When Markus Lindner began shopping at Berlin record shop OYE some 15 years ago, the storefront was known for its South American and obscure funk selections, hardly selling any house and techno records at all. Today, OYE is a critical point on the musical map of the world’s techno capital – and Lindner has gone from customer to clerk to partner in the business. Now split between its original Prenzlauer Berg digs and a smaller outpost in hip Kreuzkölln, OYE is a manifestation of Berlin’s creative energy: it’s staffed by up-and-coming locals (and, in the case of alums like Max Graef and Florian Kupfer, has played a key role in releasing their music) and frequented by top-flight DJs (Nina Kraviz and Mike Huckaby are regulars). Equally noteworthy are its in-store performances, which regularly spill out onto the cobblestones.
