Berlin’s hybrid live-electronic force GHEIST returns with ‘Searching Places,’ a shimmering dive into nostalgic club emotion and 80s-tinged euphoria. Known for their powerful blend of melodic techno, progressive house, and cinematic songwriting, GHEIST continue to carve their unique space in the electronic landscape with their latest single. ‘Searching Places’ is a track steeped in longing and movement—fusing warm analog synth lines, emotionally charged vocals, and pulsating grooves that evoke both introspection and dance floor release. While staying rooted in their Berlin club DNA, they are tapping into retro sound palettes for this release, evoking the golden era of 80s synth music without losing their modern edge.
Off the back of their latest offering, we caught up with the duo for a chat!
WWD: Hey GHEIST, great to meet you! What’s happening in your world at the moment?
Hey great to meet you too and thank you for having us. There is so much going on at the moment but we try to give you a short insight. During the week we’re currently in the process of finishing our upcoming album, but we’re also working on some collaborations and remixes that will soon come out.
On top of that we’ve been shooting a video for ‘Searching Places’ which will be released on the 10th of July, which we are very excited about. On the weekends, we’re touring festivals in Europe and we’ll be back in Ibiza this summer.
WWD: Congratulations on releasing ‘Searching Places’ on Embassy One. Can you talk us through the release?
Thank you, we’re very happy that ‘Searching Places’ is finally seeing the light of the day. We’ve been on and off working on that song over the last two years and came up with so many different versions that at some point we had the feeling of losing perspective. But you know how it is, good things come to those who wait ;).
Now that ‘Searching Places’ is out, we’ll follow up with a remix EP, which also includes another version of ours alongside remixes from Oliver Koletzki, Marc Hoffen, and Unfazed. We’re truly happy about their work and the way they shine a different light on ‘Searching Places.’
WWD: How did the collaboration as a production team come about?
We’ve known each other for a long time and were friends for many years before we finally started GHEIST. We’ve been always creating music together, just for different projects. When we started GHEIST it came upon so naturally that we were actually wondering why we didn’t do it earlier. But that’s how it often goes in life when you’re caught up in your own stuff it’s hard to see the obvious.
WWD: What’s the easiest & hardest part of collaborating?
For us collaborating feels very natural, that’s what we always did and it will always be a part of our everyday life. For sure it helps that we bring different strengths to the table and recognize them as such. We have the same idea and the same feeling in our core when it comes to music, we’re just looking at it from our individual perspective, which makes it even more interesting. In the end you have to be willing to collaborate and give each other space. This can also become the hardest part in working in a team, as we are individuals we sometimes go through different phases in our lives and to acknowledge them and truly see each other needs patience and kindness. But most of all you simply need to trust each other, like in every good relationship.
WWD: Where and when was the track made?
At the very beginning ‘Searching Places’ was a two minute transition track we created solely for our live shows about two years ago. We immediately felt that we had something special in our hands and started to create the first full version. To pinpoint a certain place or time is impossible, as we’ve been working on this track on and off for the last two years and basically everywhere…on the couch, in the studio, on the plane, you name it… If you never lose the connection to a track over a period of time like this and if you still feel inspired, you know you have something good you just need to put the pieces together. By the way, that’s easier said than done.
WWD: For those who are just discovering your music, what do you hope they feel when they listen?
If you listen to ‘Searching Places’ and it makes you reconnect with a feeling, or a story of your own, in the past or right now, we’ve achieved something beautiful. We don’t expect our audience to feel something very specific, we hope they connect their own lives with our music and make it their soundtrack.
WWD What’s been the highlight of your career so far? Any particular moment that stands out?
Releasing our first LP ‘Zukunft’ on our own imprint Radau was a very special moment that stood out. Realising that our songs appeared in movies and commercials in the cinema was also something unique. And for sure we had shows where everything came together and was perfect.
WWD: Can you share some insight into your creative process? Any rituals or methods that keep you inspired?
Usually we start with harmonies and vocals, very often actually on the piano. It’s easy to get lost in the endless world of sound design before there’s even any basic idea. This being said, starting with no real purpose can also lead to something amazing. Usually we go on with some vocal samples and synth sounds and then go more into detail with our drums. The arrangement comes upon through time and changes constantly. We try to make music every day but we don’t force it in terms of a specific time window. Whether it’s happening in the morning, evening or at night is an individual thing and changes all the time. As much as you can work through things we believe that the initial idea should happen quick and easy in order to be really.
WWD: As someone deeply involved in the electronic music scene, how do you see it right now?
Like every other music scene things are constantly moving and changing. The electronic music scene just got bigger than ever throughout the last few years. At the same time clubs are going under, festivals struggle, there are more and more DJs every day. It’s more about creativity than ever before on both sides as an artist and a promoter, which is not a bad thing. You have to stick out and you have to know what you want out of it. There still are underground parties in crazy off locations like in the 90’s but there are also events where people pay a lot of money for a table. It’s okay that there is both, you don’t have to participate if you don’t like it. Live and let live, you just have to be real about it.
WWD: What’s one thing you’ve learned about the music industry that surprised you?
There are surprises waiting on every corner, some are smaller, some are bigger and at the same time it‘s not really surprising that things are that way. As predictable things might feel they are actually not. Your life can change within a day, you just have to do what you feel is right and trust your gut.
WWD: Finally, what does the rest of 2025 hold for you both?
We’ll keep on working on our upcoming album and we’ll be touring Europe and North/South America. We hope to share and create as many memories with you as possible and we actually can’t wait to show you our music. See you guys soon!
WWD: We can’t wait to hear it! Thanks for the chat 🙂
‘Searching Places’ is available here