1. Thank you very much for your time! Before we introduce your new release to our readers – what kind of drink would you recommend to zip on while they listen to your new music?
Thank you so much for having me! And what a great question! Actually, I think I’d recommend sipping on a classic Old Fashioned while enjoying my new track «Betrayal». The rich, layered flavors of this timeless cocktail echo the emotional depth and complexity of the track, making it the perfect companion for this musical journey. As we say in Sámi: Maistte (cheers)!
2. Please give us an update about – new single, new album, tour dates, new videos?!
Its been a busy year for me, with a lot of different projects! But lets start with the new single. It’s a track I started over a year ago, while studying electronic music production at Catalyst in Berlin. I remember when the melody suddenly came to me during a train trip, and I knew that I was on to something. But the first versions of the track was quite messy in terms of sound design. So I let it rest for several months, before completing it this spring. During that time, I also wrote some lyrics and got a music-connection of mine to sing it (since I’m not much of a singer myself). The lyrics is inspired by the feelings of betrayal, and supplements the hypnotic feeling of the track quite well. Speaking of future releases – this track is a part of a full club EP! So I’m excited to show the rest I’m working on. I got a more chill house-track coming up in August, so stay tuned for that as well.
Tour-wise, I have a few cool gigs coming up. I’m playing my first main stage gig in Finland in august (its not announced yet so cant tell to much about it still). But it’s a nice and cozy festival with an indigenous profile. Last weekend I had a cool gig in Tartu, Estonia and this fall I have a cool gig coming up in Berlin. I also have some smaller stuff happening during weekends. Things are note taking completely off still, but I have a nice flow of cool things happening, which makes me very happy! I’m considering doing a new music video for one of my tracks from the EP, after the success of «Techno Áhčči», which was a music video featuring ‘joik’ (a traditional way of singing of the Sami people) from my father – and this is a video you can see here btw: https://technoahcci.com/
3. We live in times of many conspiracy theories. Which, harmless, theory would you wish were true? (For example Dinos living inside Earth or E.T. living in a home in California)
That’s a good question. I think I’d go with the idea of dolphins being secretly connected to extraterrestrials. Just envision this playful animals having some sort of direct line to E.T! It it would add an extra layer of wonder to our oceans and make every beach trip feel like a potential intergalactic encounter! The ocean itself is a place of mystery, so this theory really blends well with the vastness of space I think.
4. What fashion style or brand would best describe your music?
Hmm, I think I have to give a shout-out to my sister on this question, which created the Sámi urban streetwear brand «MII LEAT». Like my music, she combines traditional and new. Her brand has a style that reflects the emotional depth and rhythmic intensity of my music while staying grounded in contemporary trends.
5. Tell us more about your songs! Topics! Message!?
Oh, there’s so much to tell! My background is Sámi, the traditionally Sámi-speaking Indigenous peoples inhabiting the region of Sápmi – which today encompasses large northern parts of Norway, Sweden, Finland, and of the Kola Peninsula in Russia. I have for a long time combined traditional elements from my culture with modern «beats» to create something new. Like with Techno Áhčči music video, which I mentioned above, where Sámi clothing and handicrafts got combined with a Berlin techno scene to create something Sápmi has not seen before (or Berlin, for that instance). My earlier work is also a message of resilience. More recently, I’ve started my journey into something new with this upcoming EP! Here, I move beyond what I’ve done earlier to tell stories connected to my feelings, experiences and travels as well.
6. Beside music, do you have any special talents?
I actually am a professional rock, paper, scissors athlete as well! No joking – I have a top 32 from the World Championships, two gold medals and one silver. Currently, I’m the reigning Norwegian champion, which got me on the front of the local newspaper. I also make really good waffles!
7. Name 5 things we all should know about you as an artist?!
- Sámi Heritage: Much of my music is influenced by my Sámi cultural roots.
- Nature samples: Much of the sound design in my tracks are made out of my own field recordings from Sápmi which I process in the studio, and which gives my tracks an organic feel sound-design wise.
- DJing: I love to contribute to a good vibe with my DJ-sets which often are leaning towards house and disco. I usually dance myself till sweat is dripping! As a friend said to me once; don’t trust a DJ who don’t dance.
- I love to experiment: Experimentation is key. I love to twist buttons on synthesizers without reading manuals, to see what happens.
- Visual Art: Visual elements are key to my music, enhancing the narrative and emotional impact.
8. How did you learn to sing/ to write/ to play??
It was a journey for sure. I started DJing back in the days, and always saw music production as something uncacheable. But at some point I thought – “if they can do it, why can’t I?”. So I started a bunch of online courses in Ableton. Still, I never saw myself as skilled enough to be able to create something without guidance from tutorials and stuff on YouTube – so I finally decided to leave my job as a journalist and work full time with the music. I moved to Berlin to study electronic music, and the music I’m releasing these days are a result of that! Now I make music purely as a consequence of being creative in the studio. So I guess perseverance is the word! It was never an option for me to give up music though, and I still have so much I want to make – and tell, through music!
9. A question you’d like to answer, but never been asked in an interview before?! + Answer pls
Question: If your music were a place, what would it be like?
Answer: If my music were a place, I think it would be a hidden beach at sunset. Envision a shoreline with waves gently lapping against the sand, a bonfire crackling in the background, and vibrant colors painting the sky. This place would capturing the essence of my tracks!
Your Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dj_idja/
Photo: © Tina Dubrovsky