In conversation with Alexander Cheves
Working every day with Lucas Kreimeier, also known as CRYME, I sometimes forget he’s a successful DJ, producer, and label co-founder, a rising star in Berlin and across Europe, already with many international tours under his belt.
To me, he’s the sweet and playful office coworker who loves a good toast sandwich, makes the Instagram slides for Hinterhaus, and is just as fussy as I am over keeping the staff kitchen clean.
As the SEVEN label co-founder, CRYME chooses the artists who end up on the label. In addition to creating his own work, he continually pays attention to what other artists in the scene are creating, filtering submissions and deciding which artists end up on SEVEN’s impressive roster; the label has featured work from Cinthie to Deetron to Roza Terenzi. (For transparency, Hinterhaus is a project of SEVEN.)
He also chooses the artists for A.2AUM, SEVEN’s new sublabel showcasing more experimental music.
But CRYME’s latest release was not on SEVEN. The new vinyl, out this month on 3 July 2026, is a solo EP on Andre Zimmer’s Big Trouble Records. Unlike most of his EPs, there are no collabs, so it may be his most personal work yet.
To celebrate it, we chat about music, friendship, and what this release means to him.
This is Stall Talk with CRYME.
Alexander Cheves. ‘Ziegelstr.’ is four tracks of stripped-back, cavernous dub techno named after the street where your studio is. Is that the reason for the name?
CRYME. [laughs] Yes, no other reason. That place is home, or one of my homes.
AC. What does the EP say about that place, for you?
CRYME. Ziegelstrasse is where we first had the idea of SEVEN, and where it was built, long before we had an office and record shop. It’s also kind of a guest house. It’s where artists from all over the world sometimes stay when they’re in Berlin. So it’s an important place to many people and to me. It’s like a secret hub of nightlife that just a few people know about, artists who have stayed there. It’s where I find a lot of inspiration.
AC. Funnily, it’s where I lived for nearly my first full year in Berlin! It’s pretty magic. What pulled you to dub techno for this one?
CRYME. A lot of digging! And many artists inspired it, like Moritz von Oswald, Prince of Denmark, Priori, Richard Akingbehin, Ben Buitendijk, and Dorisburg. Also labels like Berg Audio, Ornaments, and Kynant Records.
AC. Dub techno feels like a departure from most of your music. Does it feel that way to you too, or more like a new focus?
CRYME. I think it’s more like a new focus for me. I’ve had so many musical focuses already in terms of direction. I want to do everything! My music still changes constantly, but I know where I want to keep my focus for now.
AC. I know this is probably an annoying question, but are there any stories behind the various track names?
CRYME.
“Free Love is a story in itself. I don’t think I can explain it more than that. Free Love is a good story that I hope everyone can experience in their lives.”
The tracks Filter Woman and Dipper don’t really have stories behind their names.
AC. This EP is all you, no collabs. Does it feel like a more personal release for you?
CRYME.
“I think an EP without collabs is always a little more personal and special, because it really highlights your mood and where you are in life.”
AC. How did you and Andre Zimmer get connected? I know he’s a big friend of the team, close to everyone at SEVEN. I love chatting with him.
CRYME. Years ago, I was digging through music and found a track of his, which was listed as “Untitled Artist,” and really loved it. I think I played it at almost every gig, like three years ago now. Glenn texted him, and that’s how we got connected.
AC. Why did this one go to Andre’s label Big Trouble, instead of SEVEN or A.2AUM?
CRYME. Andre and I have been close friends for a long time. He put out the second release on SEVEN. I just love him, both as a person and an artist. He’s so professional and such an amazing producer. It was a no-brainer to release on his label. I love Big Trouble.
AC. Andre Zimmer is a big digger, a true audiophile. In his Hinterhaus interview, he talked about record shops back in Canada, where he’s from, that he really loves. I know you are biased, as we both work in a record shop, but are there other vinyl shops in Berlin you really like?
CRYME. I really like Elevate and Oye. They’re both run by amazing, strong women, Cinthie and Sabine Hoffmann, who I really look up to. They do so much good work inside the record store, and outside of it too. BikiniWax is also a beauty.
AC. And, of course, SEVEN Community Record Store.
CRYME. Of course!
AC. Where do you picture this EP getting played? At what hour of a party does it fit?
CRYME.
“The EP has a lot of different moods. A1 is a pretty tool-y track, so I could picture it at peak time in a club. A2 has a dreamy, techy vibe, good for an opening set. And I could imagine the B side on a sweaty, sexy dance floor around 5am.”
AC. Your Panorama Bar debut was about three weeks before this EP came out. Congrats! What was that like?
CRYME. It was so magical. I am still thinking about it. So many friends and family were on the dance floor, shouting and smiling at me. At one point the blinds opened and I was like, “Wow, I love this, I don’t want this to end!” Two of my friends even brought big bouquets of flowers into the booth. Everything was just perfect.
AC. That’s beautiful. So back to dub techno and your sound: is there a music genre you haven’t released in yet, but want to try?
CRYME. 100%. I really like the idea of trying even slower and deeper stuff, but I also want to work with more artists and vocalists at some point.
AC. So what’s next? You stay busy!
CRYME. More releases are coming, like one a month, maybe two some months. We’ve also got another SEVEN showcase at Feel Festival on July 24th, with amazing artists like ttyfal and Roza Terenzi, and me playing b2b with Mojo. [Editor’s note: Mojo is also the vinyl buyer at SEVEN and has curated an excellent selection.]
AC. Wanna go back to your Pano set for a second. Did any specific moments stand out to you? Any specific tracks the crowd especially responded to?
CRYME. I was playing a lot of my own music, but the most standout moment was my closing. It was an unreleased track mixed with a vocal a cappella about supporting each other and taking care of each other. And the crowd loved it. I nearly burst into tears! This moment sank deep into my heart.
“Ziegelstr.” is out now on Big Trouble Records. Get it on vinyl at SEVEN’s online shop or in person at the SEVEN Community Record Store in Berlin-Mitte. Follow CRYME on Instagram, SoundCloud, and Bandcamp.
Words: Alexander Cheves
Images: Mara Menzel
