MCMLXXXV x CEM & Herrensauna: Chaos, Care, and a Global Queer-Techno Empire

If Berlin is techno’s spiritual home, Herrensauna is its pulsing queer heart. Born as a late-night gathering in 2015, the party has exploded into a global force—exporting the raw, sweaty chaos of Berlin’s underground to dance floors from New York to Seoul. At the centre of it all is MCMLXXXV, the DJ and co-founder whose sets embody the party’s core ethos: uncompromising, heavy, and alive with risk.

Herrensauna started as a space carved out for queer misfits who didn’t see themselves in the polished, hetero-heavy club world. The name—cheeky and subversive—hinted at a space where liberation and hedonism could intertwine. What began in smaller Berlin venues has since grown into one of the city’s defining club nights, with residencies, touring events, and a reputation for marathon sessions that don’t just soundtrack a weekend but alter it.

MCMLXXXV (born in 1990, hence the moniker) stands at the centre of this empire. Their sound is punishing yet precise: walls of industrial techno broken by unexpected curves, noise, and moments of pure emotional release. It’s not music for passive listening—it demands bodies, sweat, and surrender. Their sets feel less like a DJ performance and more like ritual, carrying dancers into the ecstatic unknown.

But Herrensauna isn’t just about volume or excess—it’s about care. The collective built its reputation on curating spaces where queer identities aren’t just tolerated but celebrated, amplified, and made central. The vibe is chaotic yet intentional: dancers lose themselves completely, but there’s always a sense of safety, solidarity, and shared wildness. This is what sets Herrensauna apart—it’s more than a club night; it’s a community, a temporary utopia, and a challenge to what nightlife can be.

In less than a decade, Herrensauna has gone from a Berlin underground secret to a global stamp of quality. Their touring showcases in cities like Paris, London, and Amsterdam sell out instantly, carrying the spirit of Berlin into new contexts while never diluting its essence. Alongside the parties, the collective has expanded into a label, releasing music from its residents and affiliates, creating a sonic archive of its vision.

2025 finds Herrensauna in full cultural takeover mode. MCMLXXXV’s sets headline festivals, the brand continues to export its chaos to international capitals, and the Herrensauna name has become shorthand for a queer techno revolution. Yet, despite its growth, the spirit remains the same: sweaty, subversive, and deeply rooted in the idea that nightlife is not just entertainment, but resistance, expression, and survival.

Herrensauna isn’t simply a party. It’s proof that when community, creativity, and chaos collide, an empire can rise—not built on institutions or tradition, but on dance floors, collective sweat, and the refusal to play it safe. And at the centre of that empire, MCMLXXXV stands like a high priest of the rave, guiding bodies into ecstasy, one relentless beat at a time.