For the multidisciplinary, Berlin-based creative practice YONT Studio, sound is never merely a background element. Instead, it is treated as a fundamental architectural material—a way of thinking about atmosphere, collective memory, and the precise ways human beings inhabit and experience space. Rooted in Turkish heritage yet embedded deeply in the avant-garde cultural landscape of Germany’s capital, the studio operates fluidly across the realms of interior architecture, large-scale spatial installations, bespoke objects, and narrative-driven visual storytelling. Their work constantly draws inspiration from the mundane rituals, counter-cultural movements, and fleeting everyday moments that quietly dictate how modern life is structured.
This intimate relationship between acoustic phenomena and spatial design comes to the forefront in YONT Studio’s recent collaborative endeavor with Telekom Electronic Beats. Conceptualized as an immersive, highly tactile tape installation, the project invites visitors on a metaphorical, open-ended road trip entirely stripped of digital interference. Eschewing the relentless hum of modern algorithms and endless social media feeds, participants are encouraged to sink into salvaged, circular arrangements of automotive seats, hand-select a physical cassette from a library of 140 curated tapes, and embark on a localized journey defined purely by analog sound.
As part of the ongoing "designboom listens" series, the creative minds behind YONT Studio have opened up about the eclectic soundtrack that underpins their daily professional practice. Their sonic palette ranges wildly from nostalgic late-night music videos and underground queer pop anthems to sprawling, hypnotic electronic compositions. For the team, these varied tracks serve multiple purposes: some songs evoke comforting nostalgia, channeling hours spent staring at vintage television broadcasts, while others provide the vital psychological energy required to push through grueling creative blocks and foster ongoing material experimentation. Ultimately, these musical selections underscore how sound can become an intrinsic part of a project’s DNA, seamlessly bridging the gap between audio frequencies, physical objects, tangible materials, and architectural environments.
Between Club Anthems, Old Memories, and Creative Discoveries
When asked to identify the single song that best encapsulates their overarching creative philosophy and studio practice, YONT Studio points without hesitation to Sophie’s "Immaterial." For the designers, the track embodies a rare combination of queer identity, radical playfulness, and an alien, unfamiliar aesthetic that constantly pushes them to look beyond conventional boundaries.
Transitioning from conceptual theory to the grueling daily reality of initiating a fresh project, the studio relies on a specific auditory ritual to clear the air and jumpstart inspiration. That foundational track is FKA Twigs’ "Girl Feels Good." According to the team, listening to the song feels akin to stepping onto the threshold of a dense, uncharted forest—an environment where the final destination remains entirely unknown, yet the traveler feels thoroughly equipped and eager to embrace the upcoming discoveries.
Music also serves as a potent vehicle for temporal displacement, frequently pulling the designers backward into specific eras of their collective past. The track "Avalon" by Juliet acts as an immediate portal, transporting the studio straight back to their formative years spent absorbing music videos on VH1. Meanwhile, contemporary influences continue to permeate their workspace. Madonna and Charli XCX’s collaboration on "Danceteria Afterhours" has dominated their internal speakers lately, fueled by a prolonged studio phase where Madonna’s Confessions II was kept on endless repeat.
As the working hours stretch into the early morning, the studio’s relationship with music shifts once more. Their ultimate two-in-the-morning studio anthem—a track whose lyrics every member knows by heart—is Robyn’s "Dancing on My Own." While acknowledging the inherent melancholy woven into the chords, the designers embrace it as the definitive late-night electronic pop anthem.
When creative momentum grinds to a halt and the team faces a formidable design roadblock, a reliable remedy is required to achieve a breakthrough. For YONT, that antidote is found in Avalon Emerson’s "One More Fluorescent Rush." The studio notes that immersing themselves in Emerson’s sonic sets unfailingly untangles complex design problems, cementing her status as an indispensable creative muse.
The rhythm of the current week dictates immediate workspace energy, which is currently being driven by Fatboy Slim’s "Build It Up, Tear It Down." Described as aggressively upbeat and wonderfully chaotic, it provides precisely the kind of kinetic momentum the studio needs to maintain its pace of making and experimenting.
Conversely, when the objective shifts from rapid production to meticulous observation—focusing intensely on the tiny, quiet
details of a spatial mockup—the studio turns to Moby’s "Memory Gospel." The track evokes the contemplative acoustics of a vast, quiet church, offering a mental sanctuary where the designers can dive deep into granular design work.
The profound intersection of sound, movement, and physical space is perhaps best experienced when visitors engage with the studio’s physical environments. If the team could mandate a soundtrack for anyone experiencing their recent installation for Telekom Electronic Beats and fashion brand Namilia, that choice would be David Bowie’s "Heroes." Acting as the quintessential road trip track, it mirrors the exact emotional landscape of the installation: watching the world streak past a car window while slipping into a state of serene detachment from reality.
Visual inspiration often parallels musical curation. While not necessarily their all-time favorite album cover, the striking visual art of Arca’s XXXXX served as a direct conceptual catalyst while the studio was designing the physical set for the Telekom Electronic Beats and Namilia collaboration.
Looking back across their portfolio, the project that holds the most sentimental and foundational value is Torstrasse 220, a pioneering record store project that essentially birthed the studio. When asked which track best captures the essence of that milestone endeavor, the team selects Joe Goddard’s "Truth Is Light." It remains the definitive song that brought together their enduring passions for music, physical objects, tactile materials, and immersive spaces—a synthesis that continues to define YONT Studio’s footprint in Berlin and beyond.
