Hiss & Hertz w/ Colin Benders live, Akua, Estella Boersma & Stephanie Sykes

Akua

Akua has cemented herself as one of the most distinctive techno DJs coming out of the U.S. in recent years, shining brightly at the forefront of a new generation of techno artists who are reviving the innovative and rebellious spirit of techno’s enduring velocity through their work. Her practice is a passionate dedication to archiving & activating timeless strains of raw and mechanized expression - leading the new school of North American machine funk, while harkening back to the revolutionary sonics of Detroit, Chicago, & New York City DJs throughout history. A recent move to Berlin, a city that has held a crucial role in the evolution of techno, has provided her with the opportunity to further develop her craft by embracing the transcontinental connection that originally ignited the inspiration for the techno movement worldwide. Her one-of-kind, no-nonsense style brings a necessary & poignant intensity to today’s dancefloors, eschewing trends of the moment and channeling the essence of techno into an authentic wavelength that’s completely intuitive to her being. This unique display of influences plays out in Akua's unrivaled sets heard around the world - from exerting her celebrated prowess behind the decks at renowned New York clubs like Basement and Nowadays, to unleashing landmark sets at Movement Detroit, Berghain FUSE Brussels, Dekmantel, Draaimolen, & FOLD London. Already seasoned on the European tour circuit, 2024 sees her career encompassing new trajectories & widening her global reach into tours through Asia & Australia. With a wealth of knowledge and expertise, she effortlessly embodies an enthralling old-school sound while keeping her finger on the pulse of contemporary producers that also embody the authentic energy of techno’s turn-of-the-century peak. As her boundless legacy steadily expands, she continues to cultivate respect and adoration from the most discerning of DJs & dancers alike through her incredible mixing finesse and constantly expanding repertoire of futureproof classics.

Colin Benders

As a 17 year old trumpet player Colin Benders already toured Europe, South Africa and Indonesia. At the age of 22 he started Kyteman’s Hiphop Orchestra with which he won various prestigious prizes and awards like the Dutch Pop Prize 2009, an Edison and the Silver Harp. But yet after one year he decided that it was necessary to put an end to this project, despite its enourmous acclamation, in order to explore different musical pathways. With its successor, The Kyteman Orchestra, Benders took a more classical approach with opera singers and a choir which entailed bringing more than 50 people on stage for every concert. Contrasting the meticulous musical organisation of a vast project like that, the next step Benders took with The Kyteman Orchestra was a series of completely improvised concerts : no scores, not a single note, scheme or key was prepared before stepping on stage, except a sort of sign language with which Benders could communicate during the concert with his musicians. And once again after The Jam Sessions Benders decided that it was time to go down a very different path. No more shows with a complete orchestra on stage, but just himself with an orchestra hidden in a couple of boxes filled with (mainly analogue) synthesizer modules. With the setup he built, Benders takes a polyphonic/harmonic approach which is both refreshing and reminiscent of the dawn of the synthesizer era.

Estella Boersma

Estella Boersma is a Dutch DJ and Producer based in Berlin. After leaving her mark in the fashion world, Estella appears by all accounts to have strutted into the clubbing scene with as much effortless ease as she displays on international runways and magazines. Based in Berlin, she debuted in 2021 with her first EP on Unknown To The Unknown’s Dance Trax label, followed by another fun and diverse EP on Dance Trax, called Dance Trax vol.34. After appearing in the VA on Planet X 100 years of Columbia compilation, she finished 2022 with a bang with her single ‘The Wave’, Followed by Estella’s latest single ‘Sweat’, which has just been released on the infamous Unknown To The Unknown. These releases were followed by ‘Glade’ on Unknown To The Unknown. In 2024, Estella debuts her new Techno label ‘EB-REX’ with the first EP, ‘EB001’, a high energy club focussed EP with 4 driving techno floor-hitters. With popular live streams on Boiler Room, Mixmag Lab, Arte TV, Hor Berlin and appearances at places like Awakenings, Fabric London, Into The Woods, Glastonbury, Radion and much more, this Dutch sensation is one to watch!

Stephanie Sykes