Children of the Night by Dina Summer
Dina Summer returns with a brand-new album celebrating the eclectic, sinister darkness from the 1980s to the modern day.
Dina Summer is the Berlin-based collaborative project of Greek-German dark-disco couple Local Suicide and Bavarian electronic producer Kalipo. The supergroup began working together in 2019 and has since been refining their combined sound. It is a unique blend of their influences, drawing from 80s italo disco, new wave, EBM, and early 00s electroclash for a dark retro-futuristic synth/wave pop sound that stands out with club-ready basslines, epic melodic hooks, and lyrics ranging from Dadaist abstractions to empowering, thought-provoking themes.
On October 9, 2026, the trio will return with their new mini album, "Children Of The Night", bringing together all the elements that have defined their sound so far. From the disco-infused synth-pop of "Burning Heart" and "Bats In Paris," recalling their debut album Rimini (2022), to the dark, club-driven tracks "Fuel" and "Komodo 3000." and the title track "Children Of The Night," which echo the atmosphere of Hide & Seek (2024), and the dark wave influenced indie songs "Rat Race" and "On The Road", which would have felt right at home on "Girls Gang" (2025), the release showcases the full spectrum of the band's musical identity.
The nine-track record takes its title from, and pays homage to, Bela Lugosi's iconic line in Dracula (1931): "Listen to them. Children of the night... what music they make." The single "Children Of The Night" marks a new era for Dina Summer, as the band takes their popular dark disco style and turns up the intensity. High synths fire out like warning shots over propulsive basslines while Dina cries out, summoning an army to the dancefloor. Its lyrics are a call to arms for all-night creatures, an invitation to step out of the shadows and forge a new world together.
"Burning Heart" is a smoldering synthpop anthem that feels like an 80s classic plucked from the vaults. The track explores the intoxicating pull of an intense yet imbalanced relationship, in which the singer pleads with her lover to "cross the line" and return her affection. The production walks a tightrope between light and dark - sparkling organ synths contrast a propulsive dark bass line, which reflects the bittersweet pangs of love. Filled with a nocturnal sensuality, it evokes the emotional intensity and infectious grooves of classic synthpop, drawing us to a shadowy partner on a smoky dancefloor.
"On the Road" is a hypnotic joyride, taking Dina Summer's signature nostalgic sound and hitting the accelerator. Contemplative vocals meet a New Order-esque guitar line, expertly played by Crime and the City Solution member Joshua Murphy. Combine this with some deeply danceable synths, and the result is an evocative track inspired by Jack Kerouac's "On the Road", one of Dina's favorite books. You can almost imagine careening down a dusty highway through vast open desert landscapes, where the only signs of life are the neon lights of small-town liquor stores at night.
"Fuel" is a live-wire track inspired by 90s electro and EBM. Dark and insistent, the track locks into motion from its first second. Synths ricochet like current rushing through wires, and the metallic drumline evokes the pounding of machinery. With this foundation of throbbing bass and industrial textures, "Fuel" roars like the engine of an accelerating motorbike. It's an ode to a relationship which is certainly all-consuming and co-dependent, but not wholly destructive.
Beware! "Voodoo" might just make your limbs move uncontrollably. This techno-tinged electro stomper draws its dark energy from the trio's Berlin home. It pulls us onto the dancefloor with menacing synth bass stabs and rapid-fire vocal chops, creating a hypnotic energy that feels like dark magic. The track's lyrics warn the listener against getting too close, but with a groove this intoxicating, it's hard not to be pulled closer.
Calling all misfits, goths, and nocturnal creatures, "Bats In Paris" is the perfect soundtrack for stalking moodily through the night. The track begins with a crisp synth intro that forms the foundation for Dina's sultry vocal line. With its spoken-word lyrics oozing cool, the track evokes the band's popular single "Girls Gang", this time leaning more into pop stylings as Kalipo joins Dina to sing a chorus that'll have you tapping your feet.
Listening to "Rat Race", it's hard not to imagine flickering fluorescent lights over soulless cubicles. The track's production perfectly captures the drudgery of the 9-to-5: synths ricochet like they're trapped in a box, and the electric guitar wails with frustrated energy. Yet despite the track's exhausted lyrics, "Rat Race" still gets you up on your feet with its compelling, almost mechanical percussion and post-punk guitar riffs. The dance has defiance, a restless energy of someone plotting their escape.
"Komodo 3000" sees the band delve into a more club-centric, acid-tinged sound, while retaining Dina's dark spoken-word vocal line. Featuring a synth line that creeps down a chromatic scale and sinister, distorted vocals, this is a heads-down dancefloor track to get lost in. For all its Berlin club credibility, the track refuses to take itself too seriously as it's actually inspired by a "Malcom in the Middle" scene about a comically large firework.
Dina Summer - Children of the Night
Release Date 9th October 2026
Label Iptamenos Discos
Tracklist
1. Dina Summer - Intro
2. Dina Summer - Burning Heart
3. Dina Summer - Komodo 3000
4. Dina Summer - On The Road
5. Dina Summer - Fuel
6. Dina Summer - Bats In Paris
7. Dina Summer - Voodoo
8. Dina Summer - Children Of The Night
9. Dina Summer - Rat Race