7 Wonders of… Berlin : By Strip Steve
The debut album from Strip Steve is a very highly anticipated one. The Bordeaux native was first spotted by the intrepid eye of Boys Noize’s Alex Ridha back in 2007, who was impressed by the then 19 year old’s natural style and Chicago House influenced oeuvre. Snapping him up, the young producer was then sent off to complete a busy touring schedule, a couple of EPs and collaborations, gaining support from the esteemed likes of Erol Alkan and 2manydjs along the way. Strip Steve has just unveiled a new single, a sublime collaboration with LA’s Puro Instinct which gives a glimmering insight into the distinctive sound and unexpected nuances that we should expect from forthcoming debut album Micro Mega.
We catch up with Strip Steve as he introduces us to some of his favourite spots around Berlin, the place he made his home for the creation of Micro Mega.
Strip Steve releases album Micro Mega through Boysnoize Records on 16 July.
“I’ve been living in Berlin for the past 4 years. I moved there from Bordeaux, France where I grew up, as I especially enjoyed a couple of trips I made to play in Berlin, and was amazed at how cheap and cool the life was here. I didn’t speak one word of German and barely knew anyone here, but the city is one of the most welcoming in the world to me. So I decided to stay for a while…”
1. My favourite record shop…
Hardwax on Paul Lincke Ufer in Kreuzberg, the selection is quite amazing. One of those shops were you can pick random records in a section you wouldn’t usually look into, and discover gems. The owners are quite moody, but if you catch their attention they’ll show you amazing stuff. Also Oye Records in Prenzlauerberg is really great too for house music…
2. My favourite venue…
Photo from roomdivision.com
It used to be Villa, a club set in an abandoned old house/mansion, there was a very relaxed and intimate atmosphere, the type of club I could go to no matter what mood I was in, if you know what I mean. But sadly, they tore it down as it was illegal… Now one of my favourite is Arena Club, very small, massive sound system, very good DJs. As for after hours, I love Berghain / Panorama Bar and occasionally Kater Holzig…
3. My favourite equipment store…
Schneider’s Laden on Kotbusser Tor. Crazy little hidden shop in a flat, where you can try all the freaky modular synths and unique effects they have stored there. It’s actually quite well known in the whole world I think. There’s always one piece of equipment I’m looking to buy there, right now it’s a spring reverb with a spring you can play and fiddle with to change the sounds, sounds like thunder and water… pretty damn cool.
4. My favourite place to have a beer…
Would be next to the canal in Kreuzberg, around Maybach Ufer, or go to one of the lakes around the city, like Krumme Lanke. You just have to take one subway and you step out to a beautiful forest surrounded lake. In summer, I like to go there at the end of the day with friends, people are leaving, the sun is going down, the water is still warm from the day, and to have a beer or two there is very chill…
5. My favourite place to eat out…
The Bird, Am Falkplatz, in P.berg. Simply the best burger I ever tried in the whole world. I don’t go there too often because the injection of fat you get when eating there is quite violent, but the taste is like nothing else… Also, it’s the first place I take my friends to eat when they visit me in Berlin.
6. My favourite micro spot…
The rooftop of the abandoned hospital in Neuköln. You can get lost everywhere in the old corridors and rooms, and when you get to the rooftop by sundown, the view is great. Also a fun ‘Goonies type of experience’. Last time there we were hanging out with a wild fox.
(Photo from Abandoned Berlin)
7. My favourite mega spot…
Probably Hamburger Bahnhof. They have great contemporary exhibitions, and a very good selection of permanent work, including pieces of one of my favourite artist: Roman Signer. Last temporary exhibition I saw was Tyoji Ikeda’s “DB”, really breathtaking.
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