In a world filled with so much uncertainty, music has saved many of us this year. As a raver, journalist, full-time employee, mother & now deemed a ‘high risk’ individual, it would be safe to say my life has been turned on its head. In these crazy times, music has proven to be the best sort of therapy. From when I heard my first live stream in the spring, I felt a sense of solidarity within the dance music scene, just like it was in the early 90’s, pulling together in a common goal… Spreading the love!
I have always been interested in The Soundgarden label, Nick Warren is an absolute legend in his own right…. A label I have huge respect for on all quarters electronic! When The Soundgarden live stream notification popped up and I noticed it was a female artist, it took my eye. It’s so important to support our aspiring new female artists and have a fair representation in this industry. Firstly the name Borella intrigued me; secondly, a beautiful forest backdrop accompanied with a funky girl with excellent tunage, what more could we ask for? I needed to know more.
Electronic Groove: Borella, firstly I would like to thank you for taking the time out of your schedule to speak to me today. From your DJ name to your persona but most importantly your dark, melodically dramatic soundscape, as a new female artist, I find everything about you intriguing – What sparked your interest in all things electronic? Do you feel your upbringing has influenced your unique genre?
Borella: It’s my pleasure, thank you for having me. Music has always been a critical part of my life. My dad is a musician, it was important for him to see me and my brother continue that path as well. So he put both of us in music classes from a very young age. Electronic music, however, is a completely different story from what you learn in a guitar class. I discovered my love for electronic music shortly after I moved to Canada with my family ten years ago. I attended a number of events here in the city and was very intrigued by the culture of this music; the people, the wardrobes, the lights, the entire palette. There was a certain kind of freedom and detachment about it all and I wanted to be a part of it on a deeper level.
A year after, while still in college, me and my only close girlfriend at the time travelled to Mexico together to experience a series of events around New Year’s Eve. That specific vacation was a very special one for me. From the moment we landed in the hot city of Cancun having left behind the icy Canadian temperatures, to our little room above a family-owned grocery store on an unnamed street, to the unreal moments and strong bonds of friendship in the most unexpected places. There was this small community of people having flown from all over the world to be there for that very experience. Parties were mostly small and a lot of people seemed to know each other; we seemed to be the only newbies.
I remember us going to this small event on the beach with our new friends. I was mesmerized by the amount of work that had been put into the creation and realization of it. The detail in the décor, the crowd, and the music all seemed to be working together in a very organic and harmonious way. It was there that something sparked within me. I got to see many artists perform live and was fascinated by the diverse spectrum and culture of underground electronic music. Every artist had a unique background, style, and character that they brought and shared with the audience. I was very inspired to further my skills and be able to express myself through this music.
Regarding the second part of your question, I think every single detail in my life to this date has had an influence on my musical career. From guitar training to ballet classes, university, friendships, relationships, and everything in between, it all connects somehow and creates my identity as an artist; that’s what gets translated into a unique musical journey.
EG: The Soundgarden has taken an interest in Borella and I understand why. It’s different from the mainstream progressive house; you have a bit of everything in your sets! I believe you have a different angle and The Soundgarden is on it. Tell us more about this collaboration.
Borella: I have a very personal approach with my sets. I love engaging people with music on a different level as if I’m having a conversation with them in this other language. In regards to my sound, I have to say that I’m really drawn towards futuristic sounds as well as warmer and more emotionally dynamic ranges. The contrast between the two is like a state of equilibrium for my mind. Introducing different soundscapes, ups and downs, and different emotional nodes when playing a set come natural to me. Every set is like a unique story for that very specific time and place; it’s tied to that particular moment like any other type of live performance.
My partner and I always talked about recording a set in a somewhat unusual location. He is an insanely talented photographer/videographer and editor. We came across a Soundgarden Showcase in spring and fell in love with the concept. We were inspired to create something that was a cinematic and musical experience. The lockdown started and all of sudden we both had plenty of free time to come up with ideas. Eventually, we decided to go to our friend’s cottage north of Toronto and do a shoot there. There was a crew of two amazing cameramen with us that were extremely detailed and committed to perfection. We went location hunting and stumbled across this beautiful clearing by the railroad tracks near a bridge over the lake. We fell in love with the scenery and returned the next day to realize our vision. Premiering on The Soundgarden was our goal, but we hadn’t done anything similar to this so I really had no idea about how it was all going to turn out. Afterward, we pitched them the project; they showed great interest in it and invited us as a part of their upcoming showcase.
The Soundgarden’s Creative Director Petra agrees: The Soundgarden has always aspired to provide a platform for rising talent and we are really excited about Borella’s unique sound. Her set in the woods near Toronto fitted our showcase stream concept perfectly. We’re also passionate about empowering female artists and predict Borella has a bright future ahead of her in the music industry.
“I love engaging people with music on a different level as if I’m having a conversation with them in this other language”
EG: As a budding artist, how do you see yourself proceeding through this Covid crisis?
Borella: Honestly, at first I was a little worried, but I think I’ve been adapting well to the situation over the course of the past eight months. I’ve been learning to stay focused on things that keep me motivated and spirited for my future goals. I’m happy that I have more time to spend in the studio these days. I have a release coming up next year and am also working on putting together a few podcasts that are going to be released within the next few months. I am aiming to spend most of my time in the studio doing what I love most alongside my partner and our brilliant cats: Joubin, Zizek, and Luca.
When I’m not working on music, I’m either dancing or fulfilling my time with other art projects. I’m a former classically trained ballet dancer and I have never cut dance entirely out of my life, no matter how busy and chaotic conditions got. However, I have to admit that I had been ignoring that side of me up till the start of the pandemic. Lockdown made me learn to commit to more things at home, and ballet is one of them. It keeps me balanced amongst other things.
EG: Toronto has a fairly active nightlife scene. Tell us more about your journey here and how your surroundings have influenced it.
Borella: The nightlife here has been quite active for many years. For example, on a typical weekend night, you can often find multiple happenings throughout the city. In the summertime, there is also many smaller, and less advertised independent gatherings in addition to clubs and bigger organizations. In the realm of underground electronic music, Toronto is culturally a headliner oriented city that mainly revolves around tech house, but also has a fairly large techno and progressive house following. I definitely count myself lucky to have had the privilege of seeing internationally acclaimed artists and brands on a weekly basis.
Despite the fact that having access to experiencing international acts regularly can be very inspiring and exciting, the headliner culture tends to steal away the spotlight from local artists, and significantly build the hype around bigger more established names. You can probably imagine how that can have an effect on the career of smaller artists in the hopes of making a successful brand from here. People here mostly lookout to Europe or the U.S. for new trends in our industry, therefore making it harder for artists residing here to get much attention in the city, let alone international recognition. No local brand can thrive or become global without having the support of its very own people. Although I have to mention that the pandemic has been somewhat good for local artists here; since the beginning of the restrictions, all gatherings have been running with locals only, something that was previously improbable.
My journey here has been full of magic, ups and downs, and twists and turns! The dynamic nightlife surely kept me active before the lockdown. I was lucky to be able to stay busy throughout this time with different projects, ‘Borella Live at Severn’ for Nick Warren’s The Soundgarden being one.
EG: Lastly, what are your future plans and goals as an artist?
Borella: Life has always unfolded itself before me in a very organic and unpredictable manner. At the moment I am mainly dedicating my time to finetuning my music and rethinking my ideas. I have also been recently more concerned than before about the state of my surroundings, and our beloved Earth that’s been hurting more than it ever has. I never plan for anything in my life in a rigid nature. Things have proven to come into existence for me in the most spontaneous and unexpected ways. There’s always a sense though, a sort of internal intuition that influences my actions and choices in ways I can’t explain. Aside from my musical goals, I know sometime in the future when things are slightly more normal, I want to make environmental contributions to help the state of our planet before it’s too late.
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