It’s album time for Nadia Struiwigh. Her LP IKIGAI is set to see the light of day on Friday, so the Dutch artist recorded a mix for our podcast series that not only showcases the album but opens up a window to nothing short of her artistic soul. A gentle, larger than life stream of consciousness that as she puts it, feels like „air and memory at the same time“.
What did you have in mind when recording this mix?
This mix is not really a „DJ set“ to me, more of a selector’s mix a little journey through my imaginary world, as I’m such a floater. I picked a lot of tracks from my album IKIGAI and blended them with music that has been living with me for years. Ambient, 90’s-inspired, dreamy, warm—those sounds that feel like air and memory at the same time. It’s literally the vibe I love most.
IKIGAI is also not just an album. It’s the most personal thing I’ve ever made. It’s dedicated to my dad, and, honestly, it’s part of how I’m still connected to him. Music has always been my language, and this whole project became a place where grief, love, nostalgia, and light can exist together. I love to feel any emotion. When I made IKIGAI, I wasn’t thinking about what should work or what’s trendy. I was building something that feels true. Something that sounds like me. And this mix is exactly that, too. It’s the same world, in a different form. Like opening the door a bit and letting you step into it towards yourself. IKIGAI: A reason for being.
Where did you record it and which setup did you use?
This time I recorded the set in Ableton, in my Berlin cave. I only do that when I want to properly curate something, add effects, or overlap moments in a way that would never naturally happen in a DJ set, at least with me. I love creating storylines, the same way I approach producing tracks. It is a very different energy compared to playing live. Also, it means I can be way more specific and slightly chaotic in the best way.
What’s the most memorable gig you played so far?
MUTEK in Canada has my heart, truly. It was one of those rare gigs where everything came together: the sound, the confidence, the emotion, the full experience. I also combined it with a road trip, which made it even more special. The crew was unbelievably kind and the whole environment felt very genuine. I played my Birds of Paradise album there and it honestly felt like one of those „Yes, this is why I do this“-moments.
Can you name a secret weapon that you use frequently?
Kindness. I do not know if that counts as a secret weapon, but I genuinely think the world needs more of it. When we feel uplifted and safe, we create better things. We attract better things. We even hear music differently. So for me it is not really about one technical trick or some magical plugin. It is about energy and how you show up. If anything, kindness is the most underrated production tool. Someone should put it in VST format.
Three recent releases that caught your attention?
I’m going to be very honest: I’m so focused on my new album that I hardly listen to other music. It clouds my brain when I’m deep in creation mode. My mind is like: „No new input, we are busy building our own universe here.“ That said, I’ve heard some great things from my students recently, and I always return to older releases that still sound fresh to me. Once gig season fully kicks in again, I will probably go back into digging mode properly.
What do you have coming up?
A slightly ridiculous amount of things I’ve always dreamt about, which still feels surreal to say out loud. A few film scorings, my album IKIGAI, and other releases. Distorted Waves, my imprint, which I’m putting a lot of love into. Loads of workshops and masterclasses.
Also some b2bs: A b2b with Function, a b2b with Tensal. I’m also doing an album live show in a planetarium with visuals from Infinite Vibes! I’m writing a book, travelling a lot, playing shows, and doing brand collaborations. It’s packed. And yes, I do love sleeping, but I don’t think the coming months will be very sleep-friendly.
Track list:
- Milieu – Lazy Days On Our Hillside
- Lawrence – Grazing Light
- Alex Kassian – Olson Waters
- D.K. – Wise Bird
- Purelink – 4k Murmurs (feat. J)
- Nadia Struiwigh – Phantom Frequency
- Huerta – It Goes Over Me
- Jumo – Lost Signal
- Mallard – Transparent
- Nadia Struiwigh – Debugging the Soul
- Nadia Struiwigh – Gaian
- Human Mesh Dance – Sunken Garden
- The Kyoto Connection – Kansai (Postcards – 2023 Edition)
- Patrick Holland – Run Off
- Nadia Struiwigh – Circle the Sun
- Nadia Struiwigh – Night Changer
- Nadia Struiwigh – Tee B
- The Ballistic Brothers – Uschi’s Groove
- Nadia Struiwigh – Hito no Kaze
- Nadia Struiwigh – Ikigai
