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Name: Contact ⁣ Location: Tokyo, Japan ⁣ Regular artists: Fumiya Tanaka, Wata Igarashi, Mars89, DJ Masda, Lena Willikens, François K ⁣ ⁣ “We were supposed to have our fourth anniversary at the beginning of April, however we had to close in March in order to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Bars and nightclubs were strongly recommended to close by the Japanese government, although these measures were voluntary. We reopened in July, asking everyone to wear a mask. We also check body temperatures and provide hand sanitiser gel at the entrance and in the club. Our dancefloor has been marked with luminous tape to encourage social distancing; it can be difficult for people to follow, but having the measure in place is better than nothing. We’ve also limited our capacity, but many people are still avoiding clubs; they chose to go to open-air events over the summer instead. We’re open but still losing money. Our space might be a bit too big for now; some DJs don’t want to play indoors yet, and we can’t have international DJs. Everyone has been thinking about the future of our scene, some promoters have started to think that they don’t need international headliners anymore. I think that’s kind of healthy, local DJs are the lifeblood of the scene. But also, the rest of the world will not be so distant once we can travel freely, so I’m looking forward to sharing music with all of our favourite friends and artists from around the world. I’m really hoping all our friends survive this pandemic, and stay true to the music we believe in.” – Yuko Ichikawa, programming and PR director ⁣ ⁣ Tokyo is famous for its audiophile-friendly listening bars, but the city’s thriving music scene also owes a lot to a cluster of world-class nightclubs. One of the best-loved is Contact, a house and techno haven hidden within a Shibuya car park. Many of the most revered selectors on the planet regularly stop by here; Fumiya Tanaka is practically part of the family, and plenty more fly in from Europe, USA and beyond. And like at those listening cafes that placed Tokyo’s scene on the map, every guest arrives ready to settle in for an absorbing listening experience.

Name: 宀 Club ⁣ Location: Sheung Wan, Hong Kong⁣ Regular artists: Mr. Ho, Nanogram, Misty Penguin, Sunsiaré, Youry, Hodge⁣ ⁣ “We opened in 2018 and just as we were getting off our feet, our city was hit by uncertainty. Even before the pandemic, things were tough, meaning we were somehow more prepared when it did. We’re lucky and grateful to be in a society that is very health-conscious, keeping the cases low. When a wave comes, we have to close our doors, but thanks to everyone’s efforts we were able to open again safely. There is a silver lining; the situation has encouraged us to look inwards. With no international bookings, the local community of DJs and artists has come together with endless support. We are now building new collaborations with Hong Kong based collectives, and it is very exciting. We’re hopeful when this difficult time passes, the electronic music scene here will be stronger than ever.” – 宀 Club⁣ ⁣ 宀 is a Chinese radical that roughly translates as “shelter”, which speaks to this team’s underlying vision. The recently-opened Hong Kong venue prides itself on being a safe space, where the promotion of freedom and self-expression has nurtured a diverse community of music lovers. The room boasts superb acoustics and a Funktion-One system, and it only holds about 100 people at a push. But if you do make it inside, you’re always sure to find exceptionally skilled locals spinning to a loving crowd of dancers.⁣

Name: Oven Club ⁣ Location: Valencia, Spain⁣ Regular guests: Molly, Tama Sumo, Sugar Free, Philipp Boss ⁣ ⁣ “Oven Club has been working hard since 2013 to offer quality music that stands out from the rest of the local scene. Since I joined the club, working alongside Pau, Dario, Laura, Alber and Sueezo, we’ve bult Oven’s brand as a major reference point for electronic music, specifically house, techno and electro. There’s long been an active music scene in Valencia, dating back to the Old Valencian rhythms of the 80s and 90s. In current times, however, we’ve temporarily closed as a result of the legal restrictions brought on by COVID-19. However, we believe in the loyalty of our frequent guests and members of Oven Club, and the fact that they all rely on us encourages us to carry on in spite of the difficulties. Oven Club’s fans make the club what it is. We owe it to every member and guest to work through this until we can reopen.” – David Lopez AKA Pin, founder and resident DJ ⁣ ⁣ If you’ve never been to Oven Club, the Valencia venue’s list of talented regulars should give you a hint at the kind of place it is. On a busy night, they play to a crowd of 200 dancers, most of whom are knowledgeable club kids from all over Valencia. It’s one of the few places on Spain’s southeastern coast where world-class DJs are invited to spin until sunrise, making its cultural impact all the more significant.

Name: Smartbar ⁣ Location: Chicago, USA⁣ Regular artists: DJ Heather, Derrick Carter, Honey Dijon, Little Louie Vega ⁣ ⁣ “The last party/event was my residency night Lake Effect at Smartbar. Held in conjunction with the long-running Daphne series, I played alongside local great Leesh and special guest Christy Love of New York’s Get Up Recordings. There was definitely a sense of uncertainty in the air that night. I think we all knew it was going to be the last night the club would be open for who knows how long. Looking back I thought the pause would be temporary, just a couple weeks, and things would get back to the familiar. I know we will get there again. I've been doing what has felt right for me and trying to not give into “pandemic productivity” pressure. If Chicago can rebound after a fire the city can and will do the same after Covid.” – DJ Heather, resident DJ ⁣ ⁣ There’s no denying it: Chicago is one of the best places in the world for music. The city that gave us Kanye West and The Smashing Pumpkins is also, of course, the birthplace of house music, and it’s still a fertile hotbed for the electronic music scene’s stars of today. It’s not a coincidence that a lot of them gravitate towards Smartbar, a 400-capacity nightclub that’s been the centre point of the local nightlife landscape since 1982. The club’s residents are as good as it gets anywhere in the world; even Frankie Knuckles called this place home back in the day. One of the best-loved parties is Queen! Sundays, especially when it’s Derrick Carter and Michael Serafini on the controls. But Smartbar is much more than a house club, and the cutting-edge music policy that takes in everyone from Elena Colombi to Josey Rebelle has only cemented its legendary status.

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Name: Phonotheque⁣ Location: Montevideo, Uruguay⁣ Regular artists: Dj Koolt, Nicolas Lutz, Z@p, Santiago Uribe, Christian Bonanata, Kino ⁣ ⁣ “Today Phonotheque remains closed due to the world health emergency situation. As a consequence, the club has opened its doors only once this year for its opening on 7th March, and many people were unable to experience the new programme that the club had prepared for this year. Due to the difficult situation, we launched a marathon programme of more than 36 hours of uninterrupted music as a live stream, with Phonotheque’s resident artists and several guests from the Montevidean scene. This left us very happy and grateful for the response and support we received from the public. We look forward to meeting again soon. We have a great desire to share what we love to do so much.” – Phonotheque ⁣ ⁣ If you’re into Nicolas Lutz or Z@p, you’ll love Phonotheque. The Montevideo venue is a South America institution, one that nurtured the modern “Uruguayan sound” years before the rest of the world caught onto it. The proponents of this style are the kind that dig tirelessly across genres for old and new weapons to play, a dedication that feels all the more profound given South America’s relative lack of record shops and online retailers. They mostly favour a heady blend of techno, electro and tech house, and all of them (including Lutz) were influenced by Phonotheque’s prized resident and godfather of the scene: Dj Koolt.⁣

Name: Zukunft ⁣ Location: Zürich, Switzerland ⁣ Regular artists: Manuel Fischer, Jamira Estrada, Kalabrese, Alex Dallas ⁣ ⁣ “The last few months have been challenging times as the future was so uncertain, and the question was if we would be able to continue our club. Now the situation in Switzerland has slowly changed. The authorities have allowed clubs to open since 6th June, working with a maximum capacity of 300 people and opening hours from midnight till 5am. We’re giving it a try. It is difficult to plan ahead, but we’ll try to find some opportunities through these limitations, explore new possibilities and become more flexible and creative. Once again the only constant that we are facing is change.” – Alex Dallas, co-founder, programmer and resident DJ⁣ ⁣ Looking for high-quality electronic music in Zürich? You’ll find it at Zukunft. The Swiss institution does it all from deep, sub-drenched bass to dreamy house and gritty electro, served up by both trusted locals and international guests. The club was launched by a small team of music lovers including Alex Dallas and Kalabrese, who are both still holding things down as residents 15 years later.

Name: D-Edge ⁣⁣ Location: São Paulo, Brazil ⁣⁣ Regular artists: Renato Ratier, Ingrid, DJ Marky, Adnan Sharif, DJ Murphy ⁣⁣ ⁣⁣ “At the beginning of Covid, D-Edge had to close and therefore I went to nature to take care of my health and relax, and I also recorded a couple of live streams from there. I spent most of the time reading books, listening to music and thinking about the future. I think it was actually good to “take a break” a bit and plan the next steps for D-Edge, after its 20-year anniversary. It was a chance to get some fresh inspiration. There was a lot of reflection during quarantine, and at first it was very hard and affected me a lot. I imagine that my colleagues felt the same as I did, the Brazilian market and scene was (and still is) suffering a lot. I needed to go to nature and retreat to feel better, because in order to put something creative out, you have to feel good. During this period, we did many broadcasts as a club and collected donations for underprivileged groups through our streams. We’re now also redesigning our main dancefloor, and we think it’s going to look even more beautiful for our audience once the pandemic is over. We are eagerly looking forward to be back, because 2021 should be a very important year with important plans. We will reveal these soon, so stay tuned!” – Renato Ratier, founder and resident DJ ⁣⁣ ⁣⁣ The first time you walk into D-Edge, it’s impossible not to be struck by the futuristic LED surrounding the main room. But the São Paulo club offers more than crazy visuals, and the addition of killer sound, an open-minded crowd, and a regular rotation of superb DJs have helped make it one of Brazil’s most cherished dancing spots. The music varies depending on the night of the week you visit, with the world’s best in house, techno and experimental electronic sounds regularly stopping by for the club’s flagship Saturday night party, Mothership. Drum & bass also informs the venue’s core sound; DJ Marky’s regular homecoming sessions are always unmissable. In 2019, the crew helped us celebrate our 20th anniversary in style, while this year they mark two decades at the forefront of the Brazilian scene. ⁣⁣

Name: RED58⁣ Location: Barcelona, Spain⁣ Regular artists: Omar M, TC80, Moritz Von Oswald, DJ Masda⁣ ⁣ “Our industry has been one of the most affected by this crisis; no one has escaped its reach. Given our location in Barcelona, government support has been limited, and the club scene is not considered a cultural necessity. During this time of reflection, we have been reminded of everything we've done and fought for to preserve and develop our culture. Though it is unclear exactly when and how clubs will be able to re-open throughout Spain, we keep our red fire burning and remain true to our vision. They say “you don't know what you've got, until it’s gone”. Perhaps the time has come for music to start filling our hearts once again. Consciousness, health and humanity – the three words that should define our “new” reality.” – Omar Melendez AKA Omar M, founder, programmer and resident DJ⁣ ⁣ Barcelona is blessed with plenty of amazing places to dance, but RED58 has managed to stand out by keeping things simple. On weekends, talented selectors both local and renowned spin to a small crowd of likeminded heads. The room stays dark apart from a set of hot red lighting panels, which only adds to the intimate vibe on the floor. ⁣

Name: Pratersauna⁣ Location: Vienna, Austria⁣ Regular artists: Max Wanderer, Anna Ullrich, Nicolas Lutz, Âme⁣ ⁣ “Starting in the beginning of March 2020, it’s the first time in four years that our doors have stayed closed during the weekends. As for many of our colleagues, it took us some time to get used to a completely new situation, and despite all shock or anger, use the time to move forward in different ways to usual. Although we live in Vienna, a city with an incomparable cultural history, our government somehow managed to do as they always do, and have completely ignored club culture since the lockdown started. We’re still waiting for clearer answers and more attention to our scene. On the upside, it’s been phenomenal to see the overwhelming amount of creativity that hit the population – not just here, but globally. We experienced a never-before-seen wave of connectivity throughout every kind of industry and artistry. If it’s the countless live streams or transforming a car park into a physically distanced drive-in rave, people have come up with unique ideas and endless ways of solving problems or finding solutions. Hopefully the rebirth of the dance music scene will be as refreshing as it is for us to slow down, take a deep breath and revitalise what seemed unchangeable.” – Max Wanderer, programmer and resident DJ ⁣ ⁣ There’s a lot of charm to Pratersauna, Vienna’s famous sauna-turned-nightclub. Maybe it’s the unfussy interior, or the functioning swimming pool in the garden, or the club’s beloved “Captain” who never misses a night, but the venue has a distinctive character that’s hard not to fall in love with. Head to Schlaflos to find Europe’s minimal elite in their element.

The final track of our final party before we closed our doors earlier on this year, played by Slow Life’s Laurine and Cecilio. The disco has felt eerily empty since then, and it goes without saying that we can’t wait to welcome you all back. ⁣ ⁣ Nights like this are everything to us. We hope to be able to host many more once it’s safe to do so, and we know that many of you are also craving a communal dancing experience. The nightclubs that provide these experiences enrich our lives – they are vital hubs for music, art and culture. ⁣ ⁣