I suspect I’m not the only music enthusiast in Berlin who has long awaited the arrival of Pastiche, a new community-driven venue, and the latest space to join the ranks of the burgeoning Hi-Fi listening scene in Berlin. And yet, what makes Pastiche so special is that it’s not merely an audiophile outpost — it’s a hybrid cultural space for exchange and cross-pollination with music at its core. Pastiche’s prepossessing, light-filled storefront combines a Hi-fi listening venue, café, and a thoughtfully curated record shop that offers an eclectic selection of vinyl. Pastiche also operates an ‘open-genre’ record label that spotlights the city’s vibrant yet underserved music scenes, including jazz, ambient, world, and experimental music. Drawing inspiration from counterparts Public Records in New York and Leaving Records in Los Angeles, among others, Pastiche maintains a global perspective while placing local community at the center of its credo. Cheerfully greeting neighbors and chatting with curious passersby, founder Billy Caso inhabits this spirit. “We want to be on a first name basis with everyone who visits the space,” he says, and just days after opening, he already seems to be on track.
In keeping with Pastiche’s community ethos, the venue is designed to encourage connection. By day, the café — serving signature libations, pastries from Le Brot, and Passenger coffee — flows effortlessly into the record shop, a spacious and inviting area for crate-digging and conversation. By night, the shop transforms, as racks of vinyl are replaced with tatami mats, cushions, and the lights are dimmed to a halcyon glow for immersive listening events. At the heart of it all is Pastiche’s unique listening environment, which boasts a custom sound system realized in collaboration with H.A.N.D. HiFi and Resor, two Berlin-based boutique audio companies. At a listening event to celebrate Pastiche’s opening, I found myself entirely mesmerized and transported. Concluding the first part of an hour and a half long musical journey was Cannonball Adderley’s version of Autumn Leaves – a song I’ve heard dozens of times before, but never like this. The sound was so transparent and rich, I felt as if I’d suddenly dropped into the original 1958 recording session. With programming that’s set to include performances, workshops, and screenings ramping up this May, we can’t wait to see what Pastiche has in store next!
Text: Michael Kugler / Photos: Mayra Wallruff, Robyn Steffen
Michael Kugler is a musician from New York and the founder of Intuit Music, an independent studio that makes original music for visual storytelling.
Pastiche, Weserstr.46, 12045 Berlin–Neukölln; map
@pasticheinternational
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