“I just got back from a small festival called “Stanitzel” (ice cream cone), organised by friends from Leipzig (and Berlin). It’s located right on a lake and has a big jetty…if the weather is nice, you can swim all day (and listen to the music from the water).”
Ems summer sounds splendid so far.
Originally from a small town in Saxony-Anhalt, Ems has called Leipzig home since 2018 – although her relationship with the city is one of mixed emotions.
“I’ve had my ups and downs here. When I first moved, there were so many good clubs, open-air parties, and it was just a very creative and welcoming DIY scene.”
But over the last two or three years, Ems (known to us online by her DJ moniker e.m.s.) has watched that scene become increasingly difficult to navigate. Police have cracked down harder on renegade-style parties, club bank accounts continue to dry up, and gentrification has steadily pushed late-night venues out of the city, making way for gleaming new apartment blocks.
Sadly, the pattern is becoming so familiar across the EU that it feels like it deserves its own name. Although the club culture light has dimmed significantly in Germany’s eighth-largest city, Ems says the scene remains resilient. “Collectives, DJs, creatives and dancers are still very active and making the best of the situation – moving further underground, seeking out affordable hidden locations and focusing on booking more locals.”
It’d be remiss of me not to mention Sphere Radio, a tight-knit online radio station and community that Ems is part of. One of which has a hand in the aforementioned Stanitzel get-together.
Ems wouldn’t be where she is today without one name: Nora – her ride-or-die best friend. Before Nora came along, Ems ears were firmly planted in rock territory: Rage Against the Machine, Billy Talent and the like.
It was Nora who dragged her to her very first club. Nora was the one who religiously sent her electronic artists to listen to. And Nora was the one who first dreamt up the idea of the two of them forming a DJ duo.
“Nora really had to convince me to go to a club for the first time. It was the now-closed IfZ. I don’t remember who played, but I do remember how immersive the whole night was. Typical Leipzig techno was being played, and I was completely sucked into it. After that, we started going clubbing more often, and I was soon in love with electronic music.”
By 2021, Ems and Nora had enrolled in a FLINTA* DJ mentorship programme. FLINTA* is a German acronym representing women, lesbians, intersex, non-binary, trans and agender people. For the next three years, the pair performed as n:oem, having a ball gigging all over the city. Sadly, the girls soon moved to separate cities and, not wanting to put any undue pressure on their friendship, decided to fold n:oem. Even so, the selector flame had been well and truly lit.
Navigating DJing ever since has been an interesting road. For a long time, Ems was hyperfixated on how she was being perceived. “I felt like the crowd was judging every little mistake (which of course no one is doing)… like if I didn’t land a good transition or just wasn’t getting booked enough.”
But after a lot of work in therapy, she’s turned a corner over the last year. A big part of that has been learning to trust herself more and, perhaps most importantly, shaking off the perfectionist demon sitting on her shoulder. What I love most about this shift is that, rather than taking away from her ambition, it’s preserved what matters most: her love of the craft. “It’s so much more enjoyable now, and I feel like it’s way more sustainable in the long run because I really hope that this will be part of my life forever in some way or another.”
So what to expect from the e.m.s. project…?
Start with a base of Shanti Celeste and Peach’s Dekmantel back-to-back from 2023. I was lucky enough to be there myself; it is still one of the most jubilant sets I’ve ever experienced. Two best friends grinning from ear to ear, mixing hammers flawlessly. Once the set was uploaded to YouTube, Ems, like me, went on a treasure hunt for the track IDs the ladies had spun.
“When I tried to find out which artists/tracks they were playing, I realised a lot of the music was only available on vinyl.”
This became the sparkplug for Em’s vinyl obsession. She’d always wanted to learn to DJ with records, but never really had the time or means. “My roommate at the time was working in a bar which had Technics 1210 turntables and a mixer, which they were kind enough to lend me. I would wake up extra early before uni to practise.” Soon after, she found a deal on eBay for her own setup and hasn’t looked back. The passion was now fully formed.
For Ems, vinyl’s instinctive nature and added challenge make it so appealing. She likens putting together a set to solving a difficult puzzle, piece by piece. There’s more planning and forethought involved, but once the needle drops, she feels more free.
Back then, Ems was drawn to rougher, darker-sounding wax. Lately, though, she’s been steering towards the lighter, fluffier realms of house music. e.m.s. recordings feel a bit like holding your hands out to an open fire from a safe distance – a subtle, nourishing warmth slowly coursing through you.
Be sure to hit play on her session with Mexico’s Escenia collective. It was my introduction to Ems, and remains a beautiful jumping-off point for getting a feel for what she wields.
Knowing little of Leipzig’s scene, I pressed Ems on some lesser-known locals who deserve the spotlight shone their way. “f.e. OLIV has really inspired me. I would stand in the front row at her sets and ask myself, how is she doing this? She mixes vinyl like it’s nothing, so clean and engaging.”
Another is the female selector Hefe, known across the city for her sets that traverse mountains and valleys. Hefe has no recorded sets online, which only adds to her intrigue and the preciousness of her performances. What’s more, she and Ems are good pals and often chat for hours on music and the struggles that come with a job in nightlife, with plenty of giggles along the way. “She is so full of joy, and no one can make me laugh as much as her. Big recommendation from me. I think you’ll see her on some bigger lineups very soon.”
Looking further afield, the indefatigable Aarhus/Safe Distro crew have had a massive influence on the way Ems approaches mixing records. No surprises here… you can hear it in her sound. Warm. Intricate. Playful.
Sweetly, Ems has also formed a bond with the Danish collective, something she still recalls very fondly.
“Two years ago, I visited Aarhus with my boyfriend Josef, and we went to a party they run called “super”. We met some of the crew, and they were all the sweetest people, which brought their music closer to my heart.”
Sara (DJ SRA), who played at “super” that day, stood out. I too am a huge advocate for the way Sara goes about it – so much so, she’s part of the Fables Mix Series.
A vinyl-only girlie too, Sara has a bag full of what Ems calls “diamonds”. I couldn’t agree more. Peep her recent session on Radio Panini if you need further evidence. Last year, Ems personally invited Sara to come and play alongside her and the moosgrund posse. I’m manifesting an extended back-to-back between the two: they’d go together like peanut butter and honey!
For all the talk of records, parties and Em’s relationship with DJing, it’s not the music that sticks its head higher than the rest. It’s the people. Nora opened the door to dance music and gave Ems the confidence to stride through it. Meaningful relationships, from Leipzig to Aarhus and beyond, have expanded her musical universe and made her feel part of something bigger than herself. A community.
That’s why shedding this perfectionist skin has been life-changing – and I don’t use that word lightly. Ems ambition to succeed hasn’t faltered, but the pressure to prove herself has. What remains? Enjoyment. Found in dropping the needle on a record, finding her way into the pocket, and sharing tunes with people she loves and respects.
“The most joy I get in life comes from my friends. I want to thank them and everyone that supports me. Without you, I wouldn’t be doing this (much love to Josef, Nora, and Vera, who have been there every step of this journey). I’m forever grateful to have you in my life.”
The records may guide her passion, but it’s the people moving around them that make it all worthwhile.
