Atika Altar: The ‘Shine A Light On’ Mix

Music

Atika Altar has spent the last decade honing her DJ skills across South East Asia.

Her potent mix of techno, acid, IDM, house and experimental characterises her sets as well as the parties she’s thrown across the region with the likes of Nicola Kazimir, Son Kite-Minilogue and Marco Shuttle.

Now based in Poland, Atika’s focus has shifted to production and her newest venture, Interstellaria: a label that mirrors her powerful and fearless approach to electronic music.

Primarily launched as a platform to house her own output, the imprint will also serve as a space to share music from friends and favourites who are operating on the fringes of dance music.

The first release is a compilation featuring music from herself, iconic UK electronic act Bandulu and mysterious producer HBSM, which gives a window into some of the sounds that make up Atika’s musical world – in the case of this release, it’s the diverse shades of techno.

To celebrate the freshly minted label we invited Atika to put together a mix of high octane techno, acid, breaks and more… This’ll help shake off the cobwebs.

Ransom Note · Atika Altar: The 'Shine A Light On' Mix

Please introduce yourself… Who are you, where are you and what are you

Hello, my name is Atika Altar. I’m an artist, DJ, producer from Singapore and I’m in Poland at the moment.

What does your music sound like? Can you draw what you think it sounds like for us (an image from the old internet is acceptable)?

An intergalactic disco. Yes, coincidentally, I drew this at a house party last month.

Where was the mix recorded?

At my mom’s place in Lower Silesia, Poland where I’m now having my summer holidays.

What would be the ideal setting to listen to the mix?

Pre-party, house party! With friends and cold drinks. Or if you’re tasked with something like driving, baking or painting, it’s cool as well.

What should we be wearing?

Summer chic but make it techno.

What would be your dream setting to record a mix: Location/system/format?

At the moment, Outdoors & somewhere lush in nature, daytime, Funktion One Soundsystem, 2-3 CDJs & a Korg DJ Mixer (Korg just because I’ve never tried one and would really love to)

Which track in the mix is your current favourite?

Probably Alex Smoke – Tommy Knockers. It was my favourite when it came out and still is.

What’s your favourite recorded mix of all time?

I haven’t listened to many mixes since a while but Nikita Zabelin’s Boiler Room x Ballantine set comes to mind.

If you could go back to back with any DJ from throughout history, who would it be and why?

It will be Mira Calix because we didn’t get to <3

What was your first DJ set up at home and what is it now?

My first DJ set up at home was CDJ-2000s & Rodec MX2200, and my current set up is PLX500-K & Xone96.

What’s more important, the track you start on or the track you end on?

Both but more of the track you start on.

What were the first and last records you bought?

The first records I ever bought were CDs when I was 12 and I think it was Michael Jackson’s Blood On The Dancefloor. Lol. In terms of vinyl, my first one was a Gayle San record on her Equator label and last records were Temple Traxx presents from Khan Of Finland.

If this mix was an edible thing, what would it taste like?

Mangosteen.

If it was an animal what would it be?

An Owl.

One record in your collection that is impossible to mix into anything?

Galaxian – Paradise Engineering/Life Force. I mean, I guess you could mix it into another very fast track but it’s just so powerful and blows you away. Kinda like an atomic bomb.

Upcoming in the world of …

New music from Interstellaria 🙂

Anything else we need to discuss?

No, thanks for having me x