How Tini Gessler’s Move to Spain Was Game-Changing for Her Career

Tini Gessler's humble beginnings started with playing small parties in Sitges, Spain. It was there that her bumping deep house, tech house, and techno sets were sought after by Pacha Barcelona, where she held a three-year residency. However, if it weren’t for her move to Spain, the German-bred artist says she wouldn’t be where she is today.

Gessler moved to the Mediterranean beach destination and began waitressing in various bars and nightclubs to fund her college studies. Through this, she found herself immersed in the world of the underground.

Upon being connected with elrow boss Juan Arnau Jr, Gessler solidified herself as part of the acclaimed global party brand. The sound designer put her work in for three years on side stages before making her way up to elrow’s main stage. Subsequently, she was promoted to resident and became a regular on their underground label, KER. As the premier party people’s family member, she has graced the stages alongside top talents such as Jamie Jones, Paco Osuna, and Joseph Capriati.

In 2019, the Friedrichshafen-born producer began spinning for numerous festivals and large clubs that weren’t associated with elrow, such as Serbia’s Lovefest, Lief Festival in the Netherlands, and EDC Mexico. She also boasts after-hours performances beside the likes of Solardo, CamelPhat, and Fisher for Bodyworks at Hï Ibiza, as well as the UK’s The Warehouse Project.

Indeed, the tastemaker has an illustrious career as she has performed at additional iconic venues, including Ibiza’s Space nightclub, London’s Studio 338, Ushuaïa, Pacha Barcelona, and Pacha Ibiza. She has even gotten behind the booths of well-respected festivals such as Tomorrowland and Budapest’s Sziget.

“I’d still be listening to electronic music if I’d stayed in Germany, but I’m not sure I would have made a career in DJing,” Gessler tells Mixmag. “When I look back now, I realize just how beneficial the connections I made in Spain really were.”