Lilly Palmer – Biography

“Music is freedom.” This credo has guided Lilly Palmer from the very beginning of her still relatively young, yet incredibly successful career. For her, freedom means the ability to express, process, and transform emotions through music — creating a deep connection with her ever-growing audience. She achieves this effortlessly with her signature sound: a powerful blend of energetic techno and melancholic, deep tones woven with captivating melodies. Whether in clubs, at festivals, or online, her vibe is unmistakable.

The numbers speak for themselves. Lilly boasts nearly a million followers on Instagram, with monthly impressions reaching up to 100 million. On Spotify, she draws over 130,000 listeners. In 2020, she was voted “Best Female DJ Worldwide” and ranked #32 in the DJ Mag Top 100, driven not just by her electrifying performances but also by her strong productions.

Originally from a small town near Nuremberg, Lilly was adopted into a pastor’s family as a baby after the death of her biological mother. Her upbringing was unique: her father, a liberal-minded pastor, was known for his love of video games and Scandinavian death metal, while her mother introduced her to art and culture. These contrasting influences helped shape her creative outlook.

Lilly learned piano as a child, which laid a solid foundation for her musical understanding. In her teens, she transitioned from rock and metal — bands like AC/DC, Jethro Tull, and Guns N’ Roses — to techno, discovering the genre at underground clubs in Nuremberg.

Her DJ career began in Zurich, where she started performing in bars and small venues while working as a self-employed nutritionist. Despite initial hesitation and unsupportive surroundings, she took the leap post-breakup and dedicated herself fully to learning the craft. After about eight months of intense practice and recording mixes, she landed her first bar gig — an exciting milestone that marked the beginning of a steady climb through the scene.

As she began playing bigger venues, Lilly naturally gravitated towards harder, faster techno. Her evolution was not just personal but also reflected broader trends in the scene. She cites influences from both Zurich’s emotive melodies and Berlin’s raw, uncompromising techno, blending these into her current style.

Her music has been released on labels like Drumcode, Senso Sounds, Off Recordings, Natura Viva, and her own imprint, Spannung Records. Her debut on Drumcode came in 2020 with “Amnesia” on the label’s A-Sides Vol. 10, followed by her acclaimed EP We Control, featuring standout tracks like “Plasma” and “Don’t Look Back.”

Lilly co-produces with her partner Egbert, combining his technical expertise with her emotional input. She’s transparent about her collaborative process and has always emphasized authenticity over image. In the studio, they work primarily in FL Studio, using synths like Tyrell N6, Repro, Bazille, and effects like Valhalla Reverb, Fabfilter, Waves, and more. She records all vocals herself.

With Spannung Records, launched during the COVID-19 pandemic, Lilly aims to showcase carefully curated, high-energy techno — mostly singles to ensure each track gets full focus. So far, the label has featured releases from Lilly, Egbert, and the Warp Brothers, with new signings also on the horizon.

As a woman in a male-dominated industry, Lilly is candid about both the challenges and the privileges. She’s experienced sexism and inappropriate behavior but also recognizes that being a woman sets her apart in a crowded field. What she rejects, however, are “female-only DJ nights,” stressing that her place on a lineup should depend on talent, not gender.

Today, Lilly lives in a peaceful coastal town in the Netherlands, between Amsterdam and The Hague. Nature and the sea provide a welcome balance to her fast-paced touring life. Off-stage, she dreams of an even quieter life someday — perhaps a home in the forest with her own little animal farm.

Looking ahead, Lilly’s plans remain ambitious. With major festival appearances, new releases, and expansion of her label on the horizon, the coming years promise to be her biggest yet. Fueled by passion, a deep sense of authenticity, and a tight-knit team, Lilly Palmer continues to rise as one of techno’s most powerful and inspiring forces.