In 2020, German electronic producer Ben Böhmer literally took his music to the clouds, performing a serene sunrise set from a hot air balloon high above Cappadocia, Turkey, in a stunt that earned over 20 million views and even an award for Best Live Streamed Artist. But that high-flying spectacle is just one highlight of Böhmer’s meteoric rise.
He emerged in the late 2010s as one of melodic techno’s brightest new stars, quickly amassing tens of millions of streams and support from BBC Radio 1 tastemakers like Annie Mac and Pete Tong. For global techno lovers, Böhmer’s music offers more than just dancefloor fillers; it’s a cinematic journey through emotional peaks and valleys. From the cathartic euphoria of his debut album Breathing to the introspective solace of Begin Again and the creative rebirth of BLOOM, each chapter of his career charts an evolution in sound and spirit.
Ben Böhmer’s story starts in the underground clubs of Germany, where a classically trained kid from Göttingen found his calling in electronic music. A pianist and trumpeter in youth turned synth-wizard, Böhmer began releasing deep house tracks around 2015 on boutique labels like Ton Töpferei (his own imprint) and Keller Records.
Early on, he drew comparisons to techno auteurs like Recondite for his moody, atmospheric style laced with haunting piano melodies. Those initial releases put him on the radar, but it was joining London’s Anjunadeep label that truly accelerated his ascent. By 2019, Böhmer had become a breakout Anjunadeep star, clocking nearly 40 million streams and earning accolades such as Billboard’s “Ones to Watch”. Industry legends took note, Pete Tong even dubbed one of Böhmer’s tracks an “Essential New Tune” on BBC Radio 1. This rapid emergence set the stage for a debut album that would channel the young producer’s personal journey into sound.
Böhmer’s 2019 debut album Breathing marked the culmination of an emotional chapter in his life. In the years leading up to it, he endured the loss of a close family member, a tragedy that deeply impacted his music. While his early EPs had a darker, brooding edge, Böhmer found solace in the studio after his loss and gradually shifted toward a more hopeful, melodic tone. Breathing captures that transformation. As Anjunadeep put it, this album was the “closing of a chapter”, the sound of heartache and recovery giving way to optimism and light.
The opening track, “In Memoriam”, is a poignant tribute laden with stirring strings, setting an emotive tone from the start. It’s followed by the title track “Breathing”, a collaboration with duo Nils Hoffmann and vocalist Malou that became a fan-favorite anthem on his live tours. With its delicate vocals above swung percussion and uplifting synths, “Breathing” exemplified Böhmer’s knack for blending melancholy and euphoria into one hypnotic groove.
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Breathing resonated widely. It not only solidified his status as a melodic techno heavyweight but also connected on a human level with anyone who’s found refuge on the dancefloor during hard times. After the album’s release, Böhmer embarked on his first major world tour, taking his live show across continents and proving that his intimate sound could captivate massive audiences.
Begin Again, released in September 2021, was born out of the surreal era of the global pandemic. During lockdowns, Böhmer and his fiancée (now wife) found themselves stranded on opposite sides of the globe for nine months due to travel bans. Separated by continents and uncertainty, he channeled those intense feelings of longing, anxiety, and hope into the new album. The result was a deeply personal record that many consider his most emotional work to date.
The album unfolds as a rollercoaster of moods and tempos, mirroring the ups and downs of pandemic life. For instance, the lead single “Beyond Beliefs” (first premiered during that famous Cappadocia balloon set) sets an uplifting tone with its soaring melodies. On the other end, introspective cuts like “Once…” and “Fade To Blue” offer gentle, downtempo moments of reflection, inviting listeners to pause and breathe amid chaos.
Begin Again proved to be a milestone for Böhmer in both artistry and reach. Written in isolation yet strikingly universal, the album struck a chord with fans who had shared similar experiences of separation and resilience. It also propelled him further into the global spotlight. By 2021, he was reportedly Spotify’s fastest-growing electronic artist, riding on tens of millions of streams. The album’s success led to a massive headlining tour in 2022, where Böhmer sold out every show months in advance and brought his music to legendary venues like London’s Roundhouse, New York’s Brooklyn Steel, and the Fonda Theatre in Los Angeles.
After years of non-stop touring and the whirlwind of two successful albums, Böhmer found himself at a creative crossroads. By 2023, despite sold-out shows and nearly a billion total streams to his name, he felt the pull to return to his roots, the spontaneous, improvisational spark that got him into music in the first place.
The result of that introspection is BLOOM, his third studio album released in late 2024, which represents an artistic rebirth. Böhmer himself describes BLOOM as “a reset”, a confident return to his own desires and more freeform creative origins. This album isn’t about rehashing a formula that worked; it’s about rediscovering the joy of experimentation and growth in real time.
Sonically, BLOOM spreads its wings far beyond the confines of deep house, incorporating a broad spectrum of styles and tempos that feel like a fresh chapter. It’s as if Böhmer let all his influences and curiosities blossom (true to the album’s title) into new sounds. All while maintaining the lush, emotive atmosphere that is his signature. The album features Swedish alt-pop icon Lykke Li on the haunting track “Hiding”, British duo Oh Wonder on the radiant “The Sun”, and even Enfant Sauvage (of French electro duo The Blaze) on a deep, cinematic cut “Evermore”.
BLOOM has been hailed as Böhmer’s bold step beyond the “melodic house” box, proving that he refuses to be pigeonholed. The album’s diversity, from club-ready tracks to ambient interludes, feels like the flowering of seeds planted in his earlier work. Each song hints at the spontaneous jam sessions in his Berlin studio that gave BLOOM its soul.
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Böhmer’s studio accomplishments are only half the story. He’s equally known for his electrifying live performances and relentless touring. Unlike many DJs, Böhmer performs as a live act, often using synthesizers and controllers on stage to recreate his tracks in real time, giving each show a unique improvisational flair.
The most iconic is undoubtedly his collaboration with Cercle in August 2020, when Böhmer took to the sky in a hot air balloon to play a sunrise set above the otherworldly landscapes of Cappadocia. Thousands of feet in the air with balloons drifting around, he delivered a dreamy, chilled mix of his own productions (including the debut of his track “Cappadocia” written for the occasion). The video of this one-of-a-kind performance exploded across the internet, showcasing Böhmer’s music in an almost surreal setting. It not only racked up views by the millions, but also earned him the AIM Award for Best Live Streamed Artist, cementing his reputation for innovation in live techno shows.
On terra firma, Böhmer has spent the past few years conquering some of the world’s most renowned venues and festivals. His Begin Again tour in 2021–2022 was a blockbuster, with every date sold out well in advance. Fans from London to Los Angeles packed venues like Alexandra Palace and the Roundhouse (UK) and The Fonda Theatre (USA) to immerse themselves in Böhmer’s lush soundscapes live.
He’s also graced major festival stages, from Dour Festival in Belgium to Kappa Futur in Italy, and Electric Zoo in New York, bringing a dose of melodic serenity to these high-energy events. No matter the stage, Böhmer has a way of connecting with crowds through emotion-driven sets. Böhmer even brought his show to India and across Asia, and joined superstar duo ODESZA on tour dates, introducing his music to arenas of new listeners.
Ben Böhmer’s career so far reads like an electronic music fairy tale, the kind where the hero faces personal trials and global upheavals, yet transforms them into art that makes people around the world dance and feel alive. His emergence was swift and sure-footed, his sound evolving from the shadows into the light. With Breathing, he taught us about healing; with Begin Again, he reminded us of the power of hope and renewal; and with BLOOM, he has spread his creative wings, inviting us to explore new horizons with him.
Enthusiastic, music-savvy fans across the globe have embraced Böhmer’s work because it strikes that rare balance between mind and heart. It’s techno that tells a story. Whether you’re listening solo on headphones or getting lost in a crowd at one of his shows, there’s an intimacy to his sound that makes even a vast festival feel personal. As Böhmer continues to tour the world and drop new improvisational jams, one thing is certain: his techno fairy tale is far from over.
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