Alinka Interview

A member of the Crosstown Rebels and Classic Records crew and owner of her own Twirl Recordings alongside DJ and vocalist Shaun J Wright (previously part of Hercules & Love Affair), Alinka plays Sabajaq this Saturday alongside Hannah Holland, Maze & Masters & Joe Roberts.

Cutting her teeth as a DJ in Chicago playing alongside Justin Long at the city's famous Smartbar, she recently moved to Berlin, hitting it off with house and techno mecca and securing her reputation with a series of gigs at Panorama Bar.

On the week of her Egg LDN appearance (tickets and full info here), we found out more about what makes her tick...

Chicago is a name that resonates through house music, yet it sounds like the current reality is a bit more complicated. What did growing up and starting to DJ there instil in you and what was it about the city that made you want to leave?

Growing up in Chicago was really a blessing, it’s an amazing city. Musically you’re around some of the most talented people in the world, so you really learn at a young age to be on top of your game or stay home. The people I looked up to and learned from watching really pushed boundaries and took constant risks as DJs so that was instilled in me from the start.

A lot of things made me leave. I think I really just needed a change personally and creatively. I started playing in Europe again and fell in love with Berlin, so that was enough reason. I kind of just wanted to go somewhere where dance music is really respected and appreciated and you can actually support yourself on your art, or at least have more of a chance to. Berlin was really inspiring and sort of checked all the marks. I think it was the best decision I’ve ever made, it’s definitely become my home and I feel more inspired and happy today than I ever have.

What's surprised you most about moving Berlin and what do you miss most about Chicago? It seems like the move has had a very positive effect in terms of your career.

I miss real tacos the most, ha ha. I miss my family and friends, of course, but luckily everyone is always visiting Berlin. I don’t know what really surprised me the most. I guess myself really, and that I could actually pick up my life and move to another country after not leaving Chicago since my family arrived in 1988. It was really difficult at first, especially transitioning into trying to be an artist full time and finding the balance, and trying not to freak out about money all the time.

It has had a positive affect on every part of my life. I finally feel like the glass is half full, if that makes sense. You feel validated I guess in a way, after dedicating years of your life to something most people around you don’t understand and then moving to a place like Berlin where your doctor, accountant and vet ask you about playing at Berghain… It just kind of makes life make sense.

You've played Panorama Bar, which is on any DJ's bucket list. What were your first and last tunes? Did you prepare for that gig any differently?

I definitely prepared a lot of music and relentlessly organised it way more than I usually do, which actually helped me for all other gigs… Virgo problems, ha ha. The times when Shaun was in town we did one of our tracks with him singing live for the intros. When I played in April it was right after Prince had passed so I closed with 'I Would Die For You' - that was really special, we were all singing the words and you could hear people screaming. I think that was probably the best gig of my life.

Tell us about your label Twirl and your relationship with Shaun J Wright. How did you meet, why is your friendship so special and what is the ethos of the label? Who are some of the label's main artists?

Shaun and I met around 2012 in Chicago, my old band manager connected us and after one studio session and a field trip to Queen at Smartbar we were instantly bonded. He really encouraged me and gave me the confidence to make the music I always wanted to make. He’s the greatest, and most inspiring person I know. He really changed my life.

We started Twirl as a monthly party in Chicago and a year and a half later decided to turn it into a label and focus on pushing music we love. We wanted to have creative control of our music and to push artists that inspire us. The first year we released only our own tracks with different remixers, and now we’re more focused on releasing other artist's original material. We’ve had a lot of amazing artists so far: Kim Ann Foxman, Luke Solomon, Snuff Crew, Mijo, & Macaulay, Photonz & Violet, Spatial Awareness, Lil’ Mark, Aérea Negrot, Eli Escobar and many more. We always want to keep the label diverse and fresh. I’m really excited for the releases ahead.

Have you done any Twirl parties since leaving Chicago?

Not official ones, though I think Shaun played a Dalston Superstore vs Twirl at some point.

It is something we would love to do in the future, currently just too busy and would rather focus on studio work at the moment.

America and the Ukraine both have pretty tense political situations right now. Do you still feel closely identified with either country? Do you have family in Kiev still?

I don’t have family in Kiev, everyone we knew moved to the states by the early '90s so I haven’t really identified with Ukraine since childhood. I do think moving around and living in different countries from a young age made me want to always be a citizen of the world and not identify so much with a particular place. I like that America teaches you to work hard to get what you want, but I hate that it felt like you’re working hard to own things and live a certain life that you’re taught you’re supposed to have in order to be happy. I think it’s why I never thought I could support myself as an artist or that I was good enough to follow my dreams. At some point you realize it’s all bullshit because you have a closet full of nice clothes, and money and nowhere to go and you’re not actually happy at all. I think I was fighting that for a lot of my adult life, that’s why leaving was necessary. I’m the happiest I’ve ever been now and I’m the most broke I’ve ever been so I guess that’s a life lesson. No risk no reward, as they say!

What exciting prospect are on the horizon, professionally or personally?

Professionally we have a Jackathon release coming up for the lovely Heidi, who’s been such a great support to us from the start. She picked up half our new demos so we’re super excited to be working with her. Other than that, I’ve got a pile of remixes to finish, am working on solo stuff and waiting for Shaun to get back here next month so we can jump back in the studio. Personally, I’m just enjoying life and taking it one day at a time. I’ve made amazing friends around the world and feel lucky to just be here and living.

What three tracks sum up what you're likely to play at Egg.