Secure shopping

Studio equipment

Our full range of studio equipment from all the leading equipment and software brands. Guaranteed fast delivery and low prices.

Visit Juno Studio

Secure shopping

DJ equipment

Our full range of DJ equipment from all the leading equipment and software brands. Guaranteed fast delivery and low prices.  Visit Juno DJ

Secure shopping

Vinyl & CDs

The world's largest dance music store featuring the most comprehensive selection of new and back catalogue dance music Vinyl and CDs online.  Visit Juno Records

Dina Summer interview: “No place compares to the freedom, diversity, and raw energy of Berlin”

Meet the gang, ‘cos the girls are here

While their debut album drew heavily on Italo disco and electro influences, Dina Summer’s latest – Girls Gang – adds new wave, post-punk and synthpop to their velvety, dark sound palette.

Dina – a Greek native who first started performing as a teenager on local radio stations, making waves as one of the first female DJs in Thessaloniki – met her husband and DJ/ producer partner Max B to form Berlin duo Local Suicide. The third member of Dina Summer is Bavarian-born Jakob H, who started his music career as founding member of the legendary German electro-punk band Frittenbude.

We at Juno Daily are big fans of Girls Gang, which seems to unite Berlin’s pre-war cabaret glamour, the Bowie-era gothic quality and the city’s current status as the techno capital of Europe, so, naturally enough, we wanted to put a few questions to the trio about its creation. This is what they said.

Hi and thanks for your time….  First of all, can you tell us where you are right now, and what kind of day you’re having…  Been anywhere already or going anywhere interesting later?

Max & Dina: Hello, thanks for having us! 
We’re in Berlin, and it’s been a productive day! We’ve been packing merch and vinyl in preparation for the release of Girls Gang. It’s going to be a very busy week because our album drops on Friday, and there’s still plenty of work to be done. 

Also on Friday, our label Iptamenos Discos is hosting the main floor at Kater, one of our favorite Berlin clubs, and we’ll be DJing there with our other project, Local Suicide. Then on Monday, we’re playing a Dina Summer live instore gig at Rough Trade Berlin.

Jakob: Hi, I’m currently busy with preparations for the upcoming Frittenbude tour, in parallel to the Dina Summer release, which is coming up soon. So, it’s all about working on the setlist, rehearsing, packing bags, etc.

 First of all, let’s hear about the origins of Dina Summer – where are you based, and how did the project first come about?  What influences would you say play out in its sound…

Max: Our influences stretch far and wide—80s Italo disco, new wave, EBM, early electroclash, new beat, and so much more.  

Dina: We’re all based in Berlin, and we knew Jakob through Martin, who used to be in Jakob’s band Frittenbude. Thanks to that connection, we’d run into Jakob every now and then. But the real start of Dina Summer happened backstage at a festival – picture green room snacks, chaotic conversations, and that festival buzz in the air. That’s when Jakob asked me if I’d record vocals for some of his newer, darker tracks.  

Fast forward a few months later, Max and I went to Jakob’s studio to record. The session was so quick – it only took a few takes – that when we were done, we thought, “Well, we’re already here, why not jam a little?” That jam turned into two tracks, and we had so much fun that we kept coming back to the studio. What started as a fun experiment soon grew into something much bigger.


At first, we released a few tracks as Kalipo & Local Suicide, but it quickly became clear we had enough material for an album. That’s how Rimini, our first album, came to life under the name Dina Summer.


And the band name – a nod to Donna, surely there?

Jakob: Absolutely! The name actually started as a bit of a joke. Max had just bought a new microphone and playfully said, “Now we can record vocals like Donna Summer!” I jokingly replied, “Dina Summer!” When we later needed a name for the project, the idea just stuck.

Our first album was a tribute to disco – especially Giorgio Moroder and Italo disco – with a nod to Munich, where Max and I grew up, and where disco had such a significant cultural impact. We did have to convince Dina to let us use her first name for the band. She was totally against it at first, but it just felt so natural and catchy. Plus, when we shared it with friends, the feedback was amazing – so we couldn’t let it go!


For the uninitiated, talk us briefly through what you’ve released up to this point…
Max: It all began with the ‘Who Am I’ EP, released on our label Iptamenos Discos. That was followed by our debut album Rimini on Audiolith, which we later expanded with the Versione Discoteca LP – featuring club versions of the album tracks – and the Rimini Remixes, where some of our favorite artists put their own spin on the songs.


Our most recent release, the ‘Hide & Seek’ EP, also came out on Iptamenos Discos. Along the way, we’ve contributed Darkness to Curses’ Next Wave Acid Punx compilation on Eskimo Recordings and Robodog to Radiooooo x Purple Magazine’s 2070 project. We were also part of Reeperbahn Festival’s Collide Sessions, which was a really exciting experience.

Which brings us to Girls Gang, our second album, set to be released on Iptamenos Discos on January 24 on vinyl, CD and digitally. And of course available here on Juno Records.


Girls Gang is your latest – how does it differ from its predecessor, the acclaimed Rimini?

Dina: Girls Gang is bolder and more cohesive. Where Rimini was about experimenting and finding our footing as a band, this album is a statement. The songs are tighter, the production is sharper, and the emotions run deeper. We’ve still got that Italo and electro influence, but we’ve also added more new wave, synth pop, and dark disco elements.
Max: We’ve also embraced more live instrumentation, while keeping that electronic core intact. It feels like the natural evolution of what we started with Rimini, but with a more defined direction and sound.


Tell us about the title and where it came from… We wouldn’t want to encourage any gang-like behaviour – but girl gangs are different, right?!
Dina: The song ‘Girls Gang’ was originally called ‘Girls in Black’, but Jakob fell in love with the line Girls Gang, and Max was all in too. I never expected it to become the album title though – I actually had Disco Goth in mind! But Max and Jakob got so excited about the idea of being part of the Girls Gang, talking about how cool it would be to wear sweaters saying Girls Gang looking all dangerous.. I couldn’t stop the fantasy, so I finally said, “Alright, you guys can join my Girls Gang!” Ahaha
We even had some of my real-life girls in the photoshoot for the single cover – showing off the true squad vibes.


But all jokes aside, Girls Gang is about empowerment and solidarity. The song is a total shout-out to the female goth icons who’ve inspired so many of us. We all have so many male role models, but it’s harder for women to find female ones, because women have been suppressed for so long. So it’s important to hold onto the ones who made it and paved the way. On top I’ve always believed that girls need to support each other, friendship is very important for me and I’m so lucky to have an amazing group of girlfriends who always have my back.


And hey, if forming a Girls Gang is what it takes to protect our rights, then sign me up! 😀

What about the lyrical content of the album – what themes would you say it covers?

Dina: Girls Gang is all about empowerment, individuality, and embracing what makes us different. The lyrics explore themes of connection, love, and freedom, with a focus on finding strength through solidarity and staying true to ourselves. It touches on the beauty of defying expectations and breaking free from societal norms. There’s a sense of rebellion throughout, whether it’s standing up for who we are, navigating the highs and lows of relationships, or confronting loss. Ultimately, the album is about celebrating life, love, and the powerful bonds we form with others, all while staying unapologetically ourselves.
  
What influence does Berlin and especially its nightlife have on your work?  Has it lost some of its magic recently as it has become less affordable, or is something new emerging?

Max: We’ve been living in Berlin for over 15 years and have seen it change dramatically – mostly for the worse. Rising costs and gentrification have taken a toll on the nightlife and art scenes. Many clubs have been forced to shut down and it’s become harder for people to go out as often as before because entry prices and drinks have become so expensive. Many artists we know have to juggle other jobs to make ends meet, which makes it even harder to sustain a creative life. Despite these challenges, though, Berlin still has something unique. We’ve been travelling a lot, but no place compares to the freedom, diversity, and raw energy of this city. It remains a hub where artists from all over the world pass through, creating opportunities to connect, collaborate, and be inspired.

Living here has a massive influence on our work. The cultural scene is so vibrant, and the ability to experience so many different perspectives and creative outputs is unparalleled. While the city isn’t quite what it used to be, it’s still magic – and it’s still evolving.

Dina: There’s something in the air in Berlin that you can’t find anywhere else. It’s not just the nightlife; it’s the people, the creative energy, and the sense of freedom that allow you to experiment and grow. Yes, the city is changing, and affordability is an issue, but it remains a melting pot where you can meet incredible artists and innovators. That constant flow of talent and creativity keeps the city alive and makes it endlessly inspiring. Berlin will always have its magic – it’s just shifting in new ways.


Your fans include rock bands and electronic acts… Is it important to straddle both camps or not something you worry about… 

Max: It’s not something we overthink, but it’s amazing to connect with such a diverse range of people. Our sound blends genres naturally, and it’s exciting to see how it could resonate with different people, from rock enthusiasts to electronic music lovers and everyone in between.

Dina: We’ve always aimed for our music to be free of patterns or norms. It’s for anyone who loves music, dancing, and being open to new experiences. In a way, we’ve always thought that we do electronic music for people who enjoy indie and guitars. It’s about breaking down boundaries and connecting through sound.


What are you hearing that’s inspiring you?

Dina: We’ve been so focused on the album lately that we haven’t had much time to discover new music, but some artists we’ve been listening to on repeat are: Curses, who features on our album with ‘Promise Me’, and other contemporary acts like Kompromat (whom we’ll be supporting soon in Luxembourg), Die Selektion (who we are playing with at Lido in Berlin in March), She Past Away, Sextile, Ghost Cop, Years of Denial, Selofan, Gesaffelstein, The Hacker, Male Tears, Lebanon Hanover, our Slow Motion buddies Franz Scala and Fabrizio Mammarella, Flemming Dalum, and practically all the artists who have remixed this album. And, of course, we’re always vibing to classics like Absolute Body Control, Front 242, The Cure, The Sisters of Mercy, New Order, Depeche Mode, NIN, Nick Cave, Air and countless others.


What’s next for DS in the short/medium/long term?    Any more live or release action we should know about?

Dina: There’s so much coming up for Dina Summer! We like to stay busy, and we want to keep you on your toes too 😀
First, we’ve got a 12″ with remixes, club versions, and some alternative takes, including remixes by legends we love, like DJ Hell, Damon Jee, Phunkadelica and Populists. You can get the bundle here on Juno. These will be released gradually in digital form as well. Initially, we wanted to stick to just a few remixes, but in the end, we couldn’t resist and now have even more amazing remixes by some of our favourite artists that will be revealed soon!

We’ve also just dropped new merch for the album, available now on our website

And of course, we’re hitting the road! We’ve already announced some shows, including:

27.01.2025 Berlin, Roughtrade instore
21.02.2025 Luxembourg, Kulturfabrik

13.03.2025 Berlin, Lido
14.03.2025 Zürich, KAUZ
20.03.2025 Mainz, Schon Schön
22.03.2025 Munich, Rote Sonne
27.03.2025 Hamburg, Bahnhof Pauli
29.03.2025 Leipzig, Conne Island
05.04.2025 Wroclaw, Transformator
14.06.2025 Warsaw

More TBA soon (including dates in the UK, France, Spain, Italy, Croatia, Greece, Turkey and Serbia)

A big thanks to you guys Juno for this fun interview and all your support, and to everyone else supporting us – by listening to and buying our music and merch, spreading the word, and coming to see us live! Catch you out there – hopefully, we’ll be haunting a stage near you soon!

Pre-order you copy of Girls Gang by clicking here