Save the night with VERA

VERA is one of the gentle faces of the German club scenе. Her story behind the decks begins in the early phase of 90’s rave and she gradually turned from a party goer into an active figure. She established herself not only as a DJ, but also as a producer (under the Mara Trax moniker) and made collaborations with household names such as Ricardo Villalobos, Federico Molinari and Maayan Nidam. For the past 15 years she has been a resident at her particular Berlin favorite - Club der Visionaere und Hoppetosse. Her selection knows no style boundaries - VERA follows her intuition, disregards the trends, and always manages to throw in some surprises in her sets. For her, the main thing is the story that the set builds and the atmosphere that it creates.

We spoke to VERA just a few days before her first visit to Sofia on 5 April in DOM, part of the club’s first birthday celebrations. Together we search for answers about how time and technology affects the way audiences respond to music nowadays:

What was your introduction to DJ’ing, and in what ways do you think you have evolved in terms of selecting and performing?

I first discovered raves and the world of DJing in the early '90s. It was a revelation. I felt like I was introduced to a secret practice, a weekly ritual to perform. I started going to clubs and raves every weekend from that moment on. Back then, the techno community was very small, and it was so new and unlike everything else I had been to. I would say those first years, until I started DJing myself, were already part of my DJ education. Experiencing so many different DJs and parties on the dance floor was crucial to my understanding of the role and work of a DJ. In 1999, I borrowed a set of turntables and a mixer and just started practicing. First, my mixing got better, the beat matching, etc. Later, with the years, I understood more and more about sound, volume, and EQ-ing, etc. And with every gig, I learned more about the dynamics of the dance floor, with every challenge and every bad gig, I understood how to handle difficult situations, including my own thoughts and feelings.

Nowadays, I can say I finally feel confident to handle most situations with ease, and that gives me a lot of freedom in expressing myself. But the basis of all has been my years on the dance floor. The way I construct a set is very much based on what I feel is needed in certain moments of the night. My selection has always changed. When I got bored of a certain sound, I always found new inspiration, but what I think always stayed the same is that I look for music that has depth, groove, and character. Style doesn’t matter so much. Ideally, the music I play checks all the boxes: tickles my brain, touches my heart, and makes me wanna dance. Or at least two of them :)

Do you find any difference in terms of how audiences react and engage with music compared to the years when you were just starting? And is this change for the better or for worse?

I don’t like to glorify the past too much, I still experience parties where the audience is engaged and it feels like the music, the DJ and the crowd is just like one big organic mass of energy and vibration in the present moment. I do think, that the use of smart phones for example influences the atmosphere of a party, as it disengages people, they are not being fully present when using a phone to record what’s happening. You are a spectator not a participant. What people and DJs likewise need to understand - not the DJ alone is responsible for creating a good vibe with the music, but each and every person in the room contributes to it and is responsible for the vibe. You don’t just go and consume, you bring something to the party - yourself! The more present you are and the more actively you participate and engage with the surrounding the better the vibe. In the past we didn’t have mobile phones, that distracted us, we just had the music and the DJ and the people around us, which allowed for more connection. The  I recently watched a video from a party at Tresor Berlin in 1998 during Love Parade, and the vibe was insane, so electrifying… 

The other day I was thinking about wether it it’s a good sign when I see a lot of people taking photos and video, and wondered if many videos means that the set was great and therefor many wanted to record it. But then I was thinking - maybe it’s the opposite? Maybe when you are really immersed in the music, you don’t feel the need to take out your phone, cause you are enjoying yourself in that moment?

Any rituals before going on stage?

I always take a nap before going to the club, and I make sure I have a coffee waiting next to my bed that I can drink when the alarm goes off. I need this disconnect before engaging with so many people and absorbing the vibes. I like to start with a clean slate and not get too influenced by what is happening in the club beforehand. Besides, I would just be way too tired if I stay awake.

There’s a great variety and accessibility to new music – what are your ways of curating and managing to differentiate the quality from the quantity? And how often do you go back to (re)discovering older releases?

I just choose what I like, and that’s it. I listen through the new releases in different online shops and also go to record stores and browse through secondhand stuff, for example. What I select very much depends on my moods or a certain idea I have in my mind at the given time. After listening to electronic dance music for more than 30 years, I've developed an ear for what I consider generic and what I consider fresh, original, or timeless. I regularly look into my collection and see what resonates with the idea or feeling I want to express. Usually, my sets revolve around a certain sound, mood, or groove that I like at that moment.

Do you find that listeners are getting more a-temporal when it comes to music, as in interested more about the past, digging into movements considered forgotten?

Yes, I have the impression that at the moment, there is a movement that pushes further and further back. And I can see why and how that happens. It’s a natural progression, just backwards :) People follow the timeline into the past and discover the threads between different styles and how one style evolved from another.

Who are the artists or DJs you're still looking up to or you’ve recently found, and they’re worth a mention?

I respect any DJ who puts their music above their ego. Anyone who is authentic and dares to express something personal. Especially those who have passed all the tests and seductions that come with success and fame, the allure of money and the power that it brings. It’s easy to be "underground" and "real" when you start out. The real test comes when you start having success. How much of your personality/authenticity are you able to keep? How much of your soul are you willing to sell? I don’t judge if anyone goes for the money; that’s a personal decision and depends on what you are looking for. But I feel that many fall into the money and fame trap unconsciously and end up playing generic music, losing their identity and also their magic, and later regretting it. I see very few DJs who manage to stay true to themselves and be commercially successful.

What makes a club a safe space?

A safe space is a place where you can be yourself and express yourself authentically, without being judged or afraid. That was a given in the early days: PLUR - Peace, Love, Unity, and Respect! It’s important that we maintain these values and apply them at all times. We all need to make sure clubs and dance floors stay the safe and sacred places they used to be, by watching out for each other, standing up for each other, and not allowing any violent or disrespectful behavior toward anyone around us. I also feel educational work regarding drug use is crucial. Safe drug use needs to be promoted, and having testing stations in clubs would be a step in the right direction. There is so much dangerous stuff around, and clubs need to ensure people don’t intoxicate themselves. You can’t avoid people wanting to get high, so it's best to provide education and a safe environment.

In the last year, there have been numerous discussions on how AI will affect entertainment, arts, and various creative industries. Any insights on the technological side of DJing and club culture, and how they might be affected in the near future?

Hm, that's an interesting question, which I find hard to answer. I really don’t know what to expect. I don’t want to be all negative; there could be some really cool developments that allow us to direct our creativity in special ways and simplify certain processes, and that is already happening. I can't imagine, for example, that AI will replace the work of artists, and it will not stop artists from making art. I think art is a means of trying to make sense of the world, our inner world as well as the outer world. It is very personal and has a spiritual component to it. Artists have an urge to express, oftentimes the inexpressible, their unique, personal feelings and ideas about the world, including the transcendental and the mystical. I don’t see how that can be replicated by AI. I don’t think consciousness is something that can be calculated. Of course, there are means of measuring certain parameters of the material world, but I think we live in a reality that can’t be measured or calculated, but only experienced.

A particularly favorite track that could always save the night?

Haha, a "universal track"? I'm not certain such a thing exists. A challenging night can't be salvaged by just one track anyway! 

Berlin’s techno scene was recently recognized by UNESCO as a cultural heritage. Do you view such recognition as helping the scene stay solid or contributing to its commodification?

I personally appreciate the fact that it’s been recognized as a cultural heritage, instead of being dismissed as mere superficial entertainment. To take techno music seriously and look at nightclubs as cultural institutions is an important step. Look at so many other cities like London, for example, that have such a rich history of dance music, but it's just not being valued, and the consequence is that there are no venues and very few good clubs where the music and culture can thrive.

What makes the club scene in Berlin still vital and special, unlike any other place?

• Most places have a no-phone policy, fostering authenticity, intimacy, and connection.
• Flexible closing hours, with parties running for 12-24 hours or longer, allowing for extended DJ sets and deeper musical exploration.
• Berlin maintains an inclusive and liberal attitude.
• The city boasts a diverse array of clubs and venues, accommodating various musical expressions.
• Entrance fees and prices at clubs remain fair compared to many other cities, promoting inclusivity and diversity.
• Many clubs and venues are operated by music enthusiasts or individuals with an art/cultural background, rather than a purely business-oriented mindset, resulting in distinct programming and atmospheres.

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This inteview is part of the #savethenight series that is powered by Jagermeister. Thanks to it every month we present popular names from the electronic scene and night life.