#1 - Laura Hasagun
1. What feeling do you want people to take away from your sets?
This is an entertainment business, so ultimately you want people to enjoy themselves, to completely let go of daily problems and immerse themselves in whatever you are selling. I try not to take myself so seriously - I’m a DJ, not a doctor.
That being said, some nights just feel like therapy, and that’s what I try to aim for - I hope to provide a fun, bonding time with your people on that dancefloor. Where you listen to something fresh, daring, and, if I’m lucky, inspiring. Our lives are already so serious and stressful, we don’t need to complicate what should only be light and pleasurable.
2. What are the biggest challenges you face as a DJ?
I think social media really impacted the way I felt about music, negatively. - Don’t get me wrong, it is a great medium to expose yourself to the world and to meet fellow artists or music aficcionates; But ultimately, it turned my passion for music into pressure to succeed, and to me, worrying too much about the end goal is the killer of inspiration. I don’t believe humans are made to be in contact with everyone’s business, specifically, the achievements we choose to share 24/7. No matter how good you’re doing, it feels like a shortcoming when you are comparing yourself with what half of the world decides to show you. I think each of us needs to make peace with this reality in whichever way fits us best. Still, for me, it’s gonna come down, stepping back from this digital dystopia, allowing me to reconnect with the real reason I started all this - art is ultimately what really matters.
3. How does intuition shape your track selection in the moment?
Intuition is the main basis for the way I choose to express myself musically. When I started playing, I thought the quality of my sets depended on how much I prepared for them - I would spend hours and hours curating my tracklists, which made me feel safe when stepping into the booth. I quickly realised that no matter how good your tracklist is, you’re only as good as your capability to adapt; I work with emotions, feeling, the beauty of sporadic moments, and intuition allows me to create and curate unique experiences that wouldn't be born otherwise.
Sometimes it can be messy and wrong, but sometimes it’s also great; it’s not perfection, but it's me. Following my gut with risky tracks is what shaped the highlights of my career, the moments that stay with you.
