Time moves differently at Kimchi Records. Between the shelves of carefully curated wax, where grooves whisper secrets and melodies linger like incense in the air, the walls have long absorbed the weight of unspoken stories. Now, for one night, those walls will resonate anew as Berlin’s musical adventurers gather for “absolutely on music”—Torture the Artist’s livestream series, where frequencies bend, and the dancefloor dissolves into the intangible.
This time, the invitation extends to four selectors, each carrying their own musical DNA, each tethered to the pulse of the underground yet free-floating in their own auditory orbit. A needle poised over the record, a moment suspended in time—before the plunge into rhythm, movement, and deep listening.
First, Anderson. A name that rings with effortless finesse, much like the sounds he crafts. His upcoming release, “All 4 U”, soon to arrive on Mari.te’s “tresydos”, is another chapter in his evolving narrative—one that has already left an imprint on labels like Wex, Haŵs, and his own D.I.Y. imprint. Originally from the US, Anderson does not merely play records; he deciphers the hidden language within them, offering a dialogue between the machine’s pulse and human emotion.
Then, DJ Zurückbleiben Bitte. The name itself—a whispered command, a playful defiance—an ode to the last ones standing when the night has stretched itself beyond recognition. Arriving in Berlin a decade ago from Melbourne, she quickly became part of the city’s rhythmic infrastructure. Vinyl is her medium, nostalgia her fuel. From Old-School Tech House to the smokier corners of Deep House and Dub Techno, her selections breathe life into forgotten anthems and carve new pathways through time-tested grooves. Sisyphos, Club der Visionäre, Hoppetosse—places that have felt the weight of her records, the gravity of her presence.
Thilini steps into the equation as both disruptor and storyteller. Originating from Brisbane, finding her footing in Sydney, and now navigating Berlin’s labyrinthine club culture, she moves with intention. Her history reads like a manifesto: resident at Mantra Collective, curator behind FLUX, a tastemaker who introduced Brisbane to the likes of Archie Hamilton, Julian Perez, and Cristi Cons. Her sound is fluid, elastic, ever-expanding—Groove-Infused House, Minimal, UKG, Breakbeat—all woven together with the instinct of someone who understands that the best sets aren’t played; they are lived. Berlin may be her playground now, but her reach extends far beyond—New York’s Golden Record NYC counts her among its own, and her mission to reshape the scene goes beyond music. It’s about community, equity, and the subtle revolution that takes place every time she steps behind the decks.
And then, Holger Breuer—Torture the Artist’s own musical architect. The Hamburg native has spent years perfecting a groove that exists somewhere between yesterday’s golden era and tomorrow’s restless heartbeat. House, Deep House, Minimal, Breaks—all filtered through a lens polished by Hip-Hop’s percussive swing. There is a craftsmanship to his selections, a knowing nod to those who understand that music is memory, a bridge between what was and what could be.
Four artists, one night, one sanctuary of sound. Vinyl will spin, stories will unfold, and for a fleeting moment, the world outside will cease to exist. Instead, there will be only Kimchi Records, absolutely on music, and the hum of something timeless.
Words by Holger Breuer
Torture the Artist 