Chris Helmbrecht

21/04/2026

My spot: Cihangir.

If you know New York’s East Village before it got too clean — or Camden decades ago — you’ll get the idea. Artists, cafés, small galleries, people who don’t really fit anywhere else. Still a bit raw, not fully polished yet. But you can already see where it’s heading.

There’s a bakery there — no exaggeration — best sourdough I’ve ever had. Period.

You spend your days walking, sitting, watching, eating.
And eating again. Because food here doesn’t miss. Street food, small places, restaurants — it’s just consistently good without trying too hard.

Nights go long. And when they end, you’re climbing those hills again, slightly drunk, slightly tired, and somehow completely fine with it.

This trip wasn’t just about the city.
It was about her. And about the strange reality of meeting halfway between worlds.

I’ll be back soon.
For the city.
And for the people — Turkish, Russian, and everyone else I’ve met along the way.

Istanbul stays with you. Whether you plan it or not.

21/04/2026

Istanbul does something to you. You arrive, and within a few hours you’re already part of its rhythm — fast, loud, chaotic, and strangely calm at the same time.

I first came here in 2019. Also because of a woman.
Now I’m back. Same story, different chapter.

This city sits right on the edge of Europe, but it doesn’t behave like it needs approval from anywhere. It’s half Europe, half Asia — geographically, culturally, mentally. You feel it everywhere. One street feels conservative, the next one completely open, almost rebellious. Somehow it works.

People talk about crime, but honestly — I’ve seen worse in cities that pretend to be “safe.” Here, people look at you, talk to you, help you. It feels alive, not polished.

And then there’s the constant up and down. Hills everywhere. You don’t walk here, you climb. I still don’t understand how they built half of these houses. But it gives the city its shape, its chaos, its views.

Istanbul isn’t trying to impress you.
That’s exactly why it does.

27/03/2026

Most of you know that I ve been djing in London last Friday and I guess you were waiting for the mix recording. At last, here it is.
LOVE ROOM LONDON ruled. It was such a nice party with great people and a very cool vibe. I hope you enjoy(ed) my music. I played the last djset of the evening, so I start a bit more energetic and it becomes more deep towards the end. Don't miss my favorite new last song, which I currently play on all of my DJsets, before I finish. Leave a comment or a like and shout outs to the LOVE ROOM LND organizers, helpers and or course the crowd there! See you soon again (I hope).

It was a pleasure to play at Love Room in London on March 20th 2026. What a beautiful and nice kinky crowd. This is the recording of my DJset that night. I played in the big room last and I finished t

07/03/2026

I love my work. Oslo called — and I answered. ❄️
A month ago I rapped up 5 incredible days in Norway with the team, and what a trip it was. Three days of deep work, strategy sessions, and a photo- l filmshoot in -15°C (yes, really — wet cold hits different when the sea is right there 🌊). Two days of connecting with some of the most passionate people in the chocolate business, including our CEO Thomas Kraft.
Building something meaningful across borders takes grit, trust, and apparently a very good winter jacket (). Grateful for the late nights, the laughs, the Oslo nightlife, and the champagne and cocktails, that made it all feel worth it. ✨
Back in Munich now, already missing the energy. Until next time, Oslo. 🇳🇴

TeamWork GlobalBusiness

05/01/2026

Istanbul, December.

2025 wrapped itself up with rain, hills, food and chaos — the good kind.

Mid-December in Istanbul, flying in to see Bella ❤️. Friends everywhere. Old ones, new ones, ours. That’s the thing with this city: you’re never really alone here. And even if you would be, you d meet people quickly.

Winter suits Istanbul. Less shiny, more real.
We partied a bit. Shopped a bit. Met my old friend Ate like kings. And honestly — it’s unfair how good the food is there. Almost every restaurant is delicious. Some are good. Some are perfect. And grilled meat? Ridiculous level. Yes, meat. No apologies. It’s not a vegan city ;-) And the Turkish breakfast is legendary.

One night with , our DJ friend from Moscow. He played, we danced, Americans showed up, after-party in his apartment followed. Then came the legendary walk home. Thirty minutes. Uphill. Downhill. Steep. At 6 am in the morning. Istanbul isn’t flat — it’s a drunk endurance test made of stairs. Bella insisted we walk. Ten minutes later she asked for a taxi. Too late. Mountain boy logic had kicked in.

It rained a lot. Which was actually fine. Rain means slowing down. Staying in. Talking. Being close. Apartment near Taksim, right in the middle of everything — noise outside, calm inside.

We did the classics too. Bosporus walks, fishermen in the cold, grey water, suddenly a rainbow cutting through it all. Cats everywhere. Because this city belongs to cats, not people.

Istanbul isn’t postcard-pretty. It’s alive. Loud. Alternative in the right neighborhoods. Cafés, characters, scenes — very (90s) East Village vibes. That’s why I love it. That’s why it sticks.

Would I live there?
If my daughter wasn’t in Munich — yes. At least for a while.

Go. Don’t be scared.
Fly cheap with . Stay smart. Avoid the tourist traps. Get lost on purpose.

Istanbul takes care of you — if you let it.
I ll be back soon. To see Bella, but also to meet my friends and visit one of my favorite metropolis.

Next: London, where I will dj at a Kinky party 🥳 Want to come along? Write me!

23/12/2025

21/12/2025

Japan Trip – Part 2 🇯🇵

After sweating our way through the Osaka Bay conservatory, we did what any sensible human would do: fish market. Sushi, strolling, more sushi, waygu beef and ramen. Ridiculously good. End of discussion.

Then came my surprise for Charlotte: Umeda Sky Building. One of Osaka’s highest viewpoints, at night. Queueing (of course), perfectly organized (of course), elevator up. Charlotte wasn’t amused at first — too much walking, too much heat, too much everything. But hey, we didn’t fly around the globe to sit around and take it easy. Five minutes later she was glued to the view. Osaka at night is endless. Honestly, it reminded me a lot of New York. Not the skyscraper madness, but the energy. I could live there for a while. Somewhere between the former East Village vibes and organized chaos.

Next day: local express train to Kyoto. One hour. Train station so clean it felt fake. Shiny. Silent. Precise. Compared to most train stations in Germany or the world… let’s just say the contrast is brutal. You feel how much order and respect for shared space is part of daily life here.

Kyoto hit us with beautiful temples, mountains, and heat. No ocean breeze. Just humidity turned up to eleven. We walked another 10–15 km (yes, again), through temples, markets, tiny streets, and Gion. Food breaks, anime shopping for Charlotte (mandatory), more wandering.

Then: plot twist. Charlotte was “sick” the next day. Hotel day. Temples missed. Tragic.
I suspect it might have been less illness and more: too much walking, too much heat, enough already. Fair. She s a kid. Still — now we have a reason to come back to Kyoto, which I loved very much.

One more food mission later (priorities), and the next morning we boarded the high speed Shinkansen train. Again: spotless stations, trains every 10 minutes, on time to the second. Kyoto to Tokyo like clockwork. Unreal.

But that’s Part 3.
Kyoto → Tokyo → full sensory overload.

Stay tuned. More to come.

24/10/2025

Its already 2 weeks wgo, but I didn't manage to master and post the recording of (on of my DJsets) at the 3 days in the HEIDE.

Its been two years, since I ve been invited for the first time at that special house in the middle of the woods called HEIDE outside of Hamburg. This year we had a great time and a nice 3 day party. Whooohooo! Here is a 3h mix recording of that trip and it was truely a trip :-) Hope you enjoy the tunes, as much as I enjoyed that long weekend in the HEIDE, playing along with Alice and Benni aka "Dirty Dishes". More to come!

Its been two years, since I ve been invited for the first time at that special house in the middle of the woods called HEIDE outside of Hamburg. This year we had a great time and a nice 3 day party. W