Safeguarding Berlin's Night Culture: Insights from Lutz Leichsenring | S4E8

Explicit content warning

05/18/24 • 47 min

In this compelling episode of Unsigned Berlin, we sit down with Lutz Leichsenring, a key influencer in Berlin’s clubbing scene, to explore the future of night culture in one of the world's most vibrant nightlife capitals. With his background as a former spokesperson for the Berlin Club Commission and his co-founding role at VibeLab, Lutz brings a wealth of experience and a unique perspective on urban cultural development. In our conversation, Lutz highlights the importance of inclusivity and safety within nightlife, discussing effective measures like anti-assault signs and the creation of sensory-friendly spaces that cater to diverse audiences. He shares insights into how these strategies not only enhance safety but also foster a more welcoming environment for all club-goers. Additionally, Lutz introduces us to Night School, a fresh initiative by VibeLab started in 2023, aimed at nurturing new talent in the nightlife sector across Europe. He candidly addresses some of the unexpected hurdles encountered by his innovative project, Fluctuations, which seeks to mobilise cultural institutions on a ship traversing European waters. Throughout the episode, Lutz articulates why night culture holds profound significance for him, recounts the work he is most proud of with Berlin Clubcomission, and explains the Clubcomission's relationship with MusicBoard Berlin. 00:46 Introduction 01:15 The State of Berlin Night Culture 04:37 Vibelab 06:33 How Vibelab Approaches New Cities 11:25 Navigating Cultural Differences 18:05 Cultivating Awareness 30:43 Three Supports of Cultural Vibrancy 34:48 Building a Floating Venue 39:09 Achievements of the Berlin Clubcomission 46:05 Advice on Supporting Night Culture Vibelab: ⁠https://vibe-lab.org/⁠ The Malmö Report: ⁠https://vibe-lab.org/malmostudy⁠ Berlin Clubcomission: ⁠https://linktr.ee/clubcommission⁠ Lutz on Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/revolutz/⁠ This episode of Unsigned Berlin was sponsored by Music Streaming Awards - proudly display your streaming milestones! Visit MusicStreamingAwards.com and use the code ‘Unsigned’ for an exclusive 10% discount! Support the podcast and get early, ad-free episodes by subscribing here: ⁠https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/unsigned-berlin/subscribe⁠ For more episodes and behind-the-scenes content, follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/unsigned.berlin/ And for all other information, check out our Linktree: https://linktr.ee/unsignedberlin Produced by Unsigned Berlin Edited by Yannick Solandt Hosted by Sebastian Sheath

Previous Episode

Dianamaracuja on DJing, Superstition, and Her Social Media Journey | S4E7

In this episode of Unsigned Berlin, host Sebastian Sheath sits down with Diana Maracuja, a multifaceted artist known for her dynamic DJ sets and vibrant social media presence.

Diana recently hosted the first "Spicy Tunes" party, a charity event dedicated to hip-hop and 2000s music that supported victims of sexual violence. She shares the motivation behind creating events that combine music with food and meaningful causes and discusses what she likes in a venue when she performs.

Diana also delves into her 11-year journey on social media, transitioning from German to English, and why she shifted her focus from primarily makeup artistry to music. The conversation touches on her personal encounters with icons like Erikah Badu and Yung Lean, and why she decided to stop posting on SoundCloud.

00:47 - Introduction

01:07 - Spicy Tunes party

02:18 - DJ sets with expectations

06:12 - Thai-African fusion dinner and DJing event

09:19 - Growing up around restaurants

10:35 - Diana’s IG journey

14:59 - Getting in DJing

19:35 - Diana’s introduction to hip-hop

25:03 - Diana’s recent playlist updates

30:17 - Baile Funk and Jersey music

37:11 - Thai Yakult, red cow milk, and piercings

40:21 - Ghosts and exorcisms

41:51 - Outro

This episode of Unsigned Berlin was sponsored by Music Streaming Awards - proudly display your streaming milestones! Visit MusicStreamingAwards.com and use the code ‘Unsigned’ for an exclusive 10% discount!

Support the podcast and get early, ad-free episodes by subscribing here: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/unsigned-berlin/subscribe

Stay updated with Diana's latest gigs and projects on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dianamaracuja/

For more episodes and behind-the-scenes content, follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/unsigned.berlin/

And for all other information, check out our Linktree: https://linktr.ee/unsignedberlin

Credits:

Hosted by Sebastian Sheath

Edited by Yannick Solandt & Sebastian Sheath

Produced by Unsigned Berlin

Next Episode

From Film to Neo-Soul: Ria's Artistic Evolution | S4E9

In this episode of Unsigned Berlin, we are excited to welcome RnB and Neo-Soul singer and lyricist, Ria. Known for her soulful EP "Memo" and collaborations with Teesy, Ebow, and Xay, Ria has recently graced the stage at Off-Season Berlin - an event series that has hosted other previous guests including Gami, *Maliiik, and Dianamaracuja.

Join us as we explore Ria's creative process and her approach to curating a space for creativity. Despite a year and a half without releases, Ria remains active on TikTok, hinting at exciting new projects that we discuss in the episode. Ria also shares insights into her entrepreneurial spirit and upcoming projects beyond music. Don't miss this deep dive into the mind of a multifaceted artist making waves in Berlin's music scene!

Stay updated with Ria’s on Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/sliceofria_/⁠

For more episodes and behind-the-scenes content, follow us on Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/unsigned.berlin/⁠

And for all other information, check out our Linktree: ⁠https://linktr.ee/unsignedberlin⁠

Credits:

Hosted by Sebastian Sheath

Edited by Yannick Solandt

Thumbnail by Anton Heeckt

Produced by Unsigned Berlin