Richard Akingbehin – the tasteful selector known for his engrossing, soothing soundscapes and the driving force behind Berlin’s Refuge Worldwide and Kynant Records – made his Blitz debut in late March 2025, playing alongside DVS1 and Ogazón. It was a night shaped by deep cuts, subtle shifts and tactile Techno.
We’re pleased to share a recording of the first half of his opening set – and took the chance to ask Richard a few questions about the night, too.
Listen to the recording here – and don’t forget to follow Richard to stay updated on his upcoming sets and projects:
Tell us a bit about your experience at Blitz, where the mix was recorded – how did it feel to kick off the night?
I had been really looking forward to coming to Blitz for the first time after hearing so many good things, and also looking forward to warming up for two of my favourite DJs, Ogazón and DVS1.
We had a nice dinner and tour of the club so I felt relaxed. I don’t get so many chances to do opening sets anymore so I enjoyed playing some ambient and dub to start the night.
How did you feel about the mix afterwards – what were your first thoughts once the set was done?
I was happy! I kept it pretty deep for the whole 3.5 hours to leave Natalie plenty of room to dial up the party afterwards.
And how did it feel listening back to the recording? Was there anything you didn’t remember playing, or moments that surprised you?
I wanted to bring vinyl for this gig, which I don’t always do, so I got the opportunity to draw for a few records that I haven’t played in a while, stuff from Vester Koza and Levon Vincent for example. You can hear me working a bit harder on some transitions, as opposed to the pretty flawless-sounding CDJ mixing that is usual now. I quite enjoy hearing those moments of things sliding in and out of time a little bit. There is one nasty skip in this recording too, though, I don’t enjoy that one!
Do you recall any thoughts or instincts you had during the set that shaped your decisions behind the decks?
Not really, but I remember taking a few moments during the opening hours to step out into the middle of the dance floor and hear the music the way it’s intended for the floor.