CTM Festival is looking like it’s going to be fire this year. Record Turnover will be in attendance and reporting from the festival, and I can’t wait until my first visit to CTM, which is taking place across many venues like RSO, Berghain and Haus der Visionäre. During January 23 to February 1 there are also a bunch of free events, performances and talks – or with separate ticketing, so check out the schedule.
Apart from well-known local artists like Chloe Lula, DJ Mell G (pictured above) whose recent EP was perhaps her best so far and global icons like Aunty Rayzor, Clementaum and Kavari – there are also plenty of hidden gems in the program. Here are our ten picks of things not to miss this year.
Cortisa Star
Already a star in both the fashion world and undergroup rap, the 20-year-old Cortisa Star played in Europe for the first time last summer. Since I missed her Berlin show by just a few days, I’m over the moon to be able to see her perform at last.
At RSO, 30 jan
White Prata
I’ve been hoping to catch Brazilian DJ and producer White Prata for a long time. She’s affiliated with the legendary São Paulo crew Mamba Negra and has released music on their label too. This lockdown era set with Delcu is still on point.
At Berghain, 29 jan
Valesuchi
Another Brazil-based artist and DJ that I’ve been longing to see is Valesuchi, fellow Noods radio host with her show Basic Needs. She put a new and long-awaited album last year, following her debut on Mamba Records. Too bad she’s scheduled to play at the same time as White Prata.
At Panorama Bar, 29 jan
Catnapp
Another Latin American producer, albeit one that’s been based in Berlin for a long time, is Catnapp or Amparo Battaglia. Founder of her own label NAPP, she released a great album called Biig Stretch through it last year. We featured it last year and I’m looking forward to see what her DJ set will be like.
At RSO, 30 jan
Toccororo
From Madrid comes one of my favourite DJs in recent years. Toccororo runs the Caotica club in Barcelona and in 2024 I saw her play b2b with Safety Trance (also based in Barcelona) at Dekmantel. It was euphoric to say the least. On directly after Catnapp.
At RSO, 30 jan
NGHTCRWLR
Kris Esfandiari of King Woman and many other project has been recording solo as NGHTCRWLR since at least 2020. I finally bought her first album on Dero Arcade and Copenhagen-based Amniote Editions, and then OZ came out on Year0001 last year. It doesn’t say it’s going to be a live set, so I’m curious to see how it will play out.
At RSO, 30 jan
Container
Legend of noisy electronic music Container, or Ren Schofield, has been recording for 15 years – cultivating a unique sound. Check out his live set from Sameheads and Temple of Joy about a year ago. I first heard him in 2020, with the Scramblers LP and two years ago Yacker came out. Playing live, at the same time as NGHTCRWLR.
At RSO, 30 jan
undo despot
Heavy Waters is a collaboration by undo despot, Zeynep Schilling, and u2203 studio members Alen Hast and Myk Rudik. It explores “the layered and evolving life of rivers in Ukraine” and is a part of the Disturbed Ground programme, curated by Kyiv’s ∄ . The audio part of the piece I assume is created by undo despot, who is a sound artist from Odesa. Curious about this venue, which I saw from my window last time I was in Berlin.
At radialsystem, 31 Jan
Blood of Aza
British noise (and all kinds of electronic mayhem) artist, and Kavari collaborator Blood of Aza is an artist I don’t know much about, but her records Pression and I Heard Your Calls from last year made it to the Record Turnover best of 2025. She’s also made music together with Kopi Romantiko and Sissy Misfit.
At Berghain, 27 jan
Sote
Sote, or Ata Ebtekar, is a legendary artist from Iran making noise and experimental electronic music. His records for UK label Opal are all amazing, like the softer and conceptual Moscels. I saw him play about a years ago in Copenhagen to a small but dedicated crowd. I hope this time I will be less tired, because his music requires peak attention. He’s premiering the new piece Sound Design In Far Sea – a live exploration departing from the confines of structure.
At Haus der Visionäre, 30 jan
