Franciois X

 club circles - does it still live up to lore, or has it lost its stature in the 

? Despite the criticisms it draws, French techno DJ Francois X owes his sound to the iconic Berlin club. 

"My early relationship with Berghain resonated with what I had felt before, a dark, physical, hypnotic techno that carried something raw, something connected to the body," he writes. Meanwhile, his home city Paris also impacted his sound, making him evaluate what a club could be for people and how music transformed spaces. "...music became something lived, not thought. Sensation, not abstraction."

is a connection of those worlds, fusing in the influences of Francois' lifelong passion for the Black American club music of Detroit, Chicago, New York. Yet despite however far he travels, Berlin remains a home away from home, with Berghain holding an steadfast space in his heart. Below, he shares his guide to Berlin nightlife.  

Berlin

Still the best club in the world for me. The space, the crowd, the frequency, it’s unique. I usually go when I’m playing or to support friends, and I always prefer the Sunday late afternoon into the night — it’s when the regulars take over. I don’t drink, so it’s banana juice at the bar for me just pure energy, no filter.

Not a club, but essential. Before going out, especially to Berghain, I always stop by Hard Wax. It’s the place to get grounded in the city’s sonic atmosphere. I go there to dig for records, absorb the energy, and connect with the deeper vibration of Berlin’s underground.

RSO represents a new chapter in Berlin nightlife. Raw and bold. I love playing there and the booth is great, and the energy is different. Sundays can be amazing, but don’t sleep on Saturdays either, just check the lineup. Always a place to discover fresh techno directions and hear new voices.

Before COVID, OHM was one of my go-to spots. Super intimate, very close to the artists, with a refined, almost classy vibe. I haven’t been in a while, but it used to be one of those places where the connection between sound, space, and people just made sense.

The Berlin Atonal at Kraftwerk is a super beautiful festival sitting right at the frontier between experimental music and contemporary art. I go there for the full experience installations, sound pieces, performances, exhibitions. It’s inspiring on every level and really expands the idea of what music culture can be.