Emerging from Cologne’s rich electronic music landscape, NEGITIV represents a new generation of artists shaped as much by the dance floor as by instinct. Her journey into techno wasn’t defined by a single scene or sound, but by movement — between spaces, genres, and communities — absorbing energy from wherever it felt real. From early nights spent across hip hop, house, and techno floors to teaching herself how to DJ, her path has been guided less by strategy and more by intuition.
That sense of fluidity continues to define her approach today. Rather than positioning herself within a fixed category, NEGITIV moves across hard techno, schranz and beyond, following feeling over formula. With the launch of her ‘Me & My Demons’ Tour and a growing global presence, she remains grounded in the core values of techno culture: connection, community, and shared experience. In this conversation, she reflects on identity, authenticity, and the personal ideas that shape both her sound and her visual world.
Cologne has a deep history in electronic music. How did growing up there shape who you are as an artist and performer?
The clubs and the nightlife definitely shaped me. I moved through a lot of different spaces. I went to hip-hop, techno, and house parties. You could often find me at Kiesgrube, too. I was the kind of girl who felt at home everywhere. But the driving beat you get in Cologne definitely influenced me, and so did that whole dynamic in the sound. I was fascinated by hard beats, and Cologne played a big part in that.
The driving beat you get in Cologne definitely influenced me, and so did that whole dynamic in the sound.
We understand that you taught yourself to DJ. Was there a defining moment when you felt your path was clear?
I never doubted it. I really do not doubt it.
How do your roots, both musically and personally, show up in your sound and performances?
I do not even really know how to answer that yet. Maybe I am just too young. I am super young, and I really feel like I have only just taken my first steps in nightlife. I always feel like questions like this expect a very deep answer, and I just do not have some huge, deep speech ready. I am in love with the sound, I do what is fun for me, and I follow my gut. So far, that is working pretty well.
‘Me & My Demons’ reads as a very personal title. What does it mean to you beyond just the tour name?
I think especially women know these different demons, though men obviously do too. But we all have different demons, different weaknesses, the things that annoy us, the thoughts we carry around, the daily fight of getting up, getting things done, all those little habits or struggles we maybe should handle better. Those are all small demons in a way. And that is what we tried to reflect in the video, how I deal with my everyday demons. We dance with them, we fight with them, and in the end some of them were never even really there. It is that whole fight-your-demons situation.
When stepping onto the biggest of stages, how do you stay grounded in the community origins of the music?
For me the big community also happens on the big stages. I know the clubs, but in techno, I do not really split clubs and big floors apart that much. When I play a big techno stage, I still see underground and I still see community directly. In other genres that might be different, but in techno, I do not really see that split.
When I play a big techno stage, I still see underground and I still see community directly.
Visual aesthetics in techno can be symbolic. What’s the deeper idea behind the visuals you chose for your YouTube set?
First of all, the visual idea is eye candy. It should just be nice to look at. People should have fun and think, what kind of freaky shit is this, please? It should polarise a little and feel like something people had not seen before. Originally, the plan was actually to pull the whole thing through for a full hour with a real storyline, and the second edition will definitely include that. But the first one was mainly about having fun and giving people a visual lollipop.
How do you balance your artistic progression with maintaining a sense of authenticity for your longtime followers?
Again, I have only been doing this for a short time. I honestly feel like I know almost every single one of my fans because I text with people directly. You can reach out to me really easily and I do answer. I have a lot of contact with people and I really care about them. I think I am still just Negin. It sounds cliché, but I really just hope I stay a positive person and stay who I am.
What role do you think female and non-binary artists play in shaping the future of techno culture?
For me, neither female, non-binary nor male identity should decide the value of the music. The music should speak for itself, no matter who plays it, who it comes from or what body it comes out of. As long as it comes from a human being, is played by a human being, reaches human beings, and the community stands on the right values, that is what matters to me. We are all equal. One nation under one roof.
As you look ahead to 2026 and beyond, what’s the cultural footprint you want your music to leave?
I want to make great music, I want to create great visual crazy shit, and I want to play loud, great music for you.
