On one hand, discovering David Guetta introduced her to electronic sounds and club energy; on the other, the grunge scene, led by Nirvana, awakened in her a spirit of rebellion, rawness, and emotion, which has become an unmistakable part of every one of her sets. Behind the name, evoking both the allure of the dance floor and the spirit of French elegance, lies a synergy between her two passions: medicine and music.
A star of Germany’s underground scene, Berlin-born Paulina Schulz, a.k.a. DJ Gigola, is a producer and a member of the artistic collective Life on Earth. Before she made a name for herself behind the decks, she was actively involved in organizing parties and events with this collective, which has become a key gathering point for Berlin’s alternative scene and artists who share the same DIY ethos and commitment to free expression, transcending genre and industry constraints. Her transition into music after completing her medical studies was gradual – from organizing events, to working on her own production, to performing live in ways that reflect a fully developed artistic identity.
From underground rave temples like Berghain to open-air parties, DJ Gigola has developed a genre-fluid style that works in every setting. Her first open-air party in London, organized by the Life on Earth collective, which blends experimental electronics, rap, techno, and visual art, symbolically marked the expansion of her artistic reach beyond the boundaries of Berlin’s underground.
Gigola’s approach to music is clearly recognizable in her original releases, especially in the standout EPs “Bigroom Sensational” and “Bigroom Sensational II,” which blend melodic elements, experimental structures, and an introspective atmosphere, crafted with the goal of making massive parties feel intimate again. Always open to experimentation, DJ Gigola often mixes pop, tech house, and nostalgic 2000s trance in her sets, creating a layered sonic experience that merges sensuality with techno.
The Boiler Room concept became something of a second home for her throughout 2022, during which she performed almost every weekend as part of this global phenomenon, spending nine months in constant connection with audiences worldwide.
Her sets strike a balance between meditation and the rhythm of the dance floor. She finds inspiration outside of music as well, particularly through yoga, which she views as a way to synchronize body and mind into a shared rhythm. Her track “Siente el Ritmo” is a direct invitation to feel the rhythm, and serves as a driving mantra for every one of her performances.
DJ Gigola stepped onto the music scene with the album “Fluid Meditations” in 2023, seamlessly blending techno, ambient, and ASMR soundscapes into a unique, meditative rave experience. The album reflects her long-standing fascination with rhythm – both the biological kind, found in heartbeats and breathing, and the club kind, moving the body on the dance floor. Practicing yoga as a personal escape from daily life, Gigola has found the perfect link between quiet introspection and the powerful energy of sound, creating a signature fusion of meditation and electronic music.
In her first solo project, the track “In The Mood” she used movement to create a digital version of herself, exploring virtual spaces through dance. She drew inspiration from early 2000s video games, especially The Sims, which marked an important phase of her youth.
With her authentic, intriguing, and provocative presence, DJ Gigola often shows that fashion plays a major role in her life. A passionate collector of vintage pieces, she brings different aesthetic eras to life through clothing, choosing outfits with the same care she uses when selecting vinyl records. As she puts it: “Just like crate digging – every piece tells the story of its time.” Although she spent some time working as an assistant in the fashion industry, she quickly realized that this world was too confined for her untamed spirit. Instead of editorial offices, she found her answer in music, which provided a safe space for her to express creativity and freedom.
DJ Gigola is one of those artists who defies clichés and embraces risk and change. Whether in her personal life or behind the DJ booth, she’s never afraid to dive into the unknown.
Following her debut appearances at this year’s Coachella, Baum Festival in Colombia, EDC Las Vegas, and many others, she’s now set to perform at a series of festivals and clubs – from her home base in Berlin to London, Paris, Pag, and all the way to Ibiza, where she has already performed along with legendary master of electro sound – Solomun.
View this post on Instagram
She’s coming to the milestone edition of EXIT on Saturday, July 12, as part of Solomun’s DIYNAMIC STAGE TAKEOVER concept, where she’ll go back-to-back with Tijana T, a leading figure of the local techno scene.
