QX Preview: Berlin Berlin Pride Special

We meet one of the boys behind London’s edgiest pride party!


Fresh from celebrating their birthday, colourful monthly queer gathering Buttons/BLN make their debut at the wild Berlin Berlin Pride Special next week.

QX chats to Jacob about the bar-raising Buttons/BLN parties and his recent Whole Festival, which he organised alongside Berlin’s Cocktail d’Amore, Pornceptual and Discwoman parties. Plus we find out what Pride means to him and what’s in store Saturday July 7th at Berlin Berlin. 


Hey Jacob! How would you describe what you do? Is there such a thing as a regular day at the office?

Since moving to Berlin, most people assume that I don’t work, or that I “only DJ,” but my partner, Danilo Rosato, and I not only live together but we organize Buttons together every month. We’re basically never not talking about how we can improve our effort. A regular day in the office? Not so much, because our lives exist in a grey zone that perpetually hovers between work and play. In the summer, our parties average 21 DJs + some performers, so imagine all of the communication and logistics that that entails. I try to break-up the monotony of administration work by researching new music, going record shopping, and trips to the studio. To keep myself centered, Danilo and I cook dinner at home almost every night, and I try to ride my bike & stretch in the park as much as I can.

You’re bringing some cool guests to Berlin Berlin. Tell us about them.

Akirahawks and myself are two of the seven Buttons residents. He comes from Japan, but has been in Berlin for about a decade. He tends to play the more cosmic side of house and disco. DJ Holographic joins us from Detroit, and is a blooming incarnate of that city’s sound & heritage. She is a rising star and has a busy tour schedule in the USA, and we try to support her and bring her over as often as we can.

As part of the LGBT music scene and community, do you think you’ve ever faced setbacks in your industry because of who you are?

The part of the industry & scene that I choose to immerse myself in is one that mirrors my core values, and I have no time for anything else. My start in Chicago and in the US came about by way of friends supporting each other, and my surroundings in Berlin echo that tenfold.

Lastly! What are you looking forward to at the Berlin Berlin Birthday and Pride edition on Saturday July 7th at EGG LDN and what can people who’ve not heard you play expect from your set?

I love playing in London, because I feel like my style is 100% understood. After Chicago and NYC, the UK jumped for house music headfirst. No matter the gig, I always appreciate the chance to share my musical perspective with new people – blending old classics with the contemporary.

The Berlin Berlin Pride Special is on Saturday 7th July at Egg London, 200 York Way, N7 9AX. 11pm – 8am.

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