Stephen Howe

Stephen Howe's set for Keep Hush X Rhythm Section in Berlin is a love letter to the dance floor — a journey through house, tech house, trance, and techno that feels like a night out in three acts. It's the kind of set that reminds you why we queue in the cold. The room is dark, the Funktion-One rig is crisp, and the crowd is a mix of Berlin locals and Rhythm Section devotees, all moving as one. At 134 BPM average, the set is a steady four-on-the-floor affair, with a heavy lean on 12A (seven out of twelve tracks). The energy is low-mid heavy (0.6779 low, 0.2768 mid), meaning the DJ prioritizes groove and vocal hooks over screaming leads.

The mixing is smooth and thoughtful, often using long blends to move between keys. Prince Of Dance's 'Move & Dance' is a cheeky, piano-driven opener that sets a euphoric tone. DJ Vibe's 'The Underground' is a classic Portuguese house cut, while Nic Fanciulli's 'Set Me Free' (Franky Rizardo Remix) brings modern tech house polish. The curveball is Sash!'s 'Mysterious Times' — a trance classic that, in context, feels like a loving wink to rave history. Space 92's 'Apollo' is a peak-time techno weapon that shows Howe's range.

Hysteric Ego's 'Want Love' closes with a soulful, stripped-back house groove. Opening with Prince Of Dance's joyful piano, the set builds through DJ Vibe and Jodie Harsh's 'My House' into a peak around Space 92's 'Apollo' — a driving, hypnotic techno monster. It then eases into Hysteric Ego's 'Want Love', a warm, vocal-led comedown that leaves the crowd smiling.