By Azzam Bilal 
HangupsMusic.com – Berlin, The landscape of contemporary electronic music is frequently defined by its ability to synthesize disparate influences, yet few artists navigate the intersection of club functionalism and cultural storytelling as adeptly as Nene H. The Berlin-based producer and DJ, who has become a pivotal figure in the evolution of the city’s techno underground, has officially revealed her latest project, a four-track EP titled Seltsame Fabeln. Scheduled for release on October 6th, the record will be issued through her own UMAY imprint, a label that has rapidly established itself as a vital platform for voices often marginalized within the Eurocentric electronic music sphere.
The announcement of Seltsame Fabeln—which translates to "Strange Fables"—marks another significant chapter in what has been a prolific period for the Turkish-born artist. The EP is structured to showcase the duality of her current creative output, balancing the raw, propulsive energy of the dancefloor with more experimental, avant-garde textures. The A-side of the record is anchored by two formidable techno compositions: "Pferdemädchen" and "War das ein Traum." These tracks represent the "tough" side of Nene H’s repertoire, characterized by high-velocity rhythms and a brooding, industrial-inflected atmosphere that has become a hallmark of her sets at venues like Berghain and during her international tours.
The lead single, "War das ein Traum" (meaning "Was that a dream"), is already available for listeners via Bandcamp, offering a glimpse into the EP’s sonic architecture. The track is a masterclass in tension and release, utilizing driving percussion and surreal synth work to create a sense of disorientation that mirrors its title. By contrast, the remaining two tracks on the EP are described as deconstructed interpretations of the genre. These pieces move away from the traditional 4/4 kick-drum dominance, instead exploring erratic rhythmic patterns, granular sound design, and a more cerebral approach to electronic composition. This shift suggests that Nene H is not merely content with providing tools for the club, but is actively seeking to dismantle the genre’s tropes to find new modes of expression.
The release of Seltsame Fabeln is deeply intertwined with the mission of UMAY, the label Nene H launched in 2023. Named after a mother goddess in Turkic mythology, UMAY was conceived with a clear socio-political and aesthetic objective: to champion perspectives from the SWANA (South West Asian and North African) region, as well as Muslim and femme identities. In a scene that often struggles with genuine diversity beyond surface-level representation, Nene H’s label serves as a curated space where cultural heritage and radical electronic music coexist. The label’s inception was marked by the Bashkka EP, and it has since become a focal point for artists who challenge the status quo of the global techno circuit.
This new EP follows closely on the heels of Nene H’s 2024 album, Second Skin, also released on UMAY. That full-length project was widely praised for its emotional depth and its ability to weave personal narratives into the fabric of heavy electronic production. Second Skin explored themes of identity, transformation, and the various "skins" an artist must inhabit to navigate the world and the industry. The transition from the expansive storytelling of an album to the concentrated energy of Seltsame Fabeln demonstrates her versatility. While the album allowed for a broader exploration of melody and mood, the new EP appears to be a more direct, visceral response to the current state of the underground.
Nene H’s rise to prominence has been marked by a series of critically acclaimed releases that have consistently pushed the boundaries of the genre. Her 2021 debut LP, Ali, was a landmark moment, blending her classical music background with the uncompromising grit of the Berlin scene. It was a deeply personal record that paid homage to her roots while asserting her place as a forward-thinking producer. This was followed in 2022 by the Trifecta EP, which further solidified her reputation for high-intensity, rhythmically complex techno. Earlier in 2024, she also shared the mini-album ISSA SCAM, a project that toyed with the expectations of the music industry and showcased a more playful, yet still biting, side of her artistry.
Beyond her individual discography, Nene H has emerged as a significant voice in music-led activism. In the wake of the ongoing humanitarian crises, she curated the fundraising compilation Letters to a Future Palestine. This project brought together a diverse array of electronic music talent, including rRoxymore, Alinka, and Hassan Abou Alam, among others. The compilation was not only a successful effort to raise funds for Gaza but also a testament to Nene H’s ability to mobilize the electronic music community for a common cause. It highlighted her belief that the dancefloor and the political sphere are inextricably linked, and that music can serve as a powerful medium for solidarity and change.
The title Seltsame Fabeln suggests a fascination with the mythological and the metaphorical. In the context of her work, these "fables" might represent the stories of the diaspora, the myths of the modern clubbing experience, or the personal legends we construct to make sense of a chaotic world. By titling a track "Pferdemädchen"—a German term that translates to "horse girl" and often carries specific cultural connotations—she may be engaging in a bit of cultural subversion, taking a recognizable trope and recontextualizing it within the dark, sweaty confines of a techno basement.
The "deconstructed" nature of the EP’s B-side is particularly noteworthy. Deconstructed club music has become a significant movement over the last decade, moving away from the "functional" requirements of the DJ booth to prioritize sound as an art form. For Nene H, adopting this style is not merely a trend-following move but a logical extension of her desire to innovate. By stripping away the predictable elements of techno, she forces the listener to engage with the textures, the silences, and the unconventional timing of the music. It is a bold move for an artist who is so well-regarded for her ability to command a dancefloor, indicating a refusal to be pigeonholed.
Her journey from a classically trained pianist to a titan of the Berlin techno scene provides a unique lens through which to view her music. There is an inherent precision in her work, a deep understanding of harmony and structure that underpins even her most chaotic sounding tracks. This technical proficiency, combined with her lived experience as a Turkish woman in the West, gives her music a layer of complexity that is often missing from purely functional club tracks. She manages to capture the anxiety and the ecstasy of the modern era, translating the friction of cultural identity into a language of beats and frequencies.
As the October release date for Seltsame Fabeln approaches, the anticipation within the electronic community continues to build. The EP represents more than just four new tracks; it is a continuation of a broader project to redefine what techno can be and who it is for. Through UMAY, Nene H is building an ecosystem that values substance over hype, and through her music, she is crafting a legacy that transcends the fleeting trends of the industry.
For those who have followed her career since the On Cue mix and interview for DJ Mag in 2022, the evolution is clear. She has moved from being a rising star to a foundational pillar of the contemporary scene. Her work is a reminder that the most compelling electronic music often comes from those who are willing to look outside the genre’s established borders. Whether through the relentless drive of "War das ein Traum" or the abstract explorations of her deconstructed pieces, Nene H continues to prove that she is an artist of rare vision and unwavering integrity. Seltsame Fabeln is poised to be another essential entry in her growing body of work, offering a challenging, immersive, and ultimately rewarding experience for listeners seeking something beyond the ordinary.
