Max HeyraudThis week’s Mix of the Week comes from Netherlands-based techno powerhouse Meda-AVA, delivering a stripped-back yet meticulously crafted two-hour set recorded live within the smoky walls of Berlin’s M01 for Nexus.
Minimalistic yet poignant, Meda-AVA’s techno set at M01 Berlin slowly churned from deep, cavernous corners into enthralling, hazy soundscapes. For her second outing at the club, playing early in the night, she controlled the energy with absolute poise—gently ramping things up, keeping the intensity on a knife’s edge, before dropping into rolling contemporary power. Yet, just as effortlessly, she scaled it back, slipping into a more “classically” Berlin style of techno. Her set felt like a precursor to the night ahead, setting the stage in just the right way.
Described by promoter Offtrack as “deep & tasteful techno,” the label is fitting. Meda-AVA keeps her cards close, never revealing her next move too soon. She lingers in the darker, foggier recesses of stripped-back techno, only to launch, almost unexpectedly, into nuanced, sci-fi-esque sequences that draw the crowd deeper into this journey.
In a time when techno, especially its classic strains, has become obsessed with layering and overactivity—often rewarding overcooked mixes—Berlin remains a safe haven for a more refined approach. Meda-AVA embodies this ethos perfectly, using timing and precision to craft a genuine narrative. Top-class and undeniably tasteful.