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Radical Softness: Berlin DJ dies unexpectedly at 28
Radical Softness, real name Lea Rose Besson, died unexpectedly at the age of 28. Besson's mother confirmed the news from Znzl, co-founder of Parisian label Demian, in a social media comment. Héctor Oaks, Matrixxman, Julian Muller, Mama Snake, Setaoc Mass, SPFDJ, Kyle Geiger and Cera Khin were among the artists who expressed their condolences. The cause of death is unknown.
The musician from French-speaking Switzerland lived in Berlin and was one of the co-founders of the FLINTA party CALYX in 2019. From then on, Radical Softness DJ quickly made a name for himself with a vibrantly mixed, fast, hard, soulful, nineties-heavy techno sound. Appearances across Europe soon followed, especially at queer and sex-positive parties, such as Gegen, Pornceptual, Possession and the Whole Festival. Last year, Besson toured South America and played in Pakistan. In March, among other things, an appearance with Dax J in Paris was planned.
“We kindly ask you to respect our grief and celebrate the kindness and love they will forever radiate,” he wrote alongside a video of Besson on the beach.
The news was also confirmed by Besson’s mother in the same post, who said they were “too young to die” having just celebrated their 28th birthday on February 10.
“I was thinking of going to see and listen to [them] on April 5th at La Chaux de Fond in Switzerland,” Besson’s mother wrote (translated from French). “I was so happy to see [them].”
Besson was a resident at Berlin’s Rawmantique and Hamburg party TILT. They began to gain recognition across the world for their enigmatic sets, which fused techno with trance and fast, pacey club rhythms.
Listen back to a set from Radical Softness at Karachi Community Radio below.