Creative wandering is something every artist deals with on a daily basis. But there are ways to put an end to some of your struggles. It begins with settling in a place where art is celebrated; your neighbors are equally daring, and rent won’t cost you an arm and a leg. If you're looking to move somewhere new to take a stab at your musical career, we suggest Berlin. Here's 10 reasons why.
It’s Multicultural
“People from all over the world are coming here to enjoy what the capital of music and nightlife has to offer,” says Sado Opera, Russian-born Berlin-based raunchy electro-punk cabaret that took KISS’ idea of black-and-white-painted faces, added some notorious Russian debauchery and splashed European electronics all over their wild offerings.
An act like this is surely not everyone’s cup of tea, but they felt more than welcomed in a diverse place like Berlin. Hell, they even invited Conan O’Brien on stage. “It is amazing to have a possibility to see how the people from all the different backgrounds, cultures and identities fuse at the dance-floor,” the band adds. “And you can see how your music makes them all dance with each other.”
Start as a DJ
DJing is a great way to figure out what works (and what doesn’t) while still making some bucks (sorry, euros).
These days Berlin is every clubber’s Wonderland — a place you simply can’t avoid if you have even slightest fascination with electronic music. There are parties 24/7 in Berlin, and some of them literally run for days. This means they need as many DJs as they can get, and you can finally make better use of your elaborate iTunes library. Knowing the ins and outs of the clubland never hurt anyone... Okay, it certainly did, but we expect you to be mature about it.
Every Venue is Unique
While some cities suffer from the copy-and-paste approach to nightlife, Berlin’s party scene is a true Frankenstein’s monster, and we do mean it as a compliment. You have your “best nightclub in the world” Berghain (tip to get in: wear all black and don’t you dare smile), swanky VIP lounges (do wait in line to get in to the Monkey Bar on top of the Bikini Hotel), seedy bars, sex bars (it’s Germany for God’s sake) and warehouses-turned-party-mazes (wandering around Sisyphos this Christmas season was the best gift the city offered to us).
“It feels like being 'on tour' while actually staying in the same city,” explains Sado Opera when talking about playing in different venues around the city. “However, Berlin has many faces and is always reinventing itself and is never the same, which, in fact, is quite an inspirational attitude for an artist. Almost every club in Berlin is packed every weekend. In fact even every night during the week. You can have a most diverse choice of events even on a Monday night. People from all over the world are coming here to enjoy what the capital of music and nightlife has to offer. ”
It Has Tons of History
Great art comes from a place of great struggle, and Berlin surely has had its share of historical misfortunes.
From WWII to the erection and fall of the Berlin Wall, the German capital is one of the most fascinating cities in Europe and has inspired all kinds of artists, from forward-thinking filmmakers to politically driven painters. The Berlin Wall itself is a one-of-a-kind graffiti-covered mural, which is infested with all sorts of social comments, artistic statements and political protests. And yes, it’s a perfect selfie spot, too.
It’s Where Artists Get Discovered
Leave it up to the mighty producer Larry Tee to explain the most attractive side of Berlin’s music industry.
At the end of the day he worked with the likes of RuPaul, Princess Superstar, Afrojack, Santigold and Shontelle, as well as designing TZUJI clothing line:
“Besides the fact that music grows in places where the cost of life is less expensive, it also is the place where people hear music first. Some cities are tuned into music like Barcelona, São Paolo, LA and Melbourne and probably most relevant now, Berlin. The best and brightest creatives from all over Europe and the world have flooded in like musical economic refugees! There are just more people trying to live a creative lifestyle here, so there is more inspiration. In the past New York and London were the places to go to get rocking. Now it's investment portfolio time in those cities and though they are a blast, they are getting musically stagnant with no venues and high prices ruining the vibe.”
In other words: Berlin is the It city right now.
You Can Be Whoever You Want to Be Here
It may come off as a tired cliché, but when it comes to all-inclusive cities, Berlin is yet to meet its match. The ever-colorful LGBTQ world feels surprisingly at home in the moody landscapes of the city. The blank canvas approach always attracts artistic types, especially when they are encouraged to come and freak up all kinds of locations.
There is always some market, queer movie festival, risky photoshoot or a good old rave happening next door. Come to watch, stay to participate, leave never.
You Won’t Be Broke All the Time
Whenever the “New York isn’t the same” sentiment comes up, it is always followed by the non-negotiable “The rent is ridiculous.” Berlin’s famously low prices have been its main selling points for a while. The situation is changing for the worse, but it’s still fairly easy to find a sweet deal here.
The food and the booze are beyond affordable, too. Here’s a lesson of glamorous living from our friends Sado Opera: “Here you can easily feel yourself like a superstar even if you aren't getting a superstar-fee yet. Would you like to celebrate that smash show you just had with bubbles and oysters? Get in any of the numerous fish-deli and have three oysters and a glass of sekt (a German sparkling white wine) for as little as 7 Euro. That’s glamorous life for 'before and after show' made easy.”
You Can Study for Free
You know what’s not fun? Talking about tuition fees. But next time you feel like crying when talking about your student debt, maybe you should Google “German education,” since it’s, you know, free.
A very detailed BBC article from a couple of years ago will answer most of your questions. And we’ll just say that affordable education plus an unmatched amount of youthful energy in the city equals countless potential collaborators for your art projects. You do the math.
You Get Cool Rides
Rockstars don’t walk to their own gigs, they arrive in style.
Sado Opera says Berlin is perfect for riding the fancy wave: “Would you like to be driven to your gig by a chauffeur in a cool automobile? Take a regular taxi! Most of them are brand new Mercedes. And they are all 'mayo' color. Which is kinda fancy, right?”
Think Twice
The picture we’re painting for you may seem all rainbows, chokers and glitter, but let’s not get carried away. Being an artist is never a smooth ride, and while Berlin certainly makes it easier to immerse yourself in the creative process, it does have some pitfalls we’d like you to consider.
“I wouldn't recommend anyone who is only starting music to move Berlin,” says an artist named MIKEY, who just participated in a cool project called “Berliners in Bed.” “Yes, it is full of inspiration. But full of distractions and lacks motivation, too. I would hate to be here if I was just starting music, but that's just me.”
Another artist, who moved to Berlin to learn how to make and pursue a career in music and eventually performed all over Europe, asked to keep his anonymity but shared a lot of valuable insights:
“Berlin is a great place to develop ideas. But it is still part of Germany, so though you can live without the language you will need to learn it to really do business. Also 70% of German market is focused on German repertoire. It's getting harder to busk outside, which is part of the free spirit you're looking for as a musician early on. At some point you will need to/want to start performing for money and finding gigs might prove difficult, especially because the city is full of so many musicians.”
But hey, what is art without a little bit of herausforderung?!
Want to see more lists? Check out our Everybody Loves a List! page.
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