TALKING BALANCE WITH… MACOWANIA
In the northern part of Berlin, in a quiet residential area in Weißensee close to the lake that has given the whole neighborhood its name, we enter a small small studio that is the home of Subin Kim and Kei Sohn. Both moved to Berlin from Seoul, South Korea, and through their mutual love for music ended up making music here together as DJ duo Macowania.
Maco-what? When they were thinking about a stage name anything with a deeper meaning or musical reference was out of the question as the name shouldn’t raise expectations or draw conclusions about their musical style. They wanted one that is easy to remember, simple, unique. And then a trip to the Botanical Garden in Dahlem solved it, as most flowers and plants do have exactly the kind of names they were looking for. They picked one, and so in 2017 Macowania was born.
“We want to be diverse and surprise our
audience at each gig.”
Where did it all start? Back in 2015 both young DJs were following Berlin’s inspiring and vivid musical underground scene from the distance. Having made music for quite a while then, the stories about the city, the overall fascination about it’s music scene and the huge opportunity to see DJs they have been admiring so long perform live became so luring that in 2015 they followed their hearts and decided to move to Berlin.
And Berlin did take their musical hearts by storm. Experiencing music as such a vital part of the Capital’s culture and history, seeing many great DJs, icons as well as talented newcomers, almost every day, roaming the clubs and getting lost in the nightlife. Both were pursuing their passion for music and DJs each day, drawing inspiration and taking cues by just watching a DJ perform, learning a lot about different techniques, seeing what they can improve or maybe avoid, what to focus on, simply how to do it behind the decks As Berlin’s underground scene was also very competitive with so many good DJs and emerging talents it challenged them constantly to push further to become successful as a DJ in Berlin.
“Berlin’s music and underground scene definitely exceeded our expectations by far! It’s not just about the clubs or events, but more about all the people that appreciate and respect good music and DJs. A very intense and special experience.”
Subin and Kei both call themselves music freaks and so it is no surprise that the one word they would describe the style of Macowania with is diversity. Talking not only about a variety in music but also in vibe and tempo, as multiple choices give them more options to create an exciting and interesting set. They believe that everyone has a dark and a bright side from life’s experiences and a DJ shares both sides through his music selection to create a personal and emotional connection with the audience. This is their story: use and show a broad taste and passion for all kinds of music to create a diverse set to entertain and touch the crowd.
Working as a team also fuels diversity and excitement in their sets; despite a generally similar taste in music there naturally are differences. When making music together they always discuss openly what is the next best track and solution for Macowania. A strong respect and trust in each others music selection and the joint, satisfying result is what makes Macowania special.
Macowania also is a sum of Seoul and Berlin culture and inspiration. What Subin and Kei miss from their home town are what they call “The 3 F’s: Food, Friends, Family”. They agree that it is good to have a background of both cities in life as it gives them balance – “Kimchi & Schnitzel!”, as Subin put it. Traveling back to Seoul feels rewarding, spending time with family and old friends and going back to favorite places: It is filling up their batteries through the mere change of perspective and makes them want to go back to their new home Berlin even stronger.
Macowania’s favorite:
Place in Berlin
Brammibal’s Donuts!
Place in Seoul
Nam mountain, a mountain where you can enjoy nature in the city center!
To the last – what is your secret to a happy and balanced life?
Keeping your body in shape helps to have a healthy mind and positive thoughts.
