- Can you tell us about the beginnings of your DJing career?
“I was living in Amsterdam and I went to a club called Doka, in a small basement. Lakuti was playing that night, and it was for the first time that I heard a soulful sound — Funk, Disco, Jazz, Gospel, African music, House music, everything… And I remember I was just dancing with a huge smile on my face, because there was so much soul in that sound,” Irina said.
“Two people were dancing in a corner and, I mean, they were DANCING. I was so inspired because it seemed like they were translating the music with their bodies, and witnessing that made me listen closely and connect to the sound,” she adds. Next thing she knows, she’s at Foundation, a Hip Hop Center in Amsterdam, where these two, aka John Agesilas and Nedda Sou, direct and teach! “Foundation is where I picked up DJing and dance — two very connected crafts rooted in culture.”
That night at Doka was her first experience dancing to such good music within a club-space, but many more followed — and they all fueled her path as a DJ.
- Do you remember your first gig?
Irina’s first gig was not on a stage, it was in the dance studio at Foundation — at one of the Hip Hop jams. She tells us: “It was so spontaneous when John asked me to play that I didn’t have time for second thoughts or emotional responses — I just got my USB and went for it. I remember that dancers were doing rounds and I was behind the decks really enjoying myself. This was a space created by us for us where we could practice our craft and express ourselves.”
- As a DJ, you likely have a deep connection with music. Can you share with us the genres or specific artists that you’re most passionate about?
“I love House. But House is huge, because it’s a culture before it is a genre of music,” Irina says.
She shared some context with us:
„There are so many people involved in House culture — producers, musicians, DJs, dancers, singers, educators, organizers, venue owners, promoters, radio hosts, scholars, journalists, archivists, photographers, videographers (and the list goes on…). House culture has black queer roots, and it started with the generations who lived the social climate of American society in the 70s – 80s.” (Lynnée Denise aka DJ Scholarship talks and writes about this).
„Sound-wise, House music has many shades, so in that sense it’s very eclectic. It can be soulful, deep, acid; there is the sound of Detroit, the sound of New York, the sound of Chicago: it can take you to the sky or deep underwater — I love all of that.”
“But, to be honest, sometimes I just find a song I like and that’s it — I don’t look for more,” she confesses. Her personal experience with House music and dance culture was in Amsterdam, and it happened through Foundation, Summer Dance Forever (one of the biggest dance festivals in the world) and dancing to John and Nedda’s sets in the club: “I interacted with people who either lived this culture, or are connected to other people who did. And that’s why I play the music I play in the style that I do.”
- Mentorship can be crucial in any creative field. Have you had any mentors or role models who have guided you along your journey as a DJ?
Her mentors and role models are Nedda Sou and John Agesilas: “They gave me a platform to DJ and make it a career — and that’s huge,” she adds.
They are both dancers and DJs, so with them she learned that you play music the way you dance. They gave her a lot of knowledge and space to apply it in real life situations, such as playing in a club for a crowd she’s not familiar with, and even messing up.
„Their guidance has impacted my growth as a person and artist because it gave me the confidence to be who I am and to stand for what I believe in.”
- Support from friends can be incredibly valuable when pursuing a career in music. How have your friends supported you along the way?
Her friends support her by showing up to her gigs and dancing to the music she plays: “This actually fulfills my vision for ‘the Sun’ — to create a necessary space on the dancefloor, together.”
With that she means, when she plays, her friends are dancing; when one of their DJ friends plays, the rest of them are getting down in that club.
- Reflecting on your journey so far, how do you perceive your evolution as a DJ?
Irina thinks she managed to grow really fast within two years, because she had a community that pushed her, plus the privilege of access to all the resources she needed to learn. And, when she looks back, she recognises that she’s worked through ups and downs — and she’s still at it today.
„One of my milestones was winning the Djoon X Traxsource DJ competition, and playing at the Djoon Experience in Paris. Djoon is one of the dopest clubs in Europe, where you will find a soulful sound and a big community of music lovers.”
- Lastly, what advice would you offer to other women who aspire to become DJs or pursue careers in the music industry?
Irina’s advice is “to not get fooled by the industry’s crave for diversity. Some people might want to book you because they’re looking for more women, but that shouldn’t distract your focus from being good at what you do.” So, for that she would say: “get yourself used to listening closely to music, love the music you play (because it will show), and invest in traveling to experience different club scenes.”
Links:
https://www.summerdanceforever.com | https://foundation.nl/
Her latest mix, part of the WOODEN FLOOR series:
The Sun on SoundCloud: https://on.soundcloud.com/ADQEK8FARxRUBFfc7
The Sun @ Djoon: https://youtu.be/ob3OhqZs3Rw?si=_AUYnj-U8RVkT98q
The Sun for Djoon Radio: https://youtu.be/z9YJy8wP9zI?si=d2m20TQj0zw2sPkM
Bookings: marius.thesundjs@gmail.com
Instagram: @thesundjs
