Photo Credit: Jake Philip Davis
Charlotte de Witte’s long-awaited return to Printworks after 5 years – with Enrico Sangiuliano, Nastia & more on the line-up
Printworks’ SS22 season presented a highlight for techno lovers last Saturday. April 9th marked the return of Charlotte de Witte to the venue’s Press Halls after 5 years. The Belgian artist presented her event concept and boutique label KNTXT in an explosive show that brought together Italian DJ and producer Enrico Sangiuliano, Ukrainian selector Nastia, Indira Paganotto and ONYVAA, Berlin-based DJ and producer Alignment, and more in an 11-hour daytime event. The long-awaited gig was of course sold out.
The return of DJ and producer Charlotte de Witte to Printworks with her KNTXT brand promised to be no less than a show stopper for techno lovers – and as a verdict at the end of this ecstatic day, it can well be said that the promise was kept. The daytime event kicked off at 12 pm with Berlin-based Amotik, who warmed up the massive space of the Press Halls for up-and-coming artists Indira Paganotto B2B ONYVAA delivering an intense set of dark acid techno.
Beneath the vast Press Halls, in the more intimate space of Inkwells with its low ceilings and concrete pillars, Italian tech DJ/producer Akoriz was on opening duty with raw techno touching on acid cuts from 2 pm. Next on the line-up, Inkwells got steamy with Alignment’s energetic set that held the crowd in rapture from 4 to 6 pm. Security personnel frequently handed out water cups to the ravers stomping wildly to the tech beats that made the show room on the ground floor of the venue vibrate irresistibly. The craftily mixed enigmatic melodies and deep bass echoed into the massive hall leading to Inkwells and attracted more and more people into the dark-lit room. Alignment’s set proved to be a highlight of the day – the artist, who according to one voice from the crowd resembled a “hot math teacher”, taught the ravers a gripping lesson in techno.
Whilst the atmosphere at Inkwells was going positively frantic, Nastia was in hold of the crowd at the Press Halls and got them hooked with 140+ BPM techno, to which she was lustily dancing herself. After Nastia, Enrico Sangiuliano took control of the decks at the Press Halls which by now was fully crowded in its two areas, the Main Hall and the Live Box on the upstairs balustrades. At Inkwells, Antonio de Angelis was on from 6 pm, before handing over to DJ duo SHDW & Obscure Shape for their powerful closing set.
The sooner the time of Charlotte de Witte’s closing set at 8.30 pm was approaching, the more palpable the combined excitement of the audience at the Press Halls became. When Sangiuliano handed the decks over to his wife to be, de Witte, the stage in front of the fully packed room suddenly exuded a feeling of intimacy – before the sound of heavy tech beats got the crowd from cheerfully applauding to raving and stomping again. de Witte visibly enjoyed her set and the interaction with the delirious audience, which filled up the entire 3,328 sq. of combined space of the Press Halls.
The incredible light show and visuals on the screen behind the DJ stage transformed the mood of the gigantic industrial space increasingly into that of a post-apocalyptic awakening – at times de Witte was even playing underneath a tilted screen which displayed uber-dimensional melting lava over the heads of the front row ravers. The flashing visuals and the dark soundscape created a breathtaking scene to behold – whoever got hold of the sold-out tickets to KNTXT’s high-intensity show which marked de Witte’s return to one of the most unique London venues can tap themselves on their back. And most likely spent their Sunday resting their heavy stomping feet.
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