latest articles

Hindsight 20/25: Currents by Tame Impala (2015)

An Anniversary retrospective  Happy (almost) 10th birthday to Currents. The 3rd studio album from Tame Impala and what’s widely considered a modern classic. But now, it’s been a decade. Is this still the case? Yes, nostalgia can lend a helping hand; even the most...

Berlin’s Industrial Ruins Are Incubating Europe’s Most Ambitious Startups

The future of European tech is being forged in the skeleton of its industrial past. In Berlin's startup epicenters, century-old factories aren't just being preserved—they're being weaponized as catalysts for innovation. It's a transformation that could give Europe's...

Indie Beer: Now that’s what I call indie #1

While we've spent countless years devoted to the concept, vibe and lifestyle of what we consider the indie approach to life, I have to admit this is a new one on me: indie beer. #MyBetterHalf (hereafter throughout this blog known as "an anonymous source"*) however,...

Retro RnB from New York – GARTH. Live at Lark Berlin, March 19th

https://youtu.be/EvQKzm_r_7I?si=u0hvW4wD3pnD1QfJ Garth., a Brooklyn-based singer-songwriter and visual producer, has quickly made a name for himself, amassing over 5 million streams on Spotify. A rare talent, Garth.’s multifaceted studio projects are matched only by...

A breath of fresh air: Judith Antkowiak in Interview

Born in Dresden, working as A&R in Hamburg, travelling in Brazil, living in Berlin: Judith Antkowiak is a child of the world. With her fresh energy and a purity of expression, with a remarkable voice and a nod and wink to the 1920 vibe, she has played in large...

The state of indie in 2025

Quite a heading isn't it? The state of indie in 2025. As if I have any idea what the state of indie is going to be. I mean, we're barely two weeks into the new year as I sit here and write. But I thought, the hell with it. Throw down the gauntlet. Ruffle some...

Why Berlin is the Perfect Launchpad for Your Tech Startup in 2025

In the ever-evolving landscape of global tech hubs, Berlin has emerged as a powerhouse that combines European charm with cutting-edge innovation. As we navigate through 2025, the German capital stands out as an ideal location for ambitious entrepreneurs looking to...

Berlin startup That Was Easy AI shows how easy AI can be

Welcome to our brand new series featuring the best and coolest startups in Berlin and Brandenburg! Cool Berlin Startup #1: That Was Easy AI While "AI" - more than an artificial intellect, but a truly intelligent AI - is being...

Video Premiere: Bookie Baker – The Ideal Expiration of a Stubborn Man

Having been a fan of Bookie Baker for years, ever since coming across their brilliant pseudo-western video for single Autumn Wind, we're delighted to be able to premiere their brand new video single "The Ideal Expiration of a Stubborn Man"....

The Cure: Songs Of A Lost World album review

By Ameena Ceesay If asked to name the most iconic alternative bands, or even iconic bands of the past 40 years, The Cure would and should spring to mind. After 16 years, the goth pioneers return with a new album, and all anticipation is met with brilliance. THE...

“THIS IS YOUR LIFE. DO WHAT YOU LOVE, AND DO IT OFTEN. IF YOU DON’T LIKE YOUR JOB, QUIT. IF YOU DON’T HAVE ENOUGH TIME, STOP WATCHING TV. IF YOU ARE LOOKING FOR THE LOVE OF YOUR LIFE, STOP; THEY WILL BE WAITING FOR YOU WHEN YOU START DOING THINGS YOU LOVE. STOP OVER ANALYZING, LIFE IS SIMPLE. ALL EMOTIONS ARE BEAUTIFUL. WHEN YOU EAT, APPRECIATE EVERY LAST BITE. OPEN YOUR MIND, ARMS, AND HEART TO NEW THINGS AND PEOPLE, WE ARE UNITED IN OUR DIFFERENCES. ASK THE NEXT PERSON YOU SEE WHAT THEIR PASSION IS, AND SHARE YOUR INSPIRING DREAM WITH THEM. TRAVEL OFTEN; GETTING LOST WILL HELP YOU FIND YOURSELF. SOME OPPORTUNITIES ONLY COME ONCE, SEIZE THEM. LIFE IS ABOUT THE PEOPLE YOU MEET, AND THE THINGS YOU CREATE WITH THEM SO GO OUT AND START CREATING. LIFE IS SHORT. LIVE YOUR DREAM AND SHARE YOUR PASSION.”
-THE HOLSTEE MANIFESTO – WHICH WE EMBRACE

Berlin Music Video Awards – win tickets

Berlin Gears Up for 12th Annual Music Video Awards Spectacle The city of Berlin is buzzing with excitement as the 12th edition of the esteemed Berlin Music Video Awards (BMVA) approaches. Taking place from June 12th to 14th, 2024, the iconic Club Gretchen will play...

Lola Young new single Messy out today

It's always a supreme pleasure to listen to a new Lola Young single, and this one's no different in that regard, even if it's different in other ways. Lola Young always wears her heart on her sleeve, but here she's definitely showing her more sensitive side; dressed...

Twenty One Pilots Clancy album review: If it ain’t broke….

Review By Ameena Ceesay With new singles sprinkled throughout the year, the anticipation for a new album from this alt rock duo was immense. Now it’s finally dropped, their first in 3 years. The fundamentals remain unchanging, but it’s yet to run its course.  The...

Coma 54 get melodious with new release ‘Flow’

COMA 54, the Irish-born, Berlin-based band who insist that they're grunge, come back with more heavy guitars mixed with finely tuned harmonies and an ear for a good melody. I'll let them have the grunge label if they like, and there are definite touches of the...

abracadabra – Guess who’s back

There's a lot of good things and a lot of bad things that you can say about Eminem aka Slim Shady, and I'd have to agree with all of them. But before he lost his sense of humour, he was always riotously funny, and let's face it, the man could rap. Well, he's back....

abracadabra – Rate mal, wer zurück ist

Es gibt eine Menge guter und schlechter Dinge, die man über Eminem alias Slim Shady sagen kann, und ich muss allen zustimmen. Aber bevor er seinen Sinn für Humor verlor, war er immer zum Brüllen komisch, und seien wir ehrlich, der Mann konnte rappen. Nun, er ist...

Billie Eilish new album out now

Third Billie Eilish album Hit Me Hard And Soft came out this week with no pre-singles. Spoiler: we love it. At the tender age of 22 Billie Eilish has already impacted the pop music industry to the point where a new album has become a seismic event, with listeners...

Review: Imagine Dragons new single Eyes Closed

Despite their polarising reputation, there’s no downplaying electronic-rock figurehead Imagine Dragons’ immediate rise in popularity, tracing back to 2012’s Night Visions with singles such as Radioactive and Demons catapulting them into stardom. Under the...