999999999, I Hate Models & More — Decoder at Ciskari Garden, July 18

If you haven’t heard about Decoder Festival yet, you’re missing one of electronic music’s best- kept secrets. What started in 2017 as an ambitious passion project has exploded into Eastern‘s most thrilling electronic music experience, blending world-class DJs with Georgia’s raw, underground energy. Previous seasons ran from June to September, featuring sold-out shows. 2025 looks even more promising. The opening night lineup is a bold statement: Decoder books artists at their peak, not when they’re past their prime.

On July 18, the Decoder Festival kicks off at its signature location - Ciskari Garden on Kustba’s terraces, where the forest meets the skyline of Tbilisi. No frills, no filler. Just the heavyweights of electronic music, up close. The story of Decoder began in 2017 when a small group of friends rented out Tbilisi’s Spacehall for a single night of electronic music and experimental visuals. They booked Nicolas Jaar - then at the peak of his avant-garde phase - and watched in disbelief as 1,500 people showed up for what was meant to be a niche event. That unexpected turnout set the standard: Decoder would never book easy names. Only important ones.

In 2022, Decoder found its permanent home at Ciskari Garden by Turtle Lake, which has become Decoder’s battleground - a place where hard-hitting techno meets Tbilisi’s wild energy. Open-air yet intimate, chaotic yet controlled. No trend-chasing, just pure sound. Founders envisioned something different: a festival that prioritized artistry over commercial appeal. The primary goal is to invite performers who are particularly relevant and impactful in the current year. Over the past seven years, the festival has hosted a remarkable lineup of electronic music stars, including Peggy Gou, Amelie Lens, Black Coffee, Richie Hawtin, Solomun, and Charlotte De Witte. Each of these artists has contributed to the festival’s reputation as a beacon of contemporary electronic music.

999999999 (pronounced “Nine Times Nine”) is an Italian hard techno duo that has carved out a reputation for analog-driven intensity, fast-paced improvisation, and an uncompromising approach to sound. Formed in 2016 by Carlo and Giovanni — whose last names are deliberately left out to keep the focus on the music — the project was designed from the start to blur the lines between DJ sets and live performance, club functionality and experimental noise, techno tradition and future-forward rebellion. They first gained serious momentum in 2018 with a Planet Rhythm release that featured the viral acid weapon “300000003”. That track, like most of their music, wasn’t named in the traditional sense — just a number — but it made the rounds fast, championed by everyone from underground tastemakers to headlining festival acts.

Since then, they’ve played some of the most respected venues and festivals in the global techno circuit: Awakenings, Tresor, Berghain, Possession, FOLD, Khidi, Bassiani, and more. One of their most legendary sets happened right here in Tbilisi - a 12-hour marathon at Khidi in 2019, the first time the club handed over the night to a single act from open to close. That set is still talked about by locals and marks a key moment in their connection to the Georgian Scene. They are known for intense, hardware-only live sets built around analog gear: drum machines, sequencers, acid boxes, and mixers. Every performance is live and improvised, with no laptops or pre-arranged playlists. That raw, unpredictable energy has become their signature. Their sound draws heavily on the legacy of acid techno, but it’s more than just a revival. They layer squelching 303 basslines over punishing kicks and syncopated percussion, building sets that often run over 140 BPM — designed to push the body and test the room. The result is heavy, hypnotic, and relentlessly physical. While most artists work through larger labels, 999999999 have kept tight control over their music. NineTimesNine, their label, continues to put out limited vinyl runs that often sell out immediately and are highly sought after by collectors. In recent years, they’ve begun releasing digitally as well — a shift they made after seeing the global interest in their music expand beyond vinyl heads. They’ve also launched the “9x9 Invites” event series, curating lineups and collaborating with other like-minded artists across Europe. Their independent, self-sufficient model has become a blueprint for artists who want to operate outside of mainstream label structures.

I Hate Models, the French DJ and producer born Guillaume Labadie, captivates audiences with his unique persona, performing in a mask that symbolizes his rejection of conventional norms. He is not just another techno artist with a gimmick; he blends hard techno, acid, and industrial influences to create a musical experience that resonates deeply with listeners.

Since his debut with *Warehouse Memories* in 2016, I Hate Models redefined electronic music. His tracks combine raw intensity with melancholic melodies, inviting fans to explore their emotions. His performances at major festivals like Tomorrowland, Awakenings, Ultra, Sziget and many more are renowned for their transformative power, taking audiences on an emotional journey. His approach to music transcends mere sound; it represents a philosophical stance against the predictability of the electronic music scene. A key aspect of I Hate Models’ allure is his commitment to anonymity. By keeping his identity hidden, he shifts the focus from the artist to the music itself, allowing listeners to engage with his work on a deeper level. This mystery enhances the emotional connection during his live sets, which are characterized by unpredictability and spontaneity. 

In a world where the electronic music scene is often saturated with predictable sounds, I Hate Models emerges as a breath of fresh air. His dedication to authenticity, emotional depth, and innovative artistry ensures that he will continue to be a pivotal force in shaping the future of techno. In June 2025, I Hate Models announced his debut album, L'Âge des Métamorphoses, a three - LP set released on Perc Trax. This album is anticipated to showcase his artistic evolution and further solidify his status in the techno scene.

If you want to understand how electronic music in Georgia grew from DIY beginnings into a globally respected scene, you must start with Greenbeam & Leon. For over twenty years, the duo - Achi Tabukashvili (Greenbeam) and Levan Lolishvili (Leon) - have shaped the sound and infrastructure of Tbilisi’s club culture from the inside out. They began producing together in 2002, in a Georgia that had little club infrastructure and no defined scene. Early on, they released minimal and dub-leaning techno on international netlabels, but it wasn’t long before their work was picked up by European imprints like CMYKmusik, Broque, and Splitsound. By the mid-2010s, they had locked into a heavier, more linear sound - clear in records like *Abandoned Tales* (2017) and their debut LP *The Haze of Dust* (2019), released on Berlin’s ATT Series.

Tabukashvili records as Vulkanski (a KHIDI resident and BITE label affiliate), while Lolishvili works as Boyd Schidt, with releases on labels like Sonic Groove and Omen. Still, when they come together as Greenbeam & Leon, it’s less about side projects and more about history - a sound honed not for trend cycles, but for rooms that feel like home. After more than two decades, the duo remains central figures in Georgia’s electronic music story. Not because they shout the loudest, but because they’ve never left the room.

On July 18, Greenbeam & Leon return to the booth for Decoder’s first event of the 2025 season - and it’s a fitting booking. Alongside a lineup of sharp, uncompromising artists, the duo will bring their long-developed control and intuition to the night. 

There are DJs who follow the rules, and there are DJs who rewrite them. Karina Saakyan doesn’t concern herself with either. She plays from the gut - instinctive, unfiltered, and deeply personal. She doesn’t just play for the dancefloor -  she plays through it. A Karina set is a process: disorienting, transformative, and strangely intimate.

Karina brings a refined sense of atmosphere to the decks. She constructs her sets like intricate structures - layered, immersive, and full of shadow and space. Her approach isn’t about pleasing the crowd; it’s about storytelling - finding that strange, beautiful middle ground between discomfort and release. 

Beyond the decks, Karina’s work as a producer reflects the same sensibility. Her tracks move in unexpected ways - fragile one moment, fierce the next. She’s not prolific by design; her output is measured and intentional. But every release carries weight. 

On July 18, she returns to Tbilisi for Decoder’s next event - a night crafted for those who crave more than just a party. Decoder is known for pushing beyond the surface, and Karina’s set is expected to do just that: stretch the room, stir something deeper, and leave you feeling slightly changed.