DIY MUSIC CAREER Lab
Artist Empowerment Program
a free workshop series designed for musicians who want to build a sustainable, independent music career in Berlin.
Across a series of practical sessions, participants will gain tools to navigate the Berlin’smusic ecosystem, from collaboration and production to self-management, legal structures, funding, and live performance.
This program focuses on real-world knowledge: how to present your work, connect with others, release music, and develop your artistic identity without relying on traditional industry structures.
Led by Niki Yaghmaee, the program brings together guest facilitators from Berlin’s music and cultural scene, including Soheil Soheili, Pamela Owusu-Brenyah, Sebastian Hoffmann, Belén Marinato, Dornika, Marcela Villanueva, and Volker Greve. The lab combines workshops, discussions,
and hands-on sessions.
The program concludes with a live concert and recording opportunity, where participants present their work in a professional setting.
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funded by Musicboard Berlin GmbH.
Supported by:
DIY MUSIC CAREER LAB - Group Photo 8
DIY MUSIC CAREER LAB - Session 3 - Grow Your Presence - Guest Facilitator: Pamela Owusu-Brenyah
DIY MUSIC CAREER LAB - Session 1 - Define your artistic path - Facilitators: Niki Yaghmaee - Soheil Soheili
DIY MUSIC CAREER LAB - Group Photo 2
DIY MUSIC CAREER LAB - Session 4 - KNOW YOUR ARTIST RIGHTS - Guest Facilitator: Sebastian Hoffmann
DIY MUSIC CAREER LAB - Session 3 - Grow Your Presence - Guest Facilitator: Pamela Owusu-Brenyah
DIY MUSIC CAREER LAB - Session 3 - Grow Your Presence - Guest Facilitator: Pamela Owusu-Brenyah
DIY MUSIC CAREER LAB - DIY MUSIC CAREER LAB - Group Photo 5
DIY MUSIC CAREER LAB - Session 6 - YOUR CREATIVE NETWORK - Guest Facilitator: Belén Marinato
DIY MUSIC CAREER LAB - DIY MUSIC CAREER LAB - Group Photo 6a
DIY MUSIC CAREER LAB - DIY MUSIC CAREER LAB - Group Photo 7
DIY MUSIC CAREER LAB - DIY MUSIC CAREER LAB - Group Photo 6b
DIY MUSIC CAREER LAB - Session 7 - OWN YOUR ARTISTIC VOICE - Guest Facilitator: Dornika
DIY MUSIC CAREER LAB - Session 10 - INSIDE THE STUDIO - Guest Facilitator: Volker Greve
DIY MUSIC CAREER LAB - Session 8 - ACCESS AND SECURE FUNDING - Guest Facilitator: Marcela Villanueva
DIY MUSIC CAREER LAB - DIY MUSIC CAREER LAB - Group Photo 9
DIY MUSIC CAREER LAB - Session 9 - LAUNCH YOUR RELEASE - Guest Facilitator: Soheil Soheili
DIY MUSIC CAREER LAB - Session 10 - INSIDE THE STUDIO - Guest Facilitator: Volker Greve
DIY MUSIC CAREER LAB - Group Photo 10
DIY MUSIC CAREER LAB - Group Photo 11
DIY MUSIC CAREER LAB - Session 11 - NOTES ON YOUR MIX - Guest Facilitator: Volker Greve
Micro Performances
Meet, Greet & Connect in Berlin
Six unique shows. One evening of live music, discovery, and creative exchange.
Experience six emerging artists, each presenting a unique 10–13 minute live performance, creating an evening of diverse sounds, fresh ideas, and new connections.
Come to discover new music, support independent artists, and enjoy an inspiring night with Berlin's creative community. Whether you're a music lover or a creative professional, everyone is welcome.
LINEUP
• Maréy
Vocals, Guitar, Loop Station
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• JUANA
Bass, Loops
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• Katherina Papadopoulos
Flute, Vocals, Loops
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• Trad
Vocals, Piano, Backing Track
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• Avespectrum
Violin
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• SCHULD & SCHAM
Drums, Vocals, Synth
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Doors Open: 19:00
Performances Start: 19:30
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Before the performances, during the break, and after the show, stay for a relaxed meet & greet
with the artists and audience.
Whether you're a musician, producer, filmmaker, photographer, visual artist, curator, or simply a music lover, it's a chance to meet new people, exchange ideas, and become part of Berlin's creative community.
- Community Board -
• Share the services you offer •
• Post opportunities you're looking for •
• Find collaborators for future projects •
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NOISY CREATURES is part of
the DIY Music Career Lab by Borderless Creatures
funded by Musicboard Berlin GmbH.
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Tickets
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Full Program
may - august 2026
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DEFINE YOUR ARTISTIC PATH
21 May 2026
Guest Facilitator: Soheil Soheili
-Introductions, artist bios, and defining personal & professional goals-
Every journey starts with clarity.
In this session, we explore your artistic identity, your direction, and what you want to build in Berlin. Through reflection and exchange, you shape the foundation of your path.
Theaterhaus Mitte, Berlin
11:00 – 14:00
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Plan COLLABORATION AND PRODUCTION
28 May 2026
Guest Facilitator: Soheil Soheili
-Collaborative production planning and communication-
Music grows through connection.
Learn how to work with others, develop ideas together, and structure collaborative processes into clear musical outcomes.
Theaterhaus Mitte, Berlin
11:00 – 14:00
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GROW YOUR PRESENCE
4 June 2026
Guest Facilitator: Pamela Owusu-Brenyah
-Freelancing strategies, artist branding, and digital presence-
Your presence starts before the stage.
Explore freelancing strategies, how to get booked, and how to position yourself as an artist. Build visibility without losing your identity.
Theaterhaus Mitte, Berlin
11:00 – 14:00
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KNOW YOUR ARTIST RIGHTS
11 June 2026
Guest Facilitator: Sebastian Hoffmann
-Legal frameworks, contracts, and social security for artists in Germany-
Understanding the system is part of surviving it.
Get insight into contracts, legal basics, and how to protect your work and income as an independent artist in Germany.
Theaterhaus Mitte, Berlin
11:00 – 14:00
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OWN YOUR LIVE Show
18 June 2026
Guest Facilitator: Soheil Soheili
-Technical setup, stage presence, and performance preparation-
Performance is more than playing.
Work on stage awareness, technical setup, and how to connect with your audience. Turn your music into a live experience.
Theaterhaus Mitte, Berlin
11:00 – 14:00
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YOUR CREATIVE NETWORK
25 June 2026
Guest Facilitator: Belén Marinato
-Collaboration methods, working with venues, and curatorial thinking-
Berlin runs on connections.
Learn how to work with artists, approach venues, and build meaningful collaborations within the music scene.
Theaterhaus Mitte, Berlin
11:00 – 14:00
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OWN YOUR ARTISTIC VOICE
2 July 2026
Guest Facilitator: Dornika
-Identity, visibility, and empowerment for queer, FLINTA*, and BIPoC artists-
Your voice deserves space.
Reflect on identity, visibility, and artistic direction, and strengthen your position as an artist in today’s cultural landscape.
Theaterhaus Mitte, Berlin
11:00 – 14:00
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ACCESS AND SECURE FUNDING
9 July 2026
Guest Facilitator: Marcela Villanueva
-Writing successful applications-
Funding is a skill.
Learn how to navigate Berlin’s funding system and turn your ideas into strong applications.
Theaterhaus Mitte, Berlin
11:00 – 14:00
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LAUNCH YOUR RELEASE
16 July 2026
Guest Facilitator: Soheil Soheili
-Digital distribution and metadata management-
Your music deserves to be heard.
Understand how to release your work, manage metadata, and navigate distribution as an independent artist.
Theaterhaus Mitte, Berlin
11:00 – 14:00
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INSIDE THE STUDIO
18 July 2026
Guest Facilitator: Volker Greve
-Collective improvisation and recording session-
From idea to sound.
A collaborative jam and recording session where you experiment, create, and capture your music in a professional studio setting.
Greve Studio, Berlin
11:00 – 14:00
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NOTES ON YOUR MIX
25 July 2026
Guest Facilitator: Volker Greve
-Mixing and mastering workflow for independent releases-
The final touch defines everything.
Dive into mixing and mastering workflows and learn how to prepare your sound for release across platforms.
Greve studio, Berlin
11:00 – 14:00
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LIVE ON STAGE
“Noisy Creatures”
21 August 2026
Public showcase concert
This is where it all comes together.
Studio DB, Berlin
19:30
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If you would like to stay connected and be the first to hear about upcoming opportunities, please fill out the form below.
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Meet the facilitators
Niki Yaghmaee is a Berlin-based Iranian multi-instrumentalist, composer, and music producer. Classically trained in viola and violin, his work spans experimental music, alternative hip-hop, electroacoustic production, and sound design. As co-founder of Duos Duet, he blends cinematic, classical, and Iranian influences in international performances. Supported by a Berlin Senate Scholarship, Niki brings strong insight into the Berlin music scene and practical expertise in DIY self-promotion, improvisation-based collaboration, and community building. In 2025, he co-led the UdK Berlin / Artist Training course “Building Your Music Life in Berlin”, mentoring early-career musicians in freelancing, networking, and artistic self-management. In the same year, he founded Borderless Creatures, a Berlin-based collective organizing genre-free concerts and workshops focused on acoustic instruments, experimental collaboration, and transcultural exchange.
Soheil Soheili is a Berlin-based Iranian multimedia artist, label producer, sound collector, and radio maker. He began as a musician, DJ, and audio engineer before building an international career through music publications. Since launching aNoise in 2019—the independent label bridging experimental electronic and contemporary classical music between Iran and Germany—Soheil has collaborated with initiatives, platforms, collectives, and festivals, forging vital international connections. As a recipient of the "Artists and Cultural Actors at Risk" scholarship from the Martin Roth Initiative, he relocated to Berlin in 2023 and has since published several music albums and organized many music events. He draws on his sound theory background and post-production expertise to mentor emerging talent with practical, hands-on skills. In 2025, he co-led UdK Berlin's "Building Your Music Life in Berlin" Artist Training course, guiding musicians through independent releases, collaboration, and technical foundations. His practice centers on high-quality sound, archiving, and fostering community across intercultural contexts.
Pamela Owusu-Brenyah is a Berlin-based freelance curator and music consultant working at the intersection of music, community, and politics, with a focus on contemporary African and diasporic culture. She has been active in Berlin’s cultural sector for several years, curating music programs and developing new formats. She is currently a curator of the Pop-Kultur Festival and the monthly Sound Base Berlin series at Haus der Kulturen der Welt, bringing together live performance, DJ sets, and conversations around Berlin’s music scenes. Pamela regularly serves as a jury member for funding programs including Musicboard Berlin, the Listen to Berlin Award, PopCamp, and Initiative Musik. Through her platform Afro x Pop, she initiates projects such as songwriting camps and unplugged sessions, creating spaces for artists from the African diaspora. As a board member of Music Women* Germany, she advocates for equality and visibility of FLINTA* in the music industry, and recently produced her first documentary, Adikoro – Women in Music Ghana.
Iranian-American artist Dornika has become an icon in Berlin’s queer underground scene. She is known for bold anthems such as “I Like Boys in a Miniskirt” and “Nobody Fing Owns My Body”*, empowering listeners to challenge norms around gender, identity, and freedom. Her sound ranges from experimental and dark electronic to hyperpop and club-driven music, bringing a punk spirit to the dance floor. She works across multiple disciplines as a singer-songwriter, rapper, producer, activist, fashion designer, model, performance artist, and award-winning director. Dornika has performed over 150 shows across Europe, including appearances at Lollapalooza, Fusion, Garbicz, and Whole Festival, and collaborations with brands such as Spotify and Netflix.
Volker Greve is a Berlin-based sound engineer, composer, and educator with over 30 years of professional experience. Trained in percussion and jazz composition at the Robert Schumann Hochschule Düsseldorf and the Musikhochschule Köln, he has worked with institutions such as RIAS Berlin and the University of the Arts Berlin. Since 1996, he has directed Greve Studio Berlin, producing and engineering numerous recordings across jazz, classical, and contemporary music. He also teaches music production at the Hanns Eisler Hochschule and Jazz Institut Berlin, sharing his expertise with emerging artists.
Marcela Villanueva is a Berlin-based project manager and cultural producer specialized in public funding for the arts. She is the founder and director of Karne Kunst gUG, through which she develops and manages publicly funded projects in collaboration with institutions such as the Berlin Senate Department for Culture and Social Cohesion, Fonds Darstellende Künste, and European programs. Her work focuses on project development, grant writing, and financial management, supporting artists and organizations in accessing and sustaining public funding.
Belén Marinato is a cultural manager, programmer, and producer from Argentina. In 2022, she founded ardea, a platform promoting mainly women and queer artists from Latin America and the SWANA region. She has organized and programmed concert series such as BUMMM! Jam Sessions and RADAЯ, and led the artistic direction and coordination of RESONANCE, a residency for migrant FLINTA musicians. Belén has also worked on festivals including Pop-Kultur and MW:M, and regularly gives talks and workshops on production and community building. Since 2022, she has been part of the Performing Arts Programme (PAP Berlin), and since 2024, part of Lola Arias’s company production team. She also leads an artistic project with Chris Sergeant and Florencia Ondona.
Sebastian Hoffmann works at the German Centre of the International Theatre Institute (ITI), where he coordinates the “touring artists” help desk, advising on administrative regulations for cross-border work in all cultural disciplines. He studied North American and Film Studies at FU Berlin and Reed College (USA), and has worked as a music agent, promoter, and consultant for Music Pool Berlin and the Smart Cooperative.