7 questions with... CAIVA!

Can you tell us about your journey in music? How did you get started, and what led you to where you are today?
Music has always been a part of my life, I started with instruments like guitar and saxophone. Later I worked as a guitar teacher and studied music in Munich. I‘ve always been a huge fan of electronic music and I went to a lot of raves, clubs and festivals. I started producing and DJing after my Bachelor.

What inspires your sound and creative process? Are there any particular artists, genres, or experiences that influence your music?
My list of influences is definitely too long. I love when artists put different genres together to create something new. I try to go to concerts and listen to different styles of music every day to escape the techno bubble for a while. This does not only give me a huge creativity push, but also helps me to stay open minded for other projects and music.

What has been one of the most memorable moments in your career so far, whether in the studio or on stage?
I think my Boiler Room was really special as it was my first hybrid live vocal set. It was a big and important step for me to show this side of me and to start performing live more and more. You’ve carved out a unique space in the electronic music scene.

How would you describe your evolution as an artist, and what do you feel sets your sound apart from others in the industry?
The most obvious thing is that I use my voice in most of my tracks and that I perform them live on stage. I think it’s also special that I‘m a female vocalist but also a producer and DJ. I
sometimes feel like people put me in the box of „female vocalist“ but they don’t realize that I‘m the producer behind the tracks. Soundwise, I think my sound has so many influences and diversity that it can go from acoustic to electronic, from soft to hard, from deep to cheesy and from crying to smiling all over your face. And that’s maybe something special, too.

How do you see the underground music scene evolving, and where do you feel your place is within that landscape?
It’s hard for an artist to be in the underground if nowadays everything is about social media. I see myself somewhere in between mainstream and underground. Of course, my vocals and instruments give a kind of pop vibe to my music and I also love cheesy stuff. But it’s also really important to me that the crowd really listens to the music and sinks into it.

As an artist, how do you balance creativity with the business side of things like marketing, promotion, and branding?
When my career started, I didn’t realize that I gotta become a business woman now, too. Honestly, as an artist I’m interest in making music and being creative with my music, not with promoting and selling myself. It‘s also really bad for both my creativity and my mental health. I’ve struggled a lot with social media and everything that comes with it like comparing
yourself or getting triggered so easily. So now I try to focus more on the music part again :)

What advice would you give to up-and-coming producers or DJs looking to make their mark in the industry?
Nowadays you can easily be a successful DJ by just following the newest trends. But if you’re a true artist you should stay true to yourself and your sound and not follow every trend. This is what makes you authentic and will generate a true fanbase with a deep connection. Do what truly makes you happy!