18/11
Catharsis: Johanna Knutsson b2b Josefine Hellström

Welcome to the next edition of Catharsis; a club night dedicated to emotional climax through techno, curated by Josefine Hellström. Proudly presenting one of the most outstanding artists in the electronic sphere of Sweden; our very own Johanna Knutsson. For this night she will dig out those rave records and play a (nowadays) rare DJ-set, joining forces b2b with Josefine Hellström all night long.

Catharsis (from Greek κάθαρσις, katharsis, meaning “purification” or “cleansing” or “clarification”) is purgation of emotions through dramatic art, or any extreme emotional state that results in renewal and restoration. With focus on high quality techno and rave culture, Catharsis honors nostalgia and celebrates decadence, liberation and energy in its highest form. Characterized by emotive melodies and hard-hitting drums, the duality of euphoria and melancholy defines the storytelling of Catharsis. It’s a peak time, cutting edge sugar rush designed for dancefloors.

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Present and organic. Two defining words describing what kind of artist Johanna Knutsson is. It is almost like she can pick up on invisible vibrations; she sources inspiration wherever she goes, whether she is physically traveling or letting a painting or a piece of poetry transport her mind elsewhere. With a catalogue of lush, explorative compositions and multi-genre spanning expertise, Knutsson’s sets are full of kinetic energy and unexpected detours that create singular, enveloping musical moments. Knutsson’s range as a performer is centered around her ability to deliver emotionally stirring music in multiple contexts.

Raised in a small village in South Sweden on a musical diet of stoner rock and Kate Bush, Knutsson’s earliest musical outlets involved singing in the church choir and learning to play electric organ. Finding herself deeply drawn to Berlin’s electronic music scene at 24, she took a year long sabbatical from her career, spending the next several months front and centre at Panorama Bar’s dance floor, studying the craft of inspirational artists. Forming her original production sound alongside fellow Berliner Hans Berg, Knutsson began releasing cosmic slabs of wax that seesaw between house and techno, which put her in high demand from remixers like Minilogue. She also runs the label ZODIAC 44 with Klasse Wrecks boss Luca Lozano.

When she’s not churning out melodic techno transmissions, delivering a euphoric closing set in the morning hours of her monthly Berlin residency at ://about blank, or gleefully improvising as part of the Circle of Live collective, Knutsson’s latest passion has been a turn towards ambient sets and productions, such as 2019’s Tollarp Transmissions, whose evocative details paint a kaleidoscopically colourful recreation of her hometown.

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It’s the contrasts that get you. Sharp edges soft to the touch, like translucent lace on sun-cracked asphalt. For Josefine Hellström, melancholy and euphoria are not opposites – they’re inseparable. The enraptured flash when a child finally catches a beautiful butterfly. The wistful moment seconds later when she opens her hands and finds the fragile being lifeless. It’s all there. Josefine Hellström has found a way to capture that duality in her music and in her sets.

Moving through an intoxicating, unpredictable array of rough breakbeats – it is the raw tonality and temperament that makes Josefine a fearsome reputation as a selector. Straight to the point with elements of colorful melodies, reflected through infectious tribal-esque rhythms and rugged cut UK bass – is what appears throughout her music and in her sets. As a music collector, Josefine’s preferred format as a DJ is vinyl and her techno is a powerful intent to build tension, climaxing into a frenzy of emotions, and also the reason why Josefine is one of the most sought-after DJs in the Scandinavian region.

After almost 10 years in the industry as a DJ, producer and organizer affiliated with crews like Klubb Döden and Alleycat Anthem in Malmö, 2022 marked the premiere of Josefine’s club Catharsis as a part of her residency at Inkonst.