Nick Lapien is an artist that dons many hats and monikers. As a producer—under his given name, as well as Metropolis, Nepal, and��Artefakt, his collaboration with fellow Dutch producer Robin Koek—his output has landed on some of house and techno’s most esteemed and forward-thinking labels, including Fred P’s Soul People Music offshoot, Boards, Dutch powerhouse Delsin, Prologue, and DVS1’s Mistress Recordings.

Honed over years of machine-driven sonic exploration, Lapien’s sound is gritty, swinging, and infectious, with enough personality injected to make it distinctly his own. That artistic signature can also be found in his work as a photographer. His images beautifully mirror the raw aesthetic of his music and attest to the interplay of sound and visuals in his work. It’s arguably in the live arena, however, that Lapien truly stands out. Armed with various controllers, drum machines, his prized Roland space echo, and, at times, live singers, Lapien crafts dance-inducing sets with envious fluidity.

Following recent performances at Panorama Bar and Chalet, among others, we joined Lapien as he performed one of his latest productions on a stripped-down setup in a photography studio in Kreuzberg, Berlin.