IN CONVERSATION WITH LILLY PALMER 

Interview by Diamonique Oseana

Numéro Netherlands proudly presents Lilly Palmer as our Digital Cover Star of the day. This German techno sensation has taken the electronic music scene by storm. From her roots DJing in Zürich to the international stage, Lilly is the founder of Spannung Records. she takes center stage in a captivating fashion editorial lensed by Daniel Sars.  

What motivated you to pursue a career in music production and DJing?

Before becoming a DJ, I worked as a nutritionist with my own company in Zurich. I went out to techno and deep house clubs every weekend and there was a good friend who I then showed my favourite latest tracks after each night. I apparently did this with so much passion that she encouraged me to try DJing myself. I am happy I listened to her because after I made the decision to try it out as a DJ, I approached a very good friend of mine who had been an internationally successful DJ and producer for years and who has been my manager ever since.

What was your inspiration behind your latest song ‘Hare Ram’, which will be released on 16th February, and how would you describe the essence of this particular track?

In the last few years, I gained a lot of popularity and following in India. After two successful tours in this vibrant country, I felt like I wanted to create a track inspired by Indian sounds and we found a very cool sample of an Indian woman singing ‘Hare Ram’. It became a banging psytrance track, which is now the absolute highlight of my set.

Can you share more about your start in the electronic music scene in Zurich and how it influenced your current style?

I started my career in bars and small clubs. For nearly three years, I had weekly residencies where I gained a lot of experience in mixing. After a while, I noticed I am becoming drawn to harder and more energetic sounds, and more and more changed my style to techno. But if you carefully listen to my sets, you will always hear some melodic or groovy elements in my music, which I think were influenced by my time in Zurich.

You have worked with your husband Egbert on many of your productions. How does that dynamic work for you both creatively, and how does it affect the final outcome of your music?

Producing together with Egbert has been so much fun and such a great success from the beginning. He is the genius in the studio, and I know exactly what I like and want to reach with our tracks. While he could work literally for years on one track, I very quickly know “Okay, this is it, it’s good now and we have to stop to not overproduce it”. This dynamic works out very well for us. 

What key insights and significant lessons have you gained over the course of your career?

Probably the most important lessons for me were to trust my gut feeling about certain situations and people, not to take everything personally, stick to your own style, do what you like and to learn to say no to people. Also failing is a part of your success. You get up and try it again and again until you learned your lesson or mastered a new skill. 

What advice do you have for aspiring artists looking to find their own unique sound and make a mark in the electronic music scene?

I think you will find your own unique sound just by sticking to your taste and your own passion, but getting inspired by others is important too. Try out a lot of things and feel what works the best for you. To make a mark in the scene, I think you should try to not only work on yourself as an artist, but also see yourself as a brand and be brave and stick out with something special. 

Outside of music, you have also ventured into the fashion industry. Can you share the story behind how and why you started modeling?

I started modeling during my exams at Gymnasium. Back then, it was a great opportunity for me to escape from my small hometown and work with a lot of great inspiring people and travel the world. I stayed in Milano, Istanbul and Beijing, but I never felt 100 % comfortable with this world. I do think it helped me for my job now. I learned how to move and pose and what looks good on me, and this is great for music videos and photoshoots.

Given your background in both fashion and music, how do you find these two creative expressions influence each other in your life?

I think music and fashion go perfectly with each other, even though they don’t need each other to thrive. I can play in the simplest black shirt and jeans or wear a crazy outfit to draw attention at a special gig. That’s what I like the most, to surprise people with an interesting outfit, but not necessarily to feel good about myself. Especially with music videos, I feel it’s a lot of fun to explore the craziest ideas in fashion. It is such a strong tool to communicate.

How has your personal style contributed to your identity as an artist and a performer?

I have always been quite confident and sure about my own style, but I would say I became even more self-assured in the last years, and even adventurous. Fashion helps me to feel strong and powerful on stage. It’s like you put on a special uniform sometimes. But I also don’t want to be dependent on it, a simple black denim can be enough too.

You have managed to keep a strong community on your social platforms. What drives the significance of sharing yourself and your journey with your fans?

Not only during the pandemic, but also in general, I find social media a great tool to stay connected to your fans, interact with them and to learn also about new trends. Of course, it has its downsides as well. It can put a lot of pressure on an artist to always gain a lot of likes and views, but if you can find a good balance with it, it can really help you build your career.

Are there particular collaborations you would like to explore in the future?

I’m currently working on a number of collaborations in various areas, be it with DJ colleagues and artists, brands or event partners such as WLT in Switzerland. We are currently preparing our joint truck for the Street Parade in Zurich, which was a resounding success last year. My new record deal with Armada Music and Kontor Records, which is unique in its kind as two labels have signed me together, shows that I always want to push boundaries in order to break new ground. With my team, we are always working on various other things so that I can continue to develop as an artist and inspire my fans and those who don’t yet know that they will become fans. For me, being an artist also means continuing to develop and staying in the flow of creativity.

Can you share any upcoming projects or events your fans can look forward to?

There will be an interesting collaboration with Amnesia Ibiza that is more musical in nature, there will be some nice additions to my live performances and this year the USA will be a big focus. Great festivals and clubs are already confirmed, I have my own label floor with Spannung Records on the Groove Cruise between Miami and the Bahamas, Las Vegas is going to be a blast in Q2 and there’s already a sensational US tour in November. 

It looks like it’s going to be a great year and I’m preparing myself mentally and physically to cope with the rigours of touring as perfectly as possible.

talent LILLY PALMER
photographer DANIEL SARS
stylist MARIE-PAULINE CESARI
hair WIARDI D. KOOPMEINERS
styling assistant LINDA SCHREITER & DIAMONIQUE OSEANA
editor TIMI LETONJA
interview DIAMONIQUE OSEANA
cover design ARTHUR ROELOFFZEN
Special Thanks to The Media Nanny