Berlin’s underground continues to shape global club culture, and few artists capture its spirit quite like ICTV. A dedicated vinyl digger with a sharp instinct for dancefloor energy, Christoph has carved out a distinctive lane that bridges UK-influenced tech house, early 2000s deep house, and contemporary club sounds. Whether playing solo or as one half of Horsemen, his sets are rooted in deep musical knowledge and an intuitive sense of flow.
With his latest contribution to the Intr0beatz Parallel Groove series, ICTV delivers a mix that reflects both his personal sound and the wider influences of life in Berlin. We caught up with him to talk about the mix, his creative process, and what continues to inspire him behind the decks.
Your latest mix for the Intr0beatz Parallel Groove series has just landed, what was your mindset going into this recording, and what kind of journey did you want to create?
Tbh I don’t want to overexaggerate this. When doing mixes I always like to play some stuff that I usually don’t get to play in clubs very often but that is very dear to me. Often in the beginning there’s 1 or 2 tracks that I really love at the moment and they’re kind of dictating the mood and everything else is built around that. The mix starts a bit more laid back and then moves into more clubby territory and then a kind of end of the night track at the end. I always try to put a bit of these 3 things into a mix, although 1 hour has it’s limitations.
How does this mix represent where you are musically right now compared to your previous sets or productions?
This mix definitely shows my love for the sound from the early 2000s Deep and Tech House which is where I get most of my inspiration from. There’s just something about that sound that works so well for open airs or afterhours which are my favorite sets to play. When there’s no peak time pressure.
Can you tell us a bit about your relationship with Intr0beatz and how that connection first came about?
I met Intr0beatz in Berlin last year when he was living here for a bit. He was around the same studio and friend circle so we quickly got in touch. We started geeking out about the usual music related stuff and became friends.
You’re known as a dedicated vinyl digger, how does digging influence the way you approach building a mix like this?
Normally I have just 1,2 or 3 tracks in a certain mood that inspire a whole mix and the mood. Sometimes, as with this mix, it can really draw you into a certain era or style. Digging a lot has definitely helped shaped my understanding of the different genres of house and where they came from.
What, in your opinion, separates a good DJ mix from a truly great one?
Mostly I would say you can hear if people give it some thought before they start recording.
When you’re crafting a mix, how much of it is planned versus instinctive in the moment?
A Podcast DJ Mix is always planned but sometimes I change things while I’m recording. When DJing at a party it’s always spontaneous.
Are there any DJ mixes from other artists that have had a lasting impact on you or that you keep coming back to?
These 3 are recent ones that I really enjoyed:
How do you approach the balance between late-night depth and peak-time energy in your sets?
That really depends on the set time and the venue size as well. Smaller venues allow more late-night vibes I feel. But in general I feel that’s always a tricky one, I just like sets that are a bit dynamic, so I try to switch it up every now and then instead of just playing banger after banger, as I feel that can get boring.
You have distinct outputs as ICTV and as part of Horsemen, how do these projects differ creatively, and what allows you to explore different sides of your sound through each?
Yes Horsemen certainly has a bit more peak time and straight forward vibe, more roughness. Which I enjoy a lot. For my solo work I like to explore a bit deeper sound. At least that’s how it is at the moment.
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