Offenbach has been Luzie's creative home since 2017, a place where she has continually refined her musical visions. In 2020, she took the bold step into the professional club scene – since then, she has captivated audiences with driving, multifaceted sets and an infectious warmth. With her residencies at the queer collective Mitte der Gesellschaft and the FLINTA platform clubcherry, she creates safe spaces: inclusive meeting places where all genders and identities can freely develop. A dazzling highlight was her debut at the legendary Panorama Bar Berlin in September 2023. Since then she has played in more and more renowed places.She is also broadcasting her "Offenbach Love Soundscapes" on Callshop Radio, sharing her distinctive style with invited guests to a broader audience. Luzie stands for uncompromising deep and driving energy and an open heart.
Could you please introduce yourself and tell us a little bit about your background, and what first got you interested in electronic music?
I’m Luzie, 31 years old, and I was born in Frankfurt am Main. I'm calling Offenbach my home since 2017. I started listening to electronic music as a teenager—discovering artists like Paul Kalkbrenner and The Prodigy—and my involvement grew from there. I’ve always worked professionally in the music industry, whether as an intern at Cocoon, completing an apprenticeship at a DJ agency in Berlin, or working in clubs as a bartender, in artist care, or as a night manager. When clubs closed during the pandemic, my then-boyfriend and I borrowed some CDJ’s and a club mixer and put them in our living room. I also started practicing and DJing with a friend. Three years later, I played at Berghain for the first time. That was a career-defining milestone for me—a true badge of honor—and the moment I decided to pursue this professionally for as long as I can.
You moved to Berlin for a few years and returned to Offenbach a few years ago. How do you think living in Berlin influenced you, both musically and personally? And what made you decide to move back?
I think my years in Berlin showed me, above all, what kind of city suits me personally. Musically, my traineeship at a DJ agency gave me the opportunity to witness a wide range of events. The agency represented artists like Dixon, Âme, KiNK, and many other major names, which taught me how the scene works. Thanks to that training and the big-city environment, I learned to come out of my shell and gained my first professional experience. What brought me back to Offenbach were personal matters: a breakup, a death in the family, and the end of my training. To put it simply: I was homesick and felt like it was time to go home.
For people who have never been, how would you describe the scene in Offenbach / Frankfurt? And how does it differ from some of Europe’s clubbing hotspots, such as Berlin or London?
The scene in Offenbach and Frankfurt is, of course, considerably smaller than in major cities like Berlin or London. But despite its size, in my opinion, we have a great diversity of clubs, parties, and genres. There is a handful of clubs to choose from, some cool bars with excellent drinks and musical curation, and a handful of record stores as well.
How did you first get involved with „Mitte der Gesellschaft“ and „clubcherry“, and why is supporting the LGBTQIA+ community in Frankfurt important to you?
I got involved with both platforms—and now association—in the classic way: through friends. It was a gradual process; the people in these collectives have become close friends, and they are in some way like family to me—a support system that has caught me when things were tough. For me, the question of why it is important to support the queer community doesn't really arise; as an open-minded and tolerant person, it is something one should stand for. As long as there are still people—including here in Frankfurt—who still have to fight for their sexuality and gender-identity and face attacks, abuse, and hostile stares, it remains important. And even if that were to change one day, it would still be important to keep raising awareness.
What does a typical day in your life look like? Do you have a day job, or are you DJing full-time?
On a typical day, I don't usually get up before 10 a.m. unless I’m working the early shift at the café where I have a part-time job. My free time almost always revolves around music: I’m either online or at a record shop looking for music, making music with Dawit, preparing for gigs, recording a mix, planning my radio show, or hanging out with friends who are also DJs. I’m usually out and about on weekends, though when I’m not, I try my best to avoid going out partying. I'm trying to find a balance between supporting the community and doing things for my health. Some days, I also look after a little chihuahua.
Which artists have made the biggest impression on you lately, and why?
There are several producers whose musical output inspires me—such as Eden Burns, Frits Wentik, Henriku, and Pancratio. However, I am even more inspired by my female colleagues who go all out in this male-dominated scene and really bring the energy every weekend. They include, for instance, DJ Sweetsixteen, Marie Montexier, Ogazon, Cinthie, and many others. Beyond that, the women in my immediate circle and my closest friends inspire me the most. I am glad to have some inspiring and amazing DJs as friends.
What methods do you typically use to discover new music? Do you still enjoy digging through dusty crates, or do you mostly search online these days?
I mainly look for new music online, though I actually still buy and play a lot of older music, so the proportion of new releases and promos is (as yet) relatively small. I also get a lot of input via Instagram and save a lot of things there. Otherwise, I dig for music on sites like Bandcamp, Beatport, Traxsource, and Juno Download. When I want to play vinyl at a gig, I order a lot from deejay.de or visit a record store. I also find a lot of material on YouTube or through exchanges with other DJs and friends.
How do you approach a DJ set? Do you usually prepare in advance, or do you prefer to read the room and decide spontaneously?
I usually give a lot of thought to things beforehand: what my set time is, what kind of party it is, who’s attending, what the vibe might be like, and so on. I put together various playlists for the beginning and end of the set—and usually for each individual hour, too. But things always turn out differently on-site than you imagined; after all, reading the room is an essential part of our job. So, it’s important to be ready to scrap or adjust your plan at a moment’s notice. Even so, I always end up drawing from across my playlists as I play.
Do you have any hobbies or passions outside of music?
I'm a bit of a foodie and love exploring new cultures through their food. I have also gone snowboarding since I was 14 years old. Besides that, I like to go shopping and go to the movies or museums. Normal stuff i would say.
Can you tell us a bit about the mix? Were there any particular thoughts, moods, or themes behind it?
I approached this mix the way I approach most mixes: I pick music that I enjoy listening to—tracks that aren't overly intense, allow for a nice narrative arc, and offer variety. I also always try to include new music that has recently been released, as well as tracks by female producers. That's a part I have to get better at. This Mix comes with very deep and atmospheric tracks.
What do you have coming up for the rest of the year, and what are you most looking forward to this summer?
Something that's coming up just now is Frankfurt Pride. We spend weeks or even months preparing for it, and then everything culminates over the course of just three days—wrapping up with a private garden party. I’m also looking forward to playing in Berlin and visiting Berghain and Heideglühen; those are places where I feel truly at ease and find a lot of inspiration.