Avi Sic - Behind the decks
Interview
Today, we’re joined by the Producer and DJ Avi Sic for an exclusive interview in which we dive into her career behind the decks, looking at some of her favourite moments from 2024 so far and looking ahead at the stages she looks forward to gracing this year. From delving into DJing trends to her approach when it comes to constructing her high-energy sets, Avi Sic shares her perspective on live performance within the Electronic Music realm and reveals her thoughts on the ever-changing landscape of the genre. Having been gaining a reputation as a sought-after act on the circuit, taking to decks to support top-tier names, Avi Sic is rapidly garnering attention, cementing herself as a force to be reckoned with on the Electronic Music scene.
Hi, Avi Sic! How’s it going?
Great, thanks for having me.
Tell us about your gigs of 2024 so far, do you have any favourite performances?
So many! To kick off the summer I played a sold-out stadium of 18k people in Denver Colorado with the Women's National Team (U.S Soccer) as their in-game DJ. That was incredible. I also got to play the largest venue in my Chicago this year - Radius. Yellow Claw and Flosstradamus chose me to open for them in a contest so that was an unreal experience. Did a support show for Nostalgix. Played with Walker & Royce for the official Lollapalooza afterparty. And played the mainstage closing set at Pride Fest Chicago on my birthday - that was massive. This past weekend I did a set at North Coast Music Festival in the Chill Dome which had more lasers than I'd ever seen haha. So, yeah absolutely a bunch of favorites this year. They keep coming!
Have you implemented any new techniques when it comes to your DJing approach this year?
I switched from playing on Serato to flash drives during the Covid era. I'm now feeling 100% comfortable and confident on the CDJS themselves and learned a lot of tricks and features on the hardware itself as opposed to how I used to DJ on the DAW. I love the freedom that has come with trashing the computer. It’s been very freeing and I'm able to put more focus in the moment into my live sets without the distraction of a computer and really utilize everything.
When you're putting together a new DJ mix, what's your process like? How do you decide which tracks are appropriate for certain events and venues?
When I'm putting a mix together, I drop a bunch of tracks that I know I want to use into a folder and then go from there. I’ll get ideas like acapella word play, transitions, etc., and then add new stuff accordingly while I'm creating the mix. For events and venues, it's the same process. I make a new folder with a bunch of songs that will be fitting to the gig. My USB is organized very well so I can move around easily folder to folder - and change things up when needed. I look to my audience to guide me. I never play anything in order or the same set twice. I’m an open format DJ. We basically just go in and see what happens and keep it fresh every time.
Have you noticed a change in crowd reception from your performances last year? Are there any genres that you are more inclined to play in order to get the crowd hyped?
It’s ever evolving as certain genres gain popularity. Tech House usually never fails even if it’s a commercial crowd - but people are responding to harder and deeper stuff too lately. Many remixes in these genres work well regardless of the crowd. I’m also seeing a comeback of the 2010 early EDM which is now considered throwbacks. Personally, I love Bass House music with catchy lyrics.
What pieces of equipment do you use for your DJing sets? Have you added any new gear this year?
CDJ 3000’s and the older DJM900NX2 is my preference. Of course, depending on the venue, equipment varies so I have taught myself to use all the equipment on the market so there’s never a surprise. I also really like the 2 channel Rane mixers. They are fun and every transition sounds like butter.
Do you have any upcoming releases that you are excited about?
Definitely!! Just dropped a new song called Feel Alive on Tiger Records. It’s very vibey. Kind of a cross between Deep House and Bass House. Melodic vocals mixed with evolving bass lines. It's a collaboration with my guy Costel Van Dein. After this, I have a solo release with Tiger Records called ‘Get Up & Listen’ which is very Chris Lake Influenced. High energy. And I’ll be releasing for my first time with Revealed Records later in the year so keep an ear out for that also.
Have Any trends in live DJing captured your attention? And do you plan to integrate these into your performances?
Trends as in technical tricks always catch my attention but trends as in genres that are popular don’t really do much for me. Since I'm already capable of the open-format style, I don’t hyper focus on what's popular at the moment. I like to just play all kinds of tracks that speak to me at the moment and in the moment. But stylistic trends like looping and acapella sampling has always been a mainstay in my DJ sets. These are things most open format DJ’s have been doing forever but now it is getting attention thanks to guys like James Hype.
How would you say your DJ approach has evolved as you’ve gained more live performance experience?
It’s always evolving. I mean there is no comparison if you look at my first live venue gigs like 20 years ago to now. Musical knowledge has only expanded, and my technical capability is lightyears ahead. I do my best not to get stuck in redundancy since I’ve been a DJ for so long. That mindset keeps things moving forward and the energy high. I would be bored out of my mind if I didn’t take huge chances every night.
Looking ahead, how do you see the culture of live performance within Electronic Music evolving? Do you have any predictions when it comes to the appearance of new sounds or technologies?
We live in a time where the performing part of DJing is front and center. People want to visually see things that keep their attention and wow them. Playing with FX, doing DJ tricks, finger drumming and more. These are all things that you can record and share on social media in a 15 second clip and acquire a fan base for. As new technology comes into play this will only increase. The DJ has to be thinking of not only what it sounds like but also what it looks like. With AI fastly improving there will be some crazy stuff coming out soon that’s for sure. Personally, I hope Rekordbox can adapt STEMS for the CDJS - that would be a game changer for live performance DJ’s at festivals, etc.
We conclude our interview with Avi Sic by thanking her for taking the time to share her view on the DJing climate within Electronic Music today. Having teased fans with details of her upcoming releases, we’re eagerly looking forward to following Avi Sic along as she carries on lighting up stages throughout the year, building her performance collection with more and more memorable nights of music. So, make sure to keep up to date with Avi Sic by following her across social media, as the next chapter of her musical journey promises to be just as thrilling as the last.
Avi Sic Online
