Vrije Tijd Amsterdam like to write about music artists in Amsterdam. We asked a few questions to Paroxyzm.
Would you like to let us know where you were born and raised?
“I was born and raised in Thuringia, the green heart of central Germany, in a rather small city. Growing up as a child, I already knew from early on that I wanted to move away – and preferably to a big city. The city I grew up in was rather conservative and I couldn’t really connect with my environment. And discovering my queerness in my teenage years probably also played a role in it, as I couldn’t really dress and act how I wanted.
We didn’t have any real clubs where I grew up, the closest were still like an hour car ride. Every now and then they organized a Schranz or Tekk event, but I didn’t like the music at all, back then I listened more to Rock music. I just discovered my love for electronic music after I moved to Amsterdam.”
What was the reason you moved to Amsterdam?
“During high school, I then seriously looked at the options and what was possible, which would have either been Berlin or Amsterdam. So after my graduation in 2018, I took the chance to directly move abroad for my studies of International Business Administration.
I was lucky enough that I already knew some people who were involved in the rave scene, so shortly after I joined them to attend all different kinds of events, which was all new, but super interesting to me.”
Could you tell us more about your favourite sound?
“In general, I like to play vibrant and genre-fluid sets to keep it interesting for the crowd and listener, but also for myself. Mostly, I describe my sound as hard and fast with pace and power, highlighted by hard techno and rave, with elements of early hardstyle, hardcore, psytrance and every now and then schranz, trance and grooves. So, it’s a mix of everything layered and blended with each other, creating my own unique style of bringing 90s rave and new school hard techno together.
Some artists I admire and take inspiration from are R-Label Group artists such as Clara Cuvé and Kobosil, as well as French artists Jean Terechkova and Vizionn, and the British producer Analect – who all have shaped me in finding my own artistic path and sound.”
Which events are your highlights of 2023?
“Some of my absolute highlights of 2023 were definitely playing at Club BASIS. It felt like a milestone achievement in my young DJ-career. It’s harder to get gigs at smaller events in Amsterdam with the sound that I play, because Amsterdam’s scene is very groovy, so I was super thrilled to play at BASIS and the vibe was spectacular!
Another highlight was definitely ADEV – Amsterdam Danst Ergens Voor – where Amsterdam’s rave organizations came together as volunteers on a truck to demonstrate for visibility and the importance of more spaces in nightlife. Driving through the pouring rain, with hyped up ravers on and around the truck and playing 90s hardcore and hardstyle was unforgettable!
And lastly, another standout of 2023 was to organize and play the De Fik Garden Festival with V&V and Stereolube. All my friends were there, so many people came, the vibe was amazing and we had so many side activities, which made the festival even better!”
What gave you the inspiration to become a DJ yourself?
“During the first months attending parties in Amsterdam, I didn’t really understand techno or had any idea about it. The first time I actually really got interested in techno was when I heard VTSS for the first time at Club Jack. I think this moment unlocked something, I was so stunned about the track selection and it was the first time I actually really got in touch with hard, dark techno, that after that I started to look more into that specific style.
And like half a year later, at Vault Sessions at Shelter, I was so mesmerized by SPFDJ’s set, that I thought “hey, that’s what I want to do!” – which was then my ultimate inspiration to start DJing myself. And when I want to achieve something, I get it into motion. I just love music and now techno is my absolute passion.
I want to have my own creative spin on it, my own creation, so that when people hear it in the club, they get drawn in and carried away by the feelings that the music and vibe translates to. Because that’s how I felt back then in these moments and I want others to feel the same. That’s the ultimate goal.”
Could you tell us more about ‘Vriendjes en Vriendinnetjes’?
“Vriendjes en Vriendinnetjes was a queer techno event, where we hosted both club parties as well as illegal outdoor raves. It started as an event by friends for friends in 2017 and then just grew a lot bigger. I joined in the beginning of 2019 as a volunteer to help out and support with the build up and build down. As I also learned more about the rave scene and got more involved, I joined the team.
Also, I’m not very handy, so I rather work behind the screens. I took over the programming, curating each edition’s lineup and social media management/marketing. Besides me, we have someone taking care of the event production, another person in charge of the light design and online graphics, as well as someone coordinating our volunteers and someone responsible for social safety.
We recently organized our 25th and last edition. At the moment, we are working hard on our rebranding – a new style, a new name, a new refined sound direction and graphical design. We felt now it was time for something new, so we’re super excited for a fresh start and will soon have an update on everything.”
What will be your next gig and plans?
“At the moment, my next planned gig will be for Headrush at Oosterbar, a small cozy club that holds a special place in my heart. Additionally, I have some things planned for later in spring and summer, which are still to be announced. At the moment, I’m keeping myself busy with the rebranding of V&V and the start of SPITZHACKE.
Besides that, I haven’t really filled the agenda yet, but I am always keeping an eye out on what is happening in the scene, what new collectives and events emerge, and see where my friends are playing or where some cool lineups are programmed.”
What do you think of Amsterdam’s nightlife?
“Amsterdam’s nightlife has many different communities you can find your place in. I think we as party goers are very critical, but if you look at other cities or countries, Amsterdam has so many possibilities and options to find your spot, many well organized productions, so we are very spoiled.
However, with Amsterdam losing more and more venues and locations, it gets harder for organizers and also for ravers. There are basically just a handful techno club locations that have a 24h permit. People also live in the night, they’re nocturnal animals, they don’t want the night to end at 3am or 5am. And that is why it is important they are not forgotten – and for that, the municipality needs to act up.
It’s important to listen to the voices of marginalized groups, for example the underground ravers, that stand up and act up on, so that everyone still can find the place where they belong – next to all the bars and commercial club events.”
You just started with SPITZHACKE. Could you tell us more about it?
“After gaining experience as a DJ and event organizer with V&V, I wanted to bring my concept to life. My own ideas, sound and vision. I’ve already had the idea of SPITZHACKE for a while, but over the last months I’ve actually put it into motion.
I wanted to create a storyline behind the concept, fitting with the sound design, and also incorporate my German heritage into the name to bring the association with the German rave scene into play.
I’m starting it as a podcast and event series, where I want to highlight underground artists in the realm of hard-techno and rave. I think this has been missing in Amsterdam for many years, giving a platform to young and fresh talent that didn’t go with the TikTok hype of hard-techno, but have already had it as a passion before Covid with events such as Reaktor, Unpolished or Katharsis.
And with big players nowadays like Verknipt or Awakenings, I think it is even more difficult to stand out as upcoming artists, because it is hard to get to play on the big lineups and on the other side, Amsterdam’s underground scene is represented in the opposite musical direction – so there are barely chances for artists that play that music, which I think SPITZHACKE is filling.
My goal for the future is to broaden it to a multi-disciplinary art project and incorporate different things besides music. But I’m starting it off with podcasts to build a community and then start to organize events.”
Could you tell us more about your passion for music?
“I’ve always been passionate about music. My roots go back to seven years of keyboard training as a child. And since I’m part of the rave scene, this passion only grew bigger and bigger. Right now, my ambition is to gain more bookings and play at more events.
Besides, my focus now also lies with SPITZHACKE and to organize my own events. Once this is all rolling, at some point I also want to start producing my own tracks. My ultimate goal is to leave a musical stamp behind.”
What are your favorite nightlife spots in Amsterdam?
“Definitely my number 1 is RADION, which almost feels like home. The venue is great, the diverse events are amazing and the community behind feels like a big family. One of my other favorites is Warehouse Elementenstraat. I haven’t been there since the reopening, but the warehouse vibes were amazing and it still felt somehow intimate. I also really like the vibe of intimacy at Bret or the outdoor summer parties at Lofi. For more warehouse vibes I can also recommend H7.”
What is your most embarring moment as a DJ?
“I remember the moment vividly. This was during ADEV 2021, one of my first DJ outings. Everyone got to play a short half hour set but the truck was super unstable and wobbly, and many people were dancing on it. Beatmatching was a disaster and I already fucked up the first transition. One of the most embarrassing moments that I won’t forget.”
Do you like the Amsterdam Dance Event?
“I think it’s amazing that a week filled with incredible events, parties and other activities all over the city are happening and unite the electronic music industry from all over the world – not only for visitors and locals, but also to highlight artists and that they are able to connect and network.
On the other hand, for small underground organizations that focus on marginalized groups (such as Queer or FLINTA collectives) it is more difficult to take this opportunity to organize something, because the international crowd and vibe will be totally different, which will provide more complexity for organizers in regards to social safety.”
You want to add something?
“Many many thanks for the interview and this opportunity! It was such a pleasure to share a bit more about myself and my story.”
