Some moves are loud. Others are deliberate. Ethel’s recent shift from Berlin’s concrete pulse to the Mediterranean light of Sitges feels like the latter – less an escape, but more of an evolution. A change of rhythm and not identity.
With Life Enigma, she adds another layer to that evolution. A label born from curiosity rather than calculation, from instinct rather than strategy. Anonymous aliases, no pre-aligned narratives, no obvious fingerprints – just music allowed to exist on its own terms. In a culture obsessed with visibility, that feels quietly radical.
French-born and long rooted in Berlin, Ethel has steadily shaped her own lane in the underground. Her sets – driving yet playful, groove-heavy yet eclectic – weave house, breakbeat, electro and flashes of 90s Acid with the ease of someone who genuinely loves to dig. From Rex to Goa Club, from London’s Creatures to her work within the RA+RE collective, Breakfast Club in Paris, and Berlin’s intimate SobreMesa gatherings, she has always balanced dancefloor energy with curatorial care. Now, with her own imprint taking form, that balance feels sharper – and more personal – than ever.
We caught her between sea breeze and record stacks to talk about mystery, motherhood, Berlin ghosts, Barcelona sunlight, and why sometimes the most meaningful ideas arrive when you stop trying to control them.
Torture the Artist: Hey Ethel, tell us something about your day. Where are you answering us from right now?
Ethel: I am answering from Sitges, the small town where I live next to Barcelona! I can see the sun and the sea from my window!
Torture the Artist: You recently moved from Berlin to Barcelona. How does the city feel under your feet so far – rhythm-wise, life-wise, energy-wise?
Ethel: Everything feels great in Barcelona. After 10 years in Berlin, I needed to make a change of scenery. Since I live in a small town, I have a good balance between tranquility and then, more vibrant times when I go to Barcelona. I love it so far, and I think the Barcelona scene has a great energy.
Torture the Artist: Do you miss anything about Berlin daily, or did you feel ready for a new chapter when you left?
Ethel: I miss a lot of my friends from Berlin that I don’t get a chance to see that often anymore, that’s for sure!
Torture the Artist: Your new label is called Life Enigma. When did this idea first start haunting you?
Ethel: The idea to launch a label is something I thought about for a very long time, but when I was pregnant, I had to stop playing for a few months and therefore could spend more time at home shaping the name and the concept.
Torture the Artist: The concept behind the first release is beautiful and slightly mysterious: anonymous aliases, no communication between artists. Why was anonymity so important for you?
Ethel: The crazy thing is that it was not planned at all! I reached out to artists that I like and believe in and each of them asked me if they could release under an AKA which I found great because there is complete freedom in this case. Then, I found it really nice that everything made sense with the name of the label.
Torture the Artist: Was it scary to give up that level of control and just trust the process?
Ethel: Definitely not because I knew the tracks would be great and I love to respect the creative process of each artist.
Torture the Artist: In a time where everything is about branding and visibility, you’re choosing to hide names. Do you see this as a quiet form of resistance?
Ethel: I guess so. <smiles> I am a bit nostalgic about the times where it was just all about music and its quality, the word of mouth about incredible releases or DJs, and not about your presence on social media.
I was always fascinated by mysteries, the curiosity of life itself, coincidences, signs.
Torture the Artist: Life Enigma leans into uncertainty, shadows, and curiosity. Is that something you relate to personally?
Ethel: Yes, I was always fascinated by mysteries, the curiosity of life itself, coincidences, signs. I was asking myself a lot of questions, and that’s why I gave this name. I have to admit that after giving birth to a small human, the mystery of life is even stronger now.
Torture the Artist: The debut VA moves between Rave, Electro, House, and EBM energy. How did you know these four tracks belonged together?
Ethel: I love a lot of different music styles so I was really happy to be able to release a VA that reflects a wide spectrum. When choosing the A sides and B sides, everything came along naturally.
Torture the Artist: Let’s talk about the A1, Malakay’s “Pietroforma” – it hits fast and feels futuristic. Was it always meant to open the journey?
Ethel: I only decided to put this track on the A1 side after signing the four tracks. I saw it as a perfect way to open the chapter!
Events and parties are a great place to enjoy life, connect with others but also get lost in music and detach from reality.
Torture the Artist: Mevrouw Ciao’s A2 feels more mental and inward-facing. Do you enjoy that contrast between physical and psychological dancefloor moments?
Ethel: I believe events and parties are a great place to enjoy life, connect with others but also get lost in music and detach from reality. So to answer the question, yes I enjoy the contrast between the two.
Torture the Artist: On the B-side, DRF Pills brings cinematic tension, while “The Nightmare” pushes into darker, hazier territory. Do you see the record as a kind of night-time narrative?
Ethel: I think it’s definitely more of a record to play in the dark!
Torture the Artist: Can you give us a hint if you are behind one of the tracks, since it has also been a while since you released a track of your own?
Ethel: This will remain a mystery. <smiles>
Torture the Artist: You’ve played everywhere from Rex to Goa Club to London’s Creatures. How have these dancefloors shaped your idea of “confronting music”?
Ethel: I think every venue I played, every person I met, and every record I bought shaped my style and the person I am today. I always like to play eclectic music in my set, to create something that feels “outside the box”.
Torture the Artist: You’ve been part of RA+RE, co-curating Breakfast Club in Paris, and organized SobreMesa in Berlin. How did you balance all these worlds without burning out?
Ethel: I just did it for the love of music and passion; it’s a lot, but when you care, nothing feels too much. But I am also happy to focus now on my own label. <smiles>
Torture the Artist: When did you first feel the urge to create something fully your own, like Life Enigma?
Ethel: After so many projects co-curated, I wanted to have my own space for a while, go at my own rhythm and make the decisions without consensus about the releases, the events and everything related to it.
Torture the Artist: You’re known for your love of crate digging. What’s the last record that really stopped you in your tracks?
Ethel: I bought a record from this band from Berlin, NMHMNS and now I am hooked with all their productions. I saw them playing live recently which was a highlight of the end of 2025!
Torture the Artist: Do you have any studio or life rituals that help you stay grounded in uncertain times?
Ethel: I have two things that I do every day: contemplating the sea and its beauty, and digging even if it’s only for a few minutes!
Torture the Artist: In your opinion, what makes a moment on the dancefloor truly unforgettable?
Ethel: I would say that suddenly you feel the track coming, the one which makes you stop doing what you are doing and just brings you back to the dancefloor. You just want to enjoy the music and remember that moment when going home – these few minutes of pure connection with the music.
Torture the Artist: Now that Life Enigma is about to enter the world, what do you hope people feel when they hold the first record in their hands?
Ethel: I want them to feel inspired, and to look forward to the soonest occasion to play it!
The world has enough mysteries already!
Torture the Artist: Will the label always stay mysterious, or do you imagine it slowly revealing itself over time?
Ethel: Absolutely, I think the first release is mysterious, and that happens organically, but not all releases will be like that. The world has enough mysteries already!
Torture the Artist: Finally: if Life Enigma were a place, a landscape, or a dream – what would it look like?
Ethel: It would be a room in the clouds, where everything is connected, you can open a door and travel time and space, feel different emotions, and maybe understand the key of life?
Words by Holger Breuer
Torture the Artist 