Berlin’s electronic music landscape has long been a breeding ground for innovation, and among its many influential figures, Niconé (Alexander Gerlach) has carved out a singular space. As an artist, DJ, and co-founder of the label Dantze, his sound has remained fluid, blending house, techno, and an unmistakable groove that has carried him across decades of evolution.
Now, with a new album on the horizon, he continues to push forward, embracing the unknown with the same energy that first drew him into the scene. This is the sound of our Artist Of The Month. This is the sound of Niconé.

For Alexander, the fall of the Berlin Wall marked the beginning of his journey into electronic music. “It all started after the Wall came down. Suddenly, everything felt possible. There were massive, raw warehouses filled with new music—less vocals, more driving drums, and this forward-thinking energy. People wore quirky clothes and danced in completely new ways,” he recalls.

Drawn to the pulse of the city, he immersed himself in its club culture, frequenting record shops and parties. It was an obsession that soon led to action—he and a friend opened their own record store dedicated to house and techno. However, their passion for the music may have outweighed their business instincts. “We went bankrupt because we kept saving the best records for ourselves!,” he laughs.

Despite this early setback, the experience solidified his place in the scene and deepened his understanding of the craft. While DJing wasn’t initially in his plans, it soon became an undeniable part of his life.

Defining a breakthrough moment in a career that spans decades is difficult, but for Niconé, one experience stands out: “I think my big ‘aha’ moment was at E-Werk in Berlin during the Love Parade. It might have been the second parade—I can’t remember exactly. The Parade wasn’t too crowded, and some of us were roller-skating around the trucks. There was music everywhere, and the vibe was so relaxed, so ...