Originally from Odesa, in what ways does your Ukrainian heritage influence your creative process and the selection of music?

The most significant thing that still hiddenly influences my creativity is the environment where I was growing up as a kid, on the seashore of the Black Sea. All those seascapes, merging into endless weedy steppes, instilled some kind of longing and melancholia that inspires me and often reflects in my selection of music.

From the melancholic echoes of the Black Sea shaping his artistry to the hurdles of finding a place in Polish society, Gravity’s 

 offers a profound take on the cultural and economic divides within electronic music. In the next episode of 

, he reflects on life in Poland, the unique evolution of Eastern rave culture, the pervasive dominance of the West, and the steps needed to nurture greater diversity and equality in the industry.

Beyond the Booth with bijū: The Struggle for Unity

What does the concept of a club mean to you?

A club is characterised by its relationship with the community and the possibility for its people to feel safe and connected to the place over time. My favourite club is a place where people know what they come for, while having enough space to discover and get surprised. Honesty might be the most important pillar to facilitate all this.

What defines a good club in your perspective, and how should you feel inside it?

For me a good club doesn’t need much in terms of materialistic things. A good sound system is key, and a smoke machine to get lost on the dancefloor. I am not someone who gets very excited about big lights/lasers or visuals. Enough space to dwell, to chill and I am personally a big fan of compact dancefloors. No need for big warehouses.

One of Garage Noord's core employees and DJ known as cccore discusses his vision of a good club and more for our Beyond the Booth interview series.

Beyond the Booth with cccore: A Space Out of Time

What memories come to mind when you think about your early days in the Berlin music scene?

When I first moved to Berlin it was all very exciting to me. I was discovering what seemed like a neverending offer of music and parties to go to, as well as weekend-long club nights, and daytime club parties. I think I must have visited most of the Berlin clubs in my first 3 months. I also remember going to some of the very first Boiler Rooms in Berlin and asking to work at the door as a way to attend the events, which I did for quite a while and was a fun way to get more into the scene.

In our latest Beyond the Booth interview the French-born, Berlin-based DJ and Refuge Worldwide resident 

, shares her journey through Berlin’s music scene and the political roots of club culture. From early days working the door at Boiler Rooms to residencies at Therapy Dog and Refuge, in her sets, she creates deep, emotive journeys that blend melancholy with hope, joy, and resilience, all while rooted in a deep sense of community and connection.

Beyond the Booth with ophélie: The Activism Embedded in Club Culture

“Sizova’s funky mood basement comfort zone party mix” –– Elena’s title for the recording says it all. We've briefly spoke with the artist in a short Q&A below.

After a short break we’re back with the 12th episode of our podcast contributed by Elena Sizova.

Hello Elena! Tell us a bit about how this mix was born. Where and how did you record it? What was your approach to it? How do you feel about it after it’s done?

The mix was born at my home studio, with all kinds of electronic music gathered from tracklists of parties I played in November and December. The podcasts I make home and the sets I play in clubs differ – it's weird for me to play bangers home alone. But this time I decided to find a compromise. As a result I had fun. Let’s call it “Sizova’s funky mood basement comfort zone party” mix.

These days I’m calm and relaxed, enjoying life in general.

In the last 2 years you performed mostly in Belarus and had a couple of shows in Russia, due to the limited traveling possibilities: Did this somehow infect your sets?

Yes, my traveling possibilities are very limited at the moment, indeed. But I’m trying to find a solution to this situation. It didn’t infect my sets at all – I like to play with the mind of a listener doesn’t matter where.

Are you able to discover new places and things in these times? If so, what were the highlights?

With the pandemic and limited travelings I became very introverted so I spend a time mostly home – working on myself, music, reading a lot. If I were to talk about places, my highlights were those couple shows in Russia. My first experience playing for such a huge crowd (around 7000 people) at Signal festival, then nice club Mutabor in Moscow, and a weekend at one of my favorite cities St.Petersburg.

Where do you find inspiration for producing and writing new music?