Berlin’s Black Sound System Revival: Underground Bass Meets Cultural Resistance

By Kofi Lartey

A Legacy of Sonic Rebellion

Berlin’s sonic culture, from techno temples like Tresor and Berghain to sprawling sound system gatherings, has long thrived on immersion and defiance. Rooted in Detroit’s minimalistic techno and amplified by Berlin’s post-Wall DIY ethos, the city transformed former bunkers and warehouses into havens for rhythm and rebellion. Tresor’s founding in 1991 exemplified this fusion—East Berlin’s industrial relics repurposed for unfiltered sound.

But beneath the techno veneer lies another beat: the Black Atlantic sound system tradition—originally forged in West Indian communities—now pulsing through Berlin’s spaces of resistance and collectivity.

Sound System Culture Berlin: A Radical Resonance

Founded in 2018, Sound System Culture Berlin situates these vibrations at the intersection of art, performance, and sonic exploration. Their annual Sub–Ω–Tage event at Panke has featured workshops, installations, and performances spotlighting the spectrum of bass music—ranging from experimental audiovisual works to dub, techno, and sets highlighting FLINTA* artists.

Their On the Radical Roots of Rave programmes have blended exhibitions, panel discussions, and live shows to explore how sound systems act as social architectures of memory and identity.

Artists Leading the Charge

One standout figure is Cate Hops, founder and curator of Sound System Culture Berlin. Her bi-weekly Naviny z Fluxu show celebrates deep-dive mixes—spanning dub, roots reggae, bass, and acid-infused textures—channeling both tradition and futurism into Berlin’s underground.

Alongside her, artists such as LSDXOXO amplify queer, Black perspectives within the city’s club sphere. His bold stylistic approach and high-energy performances have challenged the status quo while carving out space for marginalised identities.

The Broader Cultural Pedestal

Berlin’s recent recognition of its techno scene as part of its intangible cultural heritage underscored the city’s acknowledgement of its nightlife as a key cultural force. Yet this is only one rhythm in a much broader soundscape. Events such as the Rave The Planet Parade continue the tradition of politics through dance, transforming streets into arenas for inclusion, environmental awareness, and sonic artistry—often led by diverse collectives that reflect Berlin’s multicultural reality.

This moment of institutional recognition raises questions about how mainstream techno narratives intersect with, and sometimes overshadow, the Black-led sound system cultures that sustain Berlin’s deeper bass heartbeat.

Why the Revival Resonates Today

• Community resilience: These gatherings form ecosystems of belonging, countering erasure in spaces threatened by gentrification and commercialisation.

• Sonic education: Workshops and historical programmes ensure that sound system revivalists aren’t just creating music—they’re passing on knowledge.

• Multidimensional cultural politics: Alongside LGBTQ+ advocacy and anti-commercial activism, Berlin’s Black sound systems demonstrate that technology, heritage, and resistance are inseparable.

  
  

Berlin’s Black sound system revival is more than music—it’s cultural reclamation. By rooting bass and heritage in collective memory, Sound System Culture Berlin and its artists forge spaces where rhythm becomes resistance. As the city wrestles with preservation, gentrification, and the future of its nightlife, these sonic communities keep the beat alive—deep, resonant, and unyielding.