Berlin-based club music duo Disguised add British techno imprint Clergy to their catalogue this month, with the release of their latest track ‘Kaki’.
The two-piece have previously put music out with record labels such as HEISSS Berlin, BCCO, alongside their own Inherit Records imprint.
We spoke to them about the production of ‘Kaki’, their approach to working with record labels, and what else they might have coming soon in 2025…
How has 2025 been so far for Disguised?
2025 kicked off with a bang for us! We played an electrifying set at the HEISSS x Anima New Year’s Eve party at Alte Münze Berlin, which was the perfect way to start the year. After an intense end to 2024 with a packed gig schedule, we took the first two months to slow down a bit, focusing on a well-deserved break, spending time with friends, and diving deep into our upcoming projects.
One of the highlights of this period was finalising our next collaborative EP with our studio colleague and partner in crime, FANK. This project feels like one of our strongest productions yet – everything from the artwork to the track selection is carefully curated, and we can’t wait to share it with the world.
Now, as February comes to an end, we’re gearing up for our second tour in Asia! This time, we’ll be hitting Beijing, Jinan, Shanghai, Tokyo, Seoul, Hong Kong, and Shenzhen. A special highlight will be our debut at Faust Seoul, which is a huge honor for us.
You’re about to release your new track ‘Kaki’ on Clergy’s latest VA album, what can people expect to hear from you on this one?
First of all, we’re beyond excited to be a part of this VA and to share a release with such a strong lineup of artists. We’ve been fans of Clergy for such a long time because the label has always prioritised quality and a distinct artistic vision.
‘Kaki’ embodies the kind of sound we love to create: dark, driving, and atmospheric. It’s a track that works perfectly in our DJ sets, adding intensity while maintaining a hypnotic, almost otherworldly vibe. The idea for the track came together incredibly fast, one of the first elements we created was the driving main synth line, which immediately set the tone and dictated the dark, hypnotic energy we wanted to capture. From that point on, everything else naturally fell into place.
As always, we love working with deep, atmospheric elements, so later in the process, we introduced haunting pad melodies that add a sense of mystery and depth. These subtle layers contrast with the raw, pulsating energy of the synth and give the track an evolving, almost cinematic character.
You’ve also signed music to labels like BCCO and HEISSS Berlin in the past, and your own imprint Inherit – where else might we see you in the coming months?
For this year, we’ve decided to focus primarily on our own INHERIT label. In addition, we’ve launched a second imprint under the same name as our artist project, Disguised, which will serve as a dedicated platform for our own productions. The next EP on this imprint is set to drop in March and is called ‘DISSONANCE DIARIES’.
We originally founded these two labels when we started producing music and quickly realized how challenging it can be to align release schedules with other labels. Since we’re both incredibly impatient, waiting months or even years for a track to come out has never been our strong suit. Releasing through our own platforms gives us full creative control and the flexibility to share our music exactly how and when we want to, something that feels more important than ever for us right now.
And what do you typically look for in a label partnership?
What matters most to us is a collaborative and transparent approach. In the past, and even within our circle of friends, we’ve seen situations where artists submitted their tracks to a label only to be left completely in the dark, no discussions about a release date or any further updates.
For us, it’s essential that artists remain part of the process. A release should feel like a joint project. Of course, an artist doesn’t need to be involved in every single detail, but we believe the right balance lies somewhere in between!
How about other artists on Inherit, who will be making an appearance with the label in 2025?
At the beginning of this year, we released our Family & Friends Selection, as we see Inherit as a platform for the incredible talent within our circle. We’re truly grateful to be surrounded by such a creative environment and couldn’t be prouder of our talented friends.
Next up on Inherit is an EP from our friend FENIM0RE, featuring insane sound design and cutting edge techno. Later this year, Echion will also release his second EP on the label. His first release was easily one of our favourite EPs of last year.
And of course, as mentioned before, we’ll be dropping a few things on Inherit ourselves!
2025 marks ten years of Disguised as a duo, do you have anything special planned for the anniversary?
We don’t have anything official planned just yet, but I guess our unofficial anniversary celebration will take place during our three and a half week tour through Asia! Our booking agent, Timm, will be joining us and we’re really looking forward to the experience.
On top of that, we’ll be playing a very special outdoor house set this summer for the 3 Years Heisss Berlin Anniversary. So maybe we can turn this into a little double anniversary celebration!
Disguised – Kaki is out February 28th on Clergy.