From hardcore and uptempo to rawstyle and hard techno: the boundaries between different genres are becoming increasingly blurred. Yoshiko sees this development as an opportunity to expand her own sound even further. After closing the INSOLENT LIVE chapter, the Italian DJ is preparing for a completely new challenge. In the latest episode of PLAFONDDIENST, she discusses her first All Night Long tour, where she plans to make full use of her musical freedom.
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“We live in the best music scene ever”
Yoshiko is known for combining hard kicks with influences from various genres. With her album ‘INSOLENT’ and the subsequent EP ‘ATONEMENT’, she experimented with rawstyle and hard techno, among other styles. According to her, this musical direction fits perfectly with the changes currently taking place within the harder styles. “I think right now, in my opinion, we live in the best music scene ever, because everything is getting mixed and switched.”
She is particularly fascinated by the growing influence of uptempo beyond its own scene. Elements of the genre are now even appearing in performances by major artists at Tomorrowland. However, she feels there are still plenty of misconceptions surrounding the genre. “Uptempo is being underestimated big time. What’s funny to me is that so many people are always ready to say, ‘I don’t like uptempo.’ I’m like, ‘Which uptempo don’t you like?'”
According to Yoshiko, there are now so many different variations, from bounce to zaagkicks, that it is impossible to define uptempo as a single sound. She enjoys combining these different elements rather than limiting herself to the expectations of one particular group of fans.
From thirty minutes to an entire night
During Knockout Outdoor in Australia, Yoshiko recently brought her INSOLENT LIVE chapter to an end. The project took her to Melbourne and Sydney, but another live act does not appear to be on the cards for now. The experience has made her reconsider the typical duration of live performances within the harder styles. “To me, 30 minutes is really not enough. It’s too short to express the story I want to tell. Especially when you want to combine more genres. There are certain tracks people know me for and expect to hear, but if I want to experiment, I can’t do that in 30 minutes.”
With her first All Night Long, Yoshiko will finally have the opportunity to showcase all these different sides of her musical identity. Initially, she associated the concept mainly with hard techno, but after playing several longer sets, she began to see its potential.
“I’m not going to play uptempo for five hours straight”
On 29 and 30 January 2027, Yoshiko will bring her All Night Long concept to Germany for the first time. The first show will take place at Bootshaus in Cologne, followed by another night in Hamburg. She has a clear vision for both performances. “I’m not going to play uptempo for five hours straight, because that’s not the plan. That’s not what I want. I definitely want to experiment with different things. I was even thinking about doing some sort of millennium set, to go back to my roots.”
Exactly how this musical journey will unfold remains to be seen, although Yoshiko already has several ideas. “My first plan was going from more quiet to harder, but I think it will mostly be a sort of up and down instead. Up and down, and up and down again.”
She also does not want to rely entirely on a predetermined tracklist. Instead, she hopes to respond to the crowd’s energy and discover which musical combinations work best in the moment.
Two All Night Long shows in one weekend
The new challenge also comes with some nerves. Her longest DJ set so far has lasted two hours, meaning she will be stepping into completely unfamiliar territory in Germany. On top of that, the two shows are scheduled on consecutive nights, with another performance already lined up for Sunday. “I’m very excited. I’m very scared, because I don’t know how I’ll react. I’ve never DJed for so long. But for me, this is exactly the perfect playground to experiment with everything.”
To prepare, Yoshiko has asked several artists with All Night Long experience for advice, including Mad Dog. Fortunately, she will not have to fill the entire night on her own. During PLAFONDDIENST, she confirms that special guests will join her, with the same artists accompanying her to both German venues.
The shows in Cologne and Hamburg are only the beginning. Yoshiko confirms that there are plans to bring the concept to other countries, although the destinations remain a secret for now. One thing is clear: with her All Night Long, she wants to show that her musical world extends far beyond uptempo alone.
In the latest episode of PLAFONDDIENST, Yoshiko opens up about her musical development, the downside of success and her future plans. She also reflects on her career and discusses some exciting collaborations that are on the way. The full episode is available now to watch and listen to via your favorite podcast platforms.
