Zhao Dai Celebrates 10 Years of (Beleaguered) German Ambient Techno Label Giegling

Tom Arnstein | Apr 25, 2019 4:00 pm | Add a comment | 624 reads

When Giegling co-founder Konstantin made comments to a female reporter in 2017 about how women were "usually worse at DJing than men" and that to find success in the male-saturated world of DJing they "must lose their 'female qualities' and become 'manly,'" it was many people's (notorious) introduction to the German ambient techno label troupe. Testimonies from other women who had experienced similar instances of the DJ's sexist beliefs soon followed and even certain collaborators openly expressed that they knew of Konstantin's chauvinist attitudes.

Two years on and the tight-knit – and mostly male – crew of DJs and artists is still dogged by that episode despite numerous apologies from the DJ himself and supportive statements from his labelmates. Where you stand on this issue will likely rely on whether you believe people a) can change b) should be granted a second chance or c) if you even deem the apologies to be sincere (this was not, after all, an isolated event).

Now, as part of a lineup of Beijing events to celebrate their 10 year anniversary, Giegling will be hosting a panel discussion to discuss Konstantin's remarks as well as the ongoing problems that women face in stereotypically male-dominated industries.

In the words of the collective, "We became part of a discussion to which we don’t have an answer besides to open up ourselves and listen. Because we completely see the necessity of dialogue and believe it’s good that awareness and visibility are created. Our method was always to enable the best in each other in a safe environment. Safe in a very protected form, so it was possible to share all those fragile dreams. Now it is time for us to open up and create a bigger frame. We are here to learn and to grow. Let’s grow together."

The crew have built strong ties with Beijing's Zhao Dai, having visited the club on several occasions since its opening two years back, and now the two will cooperate on a number of events, including a free workshop (2-5pm) and dinner (6-10pm) at Art Book in China in 798 on Apr 29 and a discussion on Apr 30 dedicated to furthering the dialogue about the roles of men and women in DJ culture. The collective will then go into overdrive, playing three back-to-back concerts May 1-3 at Zhao Dai, each with a different line-up composed of the various members. This is just one stop in their 10-city tour.

One cannot, despite the recent controversies, dispute Giegling's drive, popularity, and the breakthroughs that the collective has accomplished in the realm of ambient techno. Giegling's founding members Dustin, Konstantin, Rafael, and Vril initially met in the mid-2000s as fellow students enrolled at the Bauhaus University in the central German city of Weimar, and bonded over common interests in music, design, and art. That connection led them to experiment with their own party series, and they eventually founded the label in 2009.

Now over ten members deep, at the label's core is a cohesive sound that is warm, textured, and engaging and a work ethic that promotes experimentation. The result: a confident and restrained mix that patiently reveals itself and tracks that rely less on straight four by four beats than on slow-build instrumentation. It makes for a headier dancefloor experience than your standard getup; more stand and sway than a fist in the air.

As Zhao Dai's Carmen Herold writes in a commentary prior to the event: "the Giegling parties are an immersive spectacle which also derives from the fact that Giegling has always had an interest in somehow positioning themselves differently in the music industry."

In the story of Giegling, higher recognition requires greater scrutiny, which in turn leads to introspection. There's no denying that Giegling has left its mark on modern dance culture, now it's time to see what mark a progressive dance culture can leave on them.

Giegling 10th-anniversary events

Apr 29: Workshop (2-5pm) and dinner (6-10pm). Free. Art Book in China
Apr 30: Panel discussion. Free. 8pm-midnight. Art Book in China
May 1: Giegling concert featuring Birds&Tapes (live), Jing (live), and Leafar Legov (live). RMB 100. 9pm-1am. Zhao Dai
May 2: Giegling party 1 featuring DJ Dustin, Dwig (live), Elli, Leafar Legov (live), Map.ache (live). RMB 150. 10pm-6am. Zhao Dai
May 3: Giegling party 2 featuring Ateq (live), Jing, Konstantin, Sa Pa Schaaly. RMB 150. 10pm-6am. Zhao Dai