When I discovered Sabrina’s account, I was immediately struck by the power of the testimonies. Far from the typical studio portraits, her interviews delve into topics both dark and deeply spiritual. Perhaps this is the difference between the Parisian crowd and that of Berlin: the ability to dive into the personal in order to illuminate what binds us together. This isn’t a critique, but rather a reflection of the Berlin scene, which has had more time to grow, to embrace excess, and to explore its every corner.
Sabrina uses her own story to bring others’ experiences to life. We invite you to follow her and take part in the discussions under her videos—because every shared word sheds a little more light on our understanding of others… and of ourselves.
Can you introduce yourself please?
I’m Sabrina Jeblaoui, a French creative living in Berlin for the past 7.5 years! I’m a Pisces with Taurus rising and Aquarius moon—deeply connected to my spirituality and always seeking truth, meaningful connections, and a deeper understanding of the world.
I would describe myself as someone positive, open-minded, a bit of a rebel, and a visionary. Of course, I wouldn’t be complete without acknowledging my darker sides, they’re also part of who I am!
I’m passionate about humanity, psychology, alternative thinking, and hope to bring fresh, creative and community-based projects to life. I host regular women’s circles here in Berlin, creating safe spaces for reflection and growth. Soon, I’ll be launching a newsletter about Berlin to share inspiring content and select the best events and places to explore in Berlin… Also possibly a podcast so I can dive even deeper into people’s journeys.
Do you remember the very first interview you made?
I did my first interview with Sofia, a Mexican girl living in Berlin. I started with my former friend Viviane, who helped me film and edit the first videos. I think it was about two years ago, during the summer at Tempelhofer Feld. It was such a nice experience that it inspired me to continue.
What did those interviews change in your way of seeing the world/ or just Berlin?
Doing these interviews has allowed me to connect more deeply with people on a one-on-one level. It’s a way for me to share my truth and thoughts through the voices of others. They’ve helped me open my mind further and gain a better understanding of different perspectives. It’s so powerful to get to know people on a deeper level and see them in their vulnerability, with all their insecurities. It allows me to be myself, and I suppose it works the other way around too.
You often talk about addiction. Do you mind us asking you what is your own journey regarding this?
My parents were drug addicts and drug dealers, and I was placed in a foster family because of that. I experienced addiction in many forms: alcohol, cigarettes, phone, and drugs when I was using substances every weekend in Berlin. I never considered myself an addict until I started my healing journey and realized I had been numbing my pain through different substances for so many years…
While I wasn’t using drugs alone at home during the week, I felt the need to belong to a group and would take drugs every weekend in clubs. That, to me, is what addiction is. It’s become so normalized in today’s society, and I increasingly feel a mission to speak about this topic and raise awareness.
Which interviews moved you the most ?
I think the interviews with Nicholas, Elisa, and Erika were the ones that moved me the most, as we delved into deep topics like drug and sexual abuse, as well as death. Every interview is unique and fascinating in its own way: sometimes I have a lot of fun, and other times the stories are profoundly touching. But I feel that every person reflects an aspect of myself or my own story…
BERLIN
What was the driving force that made you want to document and interview people in Berlin?
There were many reasons…I was a bit done with taking photos of people in front of clubs (after taking more than 400…^^) and I started to grow and became a life coach, really love to ask people deep questions.. I wanted to transform this project as I transformed myself and gave a voice to people. It was really important for me to start speaking up about
Have you ever heard something that made you think, “Okay, this is too much, even for Berlin”?
Too much drugs – Even for Berlin, lol
Berlin nightlife has always been wrapped up in politics—do you see the club scene as a form of social protest or a safe space for counterculture? And by extent, do you think that your work is political in a way?
To be honest, I don’t think club culture is a subculture anymore. Since 2020, it feels like clubs have become real businesses. I’m not sure they’re as political as they once were, especially since 2020, when they started strictly following the rules without questioning anything.
Clubs in Berlin are still spaces where we can explore ourselves, connect with people who want to feel free, and move our bodies to good music….But I really don’t think they’re rebellious enough to be considered “a form of social protest” anymore.
Everyone keeps talking about Berlin’s nightlife, but what makes it actually worth all the hype?
I think the hype comes from many factors: the top DJs playing here, the strict no-phone policy that makes the party feel freer, the incredible sound systems in certain clubs, the unique style of the people, the diversity in terms of social classes, the deep conversations that can happen in the bathrooms or on a sofa, and the non-judgmental atmosphere people experience in those spaces.
People come here to experience a sense of freedom, to step outside of society for a few hours, and to escape from the reality it offers, where everyone feels equal.
THE PROCESS
How do you pick the questions? Do you talk a bit to the person before ? What’s your editorial process?
I never prepare the questions in advance—I love working intuitively and spontaneously! Usually, I have a coffee with the person beforehand to chat about what they want to share before we start filming. As for posting, I do it whenever it feels right. There’s no real structure or formula to share with you, sorry 🙂
Do you have people requesting to be interviewed?
Some people reach out to me asking to be interviewed, and if they have something interesting to share and I resonate with their message, I’m happy to feature them. However, I usually prefer to select people myself.
Some people can be very rough/rude in the comments section on social media. How do you deal with that?
I deleted the worst comments that were purely mean and kept the ones where people disagree, as long as they’re respectful. I always try to respond with love, but some days it’s harder, lol. Otherwise, comments don’t affect me anymore because I know people are just projecting their unhappiness.
THE FUTURE
Do you have any other project on the works?
I’m going to launch a newsletter about Berlin, continue hosting my women’s circles, coach people one-on-one, keep taking portraits and event photography, and I’m also thinking about starting a proper podcast to dive deeper into people’s stories!