EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW
In a world where electronic beats are not just heard but felt, SYREETA stands as a beacon of authenticity, fearlessness, and inclusivity. A magnetic force on the decks, her story is as rhythmic as her
tion and groove a testament to her journey.
From the hollow silence of lockdown livestreams to the pulsing crowds of the world’s most reve- red stages, SYREETA has risen as a paragon of what it means to be a true artist in today’s dynamic dance music scene. As a resident DJ for the inclusive and genre-defying collective
HE.SHE.THEY., SYREETA has not just witnes- sed the evolution of dance music but has been an active participant in steering its course.
Today, she sits down with us to share the music adventure of her life, her career crescendos, and her vision for a dance floor without boundaries.
The words “authentic”, “fearless”, and “inclusive” define you. Can you share a pivotal moment in your career that truly embodied these traits?
“During the lockdowns of 2020,
ted to do livestreams for Mixmag, DJ Mag, LWE, amongst others, a live stream without an audience is going to test you, you will either run and hide or step into your power, I decided the latter….. Being authentic, means always owning who you are, you have to be fearless to do that, and being inclusive, well I’m a Black, Queer, Female so right out of the gate I’m bringing everyone on this journey with me….”
As a
HE.SHE.THEY. dance music scene?
environment and ethos of this residency influenced your your
understanding of inclusivity in the
resident, how has the approach to music and
““Be the change you wish to see in the world”, your line ups reflect your dance floor, being a
HE.SHE.THEY resident means no matter what, I know I will be playing with my black peers, my queer family, there will be females on the line up, it also means the dance floor
diverse and that is so important for me, I play everything from House to Techno, and playing for
HE.SHE.THEY has been a driving force behind having that varied style in my sound.”
is
Your knack for reading a crowd is highlighted. What goes on in your mind when you’re on the decks and sensing the energy of the room?
“I always like to get to my sets a little early, I’ll head to the dance floor and get a vibe, once I’m on the decks I then feel confident I know what’s going on on the dance floor, it might be an after party and they are flagging, I’ll know some funky vocals will lift the energy, it could be that we need to get a little deeper
ultimately I put myself in their shoes, what would I want to hear at this part of the dance or night. “
and roll out some big baselines, I was invi- sets—each transi- Your
melodic grooves. How did you land on this particular blend as your
sets combine chunky basslines with signature sound?
“My early influences range from hip hop to reggae, rare grooves and garage, all of which have the same influences of chunky bass lines & grooves. I come from Jamaican heritage and everything I play has feeling and emotion, whether it’s a track with lyrics with attitude or it has tons of percussion, it’s going to make you feel something.”
With so many notable appearances on BBC Radio 1, XTRA, and Mixmag among others, how do you ensure that each mix or stream offers something fresh and unique to your listeners?
“These are teasers for what it’s like to see me live. When you listen to my sets,
for you to get to know me personally. Each time you’ll get something a little different, and then you can put the pieces together.”
How do the vibes differ when playing at iconic parties like Elrow and Circo Loco compared to festivals like Creamfields and Lost Village?
“Both are super special and fun but in different ways, in a club setting is where you will really see me in my element, as I LOVE to connect with people,
experience of a dark sweaty club where we can go on a deeper
exploration and everyone loses their inhibitions. For a festival set, I love the fun and silliness and variety that comes with festivals, sometimes you can feel a little disconnected to the crowd as they are so far away, but when you build the energy and get the momentum there’s really something so special about it, I had an incredible set at Lost Village this summer, the stage was low so almost eye level with the dance floor and it
and DJ booth became one.” felt like the dance floor
You’ve shared the stage with many of dance music’s icons. Are there any particular moments or learnings from these experiences that stand out to you?
“I feel really fortunate to have shared the stage with some of my all-time heroes, I think when it comes down to it, knowing we are all here doing the same thing,
better days, make mistakes, no one is perfect….. What makes me really happy though is when meeting them, they are just as nice as I imagined, I think I’m a good judge of character.”
Your debut at Coachella marked a significant milestone in your career. Can you describe the emotions and thoughts leading up to and during that performance?
“I mean imagine your debut US gig is at Coachella, I had a mass amount of excited energy. I played the Doolab, it’s a very niche
mixmagnl.com 17 all humans, all have
I like the intimate journey of sound and
it’s a way
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