Precise, uncanny, and challenging. Borella’s sound is hinged on defying trends and carefully selected to stimulate the mind. Already making her mark across international platforms her sound has been widely described as ‘unconventional’. Propelled by her natural talent for weaving together deeper and darker journey-like arrangements, along with her charismatic and contagious physical presence behind the decks, she has made long strides over a short time; most notably gaining support and artist affiliation from Nick Warren and The Soundgarden.
As we gear up for EG’s 15th-Anniversary celebrations in Amsterdam’s Duke Of Tokyo on ADE Week, EG caught up with Borella to talk about the upcoming gathering, her recent performance at Kater Blau, the summer season, and more.
EG: Hi Afarin! Welcome to EG. It’s an absolute pleasure to have you here with us. Where are you based right now? How have you been?
Borella: Hey, thank you very much for having me! I am currently in Toronto, Canada. I’ve had a busy summer traveling and exploring, and now enjoying some downtime and more studio hours with my cats back home while watching the seasons slowly turn over a new page.
EG: Sounds like a good time! First of all, thank you so much for being a part of our 15-year anniversary celebrations at The Duke Of Tokyo during ADE Week!
Borella: My pleasure! I am very much looking forward to celebrating 15 years of Electronic Groove with you and some other dear friends in Amsterdam.
EG: Any sets from that evening that you are particularly looking forwards to?
Borella: I am equally excited about hearing every artist on the line-up and love the musical curation of the whole night.
EG: Will this be your first time in Amsterdam? What activities or spots would you recommend?
Borella: It is going to be my very first time there, so I can’t really speak from experience! However, I am very much looking forward to seeing the architecture and exploring the culture of the city.
EG: By the way, we know you’re fresh off from a lovely performance at Kater Blau’s Hopper Floor. What was that experience like? In your view, what do perfect nights depend on?
Borella: Kater has been a place full of inspiration for me since a long time ago, physically and ideologically. I always found some of the most creative and unique sets coming out of there. The first time I got to experience the club in person was back in 2019, right before the pandemic began. The vibe of every room was amazing and I really love the cat motif everywhere. There is a certain rawness in the club that really resonates with me, so being behind the decks this time was very special.
It’s hard to define perfect, as perfection is very subjective, but great nights for me have a certain unique energy. A sort of synergy between the dancefloor and the DJ.
EG: Let’s take this back to your origins. When did you first come in contact with electronic music? What was it that first caught your attention about electronic music? Was there a record or a show that pushed you down the rabbit hole?
Borella: It’s hard to pin down a specific event. I was in my early post-secondary years, and somehow between all the lectures and ballet classes, I came across electronic music. I always loved dancing and the freedom that came with electronic music. For the first time in my life, I could let go and just dance without a care. I think that was what really got me into it, that letting go aspect of it.
EG: With all this traveling you have been doing, any new books, movies, or series you’d recommend? How do you keep yourself entertained during trips?
Borella: My recommendations would be very personal and tied to the specific. Other than listening to music and organizing my library, I’m usually constantly running around when I’m traveling… so it’s actually harder to find a free moment.
“Thanks to the ever-evolving nature of technology, it is becoming more popular and there is less of that underground feeling in most of the events/clubs around the world. I personally would love to experience more of those intimate nights.”
EG: What are your thoughts on the current state of the scene? What would you like to see more and less of?
Borella: Some things can be generalized and I think it really depends on where you are in the world, but like everything else, our scene is also progressing and moving in a new direction. Thanks to the ever-evolving nature of technology, it is becoming more popular and there is less of that underground feeling in most of the events/clubs around the world. I personally would love to experience more of those intimate nights, where all that’s being exchanged is music and special connections.
EG: Thank you so much for your time, Afarin! We wish you all the best for the future. See you soon!
Borella: Thank you again for having me, see you in October!
Borella will be performing at EG’s 15-Year Anniversary during ADE Week alongside Patrice Bäumel, Brian Cid, Sinca, and a Special Guest. Save your spot by making a donation to Save The Children Ukraine here.
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