Bettina Köster

Bettina Köster, born on June 15, 1959, in Herford, Germany, is a multifaceted musician known for her talents as a saxophonist, composer, singer, songwriter, and producer. Her musical journey began in the fall of 1978 while studying at the Hochschule der Künste in Berlin, where she joined the underground band DIN A Testbild. In May 1979, she co-founded the all-female band Mania D alongside Karin Luner, Beate Bartel, Eva Gossling, and Gudrun Gut, and soon performed in New York City at venues like Arleen Schloss A's and Club Tier 3.

That same year, she and Gudrun Gut opened Eisengrau, a unique shop that showcased underground fashion, Super 8 films, and artwork, quickly becoming a cultural hub for artists including Tabea Blumenschein and Blixa Bargeld. Eisengrau also began releasing tapes featuring underground music, solidifying its role in the scene. As a member of the "genius dilettantes," a collective of Berlin artists, Köster contributed to various musical projects, including Liebesgier and Einstürzende Neubauten.

In 1981, she co-founded the indie band Malaria!, which gained international acclaim with the hit "Kaltes klares Wasser" and performed at iconic venues like Studio 54. While living in New York from 1983 to 2001, she collaborated with director Isabel Hegner, producing music for the award-winning short film Peppermills, which earned the Teddy Award at the Berlinale in 1998. Köster also co-wrote the thriller Mandalay Moon, published in 2007. Since 2009, she regularly performs with drummer Ines Perschy across clubs and festivals, currently residing in southern Italy.