EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW
In the dynamic scene of electronic music, it’s rare to find an artist who truly captures the global imagination while remaining deeply rooted in the essence of their hometown. Elif is one such artist. Rising from Istanbul’s vibrant energy to the forefront of the dance music scene, she has crafted a style that is a tes- tament to her cultural legacy. With a na- rrative interwoven with the threads of her city’s rich artistic tapestry, Elif sits down with us to delve into the influences that have shaped her
that has brought her international acclaim.
“After that, he supported me big time, releasing my first EP on his sub-label. I feel like deciding to do live streams from my house during the lockdowns was also definitely a pivotal moment. I caught the attention of Blondish and streamed for her
attention of Damian Lazarus, and the list goes on. So it’s not one pivotal moment but lots of moments weaved together that pave the way. I’m grateful for all my support and everyone who believed in me!”
sound and the journey
Elif, you’ve emerged from the vibrant city of Istanbul and have quickly captured the attention of the global dance-music com- munity. How has your hometown influenced your musical style and production attitude?
“Looking back, I feel like I grew up in the gol- den age of Istanbul. When I was in high school and college, Istanbul had a very vibrant and rich cultural life. Many independent bands perfor- med at cool venues like Babylon & Salon IKSV, and clubs like Indigo and Suma Beach hosted the best underground electronic music. They also had big festivals. I was lucky to grow up in this culturally vibrant environment and have countless musical inspirations across genres.”
With such a rich tapestry of international releases, how do you maintain your unique sonic
with different musical directions, like Stil vor Talent and Anjunadeep?
“Honestly, I don’t think I ‘cater’ to different labels. I think my sound evolves with time and gets the attention of different labels at different times. I don’t do anything to maintain a sonic identity other than trying to produce what I like at that time.”
Your rise since 2019 has been remarkable. Can you share a pivotal moment early in your career that you believe was instrumental to your success?
“Thank you so much. There are many of those pivotal moments, I believe. Being in the right place at the right time and meeting the right people always helps, even though it’s not the only ingredient for success.”
“I remember meeting Shishi, who then started booking me to her amazing parties, giving me a chance and showing trust. In 2018, after playing The Gardens
I received an e-mail from Anjunadeep asking me for a Deep Edition. I remember checking the mail address after @ to make sure it wasn’t someone making fun of me:) Later that year, I met Oliver Koletzki at The Flying Circus party at Off Sonar. “
of Babylon Festival, identity while catering to labels
Being based in Barcelona, a city with its own distinct musical culture, how has this environment contributed to your evolution as an artist since leaving Istanbul?
“Barcelona’s
how easy my life has become after moving there. The peace of mind. Easy airport, a tiny city compared to Istanbul. Good weather, good vibes. I also have artist friends in town with whom I collaborate and share.”
You’re known for stirring energy on the dance floor with your “flowing melodic floor fillers.” Can you take us through your creative process when crafting a track intended to create such a powerful connection with your audience?
“My creative process is somewhat chaotic, and I have a lot of happy accidents in my music. Unfortunately, because of my touring schedule, I’m still not as fluent as I wished to be while creating, as I can not spend many necessary hours in front of my DAW as much as I want to. DJ’ing and producing helps make more dance floor-oriented music. But I feel like I still have this gap between my musical
and my ability as a producer. A gap I’ve been working on closing nonstop. I intend to balance my time in the studio and touring this year.”
Performing at prestigious festivals and events around the world must be exhilarating. How do you prepare for these performances, and what do you aim to communicate through your sets?
“Yes. Even though some aspects of our job are demanding and challenging, I am grateful daily
I don’t really prepare for a specific event anymore; I used to when I first started. Now, As I play every weekend, I am kind of always prepared :) My preparation consists of listening to demos and promos, downloading and sorting these tracks with certain elements and moods to help me choose the right track at the right moment. If I’m playing a show at a rather
different set time, I do make an extra playlist with some tracks that I might want to play on this occasion specifically, but even without this, I have my system ready to play anytime anywhere.” :)
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mixmagnl.com for this exhilarating experience. taste biggest contribution to me is regularly, where I saw the
different venue or
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