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Through an acquaintance, I got to know the Croatian DJ/producer Insolate, who has been making her mark in the electronic music scene for several years. In 2018 Sunčica, now better known as Insolate, reflected on her debut performance. About her first gig, she said, "I'm still thrilled that I got to contribute to the history of electronic music in Osijek......"
“My first significant performance was in my hometown Osijek (Croatia) at Club Oxygene. It was in 1998, and I was seventeen. It was the first club in my region dedicated to electronic music, organizing house and techno events weekly. I’m still super happy that I got to be part of the history of electronic music in Osijek.”
In a blur
“Before the performance, I was super nervous. It was so bad that I can’t even remember a large part of the set. All nerves, making my set pass in a blur. I experienced the same thing once more when I stood for the first time in Berlin’s Berghain two years later.”
Older party people
“The audience consisted mainly of older party people, especially from my perspective. After all, I was still very young.” (laughs) “I started early in the evening, so I began with a practically empty dance floor. By the end of the set, the club was almost full! That was quite intense.”
Uncertain
“I had thoroughly prepared the set at home because I was still quite unsure about my own abilities. Also, I hadn’t collected a lot of vinyl yet, so I couldn’t work very diversely. It’s funny to look back on because nowadays, I don’t prepare any set anymore, at most the beginning and/or the end. The rest is pure improvisation. I love reaching interesting musical heights together with the crowd.”
Role models
“Fortunately, I received a lot of support that night, including from my then-boyfriend, my friends, and other partygoers. But also fellow DJs who were my role models and people I looked up to were there that night. Usually, I observed their mixing techniques and then tried to imitate them. In fact, I learned to mix by watching them. No one ever actively taught me. That’s why I’m so happy that I got the chance to use their gear and vinyl in the beginning. As a teenager with no money, that helped me tremendously and contributed a lot to where I am now.”
I had no idea
“Afterwards, everyone said that my gig had gone well. I had no idea. I wasn’t happy or disappointed, but above all, in shock! I had to leave immediately after the set and had hardly any time to process everything. One minute I was playing and the next I was racing down the street because I had to be home at a certain time. I know that I have always been meticulous in my mixing technique. That was and is important to me. So, I think I didn’t make any major mistakes at least.”
“What I learned from that first gig is to enjoy the DJing more, relax, and above all, have a lot of fun in what I do!”
This interview with Insolate was originally published in August 2018 on This Is Our House.
Who is Insolate?
Insolate, artist formerly known as Sunčica, is a DJ, producer, label owner and a promoter in business for over 25 years now. Insolate is considered to be one of the best techno artist from Croatia.
Insolate played all over the world in clubs and festivals like Rex, Tresor, Club d’Anvers, ADE, Tomorrowland, Dimensions, Exit Fest, etc. Insolate released dozens of vinyls including most notably a record on DJ Deep’s Deeply Rooted which marked her turning point in career to start performing under the Insolate alias.
In 2015 Insolate launched a successful vinyl label “Out of Place”. As a promoter Insolate introduced a couple of well-respected DJs like DJ Rolando, Francois X, Milton Bradley and DJ Deep to her hometown audience on TRAUM event series in Osijek, Croatia. TRAUM has been recognized from the Dimensions Festival to be a local game changer, leading to the Dimensions Festival Official Launch party in Osijek hosted by TRAUM in 2016.