FACES Podcast 04 w/ dj ego
We at 64CREW are aiming to push and promote new djs and producers because we believe the sounds from the future will come from those who are more opened to experiment and not afraid to take any risks.
Aleksandra - a.k.a. DJ Ego - was born in Kraśnik (Poland), moved to Denmark for university, where she discovered her passion for electronic music, and is currently based in Amsterdam. She is a great example of those djs who bring some freshness to the scene and you will notice this in her eclectic mix combining different styles and genres.
DJ Ego is also our first female dj on the podcasts. We would also like to give more space to women in this music scene that has always been dominated by men. Luckily today the scene is turning towards a more equal and plural condition and we want to be part of that change by giving same chances to everybody, so feel free to contact us and send your mixes to records@64crew.com
Get to know a little more about her in this interview and go hit play right away!
When did electronic music come to you for the first time?
It was when I moved to Denmark for university. Denmark was a huge changing point in my life. There I met a lot djs and I was introduced to many people into the old school electronic music scene. I started discovering a completely new world which was really addictive... It felt like opening my soul you know, it made me feel something I never felt before, because music can do that, music can open you to some extent, do something to you, and if you discover the right music it can really change something in your structure.
I was living in this community of students where everybody was from a different place and they were bringing different types of electronic music, so I discovered all at once.
And what was the relationship you had with music in Poland? What kind of music did you listened there?
My relationship with music comes from a young age, I started taking piano lessons when I was 10 and also did four years of music education when I was in high-school.
However, the most popular music in my area was disco-polo, the classic soundtrack for all weddings haha (and if you don’t know what disco-polo is check THIS). And to be honest I’m a bit ashamed of this music, so I used to listen old school rock, mainly influenced by my dad and my old brother. Bands like Metallica, The Doors, and specially Radiohead were in my mp3 back then.
But if I wouldn’t start living abroad I wouldn’t have discovered electronic music, and I wouldn’t be in this position right now.
How would you describe your childhood in Krasnik?
Very busy. I had a lot of extra education. But I was always a dreamer, walking on the ground but at the same time being completely out of the space... imagination is unfortunately decreasing with age haha
During the nights I mostly spent the time playing videogames, during my teen years I used to play World of Warcraft a lot. I even made some friends which I still keep in touch with.
When did you start getting interested into DJing?
Well, over the last years I’ve been building my own music collection, but at some point I felt I wanted to do something else than this. Also on the production side. I was missing the vibe I had around in Denmark. So I got my first DJ equipment at the beginning of the pandemic and started playing at home. Sometimes we would organise some little gatherings at my place and I used that time to play in front of people.
How was your learning process? Where did you start?
I got some tips from my roommates and people who came home but I’m a self learner actually. It’s been a year now and I feel pretty confident, and I’m also starting my journey into music production.
And when did you decided to use “Ego” as a name for your music aspirations??
It came to me one day... Sometimes you have periods of time when there is certain word repeating in your head. That’s something people don’t realise, people don’t talk about it, but yeah in this case... Ego made me do it.
I also use my name to bring awareness about this topic, because sometimes the ego is attached to some negative aspects of life, when it shouldn’t. Your ego is simply everything that you are, on your conscious and subconscious level, and you wouldn’t exist without your ego, there would be no way that you’d be here right now, there would be no one to talk with. So I just wanted to let it opened for discussion and talk about it. And it’s really easy to memorise too.
We saw you also have connection with some organization called ‘Friends With Benefits’. What is actually FWB?
Yes! We’re now renting a space there for my current business project, but it’s actually an art gallery located in the south of Amsterdam. A really cool place where art, design and music of artists from all over the world are presented. It comes all together at this place, there’s a lot of ideas exchange, and they put the focus on taking care of our environment.
Here's their website.
Let’s talk about the podcast you prepared for us. What can you say about it?
That is funky, very diverse. If you listen to it there are a lot of different styles combined. Electronic music with hiphop, minimal techno, breaks... I put some of the tracks and artists I love the most. So there’s a piece of my soul in it.
Just to finish with this questions, is there anything that you listened recently you would also recommend us to check?
Yes! This new set from Dwig, who is part of Giegling, one of the collectives I discovered when I was in Denmark. Definitely something worth recommending specially if you want to chill at home, is like the middle of the week and you don’t necessarily feel like partying. It’s a nice set for a working environment or just to listen in peace, I find it very amazing.
Some motivation words from DJ Ego:
Push yourself everyday, challenge yourself and don’t stay always in the same place, try new things and if something goes wrong it’s okay, don’t give up!
Tracklist
LSD - Eat Me
Aphex Twin - Piano Tuners
Volruptus - Dreamscape3000
Volruptus - Chicxulub Space Rock
Avtomat - Nieludzie
VTSS - Sober Raving
B2 - Retrovision
Millimetric - Action Body
Dropplereffekt - Pornoactress
Quadrophonia - Quadrophonia
Maurizio- Ploy Mix
Cybotron - FRANKIE BONES TURNTABLE SCRATCH MIX Incident Prism - Gang Bounce
Special Request - Brainstorm
Kashpitzky - Different Aspects
Prince of Denmark - Neoclassicdub
DJE & DJM - Keep it Gangsta
J. Wiltshire - Existential Energy