S Ruston
DJ | Producer | Promoter
S Ruston is a Berlin-based DJ, producer and resident of the femme-forward event and collective Lecken, and resident of the theatrical techno basement/house party Wilde Renate.
Sophie’s boisterous sound covers breakbeat, UK bass and old-school rave fused into techno. With such a robust collection of sounds under her belt, she beguilingly combines them together as a way to unlock any inhibitions her audience might have, and invoke a primal feeling on the dancefloor.
Having crafted her sonic aesthetic and profile amongst the ‘dubstep of her butch uncles’ in Bristol, Sophie barrelled through the scene of the south-west through her distinct and fearless approach to experimenting with genres outside of the city’s dubstep bubble.
It wasn’t long before Berlin enticed her over from the UK permanently. Here that she gained ‘political cognisance, loving relationships, and healthy stamina’ and soon became a prominent artist on the queer and sex-positive party scene in the city, celebrated for her incandescent energy and scintillating track selection.
As a DJ, her booking schedule over the years has included stints at Berghain's Säule, Unfold, TrashEra, Buttons, Whole Festival, Pornceptual, HTBX, KILLEKILL, Krake festival, Bassiani and even a televised performance for the Berlin Mauerfall #30 at Brandenburg gate where she whacked out a potent blend of breakbeat bangers to an of audience of at least 100,000.
You can almost feel the warmth radiating from the photo Sophie has selected. It’s a profound memory for her, particularly during this time, and she explains more about it and the photographer behind the lens…
Where was this photo taken and why did you choose it?
This photo is by Serge Garcia - a photographer, film maker and producer based in Berlin and this was on set of a music video he was making for one of his tracks.
It's shot at Sans Soucis in Potsdam (close to Berlin) and the inspiration for the video came from footage of people partying at Castle Donington in 84' and the whole Second Summer of Love - the juxtaposition of people raving against a historical, royal backdrop.
We were playing his track which is a ravey number from a boom box and my friend Rafi, my dog Pipo and I were just getting our heads into that space and dancing freely. It was the most beautiful, crisp winter’s day and there was just such a feeling of infinite space. It was a very special day. I thought of this picture first because I received the stills at the beginning of the lockdown and again the feeling of those memories now very much in opposition of what us humans are experiencing now.
How has the pandemic affected your job(s)?
I was / am very fortunate enough to say that DJing and Producing is my 'day job' and yes I had those tense few days in which I saw the first few months ahead of me get cancelled and postponed. And to now where I've just accepted that the rest of the year is also most likely cancelled or postponed or who knows? My current mantra is 'Acceptance, adapt & survive'!
If you’re working from home, what kind of music are you listening to at the moment?
I love to soundtrack my moods and enhance them either way and that’s what I do a lot. However in the last few weeks I've been swapping music with the fellow artists represented by Assemble agency and that has been soooooooo inspiring. I have a dog so I start the day listening to shared music or a mix one of my friends has made (there are a lot of mixes being made right now!) - then it really gets my creative thoughts flowing and inspires me to sit down in my studio once I'm at home and make a 'response' to all of the incredible new material I've just heard.
If you’re feeling overwhelmed or anxious, do you have a go-to track or style of music that significantly lifts your spirits?
Actually I tend not to listen to music when I'm feeling like that as I find nothing really hits the spot. I still enjoy music when I'm feeling sad - but when I'm anxious and stressed I tend to shut out the sound quite literally. When I come out the other side I have such a glorious connection with music that it feels like the process just had to happen like that for me.
How do you intend on celebrating once we’re out the other side?
Well I feel like I'm in the perfect city for 'the other side' although I have a sneaky suspicion I will feel overwhelmed and the pressure of having 'the most amazing time' when having suffered various traumas in my life - I understand that it doesn't really work like that. I don't believe it will be a sudden switch with instantaneous relief - it will be an unravelling process with many emotions, magic moments, moments of grief and so on.
I will mostly just want to be in a massive cuddle puddle with my dear friends and/or to lose myself in a sweaty club corner. To be reunited with the DJ booth will also feel verrrrrrrrrry good, I know I will feel a strong responsibility to guide all of the dancing bodies through the myriad of emotions collectively.
Any tips on how to look after your mind and body during this slightly stressful time, as well as trying to stay motivated?
Ooooof I think we all have our own ways of dealing with this but something I have adopted over the years is if I don't have the strength to do something for myself, I do it for my friends and my community. The world is a tough and often unforgiving place so rule number one is to be kind to yourselves, honour your feelings and what your body is saying it needs, try not to punish yourself. It's ok to just feel like shit and do nothing. Reach out and communicate at whatever rate feels good for you. I'm very much motivated and driven by the people that surround me - they are the glue that holds me together - check in with each other.
S Ruston plays HÖR Radio tonight at 21:00 CET, keep an eye on the radio’s Facebook page here and follow her below: