When Dina and Max met at a Berlin DJ competition in 2008, neither of them could have predicted that a chance encounter would evolve into one of electronic music’s most quietly formidable operations. As Local Suicide, the couple has spent nearly two decades building something rare in an industry that rewards a genuinely sustainable creative life.
Today, they perform as a DJ duo and live as a band, run their own imprint Iptamenos Discos, and each hold demanding day jobs – Dina at the helm of her own PR agency, Eclectica, Max as label manager for Ninja Tune GSA.
In this interview they talk about the raw freedom of early Berlin, the realities of working and living together, and what it really takes to last.
Can you take us back to 2008 when you first started working together? What brought you two together and what was the Berlin scene like at that time?
Dina: We actually met at a DJ competition in Berlin. I had won the previous edition and came back to defend my title. I got knocked out in the first round by friends of Max, but it was a big event and a lot of friends were there, so I had to stick around. That’s when I met Max. It really was love at first sight, and from that moment on we’ve been inseparable.
At that time, we were both actively DJing, but still very much on our own paths. A bit later, I got offered a well-paid all-nighter and had the option to either play alone or share the slot with someone. I asked Max – and that night changed everything. We had so much more fun playing together than on our own that we gradually stopped doing solo shows altogether, and Local Suicide was born very organically.
Berlin in 2008 was something truly special. The city felt raw, open, and full of freedom. There were countless underground clubs, illegal parties in abandoned buildings or strange locations, and almost no rules. The cost of living was low, which gave people time and space to experiment, create, and take risks. The scene was incredibly international – many people had moved to Berlin purely because of its music and nightlife – and it felt like anything was possible. Those years really shaped us, both musically and personally.
What inspired you to launch your own imprint, Iptamenos Discos, in 2021? Was it purely to release your debut album, or had you been planning to build a platform for like-minded artists?
Max: There were several factors that made us launch the label. By 2021 we had already released 20+ EPs and singles on various labels and we often weren’t satisfied with the outcome and didn’t get any sales statements from them and or had to do too many artistic compromises so we decided to take matters in our own hands. We are both working in the music industry since 20 years in various positions so it all came together very naturally. We are very happy that we are involved in developing the careers of befriended up and coming artists such as Wiener Planquadrat, Boys’ Shorts & Alexandra Feusi from the very start. In addition to running the label, we also offer publishing, consulting, marketing, promotion and distribution services and organise label events all over Europe.
Apart from making music as a duo, performing, organising events and running a label, you both have other jobs, Dina running her own PR agency for dozens of artists, Max working as label manager for Ninja Tune GSA. How do you manage all these moving parts without burning out?
Dina: We’re definitely both workaholics and strongly believe that nothing meaningful comes without hard work and commitment. At the same time, we’ve learned – sometimes the hard way – that pushing nonstop isn’t sustainable.
There are moments when we hit our limits and have to consciously slow down. For me, that usually happens in the summer. We try to keep many weekends free of gigs and spend that time at our summer flat in Greece. Being there allows me to fully reset – focusing on my day job, staying in one place, having a slower daily rhythm, going to the beach after work, spending time with my family, not losing sleep, and switching off from constantly thinking about flights, schedules, and logistics. That stability and closeness to nature are incredibly grounding for me and help me come back with fresh energy and ideas.
Do you have a clear division of responsibilities, or do you approach everything as a team? How do you decide who handles what when running a label or making music as a duo?
Max: We both have strong personalities and opinions, which sometimes clash, so we’ve divided most tasks between us and leave the majority of decisions to the person who is the specialist in that area. That said, we still collaborate closely on the creative side and bounce ideas off each other constantly. Running the label and making music as a duo works best when we balance our individual strengths while keeping a shared vision.
Being married and working together so closely – what are the advantages and disadvantages? And how do you maintain boundaries between personal and professional life?
Dina: To be honest, there aren’t really any clear boundaries – but we’ve been together since 2008, so we know each other inside out. We deeply trust and believe in one another, and that makes it possible.
The biggest advantage is sharing everything with the person you love the most. You always have someone by your side who understands you completely – the creative process, the pressure, the joy after a great gig, the travels, the exhaustion after a long tour. You celebrate successes together and support each other through difficult moments. And of course, you also share the workload, with each of us taking on our own tasks and responsibilities.
The downside is that professional stress or disagreements can easily spill into personal life. Touring also comes with very practical challenges: fees are split, it’s always two flights instead of one, and you spend a lot of time together in very intense situations. But in the end, the trust and connection we have outweigh the difficulties – and working together still feels like a privilege.
You’ve also launched a live band project alongside being DJs. How do you balance touring versus being in the studio creating new material? What is your preference?
Dina: We released our second Dina Summer album, Girls Gang, in January 2025 on our own label, Iptamenos Discos, which made the past year and a half extremely intense. With the album release, heavy touring, and our day jobs, we barely found time for the studio. That’s why we’re now planning to slow down a little on touring and shift our focus back to creating new music and finishing up material that has been lying around.
Personally, I’m an extrovert, so I naturally gravitate towards touring. I love DJing and performing live, connecting with people, discovering new places, and feeding off the energy of the crowd. Of course, I still love the creative process and am very enthusiastic about making new music. Max is more of an introvert and really thrives in the studio. Luckily, he’s also very adventurous, always up for new challenges and loves to party, so he genuinely enjoys travelling and touring as well. That balance between us works well and keeps things exciting.
With AI increasingly impacting music creation and the industry at large, what’s your perspective on where this technology is headed? Opportunity, threat, or something in between?
Dina: I definitely see it as something in between an opportunity and a threat. It’s unsettling to see AI-generated tracks climbing the charts, but I don’t believe it will ever replace genuine human creativity. Music is about emotion, experience, and authenticity – things that are deeply human.
That said, I do think AI will become more integrated as a tool, helping with certain technical or time-consuming parts of the process. Used consciously, it can support creativity rather than replace it. The key will be how artists choose to use it, and where they draw the line.
Having worked with hundreds of artists through various professional capacities, what patterns have you noticed? What separates those who build lasting careers from those who don’t?
Max: For me, it comes down to working hard, being genuine, reliable, and just generally being a decent human, the same as in any other industry. I’ve worked with huge ’80s pop stars who were incredibly down-to-earth and a pleasure to be around, while some younger artists who shot to fame overnight could turn into real beasts. Sure, there are shortcuts, but they rarely lead to a sustainable career. Lasting success comes from consistency, professionalism, and treating people well over the long term.
What advice would you give to aspiring label owners trying to break through right now?
Max: Get professional help. You wouldn’t open a restaurant if you didn’t know how to cook! Be ready to invest a lot, and don’t expect to see any return for a long time, maybe ever. Treat your artists well, and only release music you know you’ll still love in ten years. And whatever you do, stick to your vision and don’t let anyone talk you into putting out something that doesn’t fit your label or your concept.
What’s on the horizon for 2026? Any new releases, tours, label projects, or other ventures you can share with us?
Dina: We’ve just released our new EP ‘Taksim’ on the great Barcelona-based label SUW – a collaboration with our Austrian friend Nick Hanzo, including an amazing remix by Djedjotronic.
Looking ahead, there’s a lot in the pipeline: collaborations with Zimmer, Andre VII, Italo Brutalo, Oh!, Facets, Wiener Planquadrat, Hard Ton, Silenzi, Bobby Nourmand, O.P.S., Franz Matthews, and NiKiT.
With Dina Summer, we’re also just finishing a new release, which we’re very excited about.
This year marks the five-year anniversary of our label Iptamenos Discos, and we’re planning to celebrate properly – with a vinyl compilation, reissues, label showcases, and parties across Europe, alongside several EPs and singles by ourselves and close friends of the label.
Our first Iptamenos Discos event of the year is on March 13th at Kater in Berlin with our buddies You Man from France and Nici Palm from Leipzig joining us behind the decks.
Local Suicide “Houdini” – buy/stream here