Domiziana: Club Inferno

I find myself in an unassuming courtyard in the heart of Kreuzberg, looking at a door with no bell, covered in scratched stickers and scribbles. Behind it, on the first floor of the building, is the studio of Domiziana. When I step into the recording space, she is already in the middle of a fitting for the photoshoot. She wears a short mesh dress, high heels with red rubber tips, and gloves. Her black bob, which has become her trademark since her breakthrough two years ago, completes the look. You could say Domiziana oozes ‘main character’ energy.

‘We’re almost ready!’ she calls out. While the photographer adjusts her camera, Domiziana quickly changes into another pair of shoes. The team is running slightly behind schedule, but that is hardly unusual for Domiziana, who rarely arrives at the studio before 1pm. ‘I always start my day by rushing in, sitting down, and saying, “sorry, sorry, sorry”. I’m always late,’ she says with a laugh. ‘Then I try to get my head straight, chat with everyone, and eat crisps.’

The photoshoot begins. The photographer claps her hands in delight, saying, ‘You are so photogenic, Domi!’ Domiziana crosses her legs effortlessly and replies, ‘That took a lot of hard work! I’ve had so many photos taken over the years.’ It all began in Sicily. In Catania, where she spent her childhood, there was little to do, so she found creative outlets – learning to play the guitar, singing with her best friend at the time, and recording Justin Bieber covers. ‘Some of those are still on YouTube today, which is terrible!’ she says, shaking her head in mock embarrassment. When asked if there was a place where she could truly find peace back then, she answers without hesitation: ‘It was always wherever my grandmother was – in Donnafugata, a village where it was too hot to be outside during the day. So, you’d either go to the sea, sleep, or eat.’

Her time in Sicily is now long behind her; Domiziana grew up in Berlin, where she studied and created her artistic persona of a confident woman, deeply entwined with the city’s nightlife. ‘Domiziana, as an artistic persona, knows that she is part of this culture,’ she explains. ‘But she doesn’t just march into clubs as a dominant figure trying to control everything. No, she’s also vulnerable and embraces all the emotions you’re likely to experience during these long nights.’

The singer has experienced many facets of Berlin’s nightlife: sex parties, orgies, and drugs. What surprised her most during her party escapades, however, was falling in love with someone within two hours – because of substances she had taken. ‘That feeling of thinking you have known someone for years, even though you have just met them, then waking up the next morning and realising it was not real… That is a hard blow,’ she recalls. Such experiences and intense emotions inspire Domiziana’s lyrics – whether she writes about friendship, grief, anger, joy, or love.

But what divides Domiziana the artistic persona and Domiziana the ‘real’ person? ‘As a teenager, I was much more anxious, much more reserved,’ she remembers. ‘When I started immersing myself in the queer scene and saw how drag queens dressed, it inspired me and gave me an incredible amount of confidence.’ Domiziana learned that femininity is a construct that can be transformed into an art form. Adopting a persona gave her courage, especially in moments when the ‘real’ Domiziana might feel uncertain. ‘It’s wild to see how, in this strange job, I’m trapped in my self-doubts,’ she admits. ‘I’m realising more and more how important it is to have good friends around me, or people who inspire and support me. Everything I do is so fragile, so emotional.’

In the future, she wants to explore how to transform vulnerability into strength in her work. ‘When I’m feeling awful in my latex outfit and Demonia boots just before a show is about to start, I take that feeling onto the stage. Talking about that insecurity there, singing about it, and sharing it – that makes me feel strong.’ Looking back, she regrets having been so focussed on presenting herself as dominant and suppressing her insecurities. She played a character who could effortlessly charm everyone with her coolness. But now, she has realised it is far more interesting to accept her flaws and doubts, work with them, and even take pride in them.

Part of this new Domiziana can be found on her upcoming EP Club Inferno, set to release in December. ‘The EP is an introspective journey through my personal hell, my personal darkness,’ she explains. ‘Initially, there was just “Inferno”, but the addition of “Club” represents the proud moment where I say, I will not conquer my insecurities – they are a part of me. It conveys that we can dance with our insecurities.’ The EP draws inspiration from Dante Alighieri’s Divine Comedy, in which the protagonist walks through a door and embarks on a journey through hell and purgatory before finally reaching paradise. ‘We have a door like that here in the studio,’ Domiziana says. ‘It makes this amazing sound, a bit like a dolphin. Luca Eck incorporated that sound into a song,’ she continues. ‘The track is very emotional, but you can still dance to it. The door is crucial for this song, both as a metaphor and as a sound.’

To promote the EP, Domiziana announced a tour of the same name recently on Instagram. Her main goal is to create a club setting where people can feel safe – a place where everyone can dance, celebrate, let go, and enjoy themselves. ‘I want that on every level. We will cry, we will party, we will scream, sing, and laugh. I’m so excited,’ she says, smiling. She is not nervous. When asked if she has a pre-show ritual, she laughs and replies, ‘I always huddle with my team, and we chant the word “Cunt” together. We start slow and build up, getting faster and louder.’ Sometimes, the singer envisions which of her idols she wants to channel on stage – sometimes it is Lady Gaga, sometimes Chappell Roan, and sometimes Charli XCX. ‘Then we say together: “May she be with us.” Like a spirit giving me energy,’ she explains.

After the shoot, Domiziana flops onto the couch. ‘I need a cheese sandwich now! Does anyone fancy joining me?’ she asks, propping her chin on her hand. After the well-earned break, she will continue working in the studio – and later, when she gets home, she might pick up a good book or play a round of Fortnite.

CREDITS

Photography: Elena Peters-Arnolds
Styling: Fiona Lee
Styling Assistant: Diana Lukashuk

As featured in SLEEK 83 – CALM. Available in print and digital here.