VIMES

VIMES is a Cologne-based electronic duo from Germany. The group consists of Azhar Syed and Julian Stetter, with live shows also featuring drummer Johannes Klingebiel and visual installations by designer Till Beutling, working under the name Klangfiguren.

Their music combines live instruments and digital elements, with a sound that mixes deep, immersive electronic production with pop influences and fragile, vivid vocals. The group is known for a live visual setup designed to work with the music rather than sit apart from it.

Background

Azhar Syed is born in Nigeria to Indian humanitarian workers and grows up across Europe. He later studies visual arts in Germany, where he meets Julian Stetter while writing for the national music magazine Intro. The pair form VIMES in Cologne, a city strongly associated with techno.

Releases and collaborations

VIMES release singles including "UpStairs", "House Of Deer" and "Celestial". They also issue official remixes and collaborations with artists including COMA, MIT and TOKiMONSTA, working with labels such as Kompakt Records, Cooperative/Universal and Ultra Records on those projects.

Live activity

The duo support Hot Chip and Crystal Castles on parts of their South American tour and appear at festivals including SXSW in Austin, Canadian Music Week in Toronto and Eurosonic Noorderslag in Groningen. They also play headlining dates in cities including Berlin, London, Paris, New York City and several cities in Mexico.

VIMES are described by The Guardian as one of the most influential groups on modern music in Germany.