her DGTL Records debut, out May 23rd
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Support from Mixmag, Wonderland, SPIN, Billboard, Beatportal, DJ Mag, BBC, Sarah Story, Danny Howard, Arielle Free, Jack Saunders, Pete Tong, Sirius XM, TIBASKO, Fisher, Michael Bibi, Gorgon City, Ida Engberg, Yotto; Spotify Fresh Finds Dance, Mint, Housewerk, Operator, Dance Rising; Apple House Nation, New In Dance, Breaking Dance, Future Dance Hits
Chicago’s Azzecca, still spiralling upwards after rocketing to the heights in one frantic year, now unveils her DGTL Records debut; the fun, yet hard driving, acid trip “It’s Strange,” dropping May 23 on the revered Dutch imprint.
Azzecca likes a drop of acid in her house, and the team of tastemakers in her corner like what she does with it, as in her last zinging single “Forget”: BBC Radio 1’s Jack Saunders was a fan of its sharp edge, Danny Howard featured her mini mix “Evolution of Acid,” and other powerful names like Sarah Story, Arielle Free, Mixmag, SPIN, DJ Mag have also supported her relentless rise.
“It’s Strange”: full-on acid now with hissy busy beats and that signature fast, stomped-on bass synth your teeth can feel, recalling the mid-80s acid house born in her native city. A trippy vox pop of spoken vocals throughout ‘talk in technicolour.’ Says Azzecca, “It’s strange, but I like it… I wanted to make something cheeky and fun for the summer dancefloors. I’ve been really enjoying playing with analog acid sounds and using my own vocals. This track is a little acid trip, about a little acid trip and the second drop has been lighting up dancefloors for months now.”
The release of “It’s Strange” is sandwiched between a spectacular run of shows for Azzecca; two recent sets at Coachella’s Do LaB, and upcoming sets at Floyd, Movement Music Festival, Audio River Festival, The Midway SF, Radio 1 Dance: Ibiza (alongside LF SYSTEM, Camelphat, Gorgon City, Armand van Helden), The Brooklyn Mirage, and Arc Music Festival in her hometown.
It’s strange, but you’ll like it, too.
“It’s Strange” drops May 23rd on DGTL Records. Listen here: https://ffm.to/dgtl029
For more information about Azzecca, go to:
Instagram | Spotify | SoundCloud | X | TikTok
“I personally love the juxtaposition between euphoria and darkness in music.”
In the electrifying world of electronic music, few have risen as quickly as Chicago’s Azzecca. Within a year, she has captivated audiences and industry leaders with her unique sound. Now, Azzecca debuts on DGTL Records with “It’s Strange,” a fun and hard-driving acid track.
“It’s Strange” is an acid adventure with busy beats and a signature bass synth, evoking the mid-80s Chicago acid house scene. Azzecca describes it as “cheeky and fun for summer dancefloors,” featuring her own vocals and analog acid sounds. Join us as we explore Azzecca’s journey, influences, and future in this exclusive interview.
Congratulations on the release of “It’s Strange” out now on DGTL Records! This single is getting attention for its fun, hard-driving acid trip vibe. Can you dive into the story behind this track and the creative process?
I made “It’s Strange” on a day at home where I was really just experimenting with different acid sounds. I had previously found an interview online of a 1960s housewife who had just done LSD for the first time, and thought it would be the perfect vocal element to a really acidy bold project. The track came together quite quickly but I felt like it was missing something, which is when I decided to add myself saying, “It’s strange, but I like it.” It’s just a really fun club track and was a nice reminder not to take music so seriously all of the time.
Why did you decide to go by Azzecca rather than your given name, Allie DeCastris?
I was DJing locally in Chicago for a while under my real name and wanted to adopt a DJ alias but really couldn’t think of anything that felt like it fit. My husband and I started brewing our own beer at home over COVID, and Azacca® was one of the hop varieties we used in our Hazy IPA recipe. One day I opened the freezer to grab the hops and looked at the package and thought it sounded pretty cool. I changed the spelling a bit so that the word had nice symmetry and decided it was perfect. Something about it just felt right! Afterwords I realized that the Italian non-conjugated word “azzeccare” means to be “spot on” or “to get it right.” I’m Italian so it really felt like it was meant to be!
Can you tell us about some of the key influences that have shaped your music and style?
This is a tough one as I feel like I have such a wide range of musical interests and I’m constantly finding inspiration in so many different places. I think I first got into electronic music via artists like Massive Attack, Everything But The Girl, the Eurythmics, and En Vogue.
What was it like collaborating with DGTL Records on this latest release, and how did it compare to your experiences with other record labels?
It’s such an honor to be releasing on DGTL, I love everything the label does and it’s really nice to be moving in a more Euro-focused direction with these releases.
As a native of Chicago, Illinois, what are some of your favorite venues to perform in the Windy City?
I would say Spybar Chicago and Cermak Hall are two of my favorites. I haven’t yet had the opportunity to play at Smartbar but if that ever happens, it will definitely be a highlight for me.
Where’s your favorite place to enjoy a classic slice of Chicago-style deep-dish pizza?
(Laughs.) This is a funny one. Chicagoans do not eat deep dish pizza!! It’s such a tourist thing. I would say Pequod’s Pizza definitely has the best – and I recommend that everyone who comes to Chicago tries it, but it’s not something you can eat often. It’s a delicious little treat every once in a great while.
How do you approach organizing your diverse collection of music for your sets, and what influences your track selections?
I am honestly so bad at organizing my rekordbox collection – I wish I was better at it but I have to admit it’s a mess. I organize show-by-show based on what I’m into at the moment / what I feel like the crowd will like in that specific market but I always like to keep things a bit underground and I definitely always plan a few little surprise tracks that switch the vibe in the room and catch people off guard.
Your love for house, techno, and the darker sides of dance and disco is evident in your music. How do these genres shape your identity as a DJ and producer?
I generally just love the juxtaposition between dark and heavy / light and euphoric in dance music so I try to incorporate those feelings into everything that I make and everything that I play. I think dynamics are what keep music interesting so it’s important to me that people get that from the things I play and make.
How do you balance your roles as both a DJ and a producer, and what challenges do you face in each role?
Finding time to make music as I’ve become a full-time touring DJ has been difficult. I’m not good at working on music when I’m on the road – I get motion sickness on planes so it’s not somewhere I can be on Ableton which is where I feel like a lot of touring acts get work done while touring. On the flip side, when I go home I spend all of my time making music and find it difficult to set time aside to listen to and find new music to DJ. Time management is a difficult thing!
What advice would you give to aspiring DJs and producers who are looking to carve out their own unique sound and style in the industry?
I would say that it’s really important to figure out what it is that you really love about dance music, and spin it in your own way. Authenticity and originality are going to be what make you memorable, especially as there are so many people getting into DJing these days. I think crowds can really feel when something is inauthentic.
What headphones do you use both in the studio and on stage, and how do they enhance your music production and live performances?
I use Pioneer XDJ headphones in the studio and Sennheiser headphones when I DJ. I have really small ears and I find a lot of headphones to be quite painful actually so the Sennheisers feel most comfortable to me while still providing a good amount of isolation.
Your single “Other Side” has over 10 million streams on Spotify, but I’m really enjoying “It’s Strange.” Why do you think “Other Side” has achieved such success in particular?
I honestly have no idea. This is the million-dollar question. I guess maybe because it’s a really unique track that doesn’t really sound like anything else around. I made that song out of the purest place of creativity I think I’ll ever be able to be in – and it really shows. It’s strange is also one of my favorites and really came from a place of fun and low pressure. I think that’s when the best music is made.
Are hitting the road this summer to promote your new single, or will you be spending time in the studio working on your next release?
Ahh, I have such a busy tour schedule this summer I am planning my studio time by the second to try to get as much work as I can done on the few days I have at home. I have most of my releases for the year lined up already which takes the pressure off a bit for sure. I’ve started working on an album and that has been really exciting. Hopefully that will be out next year.
What’s next on the release front, are you planning to release more singles, or are you working on another EP or a full-length studio album?
I have some remixes and singles coming out through the end of the year including a remix of Mindchatter “Corporate Shakespeare” on Foreign Family Collective in partnership with Ninja Tune out July 25! A new single on The Higher Ground on August 14, then I’m back on DGTL in the fall. Now I’m really focusing on honing in on the sound for an album.
Where is the best place to learn more about you? Are your socials best?
I would say my socials are a pretty good place. I’m pretty unfiltered on X so if you really want to get to know me, you can follow me there.
Thanks for doing this. I enjoyed that! In all of the interviews I do, I always give the artist the last word. Go.
Thanks so much for chatting with me!! Keep an eye out for some fun music coming out this summer, and I hope to see some of you on a dance floor soon.
Azzecca “It’s Strange” is out now on DGTL Records. Listen here: https://ffm.to/dgtl029. Watch out for her remix of Mindchatter “Corporate Shakespeare” on Foreign Family Collective in partnership with Ninja Tune, out July.
