EXB issue 131 October 2014

Inside this month's issue: Discover the scene! We introduce you to the venues and acts you need to know, find out how Berlin musicians make their money, investigate GEMA's impact on indie venues, catch up with Monsieur Bonaparte and ask: Who the fuck is Helene Fischer?

BREAKING OUT From an electro-pop chanteuse to a 1980s-infused expat trio to stoner metal's next big thing, we talk to seven local acts poised to go international.

THE FINNISH INVASION Remember that Long Drink pop-up in September? It's just the latest step in the Finns' takeover of Berlin's music scene.

BONAPARTE Four years after we last spoke to him, wild child Tobias Jundt takes off the mask.

THE WAY WE GET BY Busking, gigging, Broadway, day jobs: how do Berlin musicians make money?

GEMA VERSUS THE LITTLE GUYS How Germany's royalty collections organisation turns small venues and indie artists against each other.

THE MUSIC MAKERS A clarinet repairman, a crafty pair of luthiers and an experimental tinkerer keep the city's instrument-making traditions alive.

BASS IN THE HOUSE OF TECHNO After years of neglect, it's a high point for low sounds in Berlin's clubs.

EXPAT RAP The new rappers on the block aren't populist or gangsta... and, even more unusually for German hip hop, they're black.

JAZZFEST Just in time for the 50th anniversary of the Berlin Jazz Festival (Oct 30-Nov 2), pianist and composer Alexander von Schlippenbach takes us back to Jazzfest's beginnings.

BERLIN VENUES Do you like your music heavy, nerdy, clubby, indie, punky, gay...? Then have we got a club for you!

WHO THE FUCK IS HELENE FISCHER? One of our resident Germans attempts to explain bad German music.

Also in this issue:

KARIM AÏNOUZ The Brazilian-Algerian director on Praia do Futuro, his Berlinale-premiered exploration of manhood, death and danger.

MISS KENICHI AND MY BRIGHTEST DIAMOND An illuminating conversation between he Berlin songstress and the American singer/multi-instrumentalist otherwise known as Shara Worden (performing at Postbahnhof on Oct 22).

30 YEARS FORCED ENTERTAINMENT Before you check out the UK stage collective's anniversary programme (Oct 16-19, HAU), read artistic director Tim Etchells' exclusive preview.

GLENN O'BRIEN The New York-based writer, onetime TV Party host and GQ “Style Guy” has curating a word-based show full of art superstars at Blain Southern.

BEST OF BERLIN A WG feeding frenzy, new Berlin-based music tech, beats 'n' bourekas and that packaging-free grocery you've heard so much about.

BERLIN BITES Argentinian empanadas, 10 years of Dolores and five alternaburgers.

Plus all the latest in film, music, art, stage, events, fashion and much more!