beatport.io launches with digital collectibles series “NACHTS”

Âme, Ben Klock, Chris Liebing, Dixon, DVS1, Ellen Allien, Freddy K, Len Faki, Seth Troxler and more lead the artistic line-up documented in a limited-edition techno scene portrait series by iconic photographer and bouncer Mischa Fanghaenel.

Beatport, the global leader in music for DJs, producers, and their fans, today launched Beatport.io, a culture-driven marketplace exploring the future of electronic music where artists and labels can share their music and art in new, collectible formats. The platform was developed in partnership with Define Creative and built on Aventus, a parachain in the Polkadot ecosystem.

Beatport.io’s first project showcases the multipart art series NACHTS portraying Berlin’s techno scene, by photographer Mischa Fanghaenel, who has been working as a bouncer at Berghain for over 10 years. The series was developed in collaboration with some of the underground Berlin techno scene’s most highly regarded artists.

In August 2023, the first limited drop of the NACHTS series will be released – a collaboration with DJ and producer, Len Faki, including a bonus track from his latest album 'Fusion' that was produced exclusively for the edition. Further editions with musicians such as Ellen Allien, Âme, Ben Klock, Dixon, DVS1, Freddy K, Gerd Janson, Marcel Fengler, Norman Nodge, Patrick Mason, Roi Perez, Seth Troxler and others, will be released at regular intervals.

Mischa Fanghaenel's accompanying portrait exhibition NACHTS will open as part of the upcoming Berlin Art Week on September 14, 2023, where collectors will be able to use the NFT as a ticket to access.

'NACHTS' includes portraits of over 175 personalities, which, along with music that was exclusively produced for this purpose, form the foundation for immersive artworks that are generatively composed via AI models. In sync with the music's rhythm, Fanghaenel's portraits disintegrate into constructivist patterns, morph into figurative forms and images, ultimately converging into comprehensive and awe-inspiring works of art, depicting this rarely documented community, thereby forming an artistic document of contemporary techno culture.

Mischa Fanghaenel explains about his work: "The NACHTS project started during the first lockdown as an idea: If this is it, if no club in Berlin will ever open again, how are we going to preserve what we had? How are we going to memorialize this culture? In the event that everything was gone, how could I document the range of characters that came together in the scene? Looking at the different people that shape this culture, I understand why it's so important to have places in which everyone can simply come together and be themselves. That's why I want to share how beautiful life can be."

Beatport Media Services SVP, Ed Hill commented: “Berlin has always been the mysterious heart of the underground techno scene and through his portrait series NACHTS, Mischa Fanghaenel offers a rare glimpse of the artists, spaces and sounds that make the scene what it is. We’re excited for Beatport.io to be the exclusive launch partner for this collectibles series. For lovers of techno culture, this drop offers an opportunity to own an authentic slice of the scene and sets the tone for our digital marketplace. With the emergence of Web3, we are ushering in a new era in dance, music and culture and with the launch of Beatport.io, we are enabling our customers and artists to stay ahead of the curve as this exciting new technology develops.”

Define Creative Co-CEO Delphine Sarwar said: “As passionate creatives, we are keenly aware of the immense possibilities that Web3 presents for artists and musicians. It is our mission to position them at the forefront of this exhilarating new era. By creating Beatport.io, we are taking an important step towards developing tools and products of the future. We believe that this platform will provide a valuable testing ground for new ideas, concepts and co-creation. We are excited to embark on this journey with such a unique project like NACHTS and are inviting labels, artists and creatives to join us and make Beatport.io a game-changer for the electronic music industry.”

To celebrate the launch, a bonus edition of the NACHTS series will be available at no cost via Beatport.io from July 27, 2023. For more information, visit Beatport.io

About Beatport.io
Beatport.io is a next-generation digital marketplace bridging the gap between electronic music culture and cutting-edge technology. The platform enables the creation and collection of unique digital projects and products that span the full spectrum of electronic music culture. Beatport.io stands at the forefront of digital innovation in electronic music culture. For more information please visit: Beatport.io

About Mischa Fanghaenel
Mischa Fanghaenel (born 1976, Moscow) is a photographer who lives and works in Berlin. Since 2010, he has been working as a bouncer in Berghain. In his abstract photographs, the atmosphere of the night becomes palpable in an experimental mixture of light, shadow and movement. His portraits lend individual grace to notable personalities of the music industry. Since 2017, his work has been showcased in international group and solo exhibitions.

About Define Creative
Define Creative is a Web3 venture builder that empowers visionary brands, institutions, artists and innovators to realize new concepts and ideas. By combining cutting-edge technology and a multi disciplinary team, Define Creative guides their partners towards the forefront of Web3 innovation.

About Polkadot
Polkadot is the blockspace ecosystem for boundless innovation. It enables Web3’s biggest innovators to get their ideas to market fast, with predictable costs and the industry's most flexible token options. By making blockchain technology secure, composable, flexible, efficient, and cost-effective, Polkadot is powering the movement for a better web.