Berlin underground favourite Janina makes her mark in Ibiza this summer as she brings her acclaimed event series, Triplevisions, back to the island for a second season, an immersive eight date residency at Sigma Club Ibiza, which launched on June 6th.
Renowned for her boundary-pushing sets and residencies at institutions like Club der Visionäre and Tresor, Janina will perform every night of the residency alongside a diverse lineup of special guests spanning the house and techno spectrum. This summer’s edition welcomes standout names such as Francesco Farfa, Radio Slave, The Hacker, Dana Ruh, Tripmastaz and more, each contributing to an intimate and cutting-edge club experience week after week.
One month into the residency, we caught up with the vinyl veteran to discuss all things Triplevisions, her early start in Berlin, and more!
WWD: Welcome to When We Dip, Janina. You’ve been DJing for over two decades now! How did your journey behind the decks begin, and what drew you to vinyl so early on?
When I was 15, I left school and started working in a record shop. Around that time, I was also going out to a lot of parties, places like Tresor, Beat Street Club, and Club der Visionaere, where I met many DJs. Back then, everyone was still playing vinyl. There was no Traktor yet, no Instagram, and barely any social media at all, just CDJs and turntables.
When I was 18, I met Gregor, the owner of Club der Visionaere. He saw my vinyl collection and told me I should become a DJ. He invited me to play at CDV, and I’ve been a resident there ever since.. that was 21 years ago!
WWD: Berlin’s always been such a cradle for underground music. What was it like breaking into that scene at such a young age, especially as a resident at CDV at just 18?
I remember when I was around 15 or 16, I went to Tresor for the very first time. I went down into the basement and saw four guys playing.. all wearing masks. I had no idea what was going on, so I went back upstairs, and my friend explained to me that it was Underground Resistance.vFrom that day on, I started going to Bonito House Club at Tresor every Wednesday.
When I was about 17, I became part of the minimal house scene through CDV. That sound was completely new for all of us, it was the very beginning of minimal house. Ricardo, Richie… they all moved to Berlin around that time, because we had the clubs and opening hours like nowhere else in the world.
WWD: Congrats on your recent move to Ibiza! We’ve seen that your Triplevisions event series is back for its second season. What made you want to return with the concept this year?
Since this is my second season, it was clear to me that I didn’t want to stop, I wanted to keep going with my Triplevisions night here in Ibiza. I like doing things that aren’t so common. Throwing a party with that kind of lineup in a micro club in Ibiza feels like something different, something special. That’s why I decided to do it at Sigma this year, it’s a concept that doesn’t really exist on the island at the moment.
I think it’s important to give people the chance to experience something outside the usual.
WWD: You’ve curated a seriously strong guest lineup. How did you go about selecting these artists? Was it instinct, friendship, or shared vision?
Friendship, my own vision of course , but most of all, I followed my heart, not my head. I try to create a lineup that reflects who I am and the music I love, a mix of different genres that fits my sound. I also try to invite DJs who don’t regularly play on the island, and support newcomers or artists who’ve never had the chance to play in Ibiza before.
WWD: Sigma Ibiza is such a unique, intimate space, how important is the venue to curating the kind of vibe Triplevisions represents?
Sigma is the perfect spot to create something different on the island, it’s intimate, and that’s exactly what I was looking for.
WWD: What do you hope people take away from a Triplevisions night when they walk out the door?
I want everyone to leave Triplevisons with good memories and a big smile!
WWD: How does your approach differ when playing somewhere like Panorama Bar versus an intimate space like Sigma Ibiza? And how would you describe your sound to someone who’s never heard one of your sets before?
I’m not the kind of artist who sticks to just one sound. I’ve been part of the electronic scene for over 20 years now, and I have more than 12,000 vinyl records in my collection, so naturally, I’ve explored a lot of different genres over time.
I love big room house, artists like Mr. G, for example, but that’s not music you can play just anywhere. At the same time, I have a huge collection of micro/minimal house, which is perfect for more intimate spaces like Sigma or CDV.
When I play, I want to share my knowledge and let people experience the depth of my vinyl collection.
WWD: What excites you most about the current state of underground music? And what worries you?
I’m not worried about anything, I’m just grateful that we have our little world of electronic music, and that we get to live this dream. Of course, we’re all different, but in the end, we should respect each other and not work against one another. That’s not what this life in electronic music is about.
It’s exciting to see more young artists getting involved and interested in music, it means we can all grow together. That said, there are little things that I think could change, like pricing, or phones on the dance floor. I believe it should be more about the music, not about followers and social media. But that’s the new generation, and I see it like a wave, things come and go, and everything eventually finds its balance.
WWD: What does success look like for you now, has that definition changed over the years?
Success, to me, means gaining experience over the years, real life experience.
WWD: Finally, what advice would you give to younger DJs navigating today’s scene, especially those trying to stay true to themselves?
Never give up. Don’t sell your soul just because something is trendy or hyped, stay true to yourself. Learn everything you can about music, and don’t be ashamed to have a second job on the side. The only risk you run is earning more respect for your dedication!
WWD: Wise words! Thanks for the chat 🙂
Tickets for Triplevisions are available here