Clara Cuvé: Berlins Rising Techno Star Connects The Generations
©️Sven Marquardt
Berlin's techno scene is known for its underground energy and raw, unfiltered sound. While the city's musical heritage is rooted in history, new artists are emerging to carry the torch into the future.
One of these stars is Clara Kuve, a Munich-born DJ and producer who is quickly making a name for herself in the German capital. Cuve's journey into techno began as a teenager when he discovered his love for records through friends. His classical piano training was soon interrupted when he fell in love with Munich's vibrant nightlife.
Cuve gained confidence behind the decks after being pushed to play her first DJ sets at local parties. "That helped me overcome my shyness," he said. The transformative power of techno music quickly paved the way for Cuve. He settled in Berlin and obtained residency in famous clubs such as OHM.
Now firmly established on the Berlin scene, Cuvée builds on the icons of previous generations while paving the way for his own artistic vision. His latest collaboration with photographer Sven Marquardt, who has captured Berlin's club culture for decades, brings together two distinct eras of the city's dance music heritage.
As Cuve cements its place as a techno powerhouse, its sights are set on the future.
Artistic collaboration of Cuvés
Clara Couve's growing popularity reached a new peak in 2023 by collaborating with famous artists in all creative fields. Last February, fashion designer Rick Owens personally selected her to appear in his London Fashion Week show. As part of his long-awaited collaboration with Italian clothing brand Moncler, Owens asked Couve to provide music as the models walked the runway.
Showcasing her talent on such a prestigious platform shows that Cuve has influenced her but not forgotten her underground roots. In March, Kuve started a new event series called "Sesh" in Berlin with fellow artist MCR-T. MCR-T, a German-American visual and musical creator, has developed an immersive party concept with Cuve.
Sesh aims to recapture the nostalgia of the 90s combined with a futuristic aesthetic. First launched in March to great acclaim, it showcased the creative alchemy between Cuvé and MCR-T.
Clara Couve continues to explore new artistic possibilities, exhibiting her art everywhere from fashion shows to club nights. Its openness to various collaborations demonstrates its versatility as one of Berlin's most dynamic technological capabilities.
Cuvée photo session with Sven Marquardt
One of Cuve's most important recent collaborations was a photo shoot with renowned German photographer Sven Marquardt. Known for his stark black and white portraits, Marquardt documented the personalities of the Berlin club scene for two decades. His lens illuminated the city's vibrant dance music culture, capturing underground icons such as Berghain residents Ben Klock and Marcel Dettmann.
As an artist rooted in this world, Marquardt was a natural creative partner for Cuve, who had long admired her melancholic beauty and unique perspective. In collaboration with stylist Mi Mrak, her vision was to showcase the inner glow and power of the bucket in Marquardt's signature style.
The resulting photographs relate to Cuve's artistic development. Märak describes the appearance of the "fallen angel core" as an expression of both artists' identity: Cuve's organized anarchy complements Marquardt's power. Clothing from up-and-coming designers such as Ximon Lee and No Faith Studios contributed to the vibrant, edgy aesthetic. The visuals provide a stunning visual complement to Cuve's bold musical evolution.
By combining their artistic voices, Sven Marquardt and Clara Kuve have created a solid document of Berlin's club scene. Their collaboration connects generations of techno while showcasing the evolution of the genre.
Connecting generations
Although at different times, the collaboration between Clara Cuvé and Sven Marquardt marks the development of Berlin club culture. Marquardt first photographed the city's punk scene in the 1980s before turning to the techno movement. Its authority extends from the fall of the Berlin Wall to the present day.
Cuve represents a new wave of young artists carrying the torch. Raised in reunified Germany, she discovered techno as a youth in Munich. While Marquardt's creative roots were in the East Berlin metro, Cuve re-entered the scene as a clubber after reuniting.
But despite their different backgrounds, the two men's opinions coincide on important points. Both found freedom on the dance floors of Berlin, personally and artistically. According to Marquardt, techno "became a way of life" after reaching an agreement with the GDR. Cuve also describes working as a DJ as "flexible" because it helps him overcome his doubts.
Today, seen through Marquardt's lens, Cuve speaks with pride of the faith that helped build his generation. We care about how his art has enhanced the legacy of the Berlin Club, embracing the pioneers and highlighting the sounds of the future. With their passion for the power of techno-anarchy, their collaboration bridges the scene's past and future.
What's next for Clara Cuvé?
With Clara Couve establishing herself as one of Berlin's most promising young talents, the possibilities for her blossoming career to continue seem endless. In the year, Cuvée's star is definitely on the rise after being linked to some highly regarded artistic collaborations in 2023.
Musically, fans can expect Cuve's sound to continue to evolve. As he expands his production skills, he says his influences are constantly changing, looking to early inspirations like jungle and trombas. The more studio experience Cuve has, the more she can delve into the hard, fast techno that first captivated her.
In retrospect, the creative partnership with Sven Marquardt could be just the beginning. Couve collaborates with other photographers, fashion designers and visual artists to express their artistic vision through new media. It also plans to expand its Sesh event series into a full party production, enabling its creative direction to design full club experiences.
Regardless of the road ahead, it seems that Clara Couve will play an important role in the electronic music scene for many years to come. Their incessant flexibility and artistic versatility have already set them apart. Now Kuve is fully immersed in the city she loves and her growing popularity is bringing Berlin's techno heritage to a wider audience around the world.
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