Even with Berlin’s scene, where the boldest and wildest survive, few artists have carved a presence as compelling as Sibel Koçer—aka JakoJako. Through technical skill and an intuitive touch, JakoJako has reshaped how people experience modular synthesis. From a career that started in nursing and led to the heights of the German capital's underground, JakoJako's story is one of resilience and risk-taking. This journey will lead to Bucharest on November 29 as JakoJako comes to Control Club.
JakoJako’s path began in the quiet hours she spent alone outside of her job as a healthcare professional but captivated by sound. Long before she ever performed, she spent nights with DIY synth setups, losing herself in manuals and exploring the world of synthesis. What began as a casual fascination soon became a calling, especially after she discovered Eurorack modular systems. By 2017, she left nursing to pursue music full-time.
She would join SchneidersLaden, the legendary Berlin synth shop. There, she expanded her technical expertise while becoming a key figure in Berlin’s synthesis community. At the shop, JakoJako would mentor newcomers, share knowledge, and build connections with creatives from every corner of the electronic landscape. At SchneidersLaden, she also developed her methodical, creative approach, treating each composition as an experiment that only succeeded if it resonated emotionally.
Her first releases, the Aequilibration and Lux EPs on Leisure System, showcased this balance of complexity and accessibility with human warmth. These early releases positioned her as an artist who could blend the cerebral and the affective, building a reputation for translating technical mastery into natural feeling. Since then, tracks featuring her signature trance-inspired dark techno have found themselves on BPitch, Tresor, and Figure. 2024 saw the release of Segmente EP with four propulsively urgent tracks that originated in her live show.
Then came the pandemic. With venues closed, she took her performances online. Her set on HÖR struck a chord, leading to invitations from major outlets like ARTE, Crack Magazine, and United We Stream, where she would perform alongside heavyweights like Âme. Her appearance on FACT Magazine’s Patch Notes series—a filmed live set from her studio—drew over a million views.
As her reputation grew, so did opportunities for high-profile collaborations. Her work with techno icon Rødhåd led to the release of In Vere. Her remix work for New Order and Martin Gore further demonstrated her inventiveness, while her debut album Metamorphose on Bigamo was praised for its understanding of the art of synthesis. Through collaborations with the multidisciplinary Circle of Live collective, alongside artists like Sebastian Mullaert and Heleen Blanken, she’s demonstrated a commitment to live, collaborative music as a space free of conventional structure.
As a resident at Berghain, JakoJako brings her modular setup to life on stage. Her performances navigate between technical complexity and dancefloor energy. Another standout live moment came in 2022 when she joined Bonobo at London’s Royal Albert Hall. Appearances at major festivals like Dekmantel, Awakenings, and The Crave have further made her a fixture in electronic music’s international circuit. By recently adding DJ sets to her repertoire, it has allowed her to connect with audiences in a new way, diversifying her artistry and expanding her reach. Her growing presence at festivals like Stone Techno and Elevate points to a career that feels like it’s just beginning to unfold.
JakoJako has turned modular synthesis into a language of human emotion. As she continues to explore, her future feels as open-ended as the modular systems she commands, inviting all of us to listen, feel, and dream.
