Maximilian Becker

Before the Music Starts

The World’s Best DJs

For the past half-decade, Maximilian Becker (b. Zug, Switzerland, 1984; lives and works in Dusseldorf) has shadowed the stars of Germany’s, Austria’s, and Switzerland’s music clubs. A familiar face on the club scene, he seized unique opportunities to take backstage shots of internationally renowned DJs and musicians before and during their gigs. The minimalist black-and-white portraits form a counterpoint to the official promotion images. Becker captures DJs at the moments and in the locations where their art takes place: at night, in the club. Objects from the backstage areas and dance floors complement the pictures of the protagonists, rounding out this venture into the often secretive world of techno and house music.
With an essay by Matthias Pasdzierny of the Berlin University of the Arts, who has studied club culture and electronic dance music for many years.