With pink concrete slabs, an arcade machine that reminds you to ‘support the dolls’ and speakers positioned in every corner, SEVEN Community Record Store is a playful haven. Whether you’re a house and techno lover, a seasoned crate digger or just curious to build a vinyl collection, it’s a new hub for Berlin’s music scene. Just after it opened, Service95 sat down with the founders to find out about the story and inspirations behind SEVEN – and secured a playlist to give you a taste before you get there...
SEVEN has always been about the music. It started as a record label in 2024, founded by DJ and artist CRYME (Lukas Kreimeier) and Glenn Elliott, who has been a part of Berlin’s music scene for more than a decade. “Berlin’s an incredible place to do business, we wouldn’t be able to do this anywhere else,” says Glenn. Inspired by friends who were producing their own music, the duo understood “from the start” the struggles faced by artists from marginalised groups. They set up their label to change that: 55% of the artists they represent are FLINTA*, 56% are LGBTQIA+ and 33% are People Of Colour. The ethos? Everyone is welcome at SEVEN.
It didn’t take long for it to become one of Berlin’s most exciting underground hubs. “There is so much talent floating around in Berlin,” adds music curator Mojo (Jonny), who notes that SEVEN has helped many hidden-gem artists to share their songs with a wider audience. As of August, it’s bringing the music even closer with a physical store in Berlin-Mitte. With shelves lined with vinyls, CDs and cassettes (the founders are self-proclaimed “analogue nerds”), it caters to a growing interest in physical forms of music, as people crave tangible hobbies in a hyper-digital age.
“We call the store SEVEN Community Record Store, because the label is very much community-focused, too,” says Glenn. “It’s all about the community we’re in.” Those who step through its doors will soon realise it’s not just a place to buy records, but a hub for connection. The team even offers up the space for artists to host events and create for free.
Venturing into the world of crate digging can be a bit intimidating (it was for me), but SEVEN is the type of place that feels inviting, where you can ask questions, discover records and stay for hours listening to music. There’s an online guide to get you started, and the space is staffed with working DJs – there’s nobody better to give you some tips.
Mojo says his favourite thing is to see all four pink listening stations in use, with people exchanging records and headphones. “It’s beautiful to see friendships being formed.” adds Glenn. “I love it when people come in and buy a CRYME record, or an Andre Zimmer record, without realising that they are being served by CRYME and Andre Zimmer behind the counter.”
Even if you’re not in Berlin, the team are delivering. And below, you’ll find their playlist of seven records to add to your rotation, featuring the artists you’ll find on their books – and in their store.
What’s On SEVEN’s Playlist, Curated For Service95
1. SEVENVA03, a multi-artist EP curated by SEVEN
“We picked three tracks from this record. Nesa Azadikhah’s Boundless Imagination, it’s one of our favourites: a sharp, super dubby track, which we love. We also have Paris-based Theo Scuera’s Groove Mechanics, a kind of raw tech-house. And upcoming artist YNNY’s Take 5, a deep, stripped-back track we love. It represents SEVEN perfectly.” – CRYME
2. Lighter Days by Luna Ludmila
“One of my favourite acts is Luna Ludmila, she’s from Amsterdam and she released an amazing album on French imprint Berg Audio. If anybody comes to me and is interested in progressive house and dub, this is the perfect fusion. It’s a skilled album. You need to have this in your bag as a DJ. It’s suitable for every occasion.” – Johnny
3. Heavy Glow EP by Andu Simion (not available to stream but available in store)
“Andu Simion is from Romania, creating beautiful minimal house. He is a master of movement; his tracks are ever evolving. It’s crazy how he produces. This EP from 2018 is on Berlin-based label Palineuer. It got us thinking “we need this dude on our label”. His next EP is coming on our sub-label A.2AUM. Check him out.” – Johnny
4. Breaking Through by Ground16
“There’s a really nice artist called Ground16, who released his second EP with A.2AUM. He’s from Switzerland and made this versatile four-track EP. It sells really well. Ground16 is really an artist to look forward to.” – CRYME
5. Ultra Villain by Maara
“An artist from our FLINTA* crate is Maara, she’s from Australia and released a beautiful album: really left-field IDM music. It’s an all-time favourite in the store.” – CRYME
6. Saense by Aedis
“Animalia is a beautiful imprint that picks out amazing artists and one of them is Barcelona-based Aedis. His album Saense is in my heavy rotation and he is on top of the game with what he’s doing. It’s progressive, it’s ever evolving, it’s deep, it's dubby and it’s 100% his own unique sound. He’s originally from Australia – what’s coming out of Australia at the moment is sick and making the rounds in Berlin.” – Johnny
7. The Dial EP by djfix
“Another highlight is djfix, from Brooklyn. Together with DJ Jek they are running EarthDog, another one of my favourite labels. It’s always techy, super tasteful and meant for the dance floor. I love it.” – Johnny
