There’s a peculiar stillness to Berlin, a kind of bohemian calm between the rhythms of its post-industrial façade. It’s a city that’s drawn artists for decades, feeding off the energy that brews beneath the surface, where noise meets contemplation.
For this British trio now rooted in its streets, Berlin offered more than just a temporary escape—it was an incubator for their debut album, Be A Better Man, a record born out of isolation, reflection, and the kind of freedom the city still affords.
LAWNS (Joe, Ben, and Tobias) didn’t set out to make a statement, but in their own way, they’ve captured the weight of transition—both personally and musically. Having started their project during the depths of the COVID lockdown, they found the time to let ideas ferment, pushing their sound beyond the standard post-punk blueprint. “We’re into a lot of different music,” Joe explains, “whether it’s folk rock, Brazilian psych, garage rock, or even free jazz.”
That openness bleeds through Be A Better Man, where the energy of 80s and 90s US alternative frames something more nuanced, more patient, than the raw immediacy of punk.
Berlin itself looms large over their process, with its free spaces and easy attitude towards noise. “It’s a cliché,” Joe admits, “but Berlin really is a bohemian city, maybe more than anywhere else in 2024.” This backdrop, where art doesn’t feel pressured by rent or time, provided the trio with the perfect breeding ground for creativity.
That raw energy is mirrored in their sound, particularly on standout tracks like “Bottled Up” and “Best,” which reach beyond the band’s punk roots, leaning into more atmospheric territory. As they plan their next release, these songs are set to shape their future work, pushing further into textured, expansive soundscapes rather than the frenetic urgency that marked their early days.
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In true Berlin style, the band’s calendar is packed, with two separate tours in the works—mainland Europe in February 2025, followed by a string of UK shows in April and May.
Here are some cool artists to check out from Berlin:
Plattenbau: friends of ours and a really exciting post-punk band – especially live – that, to my ears, is equally influenced by darkwave and goth as much as guitar rock.
Nunofyrbeeswax: also friends of ours who are just a tremendous live band putting out twitchy, punky garage rock.
A mainstay of the DIY scene here, much loved, always worth checking out. And lovely, lovely people.
Lucy Kruger & The Lost Boys: Lucy is a tremendous vocalist and the Lost Boys is her band.
It’s textured, moody and atmospheric rock. Her live presence and voice are really quite something.
Omniversal Earkestra: this is a big-band jazz ensemble who play a weekly concert in Kreuzberg, playing a mix of stuff from Ellington, Monk, Ornette Coleman to originals.
For a measly five euros per gig, you can watch some of the most outrageously good jazz musicians active in the city today.
