Tucked away in Berlin’s Friedrichshain district, within reach of Berghain/Panorama Bar’s steel-and-smoke mythology, Elevate feels especially vital once winter settles in. As the city slows under grey skies and frozen pavements, this small vinyl sanctuary becomes a place of warmth and ritual – where time stretches, fingers numb from the cold find comfort in crate-digging, and music is allowed to breathe.
Run by House mainstay Cinthie, her longtime partner-in-crime Meat, and a close-knit crew of trusted selectors, Elevate is more than a record store. It’s a carefully composed ecosystem of sound, memory, and intention – a space where every sleeve, every groove, carries a story. Each shelf quietly reminds you why vinyl was never meant to be replaced, only rediscovered.
With decades spent behind decks, in studios, and deep among dusty crates, Cinthie and Meat have shaped Elevate into a place where records speak for themselves. No hype, no excess – just music chosen with patience, instinct, and love. Here, listening is slowed down, treated as craft rather than content, a counterpoint to the restless tempo of the outside world.
To mark the depth of winter, the Elevate family shares a selection of their current must-grabs with Torture the Artist – records for long evenings, dim rooms, and carefully poured drinks. A small guide for those seeking warmth through sound, whether as a gift to someone else or a quiet reward to themselves. Music that doesn’t live in clouds or algorithms, but in hands, homes, and hearts. Music that never streams – only spins.
- Jackin’ T-Shirt black with white print
- The Young Braves – Reaches | Rhino Records
- Jimpster – Burning Out / Becoming Cyclonic | No Label
- Pianoman – Pasion (incl. Alex Kassian, The Trip Remixes) | Planet Strangelove
- Harry Wills & Enchanted Rhythms – Okie Dokie EP | Ba Dum Tish
- dombee – Limo Trax dombee | Limousine Dream
- Erwin – Ceylon Treats EP | Arepas
- Jerome T – House Nation | Today Not Yesterday Records
- Demi Requisimo – No Given Time EP | Semi Delicious
- Various Artists – BADABINGDISKOS002 | Badabing Diskos
Torture the Artist 