WHLMS

WHLMS is the DJ alias of Arne, a Berlin-based selector who plays vinyl-only sets with a focus on driving techno. The format is not a nostalgic gesture but a considered choice, one that shapes how he approaches music, curation and the dancefloor in equal measure.

His sound is built around powerful low-end pressure, sharp hi-hats, hypnotic rhythms and a steady sense of forward motion. He tends to build tension gradually rather than reaching for quick peaks, letting tracks breathe and energy develop at its own pace. Subtle shifts in rhythm, texture and intensity give his sets a longer arc, drawing the dancefloor in record by record.

Playing on vinyl is central to how that arc takes shape. The physical interaction with the records, the constraints of the format and the need to respond in the moment introduce a kind of unpredictability that keeps each set alive. Behind that lies a lot of quiet work: digging, listening and slowly refining a collection that reflects his particular vision of techno.