KATJA RUGE DJ
“Music has always been my way of expressing emotions, discovering my identity, and understanding my place in the world.” – Katja Ruge
Katja Ruge’s DJ sets are a seamless fusion of Italo, New Wave, Cosmic Sounds, 80s, Dark Disco, and Electro. With deep musical knowledge and an intuitive sense of the crowd, she effortlessly adapts to both club environments and more intimate settings. She has played at renowned venues such as Golden Pudel Club, Else Berlin, Südpol, U&G, as well as various events, gallery openings, and private parties.
End of 2023, Katja launched the DJ & live set series “Electric Lights – Women in Electronic Music” at Planetarium Hamburg. Her first guests included Helena Hauff and DJ MELL G. The event’s Berlin premiere at Zeiss-Großplanetarium was a double sell-out in February 2025, featuring a live performance by JakoJako.
Building on this momentum, 2024 saw the debut of “Days at Kolorado”, a Saturday daytime party (16:00–22:00) created in collaboration with the design agency Karl Anders. Hosted at the breathtaking Kolorado rooftop venue in Altona, the series will continue with new dates this summer.
For years, Katja has also been curating “Kann Denn Liebe Synthie Sein?”, a beloved Hamburg party series known for its distinctive lineup. Past guests include Essaie Pas, Cosmetics, The Hacker, Josh Cheon (Dark Entries), Wolfram, Italo Brutalo, Curses, Neil Landstrumm, Kittin, The Emperor Machine, Perel, Local Suicide, and many more.
CAN LOVE BE SYNTH
What started as a shared passion for machines and sounds in the studio quickly evolved into a dynamic collaboration. Before they knew it, Katja Ruge and Frank Husemann were remixing tracks for artists like Erasure, Cerrone, Ruede Hagelstein, Polly Scattergood, and Cada Un. Their releases have found homes on respected labels such as Bordello A Parigi, Ombra INT., TAU, A CLEAN CUT, and Figure Music.
With a deep love for vintage analog synthesizers, these machines have become the heart of their sound. Their productions come to life in the legendary Synthesizer Studio Hamburg—a haven for synth enthusiasts, owned by Frank & Sunny. Tucked away behind the grey walls of the Bunker, beneath the iconic Club Uebel & Gefährlich, this studio is a true treasure trove for electronic music creation.DJ GIGS
2025
18./19.11.25 Electric Lights - Planetarium Hamburg with JakoJako (live)
28./29.10.25 Electric Lights - Zeiss- Großplanetarium Berlin with Cinthie (live)
20.09.25 Private Event
13.09.25 Days at Kolorado tba.
23.08.25 Days at Kolorado tba.
26.07.25 Days at Kolorado tba.
12.07.25 Mit Vergnügen Factory Hammerbrooklyn HH (16-20:00)
24.06.25 Moin Film Fest Kampnagel
21.06.25 Days at Kolorado with Hans Nieswandt
23.05. 25 Villa Viva Hamburg Rooftop with Carluschka
27.03.25 supporting Dina Summer Bahnhof Pauli HH
20.03.25 Private Event
12.03.25 Electric Lights Planetarium Hamburg guest Joyce Muniz
01.03.25 Resident Advisor Panel Hamburg
22.02.25 Demodisco DJ Set Hamburg
18. & 19.02.25 Electric Lights Zeiss Grossplanetarium Berlin guest JakoJako
2024 21.12.24 Locke Hamburg 16-18 Uhr 13.12.24 Private Party 27./28.11.24 Flughafen Frankfurt 6.11.24 Electric Lights Planetarium Hamburg with Lena Willikens 19.0.24 Lovemasters Kinky Party Prinzenbar 10./11.10.24 Airport Frankfurt 28.9.24 Days at Kolorado mit Ludwig Mausberg 7.09.24 House-Frau at Kolorado with Boris Dlugosch 31.8.24 Days at Kolorado with Hufnagel & DJ Dreams & david bay & bubamara 20.08.24 Stadtpark Openair DJ set supporting Peaches & Roisin Murphy 29.07.24 Zissou Sicnal Radio Session 13.7.24 Days at Kolorado with Bizzarro Universe & BOBBIE* 28.06.24 Luna Club Kiel 20.06.24 Karl Anders Summer Party 7.06.24 Cafe Schöne Aussichten with Digitalism & david bay 28.05.24 Torture the Artist Interview & Radioshow on Sicnal 3.05.24 Südpol 20.04.24 Beach Motel Heiligenhafen with Welcome to Rimini 22.3.24 Lit Pop Leipzig zur Buchmesse 13.03.24 Electric Lights Planetarium Hamburg with DJ MELL G
2023 7./8.12, 14./15.12. 23 Airport Frankfurt 3.11.23 Nachtasysl HH with Dina Summer 11.10.23 Electric Lights Planetarium Hamburg with Helena Hauff 22.09.23 Luna Club Kiel with Johannes Albert 23.09.23 Lovemasters Hafenklang 28.-30.07.23 Hej Hans Festival 21.-23.07 Airport Frankfurt 20.05.23 Golden Pudel Club with Kittin 30.04.23 Riaa Bar Bday Bash 2.03.23 Popup Berlin, EMOP Herspective Photographers Vernissage
2022 16.12.22 U&G HH Studio Lovemasters & Verflixt w/ Len Faki 12.12.-16.12.22 Flughafen Frankfurt 29.11.22 Torture The Artist Show at Sicnal Radio 12.10.22 Can Love Be Synth presents Curses live U&G 8.10.22 Riaa Hörbar 10.9.22 Theater Nacht im Nachtasyl 6.8.22 Vogelball 11.-13.7.22 Hej Hans Festival 9.6.22 Exhibition Preview WILD AT HEART in Hamburg 29.3.22 Torture The Artist Radio Show sic:nal Radio 20.01.22 Mutant Radio Georgia
CAN LOVE BE SYNTH SELECTED RELEASES
2025Air Texture Compilation “ Hardwired compiles by JakoJako
Can Love Be Synth - Portrait
2023
Cada Un- The Hardest Part (Can Love Be Synth "Jane Birkin La Photo" Remix)2022Marzipan - Can Love Be Synth (Open Space 2/Figure Music)2021BUNKER - Can Love Be Synth (A Clean Cut)No point in tripping (Remix) - Erasure (Mute Records)2020In the Moment - Can Love Be Synth Remix - Polly Scattergood Lemoncake - Can Love Be Synth (OMBRA INTL 016)Peanuts - Can Love Be Synth (Palo Santo Compilation / TAU)2017Megapulser - Can Love Be Synth (Bordello A Parigi)