Skrillex launches new event series ‘Contra’ with debut at Berlin’s Kraftwerk

Skrillex has unveiled Contra, a new multi-genre event series blending electronic, rap, and experimental music to launch at Kraftwerk Berlin.

Skrillex is stepping into a new era with the launch of Contra, a brand-new event series built around genre-blending music and underground culture. The first edition is set to take over Berlin’s legendary Kraftwerk venue on May 30-31, bringing together artists from across electronic, rap, experimental, and club music.

The concept behind Contra is a reflection of Skrillex’s own career. He’s spent years bouncing between dubstep, house, rap, techno, and pop, and now he’s creating a space where all of those worlds can collide.

Night one is stacked with heavy electronic talent, including sets from Skrillex, Knock2, Blawan, ISOxo, Hamdi, Flowdan, and plenty of others. There’s also a live performance from Nai Barghouti alongside Thys and Péter Somos, showing that Contra is aiming for way more than just a standard rave lineup.

The second day shifts gears into a more rap and internet-culture-focused direction. Artists like Bladee, BNYX, Ecco2k, and Tohji x Mechatok headline a lineup that mixes cloud rap, hyperpop, club music, and experimental sounds all in the same space.

The event is also putting a huge focus on visuals and atmosphere. Paris-based design studio Matière Noire is transforming Kraftwerk’s massive industrial interior with a custom spatial setup that’s expected to completely reshape the experience inside the former power plant.

Berlin has always been one of the biggest cities for boundary-pushing electronic music, so it makes sense that Contra is starting there. With a lineup this unpredictable and a venue this iconic, Skrillex’s newest project already feels like one of the most talked-about dance events of the summer.

Featured Image Kraftwerk Berlin

About The Author

Neil Bayless

Hey everyone, I’m Neil! I first joined the dance community back in 2019 when my friend dragged me to Moonrise, my first-ever music festival, and I became hooked ever since. I like to dabble in most genres with my favorites being tech house and melodic techno. When it comes to studio output, Camelphat is part of my daily listening rotation and for a live performance, I’ll never miss a Solomun set. You can likely catch me on the dance floor somewhere in Brooklyn!

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