Shazri has been proudly operating Das Soap Maschine for years, but Berlin’s changing economy leads her to believe techno might be more profitable
BERLIN - Shabiza Shazri, owner of the popular laundromat Das Soap Maschine located in central Berlin, says she is disappointed that her son shows no interest in pursuing a career in techno; the lifeblood of the German city.
Despite her constant prodding, Samir, the youngest of her two sons, seems reticent to follow his older brother Omar in a career as a DJ.
Shazri says she advises her son that he should have a career producing minimal techno, but he wants to run the family laundromat instead.
“There’s no future in laundromats,” says Shazri.
“Techno is our industry and we need to be proud.”
The hard-working mother of two even went so far as to find Samir a vintage Roland 909 on eBay like the one played by Robert Hood when he was in seminal Detroit trio Underground Resistance.
“It is still sitting on his desk in his bedroom untouched,” Shazri mourns.
While Samir’s friends spend their nights at warehouse parties dancing, taking drugs, and staying up until sunrise, Samir spends his time at home making spreadsheets to improve the efficiency of the family business.
“He has always been the black sheep of the family,” she adds, raising her voice.
“He hasn’t once been to Berghain and he can’t even point to Detroit on a map.”
