Berlin is often associated with techno’s concrete rooms, low light, and industrial pulse. But the city’s electronic music scene also has room for melody, restraint, and tracks that unfold slowly. Nils Hoffmann belongs to that calmer, more melodic side. For this guest curation, he takes over the “Instrumental Beats” playlist on Klangspot with melodic house, deep electronic music, and instrumental tracks that have shaped his own productions.
This takeover matters to me for two reasons. First, Nils Hoffmann is one of the most distinctive artists in melodic deep house and progressive house. He has grown beyond being an underground recommendation for fans of Deep & Progressive House. His solo work, collaborations with artists such as Ben Böhmer, and remixes share a recognisable approach: patient arrangements, soft synth tones, detailed percussion, and melodies that never rush towards a drop.
Nils cites Trentemøller, Paul Kalkbrenner, and Apparat as influences. The connection is easy to hear: Trentemøller’s spacious production, Kalkbrenner’s direct melodic pull, and some of Apparat’s tension and texture all offer useful reference points. Still, Nils Hoffmann does not sound like a copy of any of them. His tracks are polished and melodic, yet they leave room for small imperfections, repetition, and quiet transitions. That balance works in a late-night DJ set, on headphones, or during a long train ride.
The second reason is personal. Nils played an important part in the early days of the “Instrumental Beats” playlist. His track “Balloons” was among the first pieces I added, and it remains one of my favourites. At the time, it changed how I listened to electronic music. It showed me that synthesizers, programmed drums, and sampled details can carry the same warmth as acoustic instruments. The track does not rely on a huge climax. Its feeling comes through tone, melody, and pace. Thank you for that.
“Balloons” still belongs in a playlist centred on instrumental electronic music. It has enough movement for a DJ mix, while its melody also holds up far beyond a club setting. That is often the difference between functional dance music and music people return to years later. Nils Hoffmann regularly works in that space. His productions suit dance floors, but they are rarely limited to them.
His music has reached listeners beyond Klangspot. Tracks by Nils have appeared on Spotify playlists including Electronic Rising, Truly Deep House, and Afterhours. Those placements brought his melodic electronic sound to listeners looking for deep house, progressive house, and atmospheric techno-adjacent music. Playlist support is no substitute for strong records, but here it reflects the response his releases have received from listeners and DJs.
Eight years after “Verwunschen,” Nils released his debut album “Once in a Blue Moon” last week via Poesie Musik. The album gives his sound more room than a standalone single. Five singles had already introduced the record, but the full release follows its own flow. Familiar tracks sit alongside album cuts that reveal more when heard in sequence.
The record includes “The Clouds Silver Shining,” “Parachute,” a collaboration with Max Joni, and the opening track “1.16699016 x 10^-8 hertz.” The latter appeared in the “Anjunadeep Edition 285” mix, placing Nils Hoffmann’s music in a context familiar to fans of Anjunadeep, melodic house, and progressive electronic music. “Once in a Blue Moon” does not constantly demand attention. Its strength lies in consistency: melody and atmosphere develop gradually, and the quieter passages often remain the most memorable.
Listeners who know Nils Hoffmann through his work with Ben Böhmer get a clearer sense of his individual voice on the album. Their music shares warm synth patterns and emotional chord progressions, but Nils takes a more restrained route. His arrangements are less concerned with instant impact and more focused on mood. That makes the album especially rewarding over repeated listens rather than during a quick scroll through new releases.
With the album out, Nils plans to tour in 2020. He has three Australian dates supporting Ben Böhmer, listed through Untitled Group. The schedule is subject to changes caused by COVID-19, so anyone planning to attend should check the promoter and venue pages before travelling. Follow Nils on Facebook for updates.
The dates below bring his melodic house and live electronic set to clubs, festivals, and open-air events across Europe, Australia, and India. Some shows are intimate club nights, while others place his music in a festival setting. Both formats suit the material. The detail in these tracks rewards close listening, while the steady rhythm is made for a good sound system.
- 21.03. Bolgenschanze, Davos, Switzerland
- 28.03. Studio 203, Ioannina, Greece
- 11.04. Freigeist Openair Cologne, Germany
- 17.04. The Orange Yard London, UK
- 18.04. The Orange Yard London, UK
- 01.05. Roxy Club Prague, Czech
- 08.05. Harry Klein, Munich, Germany
- 15.05. Übel & Gefährlich, Hamburg, Germany
- 16.05. Säälchen, Berlin, Germany
- 22.05. Manning Bar, Sydney, Australia
- 23.05. Corner Hotel, Melbourne, Australia
- 24.05. The Valley Drive In, Brisbane, Australia
- 29.05. India
- 30.05. India
- 31.05. India
- 13.06. Verträumte Angelegenheit Festival, Obernburg am Main, Germany
- 21.06. Ritter Butzke, Berlin, Germany
Listen to the playlist below. Nils Hoffmann’s Instrumental Beats selection brings together his own tracks, collaborations, and remixes. It offers an entry point for listeners seeking melodic deep house, instrumental progressive house, and electronic music with a warmer, more reflective character.
Nils Hoffmann’s Instrumental Beats takeover tracklist
Nils Hoffmann – 1.16699016 x 10^-8 hertz
Nils Hoffmann – Once in a Blue Moon
Nils Hoffmann & Ben Böhmer – Second Sun
Nils Hoffmann & Khåen – Nearer Still Nearer
Nils Hoffmann – Drift
Nils Hoffmann – Balloons (OIABM Version)
Nils Hoffmann – Moon Water (Radio Edit)
Nils Hoffmann – Balloons (Radio Edit)
Stil & Bense – Soft Hammer (Nils Hoffmann Remix)
Deeparture – Cabin Pressure – (Nils Hoffmann Remix)
LUKINS – Nils Hoffmann #saveyourculture (Live DJ Set @ Bloc 48 Eberswalde)
The live DJ set below offers another perspective on Nils Hoffmann’s approach. His recorded work is often careful and spacious, while a DJ set must respond to time, volume, and the room. That difference makes his selections compelling. The music remains melodic, but the pacing carries more weight and the transitions build a longer arc.
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