FEATURE
SHE KILLED IN ECSTASY
Photographs by Renata Dominik
Styled By Greta Magistrale
Creative Director Shubz
Make up By Felicity Smith
Hair By Diana Tarakanova
Producer Sav Green
Published: April 14, 2026
Not everything reveals itself at once. Some presences unfold gradually, less through declaration and more through atmosphere. Carla Martinez belongs to that space, where clarity is suggested rather than stated, and identity feels in constant negotiation with movement.
There is a certain restraint in how she occupies the frame, a quiet tension between control and release. Nothing feels over-explained, yet nothing is accidental. It is this balance that draws you in, the sense that something is always just out of reach, still forming, still shifting.
What defines her now is not a fixed narrative, but a willingness to remain open. Between image and sound, between stillness and momentum, she moves with instinct rather than certainty. It is less about arriving somewhere concrete, and more about staying within that in-between space where things feel most alive.
Where are you in your life right now—mentally, creatively, or even physically? Does it feel clear or still forming?
I’m in a learning stage, finding my feet, figuring out what feels right, and building real conviction in that. It feels like a formative time. I’m learning to trust my instincts more and stand behind my choices, even when everything isn’t fully formed.
What were you like growing up? Do you see any of that version of yourself still present now?
I come from a more traditional background, where stability and a clear path were always emphasised. That’s what initially led me to law school. But even then, I was always testing those beliefs in some way, quietly questioning things, starting random side hustles, and trying different directions. That part of me hasn’t changed.
We always feel like modelling and DJing sit on opposite ends of presence. Where do you feel most yourself?
DJing, without question. There’s nothing that compares to playing to a crowd and feeling that exchange of energy in real time. That’s not something modelling has ever evoked for me in the same way.
Modelling captures a moment. DJing stretches time. Which one feels closer to who you are right now?
I can appreciate both, but I’ve never felt more aligned with myself than I have since entering the music scene. It has given me a sense of fulfilment and self-assurance that carries into everything else, including modelling. The fashion industry can feel quite intense and serious at times. Music showed me there’s a world where you can genuinely enjoy what you do.
What kind of energy do you try to create when you’re playing?
It always shifts depending on the room. The energy people give me really dictates what I give back. That’s what makes it exciting. I like building something that feels instinctive in the moment, reading the crowd, contributing to the flow of the night, and letting the set evolve naturally.
There’s a loneliness to nightlife that people don’t talk about.
I haven’t really experienced that personally. Nightlife can be escapist, but whether that’s positive or negative is subjective. For me, it has been positive, as it has allowed me to expand musically. There is loneliness in a lot of things if you think about them deeply enough.
What was the last film that stayed with you?
A lot of A24 films stay with me, but Waves is one I always come back to, especially because of the soundtrack.
What’s a track you’ve had on repeat recently?
I’m in an ambient phase right now, so I’d say Xtal by Aphex Twin.
What are you chasing right now?
A life and career that genuinely fulfils and excites me, something that gives me space to keep growing and branching out. Right now, that is definitely music. I’m enjoying seeing how far I can take it.
And if you catch it?
I hope it’s not something I catch once and that’s it. Ideally, it continues to evolve, and I always have that same excitement to keep chasing something.
Carla Martinez remains difficult to define, and perhaps that is precisely the point. There is no urgency to resolve what is still unfolding. What lingers instead is a sense of movement, of something continuously taking shape just beyond reach.
You can catch Carla playing at Amnesia Ibiza this summer.
Interview edited for length and clarity.
