Acidfinky is a German/Amazigh-Algerian DJ and producer whose sound has been shaped by her Algerian heritage and her upbringing in France, with Berlin as her base for the past several years. Across downtempo, dub, leftfield bass and experimental club music, she chases what she calls a "crispy" aesthetic: strong basslines, sharp drums and rhythms that refuse to sit still. A vinyl collector, founding member of feminist collective BLVSH and the person behind the Berlin-Cairo interdisciplinary series Maison Sot, she brings a clear political and cultural intelligence to everything she does. This mix is the proof.
Tell us about this mix: what mood or journey were you going for?
I knew SEVEN leans a bit more toward house, so I decided to play records with strong house influences while staying true to my own style: full of dub elements, ear candy and dreamy pads. The result is a blend of light, uplifting moments and deeper, heavier moods.
I have been leaning more and more towards playing deep listening sets rather than club sets. I genuinely have so much fun playing without thinking about making people dance or not. After spending two years not really knowing where I was going with my music, it is such a joy to have found a style that feels authentic to me, and I think you can hear it in this mix.
Overall, I wanted to take people on a gentle, wandering journey. I think it could have worked really well as an after-hours set!
Where and how did you put it together?
As usual, in my room in the middle of my records!
Pick one track in here you cannot stop playing right now, and why.
One track I have been playing a lot right now is "Heavy Sound" by Martyn, who is one of my favourite producers. It's the perfect blend of dub and jazz and reflects exactly my emotional state this summer.
When and where should people listen to this?
When they are doing a task they need to focus on, or when they are chilling with some friends in nature, or doing a physical activity like running or biking.
What is your connection to SEVEN or to Berlin?
I fell in love with the pink setup so I asked if I could play! As for Berlin, I have been living here since 2019, but I am now moving to Paris. I didn't really tell people about it except my close friends, so let's see if people read this interview and catch that!
A record that changed everything for you?
I think buying my first Ilian Tape records really changed something in the way I play music. From that point I started chasing records that felt weirder than your classic dance floor tracks. If you check out my streams you will see I always try to combine a lot of broken percussive elements and experimental sounds. I don't always succeed, but it is the most fun for me.
The first record you ever bought?
I remember the first one I ordered online, which was "Super Smash" by FJAAK. I still play it!
If you could keep only three records, which?
None. I need to be able to play a whole set for me to enjoy my records!
The mix is up now. Put it on while you run, while you work, or while you sit in the sun with friends. You can listen on SoundCloud, follow Acidfinky on Instagram and find her full profile on Resident Advisor.