Alongside her remarkable contribution to the series, we sat down with Bastienne who shared her thoughts about her career, inspirations & aspirations!
- Hi Bastienne, we are glad to host you on Paradox. Can you introduce yourself to our readers?
Hi! I’m Bastienne, a DJ from Amsterdam who has been active in the techno scene for several years now. My journey into music started by organizing underground rave parties, where I discovered my passion for DJing and developed a deep connection to the power and intensity of the genre. DJing has since evolved into a journey of exploration for me, where I am constantly discovering new influences, experimenting with different sounds, and pushing the boundaries of my creativity.
- What have brought you to the Techno world?
It wasn’t until I experienced techno in a club setting that I truly came to appreciate the genre. Techno holds a tremendous amount of emotion, it’s raw, and I found there’s an introspective quality to it when experienced in a club setting. I vividly remember hearing DVS1 for the first time at De School; before that, I hadn’t been particularly impressed by techno. It turned out I hadn’t yet heard the right kind of techno or been in the right environment. The club was pitch dark and filled with smoke, creating an immersive experience where I could lose myself completely in the music. Techno sparked emotions in me in a way similar to how looking at art might do. Now, I strive to give my audience a similar experience, hoping to create an atmosphere where they can fully immerse themselves and feel the profound emotions that techno can evoke under the right conditions.
- How would you describe your current musical universe?
My current musical universe is a dynamic blend of deep, hypnotic techno with raw, emotive elements. I draw inspiration from a variety of sources, including my own experiences in underground clubs and the diverse range of music I’ve explored over the years. I’m constantly experimenting with new sounds and influences, pushing the boundaries of my creativity while staying true to the core emotional and introspective qualities of techno. The evolution of my musical style reflects a journey of discovery, where each set is an opportunity to explore new facets of the genre.
Amsterdam is for sure a must visit spot in the Techno circuit. Any special venues you would recommend there?
Currently, I feel a strong connection with BRET, where I have a residency and co-curate the DAYCARE event series, and Club Raum. Both venues have a unique atmosphere that resonates with my musical style and I feel very free when I play there or go clubbing myself.
- At the end of this month, you will have a special b2b gig with the legend Sterac. Can you tell us a bit more about this collaboration?
Actually, there are two b2b’s with Steve on the planning in the next month. On Sep 28 at Thuishaven and during ADE at 909 Festival. Needless to say I’m incredibly excited about these upcoming b2b’s. He’s an artist I deeply admire for his musical talent, and he’s also a genuinely nice person. We’ve collaborated on a b2b set once before, and it was both a fantastic experience and a thrilling challenge. I especially enjoy exchanging music with someone who shares the same passionate appreciation for the art form. It makes the whole experience even more enjoyable and fulfilling.
- We guess every gig is special, but where was the most exciting connection with the crowd in the last couple of years?
One of the most exciting connections I’ve had with the crowd in recent years was at an IsBurning party for their 10-year celebration last April. I had the honor to close the weekend, which was incredible – I felt like I was able to play exactly how I wanted to, and the audience was fully engaged and open to the experience. The atmosphere was fantastic, and it made the whole performance truly memorable.
- Do you think that there is a positive evolution in female artist’s visibility in the techno scene?
Yes, I do believe there is a positive evolution underway regarding the visibility of female artists in the techno scene. However, I recognize that there is still a lot of progress to be made. This issue extends beyond just the visibility of female artists on stage; it also includes the representation behind the scenes and the differences in (financial) recognition, respect, and appreciation compared to their male counterparts.
It’s good to see a lot of venues and events that make conscious efforts to advance and improve our scene in this regard. Yet, I am aware that I tend to go clubbing in a progressive bubble, so to speak. In my bubble, it feels like we are making significant progress, while outside of these progressive spaces, the percentage of women on stage or in other roles can still be as low as 0%.
- What new artists/labels would you recommend to check out at the moment?
I’m a big fan of Ignez’s Somov label, and I also love keeping track of Troy’s work. Lesser-known but equally impressive are Alec Dienaar, Alex Ranzino, audt98, and Genex. I’m always excited to receive promos from them and follow their progress from up close as they are my friends. It’s really rewarding to see their growth and development as artists.
- As a DJ, you must come across loads of promos. What do you think about the current production in the techno circuits? Is there enough sense of creativity or innovation according to you?
The fact that I still go through promos and new stuff with enthusiasm shows that there are definitely great things to be found out there, although it can sometimes get lost amidst the sheer volume of releases. It’s clear that the accessibility of music production tools has opened the door for more people to create and share their work and while this democratization is amazing, it can also lead to a sense of oversaturation in the scene, where not everything stands out as unique.
That being said, I believe there are many producers who are pushing the boundaries of the genre and finding new ways to experiment within techno. The creativity is definitely there, but the challenge now is to sift through the abundance of tracks and find those that are truly innovative and resonate emotionally or intellectually.
- How did you record the podcast for Paradox ? Can you pick a record from the mix and tell us why you like it or how you found it ?
To be honest, recording a set at home gives me a lot of stress and feels like a struggle sometimes. I’m a perfectionist and I get so lost in trying to make the selection perfect, that as a result it sometimes loses authenticity. Like many times before I got stuck preparing for this recording as well, so I took a break from process and just played tunes I really like at this moment, for myself, while cooking dinner. That did the trick actually and I recorded the mix with those tracks the next day.
“The Hacker – Other Voices”. I don’t remember how I found this one actually, but I’ve been playing it in most of my Techno sets lately and House sets also for that matter. It’s these kind of tracks that get me wild when hearing them for the first time, like an epic story is being told. The track is not that straight forward and with a long break, so it really opens up a set when I play it and creates a nice moment towards the end I think.
- What are the European clubs or party concepts that you would like to perform at?
I’ve had the pleasure of going to Berghain in Berlin a couple of times now as a visitor, and it is, of course, one of those iconic venues where the atmosphere and connection between the DJ and the crowd are on a different level. It would be a dream to experience that from on the other side of the booth.
Ultimately, though, it’s not about the prestige of a venue—it’s about the shared experience and energy between the DJ and the crowd that makes a night special. That can happen in the most unexpected places sometimes, so I’ll just take it as it comes.
- What can we expect from you in the future?
In the future, I plan to keep pushing my boundaries both in terms of DJing and music production. I’ve recently started producing my own music, which has opened up a whole new creative avenue for me. This is just the beginning, and I’m excited to continue developing and growing as an artist.
Thanks a lot Bastienne, we hope to see you very soon somewhere, keep the good vibe on!
Love and respect