Name: Brina Knauss
Occupation: DJ, producer
Nationality: Slovenian  
Recent release & event: Brina Knauss's WE KNOW EP is out via EMPATH. She is about to perform at BEONIX festival which takes place September 22nd-24th 2023 on Cyprus. For more information and tickets, go here.

If you enjoyed this Brina Knauss interview and would like to stay up to date with her music and current live dates, visit her on Instagram, Facebook, and Soundcloud.



What made it appealing to you to DJ yourself? What was it that you wanted to express and what did you feel? What did you have to add artistically?

It's about sharing musical empathy, creating emotional vibes that resonate deeply.

Which other DJs were important for your development and what did you learn from them?

Luciano, Damian Lazarus, Solomun, Tale of Us - these artists illuminated professionalism and a sincere dedication to the craft, inspiring my own artistic journey.

[Read our Damian Lazarus interview]
[Read our Tale of Us interview]

What does a great DJ add to the clubbing experience?

For me, it's simple; it's all about the emotions and the vibes.

Do you think that DJing creates a new form that can take on the qualities of a composition in its own right? Is this something you strive for?

DJing is akin to a distinct form of composition. It involves selecting and arranging tracks to craft a seamless and emotive musical journey, expressing my artistic vision and emotions through the flow of energy.

While not traditional composition, it allows me to create unique sonic stories that leave a lasting impact on the audience.

When digging for music to play at your sets, what do you listen for?

I always make sure I listen to a lot of promos, constantly exploring different categories.

How would you describe the experience of DJing, physically and mentally? Do you listen – and DJ - with your eyes open or closed?

I always listen and play with my eyes open.

The constant travel and growing gig schedule can be incredibly taxing physically and mentally. You have to check on yourself and know when to take a break; otherwise, you can burn out.

I personally suffer from this through back pain, so I make sure to visit the osteopath regularly.

How does the decision making process work during a gig with regards to the inclusion of key records, the next transition and where you want the set to go? How far do you tend to plan ahead during a set?

I am not a planner ... for me, it's all about feeling the vibe and creating a musical bond with the audience, which naturally guides my set's direction.

When you're DJing, does it actually feel like you're inventing something on the spot – or are you inventively re-arranging patterns from preparations, practise or previous performances?

I love the improvisation and experimentation.

I adapt my gigs to each venue and audience. I experiment with the first few tracks to understand the vibe and then decide which DJ set to do.

Describe how the presence of audiences/dancers influences your mixing. How do you engage with them?

As mentioned earlier, I experiment with initial tracks, gauging the crowd's reactions to form a connection. This connection informs whether I lean towards a more intense or softer set while maintaining my signature style.

Online DJ mixes, created in the studio as a solitary event, have become ubiquitous. From your experience with the format, how does the experience and the way you DJ when you subtract the audience?

Yes, for sure. You need the audience to have that crowd energy.

I focus on creating a mood that I've envisioned for the set.

Technology has continually taken on more steps of DJing, producing and other "creative" tasks. From your point of view, where does "technology" end and "creativity" begin? Especially in the light of advances in AI, where do you see the role of humans in DJing versus that of technology?

Honestly, I really have no idea, but let's see what the future will bring us.

Collaboration is a key part of almost every aspect of music making, but it is still rare in DJing. Do you have an idea why this is? Tell me about your own views on back-to-back DJing, interactions with live musicians or other forms of turning DJing into a more collective process?

I've been lucky to collaborate throughout my career because people saw my journey and the direction it took me to get here.

Yes, back-to-back can be so great and a lot of fun. But they work best when DJs share a deep musical connection.

DJing requires empathy, focus, time management, patience, and vision, among others. Are you finding that the way you play influences your life and vice versa?

Personally for me, yes, how I DJ is also how I choose to express myself and a reflection of my outlook on life. I prioritise emotions and vibes in my sets and my life.

Do you feel as though DJIng is inherently different from something like making a great cup of coffee? What do you express through music that you couldn't or wouldn't in more 'mundane' tasks?

For me, the key difference is the level of responsibility ... The party depends on me, my music and my DJ set.

Making a bad cup of coffee might mean guests won't drink it ... and you're disappointed for a bit. But if I play the wrong music, I risk disappointing the audience and myself, destroying a great moment ... not only for the people but for me too.

Let's imagine you lost all your music for one night and all there is left at the venue is a crate of records containing a random selection of music. How would you approach this set?

I first check if at least 20-30 tracks match my style and then judge if I'd take the risk to play or not.