Interview

ARTIST OF THE WEEK: Stasi Sanlin

today20/09/2024

Background

Stasi Sanlin, interviewed by Clint Maximus at the Pure 94.7 studio, opened up about her journey from Kazakhstan to Dubai’s vibrant nightlife. Stasi shares her evolution in music, from hip-hop to tech-groovy beats, the personal challenges that shaped her career, and what’s next for her in the electronic music scene.

Let’s start with how you got into DJing and music. Where did it all begin for you?

I started about six years ago when I moved to Dubai. I was initially playing hip-hop and R&B, but I realized that it wasn’t really my passion. It was fun, but it didn’t feel serious to me. Before moving to Dubai, I used to play tech-groovy music back in Kazakhstan—where I’m from. I realized that style of music was what I enjoyed most, and it really allowed me to give off the energy and vibe I wanted when I was behind the decks.

In my childhood, I was always involved in music. I was a drummer, singer, dancer—music was always part of my life. But I wasn’t sure about becoming a DJ until one day, I was at a club and saw a DJ playing. I thought to myself, “Maybe I can do this too.”

Around the same time, I experienced a tough personal challenge—I lost my mom. My friend encouraged me to keep pushing for my goals, and even though I was shy and unsure, I decided to give it a shot. I bought a controller, called a DJ friend of mine for advice, and started learning by watching YouTube videos.

Now, let’s talk about your production work. You mentioned you’ve been working on some tracks—how’s that going? Can we expect something soon?

Yes, I already have a few tracks nearly finished. I’ve been working on production since December and learning to use Ableton. It’s a step-by-step process, but I’m excited to see how it turns out.

Awesome. Now let’s talk about Terra Solis—you’ve got a gig there coming up. You’ll be DJing with Chris Avantgarde and Adam Sellouk. How’s everything looking for the event?

Terra Solis is an incredible venue, really huge and a lot of fun to play at. I started my residency there last year, and it’s been great. This upcoming event is going to be a big one, so I’d recommend everyone to come early and not miss out on Saturday, September 21st.

I’ve seen videos of your performances, and your energy on stage is amazing. Where does that come from? Is it something you’ve always done, or do you just feel it when you’re in the moment?

Honestly, I’m not sure where it comes from! Once I’m up there, I get into the groove and vibe with the crowd. It usually takes me about 5-10 minutes to read the room, and then I just let the music take over. For me, DJing is a journey, not just a job. It’s my passion, and I hope other DJs feel the same.

I’ve seen you’ve been traveling a lot lately—Turkey, Lebanon, Egypt. Where have you been DJing recently?

Yeah, I’ve been all around the Middle East recently, but my visa situation has kept me from traveling too far. Once that’s sorted, I’ll be back to traveling more internationally.

If you could play anywhere in the world right now, where would it be?

That’s a tough one! I think my dream venues would be Circoloco, Hi Ibiza, or Pacha.

Great choices! Lastly, what’s next for you? Any upcoming tours or big projects?

I’ve got some exciting things in the works, but I can’t reveal too much right now. You’ll see soon!

 

Written by: Nicole Little

0%
×