Fresh off a string of major festival appearances including Tomorrowland, EDC Vegas and Parookaville, German DJ, producer and label head Pretty Pink continues to make waves in the global electronic scene. Known for her emotionally charged sound and precision-crafted sets, she has become a regular face on Spotify’s Electronic Rising and was recently featured on the cover of Mixmag. Her new single Backstage showcases a more driving, peak-time side of her style, blending cinematic synth work with hypnotic vocals and raw dancefloor energy.
We spoke with Pretty Pink about the inspiration behind the track, how large-scale shows influence her mindset, and how she stays creatively grounded while touring across the globe.
Pretty Pink, your latest single Backstage just dropped. What was the inspiration behind this track?
Backstage captures that electric tension between mystery and euphoria. The energy you feel behind the curtain, before the beat drops, when everything’s possible. I wanted to create something that felt cinematic and powerful, with a hypnotic drive and a teasing vocal line that plays with perception. The phrase “Good girls go to heaven. Bad girls go backstage.” sums up the spirit perfectly. Iit’s a bit cheeky, but it speaks to the allure of the hidden moments behind the music.
Sonically, how does Backstage differ from your debut album Born Digital?
Born Digital was a deep dive into emotional storytelling – it had more space, more introspection. Backstage is more direct, even more built for the dancefloor. It still carries the melodic and atmospheric qualities I love, but with more punch. It’s about movement and momentum. I wanted something that would really work in a peak-time festival moment, but still retain that emotive layer underneath.
You’ve just played some massive festivals including Tomorrowland, EDC Vegas and Parookaville. How do those shows impact your mindset as a producer and DJ?
Playing stages like Tomorrowland Mainstage or EDC is an incredible energy exchange. It makes you think differently about music – you need to translate emotion into impact. Those moments in front of thousands of people demand clarity, confidence and power in the sound. But they also inspire me deeply. I often come home from a big show and immediately jump into the studio, buzzing with new ideas. It’s a cycle, the live shows fuel the music, and the music evolves with the shows.
Do you prepare differently for these large-scale events compared to club sets or your Deep Woods radio show?
Absolutely. Every context needs its own flow. For festivals, I map out a loose storyline with some key moments and edits, but I always leave space to react live. Clubs are more intimate. I can take people on a slower, deeper journey. And for Deep Woods, it’s more of a curated narrative – I imagine the listener alone with their headphones or in the car. It’s less reactive and more intentional. But in the end, all three are about connection, just on different wavelengths.
Your touring schedule is intense – Asia, the US, Europe. How do you stay creative with so much travel?
Routine is tricky on the road, but I’ve learned to find rhythm in the chaos. Airports, hotels, long drives – I use those moments to listen to promos, sketch out ideas, or just reflect. My radio show Deep Woods keeps me connected to the essence of what I love. And honestly, seeing how music resonates with different cultures and audiences is incredibly inspiring. It reminds me why I do this.
Backstage feels like a very visual track. Do you imagine imagery or scenes when producing music?
Definitely. I often visualise a scene or a mood before I even touch the first sound. With Backstage, I saw velvet curtains, strobes cutting through the dark, people waiting to step into the unknown. I think music and visuals are deeply connected. That’s why I also love working on the visuals for my releases – to extend the emotional space of the track into something people can see and feel.
As an artist who manages your own labels, tours globally and produces constantly – what grounds you?
The music, always. It’s easy to get swept up in schedules, numbers, social media – but the act of making music, of mixing a set, of sharing a moment with the crowd – that’s my centre. Also, nature plays a huge role for me. Growing up in the Harz Mountains, I learned to draw creative energy from silence, trees, light. I still carry that with me, even on the busiest days.
Finally, what can fans expect next from Pretty Pink? More singles, another album, or something unexpected?
There’s definitely more music on the way – both on my own label Deep Woods and with some exciting collaborations. I’ve also ushered my second label into a new era by rebranding Wanderlust as ‘Deep Woods Vision’ – a fresh platform for my creative output as well as for rising and cutting-edge artists.
I’m exploring a few new sonic directions while staying true to my melodic roots. Live-wise, I’ll continue touring across the US, Asia and Europe in 2025, and I’m also planning more Deep Woods events. But who knows – maybe there’s something completely unexpected just around the corner. That’s the fun part.
