Before the launch of Top Model Berlin at Metropol Berlin, we spoke with Kyle Van Horn, the founder and creative director. This inaugural event features renowned artists Yves Tumor, COUCOU CHLOE, and SUUTOO, and promises an evening that intertwines live performance, design, and community within the stunning Art Nouveau venue. Set for November 22, 2025, Top Model Berlin aims to establish a new cultural platform that enhances the live music scene and fosters creative exchange in the city.
Yves Tumor is set to deliver a rare solo performance, known for their emotional and cinematic sound that pushes the boundaries of experimental rock. This exclusive show will be their only live performance for 2025. COUCOU CHLOE, a key figure in the NUXXE collective, will present her dark club sound that has redefined electronic aesthetics across Europe’s underground scenes. SUUTOO, a multidisciplinary artist, will bring a blend of music, performance, and spoken word, crafting immersive experiences that explore transformation and identity.
What specific cultural gap did you identify in Berlin’s live music scene that Top Model Berlin is being built to fill?
Berlin needs more risk-taking. Top Model is up for risk-forward productions and riding a line that is intentionally unstable. We could all really use a break from safe bets and overly-reduced concepts.
If you look at what’s happening in Berlin live music: many events are put on by corporate promoters and many artists are represented by corporate agencies. The independent creators – the ones who would pool together and make something out of passion – are less present every year in larger-scale events.
The debut features Yves Tumor, COUCOU CHLOE, and SUUTOO. What is the single, defining mood these three artists create together, and why was this combination essential for the platform’s inaugural statement?
Top Model wants to book artists we like and want to see, first and foremost – always in a non-standard format. What’s present between all of the artists, though, is that each one stays uncompromisingly authentic, whether people are ready for it or not. From there, natural overlaps happen between their instincts and ours, and what we all would like to experience in a show.
Yves Tumor’s performance is billed as a rare, exclusive solo show. Can you share a detail about the creative collaboration with the Top Model Berlin team that makes this a unique, one-time presentation?
Well it’s one-time because it’s the only time anyone will see him perform live this year, and that’s after a year of brewing new ideas without the noise of constant touring. The singularity of this event goes beyond that though: the lighting and staging is done in collaboration between the artist and Top Model. Yves really embodies what we want to do with our project, so it’s a natural place to start and the chemistry is quite organic.
What does the concept of a “Top Model” represent in the context of live music, and how does it encapsulate the platform’s attitude?
The social energy around live music feels very limited. Yes, you’ll pull up with a friend or two and enjoy a show together, but where are the events where the creative scenes actually gather? At the moment this gathering really only happens at art openings, select performances, or club nights. Also, the current live music model feels disconnected from creative expression beyond what the musicians themselves bring. On all of these fronts we want to break things open and create a fresh take on what’s possible.
What? Top Model Berlin Launch Event Featuring Yves Tumor, COUCOU CHLOE, SUUTOO
Where? Metropol Berlin
When? November 22, 2025. 21:00
Tickets: here
Follow: @top.model.berlin
