Velvet - Stalker (1996)

“I have loved this record for years, played it many times and although its 13:24 long it always amazes me how it doesnt get boring and slams every time”


DVS1 - Black Russian (2014)

“From the first time I heard this I knew it was special and to this day its one of my go to records to put me in a good mood, I love it and it works soooo well on the dancefloor”

Will Clarke Shares His Essential Classic Techno Tracks

For over 10 years Spanish DJ and Producer Dosem has spent his time exploring a sound that's drenched in soul, teeming with funk, and brilliantly infused with swaying melodics. He is admired by his music industry peers as an innovative and influential voice in the Spanish underground and celebrated by fans across the world. A passionate and technical DJ, he's blessed the stages of clubs and festivals around the world including Ultra Music Festival, Loveland, Awakenings, Sonar, Berghain, Ministry of Sound, Pacha, Ushuaia, and Monegros Desert Festival. 





In the studio, he's a machine. Infusing scintilating soulful emotion into every record. He's released on respected labels Anjuna, Toolroom, and Lapsus. And he's been called upon to work with and remix for some of dance music's most lauded artists including Eli & Fur, Yotto, Prok & Fitch, and Tinlicker. 

Dosem

Lineup