RW020

Hey there,

I’m feeling a bit tired again. From Saturday to Sunday, I only slept for about an hour and a half, because I played an all night long set. I don’t think I’ve fully caught up on sleep yet.

Maybe you know what I mean?

Now it’s Monday, I just got home from work, and here I am writing. Honestly, I’d rather go grab something from the supermarket and slip into a food coma. But life is pain! Anyway, I’ve got quite a bit to show and tell. Btw: there is a new mystery box coming.

This Christmas, I’m giving away another exclusive Mystery Vinyl Box worth over $200 to one lucky newsletter subscriber! To enter the raffle, simply refer friends to subscribe to my newsletter using your unique referral link. Each confirmed referral increases your chances of winning. The more you share, the better your odds! The winner will be announced in my newsletter on December 20, 2025. Good luck, and don’t forget - your referrals must confirm their subscription to count:

But first, let’s start with:

1. Recent Cuts - Fresh vinyl and digital releases worth checking out.

2. Essential Oldschool - Records from the 90s and early 2000s that still matter today.

3. Behind the Booth - Personal stories, lessons, and perspectives from life as a DJ.

4. What’s in my Bag? - A peek into recent gig selections, new digs, and timeless records.

5. Top 5 Acid Techno Songs - A handpicked selection, carefully curated each week by DJs.

6. Community Pick of the Week by Nils - One favorite from the community.
   

1. Recent Cuts - Fresh vinyl and digital releases worth checking out.

2. Essential Oldschool - Records from the 90s and early 2000s that still matter today.

3. Behind the Booth - Personal stories, lessons, and perspectives from life as a DJ.

Last weekend, I had the pleasure of playing another all-night-long set, this time at Weidendamm in Hanover, a club that had only been open for two weeks. The owner had previously run PAN in Hanover, and with his incredibly kind team, he’s now taking on a new and bigger chapter.

The smaller floor was perfect for all-night-long, while the larger one hosted a rotating line-up. I wanted to share a few thoughts about the feelings that came up during the night.

First of all, one thing’s clear: when you play an all-night-long, you go through several phases, and face plenty of little challenges that unfold as the night goes on. You usually start with no real crowd, and you’ll probably end with fewer people as well, since not everyone can make it until the very end. But as a DJ, your mission is simple: you have the entire night to tell your story, to read your book out loud. Starting with the introduction, building into the main chapter, moving toward the climax, and finally closing the book.

That first warm tone fills the room, and the people at the bar, the door, and the light desk slowly ease into the night. There’s nothing more beautiful than a soft, warm intro that sets the temperature for what’s to come. Of course, there’s always a risk that some people don’t have the patience for that; maybe they didn’t even know it was an all-night-long set and just came to dance. Misunderstandings like that happen.

Since I was playing on the second floor, people had the option to move between rooms. That actually helps, because the ones who stay really want to stay. It means you can direct your story toward an audience that’s genuinely along for the ride. I’m not forcing my book on anyone who doesn’t want to hear it. At the same time, seeing people come and go can create moments of uncertainty. Even after almost 14 years behind the decks, I can’t claim to be completely immune to that, though I do consider myself experienced.

So, I started the night calmly, setting the scene. A few people began to dance. Around 2 a.m., the main act on the big floor started, and I knew my room would probably empty, which it did. And even though you can anticipate that, there’s still that little voice that says, “Maybe it’s because of you?”

But then I looked over at the bar, and the two bartenders were dancing while working. And that’s the kind of thing that gives you your confidence back. You’re standing there in a new club, surrounded by strangers, but the emotions you see are real, and that makes you feel right at home.

I kept telling my story. While the main act was playing, more and more people started coming back to my floor. I can only guess why, but maybe it’s just the natural curiosity to wander between rooms and soak up new impressions. That’s when I reached the main part of my set. I could feel the crowd connecting with certain tracks and staying longer. One person danced at the front with their eyes closed almost the entire time, which gave me a lot of reassurance.

Then came the peak, or actually, it stretched on for quite a while. Around 4 a.m., when the main act finished, my room started filling up again. By 6 a.m., the energy had hit its peak, even though I was already preparing to wind down; that was supposed to be closing time. But that’s when things really kicked off! I switched to house music, and the crowd went wild.

A quick check-in with the owner, thumbs up, all right, let’s go! A shot of Berliner Luft, and another track. I pulled out some house classics; it even got a little cheesy at times, sing-along tracks, Armand Van Helden, and so on. It was beautiful.

At some point, one of the staff members came up and said, “You know, I think when it’s at its best, that’s when it should end.” And I couldn’t agree more. I told him the next track would do exactly that.

That feeling in the air at that moment is hard to describe. It’s not about how many people are still on the dance floor; it’s about the energy being shared. You start asking yourself: can they still go on, or is it time to call it a night? Finding that balance is one of the hardest parts for everyone, still working at that hour, knowing how to end it right.

I’ve got two tracks that are perfect closers. Funny enough, I once had a situation where someone tried to talk on the dance floor, and two people turned around and went “pshhhhht!” I’ll never forget that. And it was kind of similar in Hanover.

For me, it’s simple: I’d rather end the night with ten people in the room, all dancing together to the final track, than be the only one left because I was too stubborn to recognize that the moment had passed. Sure, it’s an all-night-long set, and for one night, the room is mine, but in the end, it’s still about the guests. When they’re done, my ego has no place to override that. Never.

This all-night-long is one I’ll never forget. It truly has a place in my heart. I’m deeply grateful to Weidendamm and hope I’ll have the chance to play there again soon.

4. What’s in my Bag? - A peek into recent gig selections, new digs, and timeless records.

I don’t really have much more to add. Over the past two weeks, I played at Junkyard and in Hannover, as I mentioned earlier. These are some of the tracks I played during those sets. DBX – Losing Control is a track I usually layer with another one, since the vocals are so dominant that everything else tends to fade into the background when mixed with it. Marco V vs. Jens in the Marco V Original Mix was part of my Junkyard set. I actually hadn’t played that one in ages. Hardtrance was just a short-lived phase for me before the pandemic, but I didn’t realize how much potential this track still has today. The crowd went absolutely nuts. Amazing energy!

5. Top 5 Acid Techno Songs - A handpicked selection, carefully curated each week.

Some of you might not know this, but for several years now, I’ve been running a label together with Justin Tinderdate called Acid Wave Records. From day one, our focus has been on Acid House and Acid Techno, that raw, unpredictable, and hypnotic sound that never really lets go once it grabs you.

In the beginning, we were almost purists. Our goal was to keep the legacy of the legendary Roland TB-303 alive, that little silver box that shaped an entire movement. For us, it wasn’t just an instrument; it was a symbol, almost a belief system. That squelchy, biting, resonant bassline became our mantra.

Over time, though, we loosened up a bit. We realized that music needs to evolve, to breathe, to take on new forms. So we opened the doors to other influences, while still holding onto the spirit of Acid. Acid Wave Records today stands for exactly that: a wave that keeps moving and changing, but always returns to its source.

What I’m trying to say is: I have a deep fascination with this sound. For some, it might be too extreme, too sharp, too relentless, but that’s exactly why I love it. The 303 sound feels like a dialogue between human and machine, raw, emotional, and honest.

So today, I want to share my Top 5 Acid Tracks with you, uncharted ones. Not the obvious classics, but those hidden gems that deserve a moment in the spotlight. I won’t write anything about them, just listen, sink in, and enjoy.

The 303 sound might not be as present on dance floors these days, but to me, it’s still pure inspiration, a piece of electronic DNA that’s impossible to let go of.

Enjoy the acid. Always.

6. Community Pick of the Week by Nils - One favorite from the community.

Jeff Mills - The Purpose Maker: Apparently, this is the first time that The Wizard has made it into the Community Picks of the Week. Jeff Mills is one of the most important artists in the history of the techno scene, ever since the genre began. Nothing new there. He co-founded Underground Resistance. Nothing new. He’s from Detroit. Also, nothing new. It’s almost Christmas again, which means that awful “The Bells” remix by Iban Zero will be played once more. Ugh. But again, nothing new. I don’t think I can give you any groundbreaking new information, but what I can say is: absolutely incredible tracks. In an interview, he once mentioned that he’s able to produce around 25 tracks in four hours. Ridiculously good. Simply smart, simply brilliant, actually, “brilliant” doesn’t even do it justice. One of the great minds, a living legend. The Purpose Maker is a slightly minimalist record, but it packs a serious punch in the low end and works perfectly in a club setting. No matter which track you play, each one is a masterpiece in its own way. No filler, only killer!

Nils wrote the following in his email:

“Moin Robin, my current favorite EP is The Purpose Maker by Jeff Mills. Just 4 banging tracks, simple techno but straight to the soul. Cheers :)”

Check! 100% agree! Thanks so much, Nils, for sending in this fantastic record!

BEATPORT
DISCOGS

And just like that, we’ve reached the end again. Huge thanks for sending in all your Community Picks! I’m always excited every time I get an email from you. By the way, I’ve got two new announcements coming up soon, so stay tuned! :-)

And don’t forget: keep sending me your favorite track or record. Who knows? Maybe you’ll be the one curating the next pick in the Community section.

Simply reply to this email or comment here with a link to your favorite E.P.

Catch you next week! Be ready to drop the needle on my next picks.

Keep it spinning,
Robin Tasi @ Recycling Wax