photography by FELIX RAZUM
interview by MAGDALENA ROE

This year, we once again dove headfirst into the exhilarating world of WHOLE Festival. As the festival season draws to a close, let’s take a look back at the weekender that stands as a true celebration of queer culture, self-expression, and unbounded inclusivity. Renowned for its dynamic ambiance WHOLE showcases 24/7 DJ sets, live performances, art installations, and most importantly an unparalleled sense of community—a safe place that draws a global community of music lovers, artists, and creatives committed to celebrating life in its most vibrant and authentic form.

Each year WHOLE invites new collectives to further build and expand on connections within the electronic music community. Stages were hosted by 12 tight-knit Berlin collectives and 16 international collectives from the global scene, ranging from 10 countries like Vietnam, Spain, Ukraine, Kazakhstan, Canada, Denmark, United Kingdom, Brazil, United States and The Netherlands.

We connected with four global collectives that have created safe havens for their communities, driving the scene toward a more inclusive club culture with cutting-edge sounds. From Amsterdam’s hyper-pop, trance, techno, and rave collective “De Reünie” to Berlin’s renowned and sought-after crew “Herrensauna,” to Barcelona’s vibrant “MARICAS” and “Zvuk,” the Kazakhstan-based collective led by DJ Nazira, transforming the Central Asian scene.

DE REÜNIE

left to right: Nick Edwards, DJ Jack, Stef de Haan, Technoslave_69, Miss Tekna

What are the roots of your collective, and what inspired you to start with it?

Stef de Haan & Nick Edwards (DE REÜNIE): Our roots are deeply embedded in Amsterdam’s underground nightlife scene. We launched De Reünie in 2020, during the chaotic summer of the pandemic with a lot of illegal raves going on. Unfortunately, some of these events were unsafe for our community. That’s when De Reünie was born—to bring like-minded people together in a safer and more considerate way.

Cem & Mau (HERRENSAUNA): We've been involved in nightlife and DJing for so long that we eventually grew tired of the conventional events happening in Berlin at the time. Starting our own thing felt like a natural next step. We wanted to create a more intimate setting for our friends, and from there, it grew organically, without any specific intention of expanding beyond the city we lived in.

Eloias (MARICAS): MARICAS began as a spontaneous idea among three friends—a lesbian, a non-binary person, and two Latinas —who were craving a night that celebrated the music we loved and embraced queer culture. What started off as a simple, heartfelt venture quickly revealed a significant need in Barcelona. The collective took off and has continued to grow ever since, evolving alongside us. It has helped us shape and create a space where we feel safe and proud to call our own. Our inspiration comes from recognising the vital role music plays for queer individuals and from the support of our own community.

Nazira (ZVUK): ZVUK started in 2018 in Almaty, Kazakhstan. Back then there was a vacuum for quality dance music in Almaty and Kazakhstan as a whole. Plus I never saw dancefloors with obvious values of freedom, acceptance and empathy. It was all kind of heartless. That’s why I decided to start ZVUK—to create a dancefloor where everyone can be themselves, feel free, and be accepted. We also aimed for a more adventurous music programming approach. ZVUK has brought in acts like Giant Swan, Herrensauna, Bassiani, and many others to Almaty, while also nurturing our own residents. We were determined to build a vibrant electronic music scene in Kazakhstan, and I believe we’ve succeeded.

What do you envision for the future of the collective? What are your dreams and vision for the next few years?

Stef de Haan & Nick Edwards (DE REÜNIE): We aim to maintain a healthy relationship with our work while continuing to grow as a platform that supports our vision and fosters the growth of our residents. Our focus is on showcasing bold new music while empowering our community to thrive in their own creative pursuits.

Cem & Mau (HERRENSAUNA): Our vision for the future remains mostly the same as our current vision: facilitating a safe and inclusive environment for like-minded individuals. By "like-minded," we specifically mean people who share the same norms and values as we do. Homophobia, racism, transphobia, xenophobia, or any other type of discrimination is something we are strictly against, and people who hold these views have no place at our gatherings. We strive to find new and exciting ways to bring people together. Whether it be platonic or romantic, we want to facilitate the space to do it. Additionally, we want to keep pushing good music, allowing people to experience different types of genres and be inspired.

Eloias (MARICAS): We aim to continue hosting parties, but with a more focused and refined approach. Starting our own queer festival in Barcelona feels like the natural next step for us. Additionally, we plan to keep developing our record label, which we see as a lasting and integral part of our work.

Nazira (ZVUK): I’d love to throw a ZVUK party in Berlin and explore collaborations and showcases with more collectives outside of Kazakhstan. I’m also hoping to work on a release featuring Kazakhstani artists. This year, ZVUK launched its own festival, Sien, and I’m looking forward to growing it into something big and unique. Of course, we will continue to host ZVUK parties in Almaty, making them bigger and better each time.

What is your connection to WHOLE Festival, and what does being a part of it mean to you?

Stef de Haan & Nick Edwards (DE REÜNIE): This was our second time at WHOLE, and from the first moment, we completely fell in love with it. It’s rare to find a place where so many like-minded people come together to have fun in a supportive and respectful way, and we are absolutely here for it.

Cem & Mau (HERRENSAUNA): The festival feels like our local queer hub—we’ve watched it grow alongside us, expanding in parallel. Our journey has intertwined through various collaborations, from music to art installations, like last year’s partnership with Dr. Martens. It’s a space that feels both cozy and vibrant.

Eloias (MARICAS): We’ve attended WHOLE three times now, and it remains the perfect space for queers from around the world to connect. It’s not just about the music; it’s an inspiring environment filled with our favorite people—fellow queers.

Nazira (ZVUK): WHOLE was the first international showcase of ZVUK, making it incredibly special for us. It was the perfect opportunity to present what ZVUK is about to a European audience. Central Asian music often goes unnoticed, so being able to showcase ZVUK was a significant moment. It affirmed that we’ve succeeded in our mission of creating a unique world at ZVUK, where everyone is accepted, and we had the chance to celebrate this with other collectives at Whole. Coming from the relatively conservative Kazakhstan, this experience means a great deal. While we were at Whole this year, our government was considering passing a bill against LGBT propaganda, making our time at Whole even more special and meaningful.