Raphaela: finding freedom in the rave
Raphaela’s story starts in Paris, inside a massive warehouse where she went to her first techno night. The energy between the DJ, the music, and the crowd was so intense it left her stunned. “From that very first day I was hooked,” she says. During the pandemic, she finally decided to try DJing herself. At first it was just practice sessions at home, but slowly it grew into something she couldn’t ignore — and moving into it professionally felt natural.
These days, community is at the centre of what she does. One of her favourite events right now is Playbody, which she loves for its total sense of freedom. But it’s her own project, SYMBIOSIS (co-created with Jose), that really fires her up. “For me, it’s a space where people can connect and feel safe to be themselves, loudly and proudly.” Her most cherished gig so far was playing SYMBIOSIS on International Women’s Day, surrounded by talented artists and an atmosphere thick with love and support. “That edition was really close to my heart,” she tells me.
When it comes to sound, Raphaela refuses to be boxed in. She’s moved from hard techno to trance to hardgroove, and right now she’s gravitating towards rolling, textured beats that lean into darker territory. “My sound keeps evolving constantly,” she admits. Pre-set nerves are part of the process too. She gets to the venue early, takes a shot of tequila just before her set, and then lets the music do the rest. “As soon as the first few tracks drop, the nerves start to disappear and I just have fun.”
She’s honest about the scene as well. “People should try kindness a little more. These spaces were meant to be about freedom and acceptance, not judgement. It’s not cute to be rude.” It’s a reminder of the values that built rave culture in the first place — defiance, togetherness, inclusivity.
Looking ahead, Raphaela has plenty to be excited about. She’s making her Berlin debut in October and pushing SYMBIOSIS into a new chapter, taking the event to a bigger scale. For her, the future feels wide open — fuelled by freedom, community, and a sound that keeps moving forward.
