From the runways to Glastonbury, Estella Boersma’s path into electronic music has been anything but conventional. A Dutch native now based in Berlin, she first rose to international recognition in the fashion world, appearing on runways and magazine covers. Yet beneath the gloss of that industry, she was quietly cultivating a passion that would eventually draw her toward a different kind of stage: the dancefloor.
Photo Credit: John Richter
Her entry into electronic music came with a bold statement. In 2021, she debuted on DJ Haus’ Dance Trax label, delivering an EP that introduced her affinity for high-energy, club-focused cuts. That first release quickly found its audience, setting the tone for what would follow: another entry on Dance Trax that displayed her diversity as a producer, a contribution to Planet X’s ‘100 Years of Columbia’ compilation, and the 2022 single ‘The Wave’, which solidified her reputation as an artist with a sharp ear for rhythm and texture.
“I had sent out demo’s to labels before, but had no reply, until DJ Haus reached out in 2020, saying he would love to release the music I had sent. I remember bursting into tears and running around the house all day because I couldn’t contain my excitement,” Estella recalls.
By the time she closed out 2022 with ‘Sweat’ on Unknown to the Unknown — followed by ‘Glade’ — it was clear that Boersma was not merely experimenting with production but was carving out her own lane in the techno landscape. Her tracks balanced toughness with precision, a sensibility sharpened by her immersion in Berlin’s ever-evolving club culture. “I’ve always been drawn to music that moves people physically,” she says. “For me, it’s about creating something that can completely shift the energy in a room.”
“Starting my own label felt like the natural next step. It gave me full freedom to release exactly what I want, when I want — without compromise”
In 2024, that vision took a more concrete form with the launch of her own imprint, EB-REX. The label opened with ‘EB001’, a four-track EP of unrelenting techno built for peak-time dancefloors. Heavy, direct, and confident, the release positioned EB-REX not just as another artist-led outlet, but as a platform for the harder-edged sound Boersma wanted to amplify.
“Certain games or films have influenced my perception of music a lot. For example, ‘Final Fantasy’ soundtracks have a lot of airy textures and dramatic sounds, which I love to implement in my own work as well. Also, games like ‘SSX’, which I played in my childhood, had a lot of breakbeat and jungle tracks, which come back in the music very frequently. It’s amazing to dive deep into different worlds and find inspiration from there; it keeps things fresh!” she explains.
The follow-up, ‘EB002’, has now arrived, marking the next stage in her project. Where ‘EB001’ laid down the foundation, ‘EB002’ pushes deeper into the kind of driving, high-energy techno that has defined her DJ sets across Berlin and beyond. It’s a statement of intent: Boersma isn’t only building a career as a producer, she’s shaping an ecosystem around her sound.
For Estella, EB-REX is more than a personal vehicle. The imprint reflects her long-term vision to foster a community of like-minded producers, channeling the raw energy of the club into recordings that are unflinching in their focus. “The label is still young, but I see it growing into something bigger than myself,” she says. “It’s a place where I can experiment, but also hopefully bring in other artists who share the same drive.”
Her trajectory mirrors the shifts within Berlin’s underground: a scene constantly in flux, where new voices are always pressing against tradition. Coming from outside the usual pathways, Boersma has leaned into her outsider’s perspective, treating each release as both a personal marker and a challenge to evolve further. The move from fashion to techno might appear, from the outside, as a sharp turn, but for her, it was a seamless transition that has already taken her to be a part of Boiler Room, HÖR, and some of the most noteworthy festivals in the circuit. Both worlds, she notes, demand stamina, creativity, and the ability to command presence.
“I’m working on a hybrid set, and I’m so excited to share more about it soon! In the future, I would like to bring different kinds of performances and immersive experiences to the stage,” says Estella about what’s to come.
“Now, it’s about building momentum. I want every release on EB-REX to feel like it belongs in that moment when the energy in the club is at its absolute peak”
With EB-REX established and ‘EB002’ out in the world, Boersma is looking firmly ahead. She is not only expanding her catalog but also defining the character of her imprint. The direction is clear: uncompromising, dancefloor-focused techno with a personal signature.
For an artist whose journey into music began outside the usual circuit, Estella Boersma has found her footing with remarkable speed. The launch of EB-REX signals more than a career milestone — it’s the arrival of a voice determined to shape the contours of contemporary techno on her own terms.
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