On Scene: RAW78 On Leipzig’s Clubs, Culture And The Energy Behind ‘Lost In Motion’
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Leipzig has quietly become one of Germany’s most intriguing creative cities. Less crowded than Berlin but equally shaped by art, music and independent culture, the Saxon capital has developed a reputation for open-minded communities and a strong underground identity. It is the city RAW78 calls home, and the environment that continues to shape his approach to electronic music.
The timing feels right. RAW78 recently joined forces with vocalist Samara on ‘Lost In Motion’, released via Vibe Chemistry’s Make Your Era imprint. The track blends high-energy drum and bass with emotional clarity, pairing rolling percussion and wide bass pressure with a vocal that anchors the record’s scale. Designed for large systems yet equally effective in club settings, the release marks a clear step forward in RAW78’s production journey.
To understand where that sound comes from, it helps to start with the place itself.
“I am from Leipzig, the biggest city in Saxony. It is often called ‘Klein-Paris’, which means ‘little-Paris’, and is compared to Berlin as being kind of the same city but less crowded. I feel like the people here are the most open-minded in comparison to other cities in the state. Also, we have always had a huge art scene, and many creative people come to live here. That is what makes the city special to me.”
Like many producers rooted in club culture, RAW78’s musical instincts were shaped inside local venues rather than studios. One club in particular changed how he heard dance music.
“I found a love for House music because of a club called ‘Westhafen’. They have different floors, with 2 of them being outside. The ground is made of sand, so it feels like a beach when you're there in the summer.”
Beyond the larger spaces, Leipzig’s smaller rooms often carry just as much influence. One venue continues to stand out for its atmosphere and energy.
“There’s a club called ‘Absturz’. I am playing there quite often, and it’s always a crazy energy, despite the room only fitting like 150 people. It always feels like you're in a living room or like a cosy bar, and then you have heavy electronic music blasting, which gives it a very unique experience in my opinion.”
Outside the clubs, the city offers a different rhythm during the day. Creativity, like nightlife, often grows in the spaces between.
“When I want to reset from the ‘normal’ life, I am in the studio and just work on music. But sometimes you also need a break from being creative. At these times I love being on the Karl-Liebknecht-Street in the South of Leipzig.”
That same street also happens to host his regular food stop.
“Ramen 1974 on the just-mentioned Karl-Liebknecht-Street is my go-to food spot in the city. Just order the Tonkotsu Ramen, and you're happy. It's made like a Japanese alley with shops on the sides and the tables in between.”
Leipzig’s cultural personality is not tied to a single district, but two neighbourhoods capture its creative energy particularly well.
“This will offend a lot of people here, no matter what I say, but for me, it's either Connewitz (South) or Plagwitz (West). Both have that unique and creative flair I was talking about in my other answers.”
That sense of creative openness feeds directly into the city’s electronic scene and the mindset of artists building music within it.
“I don't know if it's just me, but you can just feel the creativity people have in this city. I think that might be the thing that inspires me the most.”
Despite the city’s evolution, Leipzig still faces misconceptions from outsiders unfamiliar with its culture.
“I think because we're in the East of Germany, people often think that the city isn't modern and that we are still stuck in the DDR.”
Within the local scene, one collective has recently been pushing things forward.
“The FMG Crew from the west of Leipzig is definitely one to watch. They have been really setting a new standard for events in the region, in my opinion. They are also the only crew here that is trying to expand outside of Germany. They're actually hosting their first international event in the UK this month.”
When the city moves into its late hours, RAW78’s personal soundtrack reflects the darker, more atmospheric side of electronic music.
“For me, it would be a track by Tom Finster, probably either ‘The Hole’ or his latest tune ‘Lies over Lies’. I just love his sound design and the feeling his productions give me, I think it fits perfectly for these long nights.”
Eventually, every night finds its own ending.
“Probably at a foodspot that is still open or at a ‘Späti’, which is a shop that is open way longer than usual supermarkets but sells the same things.”
And for visitors arriving with only a short window to experience the city, RAW78 keeps the advice simple.
“For me, that might be: Cornern (meeting friends on street corners and basically being on the street rather than going to a bar), Sternburger Beer (our local beer) and Flunky Ball (a game with two teams where you throw a ball and drink beer really fast).”
For RAW78, Leipzig is not just a backdrop. It is a city that quietly fuels creativity, community and club culture in equal measure. With ‘Lost In Motion’ now out via Make Your Era, that environment continues to echo through the sound of an artist growing within one of Germany’s most vibrant underground scenes.
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