MZR & Indigo Plateaux— Only by accepting all groups as a whole can we really get on with existing together— Interview with the bRAVEs

MZR & Indigo Plateaux came together for a special house oriented b2b set at Giri berlin for the bRAVEs’ 3rd anniversary fundraising event. We spoke with both about the community, techno and queer PoC.

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MZR - Berlin-based producer, promoter, DJ, co-founder of SYXT, MZRRECORDS and Catalyst Community - has been shaping minimal techno since 2012, infusing it with tribal rhythms and live elements. A drummer at heart, he crafts hypnotic, raw soundscapes that draw listeners in, offering both depth and escape. His intricate beats and unexpected twists keep his music fresh and evolving. Driven by the pursuit of connection, his sound resonates, hitting hard while opening minds—his signature raw energy making every track unmistakably his own.

Indigo Plateaux - a key figure in Berlin’s techno and house scene, blending black queer culture with pulsating beats. Originally from Maplewood, New Jersey, their passion for electronic music began early and deepened in New York’s underground scene. In Berlin, they found their voice as a producer and DJ, crafting hypnotic, genre-blurring sets that celebrate liberation and self-expression. A fierce advocate for POC/LGBTQ+ representation, Indigo uses their platform to foster inclusivity, ensuring their impact resonates far beyond the dancefloor.

the bRAVEs: How did you get into music?

Indigo: It’s hard to say exactly when I noticed I was into music. My father was a DJ and vinyl collector, so I grew up with over 40,000 records in my house. There was basically a club sound system in my basement. Being so immersed from a young age makes it a bit difficult to even notice music, and because it was something my Dad was so heavily involved in, I was a bit resistant to the idea of interacting with it.

I didn’t start intentionally involving myself with music until I was 14, when I found a bass at my friends house. The second my hands touched the strings I was hooked, and I haven’t been able to stop since.

the bRAVEs: When and where could you play for the first time?

Indigo: I imagine by play you mean DJ? I actually didn’t touch DJing until 2021. I had been performing in bands since I was 16, and I was a wedding singer and cover band leader up until the time I left the US. The idea of DJing didn’t really shift from something I thought Dads did until I moved to Berlin and started interacting with the club scene. I still was working strictly in live music and production until Covid took away the ability to perform in public. Forced to find a new way to make money, my friend Rroxymore suggested that I give DJing a shot. It came frighteningly natural to me, I haven't been able to stop since that day. I did have to apologize a couple of times to my father.

the bRAVEs: You moved from the USA to Berlin.Have you ever regretted that?

Indigo: Not for a second. The US was very nurturing to my music career, but there was always something limiting about it. I never really felt like I belonged there, even from my childhood.

When I arrived in Berlin, even before I got off of the plane I felt something click in my soul, and I knew it would be my home.

I never had a club scene to interact with in the states. New York was too connected to my Dad, and always out of my price range. When I started getting involved with the club scene in Berlin it was like coming home after a long vacation. It was where I always belonged, and I still feel that way to this day.

the bRAVEs: How do you see the development of acceptance for queer PoC people outside the electronic music bubble these days?

Indigo: Oh this is a tricky one. I feel like the issue of acceptance with one community is the issue of acceptance with ourselves. I think so often we grow to accept one “group”, and race to isolate another. Now straight cis white people have become our new pariahs. Queer baiters. Dreaded white people. People love to throw ranks on things, and I think as long as we have this mentality acceptance will always be an issue. Humans need to learn where these vain reasons for division stem from, and that

only by accepting all groups as a whole can we really get on with existing together. We need to develop faith. We need to believe in higher powers.

We’re really terrible judges of each other without this. Yes I’m saying we all need God. Get over it. Your parents may have ruined this concept for you. Get over it.

the bRAVEs: Why did you decide to participate in a fundraising project?

Indigo: I participate with fund raising projects because that’s what music is for. It is political. It is a unifying magical force that heals and unites us. It allows us to perceive something higher than ourselves, and especially when there are events out of our control like the wars and violence occurring today, music is often one of the only things that can help us stay sane.

I’ve got fantastic music at my disposal, and I am always happy to use it for this.

the bRAVEs: You've been working as a DJ and producer in Berlin since 2012. How have you and your music changed since then?

MZR: My sound has changed a bit over time, but what shifted more is how I approach releasing music. I used to be a lot stricter with myself only putting out stuff that fit a certain idea. These days, I’ve loosened up on those rules. I share way more music that’s different from my main sound than I would’ve in the past. It feels more free that way.

the bRAVEs: You're co-owner of the SYXT label, with numerous releases. Why did you found your imprint MZRRECORDS in 2024?

MZR: It was simply about creating more space. SYXT (Opens in a new window) is great, but it’s packed and planned out far in advance. With MZRRECORDS (Opens in a new window), I have the flexibility to release things more spontaneously and I can also explore genres outside of what we normally do on SYXT. It opens up more room, creatively and practically.

the bRAVEs: With your CATALYST COMMUNITY (Opens in a new window) event series you visit a wide variety of locations. What is the goal of the project?

MZR: Right now, the situation in Berlin is tough, spaces are limited and constantly changing. We have some events in the pipeline, but the main goal is to find a permanent home. A space where we can bring together music, art, market spaces, and our culture in a way that feels consistent and grounded.

Interview was first published (Opens in a new window) on June 5, 2025

PHOTOS by
Alexander Weigandt (Opens in a new window)

INTERVIEW by
vdm.berlin (Opens in a new window)

Indigo Plateaux
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MZR
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the bRAVEs — Electronic Music Berlin
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