freddy K
freddy K
VAULT SESSIONS BLOG SERIES
Behind the Decks ALL NIGHT: A CONVERSATION WITH FREDDY K
As we count down the days to Freddy K’s highly anticipated all-nighter, we couldn’t help but wonder—what drives these marathon sessions? Known for his relentless energy and deep-rooted passion for the underground, Freddy has become a staple in the global techno scene, shaping dancefloors with his hypnotic selections and unwavering commitment to the craft.
From his connection with Amsterdam’s vibrant crowd to his preferred bathroom break track—Freddy touches on it all in this interview. He reflects on the evolution of the scene, the power of long DJ sets, and what keeps him coming back to Vault Sessions after all these years.
Get ready to step inside the mind of a true selector—and prepare yourself for March 1st.
(Cle FW Photography)
Vault Sessions crew is family to me. I believed in them since day one and vice versa.
They made choices, they made progress, they didn’t look back… always ahead.
In my opinion, they became the reference for techno. They created a techno community—so solid and so true. I almost can’t think about playing techno without thinking of them.
You’ve played for Vault Sessions many times—what keeps bringing you back?
As a passionate enthusiast of the underground, how does it feel to perform at Warehouse Elementenstraat again after 5 years?
(Julia de Keijzer Photography)
That Warehouse is a historic place. It is the essence of a certain and true Amsterdam “underground” scene. Thinking about coming back there for the whole night… goosebumps.
Do you find that the space—whether it’s an expansive warehouse, an open-air festival, or a smaller club—affects your track selection or the energy you bring to your set? How do you adapt to each environment?
For sure, the space affects the set… but only in terms of the way I reach the same goal/vibe I want to create.
You’ve played all over the world, but each city has its own techno culture. What stands out to you about the Amsterdam techno crowd?
I don’t know, but the Amsterdam crowd is a pretty dirty one. And that’s what I love about it.
(Alex Verhalle Photography)
Amsterdam has built a reputation as a techno capital. Do you feel a certain freedom when playing here compared to other cities?
Absolutely, it is a techno capital—especially in terms of how techno is consumed at certain levels and quality. I feel like in Amsterdam, it is always party time, but with a spirit of having fun first of al
If this would be your final all-nighter, what message do you want to leave behind?
If this were my final all-nighter—and perhaps it could be (at least in Amsterdam)—the message I want to leave behind is very simple: the journey you want to share is more important than the hours you play.
Is there a specific moment in a long set—perhaps a turning point in the night—where you feel most connected with the dancefloor?
There are several, but for sure, one of them is in the first hours when everyone starts to dance slowly… and definitely the last minutes when you feel so connected because you’ve spent so many hours together (and you know that we made it).
Do you have any pre-set rituals or habits before performing to get yourself in the right headspace?
Next to checking the records one last time, usually before long sets (closing, all night long), I like to hug the promoter and my close people around me… like a “goodbye, see you later, hopefully.”
(Julia de Keijzer Photography)
What’s a record you play if you need an emergency bathroom break?
A long Villalobos track, hahahahaha.
(Julia de Keijzer Photography)
Five years ago, you said, "There are clubs for sure, but there is no real movement anymore, in my opinion." Do you feel that movement has returned since then? If so, what sparked it? And if not, what do you think is still missing to bring that sense of community and momentum back?
At the moment, there is a real movement again, absolutely different from the old ones. It is fresh musically, and definitely, the approach is not so connected anymore to some of the roots where techno came from. Today, people arrive at techno in a different way and for different reasons… that is the evolution of what the original roots left.
There are really good newcomers in the scene. They are a bit like outsiders from the usual old dynamics of clubs, festivals, and booking agencies… a new crossover of techno with a fresh touch.
Production-wise, look at Alarico, Funk Assault, Rene Wise, the whole Hayes crew, Rebecca Delle Piane, and so many others. Actually, there are some in Vault Sessions’ agency ;)
When it comes to DJing, the list is even longer…
Who’s causing the most disruption or innovation in the scene right now?
Do you think younger DJs today are missing something by not having the opportunity to play extended sets more often?
After COVID, all the parameters in our network changed. From the people who go out to dance to the DJs who are already playing after one year in places that, in the past, were not for everyone but were actually the goal of a lifetime career.
Also, the meaning of long sets, of spontaneous long sets, is almost dead. Icons like Berghain now have a closing time limit. Instead, new places like RSO or Bassiani are more free and flexible. So, the concept of the long set as a goal is not so established anymore.
What’s your go-to post-set meal after a long night behind the decks?
A nice pizza and bananas. (Not with bananas… but and bananas) hahahah.
You’re stranded on a deserted island with only one track looping forever—which one is it?
Polynomial-C, Aphex Twin.
(Julia de Keijzer Photography)
(Julia de Keijzer Photography)
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(Julia de Keijzer Photography)