Can you name a movement or people who pushed you to where you are now?
There were many small steps that gradually brought me further and closer to techno. At first, I went to my first techno parties as a schoolgirl. The club I visited at that time was called Seilfabrik. Even today, it is legendary in our region. Later, when I came back to Zwickau from university, a good friend, DJ, and producer, Mima, told me everything you need to know about Djing. I am very grateful for that. I had my first Gig at club Battlezone, where I still play today. My first residency was at „Wildes Stromern“. Later I was one of the founders of our space „Kunstplantage“ in Zwickau. These days I am a member of Women of Techno and Dieda, a female artist collective.
Try to imagine, what you would be doing if music was never been introduced to you?
I think my life would be much more colorless, boring, and dreary without music. Without techno, I would have missed priceless moments, I would not have met many wonderful people. Sparkling, impressive places would have remained closed to me and I would certainly have seen much less shimmering sunrises. I process my everyday life, my happiness, and my worries over music. Music, in turn, triggers feelings in me like no other art. I don’t want to imagine a life without music respectively without techno.
What did you want to be when you were a child?
That changed frequently. I wanted to be a lion trainer, then a doctor, later a museum worker, which I already was. Today I just want to be happy.
What other motion aside music means a lot to you in daily living?
First of all, I want to spend a lot of my time with my family and friends. I also enjoy reading and being outdoors. I like to travel. In the summer I invest a lot of time in our project Kunstplantage. I organize various events there. Of course, there are many things about techno that I do, but also about readings or movie nights and barter markets.
Tell us about your city, what kind of music scene does it have?
Zwickau is a very musical city. The classical composer Robert Schumann was born here and there is a great tradition of classical music. For its size, Zwickau also has quite an active club scene. We have 3 big clubs. One has become kind of a techno temple. Many people from the surrounding area come to Zwickau to rave. In addition, larger cities such as Leipzig, Chemnitz, or Dresden are not far, and there one have also a lot of possibilities.
Do you have a network of other artists, and how do they support you?
We are really well connected in our region. Most of the DJs and event organizers know each other and we try to support each other. This means that we have many event formats where our locals are booked. I also try to give local DJs a stage and that’s why I get a lot of support from others. For example, we always recommend friendly DJs if we can’t play ourselves. We stick together. I have also a lot of support because of my crew Women of Techno and my agency Dieda, also because of the
Kunstplantage or the clubs, where I play.
What is your favourite time of the year, and how does it influence your creativity?
I am a child of summer. I love the odor of freshly mown grass, the chirping of birds in the morning, and most of all the feeling on my skin when I walk through the streets in a shirt on warm summer nights. Summer is also fantastic because a lot of people are outside and because of the festivals and open-airs. I feel more energetic in summer and let other people and events influence my creativity.
What does your typical week usually look like?
Every day I go to work by bike between 8 and 9 am. I like to work and I try to do something effective for our city with what I do. In the afternoon I like to meet my friends or spend time with my partner. We often cook together or go outside. I also really listen to a lot of music. Recently, I’ve also been doing some sports. I try to do yoga, go swimming, and ride my bike regularly. I usually play in clubs on
Fridays or Saturdays too. But I haven’t been able to do that for the last 20 weeks because of Corona. That was really bad.
What does music mean to you and how it evolved since the beginning? How has your style changed over time?
Music has been an important part of my life since I was a child. My mother says I sang before I spoke. When I got a little older I took lessons in piano and singing at the conservatory in Zwickau. I sang in different bands when I was younger. Music has always accompanied me that way. I’ve been listening to a lot of house and techno since I was 16. I think that the sound that I like keeps changing. There
are times when I like more melodic tracks and other times when I’m fascinated by very brittle, harsh sounds more. I’m listening to a lot of minimal– and psytechno at the moment.
What is the driven force behind your everyday grind of music?
I think that music is a good way for me to process the experiences I have had in my life, but also everyday life. Especially in clubs, I see music as a catalyst for me. When I play techno I tune out most of the things around me except for the vague feeling conveyed to me by the audience. I try to take that up, steer it a bit and also give it back. Outside the club, I often listen to music to motivate myself to do things I don’t really want to do, to make me feel good, or to process bad moments.
What is the biggest challenge or sacrifice you have made or have to make in doing what you do?
Djing is certainly work. Especially in the beginning, I invested a lot of time to learn techniques and got familiar with the technology. But I love to learn and don’t feel that as a sacrifice at all. Just like fatigue. When I’m booked to play a lot and possibly also organize things myself, that does take force. After all, I still have a “normal job”. That can be a lot. But it also gives me an infinite amount of joy and strength to give people a good time. It is worth all the effort.
There are bad days for everyone; how do you keep yourself motivated creatively?
It’s important to acknowledge that there are days when nothing goes right. But that is not a bad thing. That is part of it. Then I try to accept the situation. If I haven’t agreed on anything and don’t have to do anything, I just let it go and do less. Then I try again the next day. If something is pending or something has to be finished, I am always dutiful. But then it’s often the case that I really have fun while I’m doing it.
How do you usually prepare before a gig, how much space do you leave for improvisation in your sets?
In fact, there’s no regular prepping for gigs with me at all. I often step up my efforts to look for new, cool releases and think about what sound might fit the event where I’m invited. The set I play during an event is never prepared. I always play spontaneously and adapt the sound to my mood and the mood of the audience.
The dream collaboration. Who would you like to share the stage with?
There are an incredible number of artists who I admire insanely and whose sound I celebrate a lot. I have been a loyal fan of Plastic Robots for many years. That would probably be the biggest. Otherwise, I would definitely want to be on a flyer with Carbon, Bendtsen, or Crescendoll.
What is your most memorable concert you’ve ever gone to listen to?
I have been to many great events. The Fusion Festival is a highlight for me every year and it would be my great wish to be allowed to play there one day. One of the best things I experienced there was Victor Ruiz on the Turmbühne. That was an outstanding set and remains one of my favorite memories with what I associate with it.
For the last one, name three artists that currently inspire you!
Plastic Robots, Egomorph, Anina Owly.
The event takes place on the 14th of March at the Cervo Mountain Resort, Grapes&Juniper room till 03:30 AM. Experience will leave you speechless and craving for more. Don’t wait in line – ticket holders enter faster, get yours on Resident Advisor.
Check out our previous events with Amavii and Sarah Lynn if you still have a doubt.
IMPORTANT INFORMATION about the event:
– Limited Capacity. Private event.
– Tickets from 10 CHF, after midnight 20 CHF on the doors.
