Dressed Up & Down
w/ Luigi Di Venere
DECEMBER 17, 2024
PHOTOGRAPHY POLO LINDSTRÖM MULLER ART DIRECTION & STYLING KATIE MARLBOROUGH WORDS MICHELE FOSSI TALENT LUIGI DI VENERE
TANK + SHORTS ZIMMERLI SOCKS HAPPY SOCKS
Luigi Di Venere, born in Puglia, Italy, and now based in Berlin, is a prominent figure in the electronic music scene. He began his career as a resident DJ at Cocktail d’Amore, a renowned party series in Berlin. His talent quickly gained recognition, leading to regular performances at esteemed venues such as Berghain/Panorama Bar and the fetish club Lab.oratory.
Luigi’s musical style is deeply rooted in Italo house, cosmic Italo disco, techno, New Beat, and trance. He is particularly known for his luxurious cosmic soundscapes and explosive combinations. Beyond DJing, he manages the Phonica Records satellite in Berlin’s The Store X and runs his own club nights, including Maximum Joy in Berlin and Power Dance Club in Athens and Berlin. Luigi also runs his own label Philoxenia Records in collaboration with Neu Verboten.
In addition to his solo work, Luigi enjoys several musical collaborations, including Banana Moon with Massimiliano Pagliara, SolidAir with Jules Etienne, and Affekt Unit with Neu Verboten.
His contributions to the electronic music community include hosting different radio shows and his ambient compositions have been featured in various fashion and art projects.
Luigi’s dynamic presence and innovative approach continue to influence Berlin’s vibrant nightlife, making him a key figure in the city’s ever-evolving club culture.
In this conversation, Luigi reflects on his journey, sharing insights into Berlin’s ever-evolving club culture and the shifts in his musical style. We explore his deep connection to music, his appreciation for literature, and his distinctive approach to fashion, where timeless quality meets understated elegance.
JACKET ADIDAS RING VASILIKI
Luigi, I’m thrilled about this interview. I’ve attended countless parties of yours, and we’ve even gone on holiday together, but I realise I don’t know much about you and your professional journey. What twists and turns in life led you to become one of the most renowned and respected DJs in the world’s techno capital, Berlin?
Michele, how sweet you are! Your compliments give me chills. Let’s just say that I’ve had a special attraction to DJing ever since I was a kid. I must have been about 12 years old when I’d lock myself in my room with headphones on full blast and mix tracks using Virtual DJ. I’d also organise little parties at my family’s country house and sometimes play music with my computer. I didn’t have the budget for proper equipment, but I had friends with turntables, mixers, and CDJs, and eventually, I got my hands on them.
Around 20, I moved to Stockholm to pursue my master’s in Fashion Studies. That’s where, along with a Swiss friend named Elliott, I really started DJing, using the turntables available at the university. Then, in my house, my dear roommate Peter had a mixer and CDJs, and we spent a lot of time spinning music together. I organised parties at the university, hosted a radio show with Elliott on the university station, and eventually, we even offered DJ workshops for anyone who wanted to practice or learn.
I always deeply envy people who have managed to turn their childhood or teenage passions into their careers. I hope you’re aware that you belong to a privileged elite. So tell me, when did you move to Berlin?
From Stockholm, I moved to Berlin in 2014 for an internship at Resident Advisor. I had access to a ton of promos and got to meet DJs I deeply admired musically, like Massimiliano Pagliara, Discodromo, and Gerd Janson. Gradually, I started playing at smaller queer parties and eventually at Cocktail d’Amore. In 2016, I had my first gig at Berghain.
For a DJ, that’s probably the equivalent of the thrill a small-town priest would feel being asked to officiate a Mass at St. Peter’s Basilica. Tell me, what was that “first night” like for you?
Ahaha, well, yes, it was a bit like that!
Actually, it wasn’t at night—it was during the day. My first time playing at Berghain was in the Garden, in July. I remember the night before vividly: I had a raging fever and was with my partner at the time. I woke up drenched in sweat, the sheets completely soaked. When I got to the club, still burning up, I pulled myself together and played an Italo house, Chicago, and cosmic set. It went really well! By the end of the set, the fever was gone.
T-SHIRT MARTINE ROSE × SUPREME JEANS CARHARTT SHOES BALENCIAGA
Let’s talk about music. Are these three genres still your “signature” or has your repertoire evolved in new directions over the past few years?
Although there are dance floors where I still play these genres, like the Panorama Bar, my repertoire has evolved a lot. I like to play new beat, progressive house, trance, hard house. It all depends on the needs of the place where I’m invited to DJ. I like to change the register according to the needs. Techno has also become a very important part of my musical offering. I love exploring it and playing it. Berghain has allowed me to explore this side of me, I’m aware and grateful for the privilege I’ve been given.
In this continuous process of discovery, what have you uncovered within yourself, music-wise, that you didn’t expect to find?
Well, when I first heard techno it seemed so impossible, so unfathomable. At some point I started to dig it, I found my key and a whole new world opened up. I discovered the ability to play with such abstract music, to master this wave of energy and to constantly shape it during a set. Not that you can’t do that with house music, but techno is all about that, being so stripped down from the orthodox harmonies and the embellishments of other genres within club music. It is so primal! I found the shaman in me.
Since you use this word, let me share that I’ve always perceived going to techno clubs—Berghain above all—as something akin to a religious experience. People come together to partake in a kind of modern ritual, where the DJ takes on the role of the priest, and the music becomes the deity. Can you describe how it feels, on an energetic level, to officiate these almost spiritual ceremonies?
It feels as if many emotions are passing through the body. There are moments of excitement, building up to cathartic instances, alternating with moments of deep satisfaction and well-being. You feel the vibe of the room deeply, sometimes it is almost tactile. When the groove takes over and it is the sonic illusions in between that count, the actual music is very intense.
SHIRT + TAILORED BLAZER JUN MAYERS TANK ZIMMERLI TROUSERS HERNAN SHOES RANDOM IDENTITIES × LI NING
What are your go-to fashion essentials when you DJ or hit the clubs? Have you developed any new style obsessions lately?
I have had a DJ uniform for a few years now. When I am not playing shirtless (lol) I always wear a Zimmerli Richelieu Tanktop. It’s an old Swiss underwear brand. Their textiles are amazing. I discovered it through a mutual friend. It is my latest fashion obsession. I wouldn’t call it fashion because their stuff is wardrobe basics but of the finest quality. Lately I have been buying less, but proper, quiet and mindful. I don’t want to add that adjective that was so hyped this summer... the one that starts with d!
Everyone in Berlin seems to be talking about the rapid changes in the city’s nightlife. From your unique vantage point, how do you see these shifts unfolding?
Yes, definitely, some old clubs are closing, but new ones are opening. There is a difference in the demographics of club goers. Berlin is not as cheap as it used to be, so it is not as easy a weekend destination as it was 10/15 years ago. Monday mornings are not as crowded as they used to be because the locals have to work to make a living, unlike in the old days when rents and living costs were low and people could live off Hartz IV. I remember when you could party on a Tuesday. Bar 25 old times! I also remember walking around Fhain or Xberg and listening to house and techno music, as if you were sure there was a party going on in some unknown basement. Now there are places that still have that anarchy at their heart, I haven’t lost the excitement for this city.
Can you reveal some of them, or would you rather keep them a secret?
There are a few places in the depths of Neukölln that I know about, and I’m sure there are more that I don’t know about, and that gives me a sense of peace and confidence in Berlin. I would like to mention the Mahalla in Schöneweide. It is not a techno club, but a space for sound experimentation. It’s a place that gives me a new sense of excitement.
LEATHER JACKET SCHOTT TROUSERS HERNAN SHOES BOTTEGA VENETA
Panta rei... let’s hope that Berlin’s wild spirit will simply take on new forms and migrate to new places. Let’s now move from music to literature. I couldn’t help but notice the cover of Agua Viva by Clarice Lispector in one of the images from this shoot.
Oh yes, she is the witch I discovered this year, 2024. She has rekindled the fire of self-discovery in me. Her automatic approach to thought expression is so full of life force. I am not sure I can explain her properly. You may have to read her books to understand what I mean. Let’s say she has reawakened in me the practice of living in the present. She is to metaphysics what Giorgio De Chirico is to visual art. I gave you the book last summer. What do you think of it so far?
Água Viva feels less like reading a book and more like stepping into someone’s raw, unfiltered consciousness. It’s a shimmering, liquid text—words flowing in unexpected directions, dissolving boundaries between thought, emotion, and existence. There’s something hypnotic and deeply intimate about her prose as if she’s speaking directly to you, exposing the fragile threads of what it means to be alive.
It’s not an easy book—it resists clarity and embraces paradox—but that’s its beauty. You’re left with a feeling, a rhythm, a vivid sense of the now. It’s less about understanding and more about feeling utterly present.
I’ll return the book soon, promised! But tell me, Luigi, is this beautiful surname you have, di Venere, “of Venus”, your true family name or a stage name?
Ah, thank you very much! It’s my family name, and it’s actually spelt with the capital D!
Well noted! Speaking of ancient goddesses, if you had to choose, who would you give your apple to: Hera, the goddess of power; Athena, the goddess of wisdom; or Aphrodite, the goddess of love and pleasure? Paris famously chose Aphrodite—what about you?
I’m torn between Hera and Athena. But I choose Athena because wisdom is power.
Dressed Up & Down w/ Luigi Di Venere
DECEMBER 17, 2024
PHOTOGRAPHY POLO LINDSTRÖM MULLER
ART DIRECTION & STYLING KATIE MARLBOROUGH
WORDS MICHELE FOSSI
TALENT LUIGI DI VENERE
TANK + SHORTS ZIMMERLI SOCKS HAPPY SOCKS
Luigi Di Venere, born in Puglia, Italy, and now based in Berlin, is a prominent figure in the electronic music scene. He began his career as a resident DJ at Cocktail d’Amore, a renowned party series in Berlin. His talent quickly gained recognition, leading to regular performances at esteemed venues such as Berghain/Panorama Bar and the fetish club Lab.oratory.
Luigi’s musical style is deeply rooted in Italo house, cosmic Italo disco, techno, New Beat, and trance. He is particularly known for his luxurious cosmic soundscapes and explosive combinations. Beyond DJing, he manages the Phonica Records satellite in Berlin’s The Store X and runs his own club nights, including Maximum Joy in Berlin and Power Dance Club in Athens and Berlin. Luigi also runs his own label Philoxenia Records in collaboration with Neu Verboten.
In addition to his solo work, Luigi enjoys several musical collaborations, including Banana Moon with Massimiliano Pagliara, SolidAir with Jules Etienne, and Affekt Unit with Neu Verboten.
His contributions to the electronic music community include hosting different radio shows and his ambient compositions have been featured in various fashion and art projects.
Luigi’s dynamic presence and innovative approach continue to influence Berlin’s vibrant nightlife, making him a key figure in the city’s ever-evolving club culture.
In this conversation, Luigi reflects on his journey, sharing insights into Berlin’s ever-evolving club culture and the shifts in his musical style. We explore his deep connection to music, his appreciation for literature, and his distinctive approach to fashion, where timeless quality meets understated elegance.
JACKET ADIDAS RING VASILIKI
Luigi, I’m thrilled about this interview. I’ve attended countless parties of yours, and we’ve even gone on holiday together, but I realise I don’t know much about you and your professional journey. What twists and turns in life led you to become one of the most renowned and respected DJs in the world’s techno capital, Berlin?
Michele, how sweet you are! Your compliments give me chills. Let’s just say that I’ve had a special attraction to DJing ever since I was a kid. I must have been about 12 years old when I’d lock myself in my room with headphones on full blast and mix tracks using Virtual DJ. I’d also organise little parties at my family’s country house and sometimes play music with my computer. I didn’t have the budget for proper equipment, but I had friends with turntables, mixers, and CDJs, and eventually, I got my hands on them.
Around 20, I moved to Stockholm to pursue my master’s in Fashion Studies. That’s where, along with a Swiss friend named Elliott, I really started DJing, using the turntables available at the university. Then, in my house, my dear roommate Peter had a mixer and CDJs, and we spent a lot of time spinning music together. I organised parties at the university, hosted a radio show with Elliott on the university station, and eventually, we even offered DJ workshops for anyone who wanted to practice or learn.
I always deeply envy people who have managed to turn their childhood or teenage passions into their careers. I hope you’re aware that you belong to a privileged elite. So tell me, when did you move to Berlin?
From Stockholm, I moved to Berlin in 2014 for an internship at Resident Advisor. I had access to a ton of promos and got to meet DJs I deeply admired musically, like Massimiliano Pagliara, Discodromo, and Gerd Janson. Gradually, I started playing at smaller queer parties and eventually at Cocktail d’Amore. In 2016, I had my first gig at Berghain.
For a DJ, that’s probably the equivalent of the thrill a small-town priest would feel being asked to officiate a Mass at St. Peter’s Basilica. Tell me, what was that “first night” like for you?
Ahaha, well, yes, it was a bit like that!
Actually, it wasn’t at night—it was during the day. My first time playing at Berghain was in the Garden, in July. I remember the night before vividly: I had a raging fever and was with my partner at the time. I woke up drenched in sweat, the sheets completely soaked. When I got to the club, still burning up, I pulled myself together and played an Italo house, Chicago, and cosmic set. It went really well! By the end of the set, the fever was gone.
T-SHIRT MARTINE ROSE × SUPREME JEANS CARHARTT SHOES BALENCIAGA
Let’s talk about music. Are these three genres still your “signature” or has your repertoire evolved in new directions over the past few years?
Although there are dance floors where I still play these genres, like the Panorama Bar, my repertoire has evolved a lot. I like to play new beat, progressive house, trance, hard house. It all depends on the needs of the place where I’m invited to DJ. I like to change the register according to the needs. Techno has also become a very important part of my musical offering. I love exploring it and playing it. Berghain has allowed me to explore this side of me, I’m aware and grateful for the privilege I’ve been given.
In this continuous process of discovery, what have you uncovered within yourself, music-wise, that you didn’t expect to find?
Well, when I first heard techno it seemed so impossible, so unfathomable. At some point I started to dig it, I found my key and a whole new world opened up. I discovered the ability to play with such abstract music, to master this wave of energy and to constantly shape it during a set. Not that you can’t do that with house music, but techno is all about that, being so stripped down from the orthodox harmonies and the embellishments of other genres within club music. It is so primal! I found the shaman in me.
Since you use this word, let me share that I’ve always perceived going to techno clubs—Berghain above all—as something akin to a religious experience. People come together to partake in a kind of modern ritual, where the DJ takes on the role of the priest, and the music becomes the deity. Can you describe how it feels, on an energetic level, to officiate these almost spiritual ceremonies?
It feels as if many emotions are passing through the body. There are moments of excitement, building up to cathartic instances, alternating with moments of deep satisfaction and well-being. You feel the vibe of the room deeply, sometimes it is almost tactile. When the groove takes over and it is the sonic illusions in between that count, the actual music is very intense.
SHIRT + TAILORED BLAZER JUN MAYERS TANK ZIMMERLI TROUSERS HERNAN SHOES RANDOM IDENTITIES × LI NING
What are your go-to fashion essentials when you DJ or hit the clubs? Have you developed any new style obsessions lately?
I have had a DJ uniform for a few years now. When I am not playing shirtless (lol) I always wear a Zimmerli Richelieu Tanktop. It’s an old Swiss underwear brand. Their textiles are amazing. I discovered it through a mutual friend. It is my latest fashion obsession. I wouldn’t call it fashion because their stuff is wardrobe basics but of the finest quality. Lately I have been buying less, but proper, quiet and mindful. I don’t want to add that adjective that was so hyped this summer... the one that starts with d!
Everyone in Berlin seems to be talking about the rapid changes in the city’s nightlife. From your unique vantage point, how do you see these shifts unfolding?
Yes, definitely, some old clubs are closing, but new ones are opening. There is a difference in the demographics of club goers. Berlin is not as cheap as it used to be, so it is not as easy a weekend destination as it was 10/15 years ago. Monday mornings are not as crowded as they used to be because the locals have to work to make a living, unlike in the old days when rents and living costs were low and people could live off Hartz IV. I remember when you could party on a Tuesday. Bar 25 old times! I also remember walking around Fhain or Xberg and listening to house and techno music, as if you were sure there was a party going on in some unknown basement. Now there are places that still have that anarchy at their heart, I haven’t lost the excitement for this city.
Can you reveal some of them, or would you rather keep them a secret?
There are a few places in the depths of Neukölln that I know about, and I’m sure there are more that I don’t know about, and that gives me a sense of peace and confidence in Berlin. I would like to mention the Mahalla in Schöneweide. It is not a techno club, but a space for sound experimentation. It’s a place that gives me a new sense of excitement.
LEATHER JACKET SCHOTT TROUSERS HERNAN SHOES BOTTEGA VENETA
Panta rei... let’s hope that Berlin’s wild spirit will simply take on new forms and migrate to new places. Let’s now move from music to literature. I couldn’t help but notice the cover of Agua Viva by Clarice Lispector in one of the images from this shoot.
Oh yes, she is the witch I discovered this year, 2024. She has rekindled the fire of self-discovery in me. Her automatic approach to thought expression is so full of life force. I am not sure I can explain her properly. You may have to read her books to understand what I mean. Let’s say she has reawakened in me the practice of living in the present. She is to metaphysics what Giorgio De Chirico is to visual art. I gave you the book last summer. What do you think of it so far?
Água Viva feels less like reading a book and more like stepping into someone’s raw, unfiltered consciousness. It’s a shimmering, liquid text—words flowing in unexpected directions, dissolving boundaries between thought, emotion, and existence. There’s something hypnotic and deeply intimate about her prose as if she’s speaking directly to you, exposing the fragile threads of what it means to be alive.
It’s not an easy book—it resists clarity and embraces paradox—but that’s its beauty. You’re left with a feeling, a rhythm, a vivid sense of the now. It’s less about understanding and more about feeling utterly present.
I’ll return the book soon, promised! But tell me, Luigi, is this beautiful surname you have, di Venere, “of Venus”, your true family name or a stage name?
Ah, thank you very much! It’s my family name, and it’s actually spelt with the capital D!
Well noted! Speaking of ancient goddesses, if you had to choose, who would you give your apple to: Hera, the goddess of power; Athena, the goddess of wisdom; or Aphrodite, the goddess of love and pleasure? Paris famously chose Aphrodite—what about you?
I’m torn between Hera and Athena. But I choose Athena because wisdom is power.