A Conversation With Tini Gessler – elrow Town London 2022

elrow Town London is set to return to London on Saturday 20^th August at a new location of Parsloes Park, East London, and approx. 25k revelers will attend, and they will be treated to seven stages packed full of world-class DJ/producers spinning top tunes behind the wheels of steel. Expect to hear House, Tech House, Disco and Techno. Featuring on the line-up is also elrow resident Tini Gessler.

Tini started her career in the music industry in 2013, DJing in her local clubs, and then in 2017 elrow recognised her talents; her ability to manipulate and control a dancefloor and from this moment onwards she was installed as an elrow resident DJ. Her career achievements as a DJ include performances at London’s Studio 338, Amnesia, Ushuaia, and Hii in Ibiza, and also Tomorrowland.

As a producer she’s also released on labels including Toolroom, Kittball, VIVa MUSic, Circus and many more. She is also a diverse producer capable of conjuring House, Tech House, Minimal and Deep Tech vibes too. Dance Rebels also had a chance to speak with her ahead of her performance at elrow Town London too…  

Hey Tini, welcome to Dance Rebels, how are you? Also, please introduce yourself to our audience; where are you from, and what is your role in the music industry? Hi Dance Rebels readers, I’m Tini Gessler. I’m a dj and producer born in Germany but raised in Spain.

What inspired you to pursue a career in the music industry? What sacrifices have you had to make on your way to stardom? I grew up in Sitges and there’s quite a big music legacy there, it’s where Pacha was started and opened his very first club. Even as a child I was always at beach clubs with my parents and my dad owns a beach club in Brazil, so I think I was always just surrounded by music. Then of course as I grew up and started hanging out with older friends, sneaking into clubs, etc. Sacrifices.. sleep of course. The summer tour schedule as a working dj is really gruelling. I’m not complaining, I just make up for the sleep in winter like a hibernating bear. University too, I had to stretch out my degree over a number of years; touring, producing and studying at the same time was hard work!

What is the most enjoyable part of your career in the music industry? If you had to give one piece of advice to any aspiring DJ/producer what would it be? Travelling definitely and meeting lots of different people. My advice would be – don’t rush, be patient and enjoy every moment of your career. It’s normal to be worried and always searching for the next thing but it’ll come.  Hard work always pays off!

As a producer you’ve been busy lately, you’ve had 2022 releases on labels inc. Toolroom, Kaluki, Sola and Circus, impressive! When you’re making your tunes, how do you find inspiration for ideas? Do you also prefer to work in a big studio with a lot of tech, or happy to work off of laptop anywhere? Well, I’ve had a lot of free time during the pandemic hahaha. Luckily I had the chance to improve my studio skills, but I still have a lot to learn. I have my home studio and it’s where I sit down and try to let it flow.

Your most recent release on Circus – ‘Right Way’ dropped recently, how would you describe this tune? When you make tunes do you make them knowing you need certain tunes for certain points in your DJ sets? Also, is it important as a producer that you have your own unique style/sound too? I’m not a DJ who plays her own speech and that’s it, I like to read the crowd, understand them, see their reactions… so sometimes I play more tech house, sometimes more groove techno… so I never sit down in the studio thinking on make music for my sets. I think I’m getting my own sound when producing, more recognizable, but as said before, I try to let it flow. ‘Right Way’ it’s a tech house track with a dark deep melody that takes people into a journey for some minutes, I love to play it especially on early slots.

You’re also an elrow resident too, to me, elrow is the greatest party in the world, how did you initially come into contact with elrow? How has being an elrow resident impacted your career so far too? I was actually playing for elrow’s sister label KER initially. After cutting my teeth at KER, I’m really grateful they gave me the opportunity to play the elrow stage. I guess I didn’t fail too badly because they made me a resident! Elrow has opened a lot of doors for me as it’s such a well known brand. It allowed me to perform in front of big crowds for the best promoters in the world. It’s a great platform and a beautiful family.

On August 20th elrow Town is set to hit London for their biggest event ever, how excited are you? Do you feel the UK crowds differ from other crowds at events when in a different part around the world? What’s your view from the DJ booth on this? I’m so excited! I love London and jump at any opportunity to play there, so if there’s any bookers reading this *hint hint*. UK crowds are great, they don’t take themselves too seriously so it’s always fun to play for them. My view from the DJ booth at a London gig is nothing but colour! Festival fashion here is so outrageous and colourful. I also love their commitment to a bucket hat, stylish and practical.

If you could also design your own elrow theme, what would it consist of, and if you could also invite 2 additional DJ’s onto the line-up, who would they be? Also, what is the hottest record on your USB that you would 100% drop in your set too? I couldn’t design it because It’s already designed!! Psychedelic Trip!!! I just love it. And I would invite Kölsch and Ilario Alicante, they’re just killing it everywhere. My favourite track right now is: Solomon – kreatur der nacht (Maceo Plex Remix).

Music plays a big part in everyone’s life, some people use it to relax, some people use it to get motivated, some people use it to get a party started, but, what is the music you listen to whilst driving your car? SADE!! I just make people around me get bored of listening SADE all day hahaha, never got tired of her. She’s THE queen, period. I’m kind of hyperactive person, so it helps me to relax.

Finally, from your own elrow experiences, why should people be attending this year’s elrow Town London, sell it to me, what would be your reasons to attend this epic elrow event?! It’s the first elrow town in London since the pandemic! Nobody in their right mind would miss that. Give the people what they want!!

For tickets to see Tini Gessler spin at elrow Town London on Saturday August 20th click HERE