Estonian-born, London-based DJ, producer and label owner Janika Tenn has built a career around energetic, groove-led house music, blending vocal, jackin’, disco and classic house influences. Over the past few years, she has continued to develop her sound through a steady run of releases while building her own imprint, Tenn Tonik, as a home for feel-good, dancefloor-focused house music. As a DJ, Janika has performed at venues including Ministry of Sound, Fabric, XOYO, Eden Ibiza, Café Mambo, Pikes, O Beach Ibiza and Paradiso Amsterdam, alongside an increasingly busy schedule. As her joyful new collaboration with the legendary Michael Moog, ‘Beautiful Day’, feat. Kay Bridges lands on Tenn Tonik, DMCWorld checks in with the awesome Janika Tenn.
Hi Janika, thanks very much for taking the time to chat with us at DMC World. How’s 2026 been for you so far?
It’s been absolutely non-stop! I feel like I’ve spent more time in airports than at home this year. Between Ibiza, Miami, London, Amsterdam and everything in between, it’s been a pretty crazy year, but in a good way. Musically, I’ve been really busy in the studio, releasing new records, working with some amazing people and building my label, Tenn Tonik. I’ve also played some fantastic shows and met so many great people along the way. There have definitely been moments when I’ve wondered how I’m supposed to fit everything into 24 hours, but I wouldn’t have it any other way. Well, maybe with a little more sleep!
Please can you introduce yourself to our DMCWorld readers.
I’m Janika Tenn, an Estonian-born DJ and producer originally from the island of Saaremaa. I moved to London many years ago, and that’s really where my love affair with house music began. I’ve been DJing since 2004 and producing since 2007, so I’ve been around for a little while now! My musical roots actually go back to drum & bass before I found my way into house music. I’ve lived and worked in different parts of the world, but London has always played a big part in shaping my sound. These days I’m constantly travelling between gigs, spending a lot of time in Ibiza during the summer and running my own label, Tenn Tonik.
How did you first get into making music, and specifically dance music?
I started out as a DJ, and after a few years of playing other people’s records, I naturally became curious about making my own. My early days were actually more influenced by drum & bass, but when I moved to London, I became completely hooked on house music. I loved the energy, the groove, the vocals and especially the way a really good house record could bring everyone together on a dancefloor. I started producing in 2007, and my first release came out on CR2 Records in 2008. Looking back, I had absolutely no idea how much there was to learn. To be fair, I’m still learning now! That’s one of the things I love about making music. There’s always something new to discover.
What is the best piece of new music you have heard recently?
There have been quite a few! It really depends on what kind of set I’m playing. I’ve always been a big fan of Mark Knight, and his collaboration with James Hurr, ‘You Take Me Higher’, definitely hasn’t disappointed. I’m also a big fan of Wh0. His consistently put out great house records, and I love his production style.
Describe your sound in 5 words.
Groovy. Jackin’. Soulful. Playful. Uplifting.
What’s been your own personal favourite production or remix so far?
That’s a difficult one because every record has its own story, and I usually fall in love with whatever I’m working on at the time! But I’d probably say ‘Mystified’ featuring Penny F is one of my favourites. I really love how that record came together. It has that classic house influence I love, but still feels very much like me.
Congratulations on your joyful new collaboration with Michael Moog and Kay Bridges, ‘Beautiful Day’! What was the inspiration behind the release and what can we expect to hear?
Thank you! This one is really special to me. It actually started during Miami Music Week when Michael and I were driving around and he played me a few ideas he’d been working on. One particular melody instantly caught my attention, and I knew straight away that was the one I wanted us to work on together. I’ve always been a fan of Michael’s music, so getting to collaborate with him and release the record on my own label, Tenn Tonik, makes it even more special.
The result is a proper feel-good house record with a great groove, a catchy guitar hook and Kay Bridges’ lovely vocals bringing it all together. I think there’s already enough doom and gloom in the world, so sometimes you just want to make music that puts people in a good mood. And that’s exactly what ‘Beautiful Day’ is about.
How has it been going down in your DJ sets?
Really well! I’ve been playing it throughout the summer in Ibiza and more recently at ADE in Amsterdam, and the response has been great. What I like about this record is that it doesn’t need to be a massive, banging club track to get a reaction. Sometimes a great vocal and a good groove are all you need. It’s one of those records where you look up from the decks and see people smiling, which is always a good sign!
The release lands on your own label, Tenn Tonik, how’s that all going and what’s the ethos behind the label?
It’s going really well, although running your own label, producing music, DJing and trying to manage everything else pretty much by yourself is a lot of work! Sometimes one thing gets more attention than another, simply because there aren’t enough hours in the day. I launched Tenn Tonik in 2025 because I felt it was time to have my own home for my music. I wanted the freedom to release what I believe in, on my own terms, without having to wait around for labels to get back to me or deal with rejections. Basically, being my own boss!
Musically, it’s all about house music with a bit of everything I love, from disco and jackin’ house to that classic New York sound. Good grooves, great vocals and records that don’t have an expiry date. For now, I’m focusing on my own releases and collaborations. I’d love to release music from other artists in the future, but realistically I’d need a few more hands on deck to make that happen properly. So, if anyone fancies joining the Tenn Tonik team, feel free to hit me up! Gin and tonics provided, obviously! HaHa
You’ve been a resident in Ibiza now for several seasons, how has this year been for you?
biza has become a big part of my life over the years, and somehow every season ends up being different! I’ve been lucky enough to play at some amazing venues, including Eden, UNVRS, Café Mambo, O Beach, Pikes and Café del Mar, and I still love going back. What I love about Ibiza is how different every gig can be. One day you’re playing a sunset set by the sea, and the next you’re in a club playing a completely different sound. It definitely keeps things interesting! This summer was another busy one, with plenty of travelling back and forth, but I had some really great gigs and met lots of lovely people along the way. And no matter how many times I’ve seen them, those Ibiza sunsets never get old!
What can we typically experience at a Janika Tenn DJ set?
That really depends on where you’re hearing me! I don’t believe in turning up with a pre-planned set and playing exactly the same tracks regardless of what’s happening on the dancefloor. I like to read the room and build the energy as I go. My sets are rooted in house music, but I can move between soulful, disco, jackin’ house and tougher, more driving grooves depending on the crowd. I love surprising people with something they weren’t expecting, whether that’s a forgotten classic, a cheeky edit or a brand-new record nobody has heard yet. For me, DJing is about creating a good atmosphere and having fun. And if I’m having fun behind the decks, hopefully everyone else is too!
You’ve shared both a personal and professional journey with Todd Terry. How did you both meet, and what inspired you to start working together musically?
We actually met at ADE in Amsterdam about ten years ago, so it’s quite funny being asked this just after coming back from ADE again! Musically, we both share a real love for classic house, vocal house and great songs, so working together felt quite natural. One thing I really admire about Todd is his ear for music, especially when it comes to vocals. He can instantly hear when something isn’t right, and he’s not afraid to say it either! If a singer is off-key or something isn’t working, he’ll tell them straight away. I’m completely the opposite! I find it really hard to tell someone they can’t sing, so I’ll usually just say, “Hmm, I don’t think this is quite working for me.” Haha!
He’s also incredibly quick and instinctive in the studio, whereas I sometimes like to spend a bit longer experimenting with ideas. It’s interesting seeing how differently we approach things. We’ve worked on several records together, including ‘Laid Back’ ‘Deeper’, With You and I’ve definitely learned a lot from working with him. At the same time, I think it’s important that we both have our own musical identity and creative direction.
What are the pro’s and cons of being a power couple in dance music arena?
Haha, first of all, I’m not sure I’ve ever called us a power couple! I suppose one of the biggest advantages is that you both understand the industry. The travelling, the late nights, the strange working hours and the fact that weekends don’t really exist in the normal sense. It’s also nice being able to share ideas and experiences with someone who understands what you’re doing. The downside is that music can easily take over everything. When your personal and professional lives overlap, it can be difficult to switch off. Sometimes you just want to have dinner without discussing a track, a gig or an airport! I also think it’s important to maintain your own identity as an artist. I’ve spent more than twenty years building my career, and having that independence is something I really value.
You’ve just come back from ADE, how was it for you this year?
Absolute madness, as always! I swear ADE gets busier every year. You arrive thinking you’ve got everything organised, and within about two hours your entire schedule has gone out the window. It was a great week, though. I played several sets, caught up with old friends, met loads of new people and had some really interesting conversations about future projects. I also ended up playing a pretty banging tech house set in one of the smallest bars of the week, which was actually a lot of fun. Sometimes those unexpected little gigs turn out to be the most memorable. I love ADE because you get to see people from all over the world in one city, but by the end of it, I think everyone needs another holiday just to recover from the networking!
We come to raid your record collection, which embarrassing record do you chuck out the window before we arrive?
I don’t really believe in guilty pleasures. If I like a record, I like it, even if it’s ridiculously cheesy or completely different from what I play as a DJ. I’ve been DJing for over 20 years, so trust me, I’ve played some questionable records along the way! If anything, it’s probably some cheesy ’90s Estonian pop songs I grew up with, but I’m not even embarrassed to admit that!
What record makes you say ‘damn, I wish I made that’?
There are so many, it’s almost impossible to pick just one! Especially from the ’90s and early 2000s, when house music had so much character and personality. Records like Deepswing’s ‘In The Music’ or Mousse T.’s ‘Horny’ are perfect examples. Such great grooves, clever production and hooks that stay with you forever. They still sound just as good today, and I wish I’d made either of them!
Finally, what new productions are you working on that you can tell us about?
There’s always something going on in the studio! I’ve recently been working with New York-based producer Spencer Zsbiela (Artwerk), and we’ve teamed up with US vocalist Jena on something I’m really happy with. It’s still early days, so I don’t want to give too much away just yet, but there’s definitely more music coming!
‘Beautiful Day’ will be released on Traxsource promo on October 30th / Full release November 13th 2026 on Tenn Tonik.
