​Berlin DJ and producer Radical Softness has died aged 28

Berlin techno DJ and producer Radical Softness, real name Lea-Rose Besson, has passed away aged 28.

The news was announced on Instagram yesterday, February 15, by a close friend of the artist. Demian Records co-founder Znzl expressed: “We are devastated to announce that our beloved Lea Rose has left our Earth last night.”

Radical Softness championed the queer *FLINTA community in Berlin, per Resident Advisor, and stood as an advocate for “radical” self-expression and safer spaces in the queer club scene.

Alongside their continued activism, Besson also co-founded a queer femme night in the city, CALYX, which provided a space for “the rich and colourful flora of the queer community”, encouraging sexual freedom.

“We’re mourning a lover, a special friend, a soulmate, a beautiful human who teached us resilience and love,” wrote Znzl. “Lea Rose was the most gentle and sensitive soul. They live forever in our hearts and in every drops of the ocean.”

“We kindly ask you to respect our grief and celebrate the kindness and love they will forever radiate,” he wrote alongside a video of Besson on the beach.

The news was also confirmed by Besson’s mother in the same post, who said they were “too young to die” having just celebrated their 28th birthday on February 10.

“I was thinking of going to see and listen to [them] on April 5th at La Chaux de Fond in Switzerland,” Besson’s mother wrote (translated from French). “I was so happy to see [them].”

Besson was a resident at Berlin’s Rawmantique and Hamburg party TILT. They began to gain recognition across the world for their enigmatic sets, which fused techno with trance and fast, pacey club rhythms.

Listen back to a set from Radical Softness at Karachi Community Radio below.

Gemma Ross is Mixmag's Assistant Editor, follow her on Twitter