Ukraine-born and Chicago-raised, Miester has spent more than a decade shaping both his sound and the scene around him. As co-founder of Reverse Events and the driving force behind the Tech(no) series, he has become a familiar figure within Chicago’s underground circuit, balancing his work as a DJ, producer, and community builder.
Photo credit: Miester – Official
Drawing from influences that range from progressive house and trance to techno and tech house, his musical identity is rooted in storytelling, atmosphere, and emotional connection.
Now, Miester returns with ‘Hotel Party,’ a three-track EP on Pure Enjoyment Black that explores different stages of a night out through hypnotic grooves, cinematic textures, and club-focused energy. Across ‘Hotel Party’, ‘This Is It’, and ‘Mental’, he channels anticipation, intensity, and reflection into a cohesive journey designed for the dancefloor.
In this conversation, Miester reflects on the inspiration behind the release, the evolution of Chicago nightlife, and why music continues to serve as both escape and therapy.
EG: Hi Miester, welcome to EG. Great to have you here. How have you been, and where are you speaking to us from today?
Miester: Hi! I’m doing great, speaking to you from Chicago Burbs. Right now I’m just finalizing a few last-minute details for the ‘Hotel Party’ EP rollout and already diving into work on my next upcoming release.
EG: Congratulations on the upcoming release of ‘Hotel Party’ via Pure Enjoyment Black. The EP seems to revolve around the idea of a late-night descent. What was the initial image or feeling that inspired the project?
Miester: All three tracks share the same late-night DNA. ‘Hotel Party’ is a sophisticated, mysterious pre-party track inspired by that anticipation before the night truly starts. ‘Mental’ is an aggressive, peak-time track tapping into the vibe of our Tech(no) series events. ‘This Is It, ’one of my favorites, is the ultimate deep, dark closing track that captures that exact feeling: “It’s 8 AM. This is it.”
EG: You describe the record as a journey through different emotional states rather than a collection of standalone tracks. Do you tend to think in narratives when you’re producing?
Miester: Definitely. As a DJ, I’m used to building a storyline, and I bring that exact mentality to the studio. I want my music to feel like a journey because that’s how we experience a great night out, from the pre-party to the main party, and of course, the after-party.
EG: Having been born in Ukraine and raised in Chicago, two places with very different cultural histories, how have those experiences shaped your perspective as an artist?
Miester: They are two completely different worlds. I grew up in Ukraine and moved to the States at 14. I really got into electronic music a few years later during the progressive and electro house era. From there, I went through a big trance phase, which still inspires my melodic elements today. But ultimately, the techno and tech-house sound took over, heavily inspired by trips to DEMF (Movement) and the legendary Chicago after-hours culture, which is exactly what sparked our Tech(no) series.
EG: Beyond producing and DJing, you’ve spent years building community through projects like Reverse and the Tech(no) series. What originally motivated you to become a scene builder as well as an artist?
Miester: Chicago has always had a massive house music scene, and while there were tons of underground events happening every week back then, I felt like the actual production and audio quality were being overlooked. We started Reverse as a smaller-scale underground event series. Our focus was on a proper dark techno vibe, and we made sure every single event got a little better: bigger production, cooler stage designs, and of course, a louder, cleaner sound system. I did it out of love for the music and the nightlife culture.
“People just want a safe space to be free and just get lost in music. On the dancefloor, everyone leaves their egos at the door and becomes equal”
EG: Your sets move freely between melodic techno, indie house, tech house, and darker territory, yet they seem connected by a consistent sense of storytelling. What makes a great musical journey in your eyes?
Miester: Timing is the key, in my opinion. Playing the right track at the right time creates the journey itself.
EG: You describe DJing as a ritual centered on the crowd. What have dancefloors taught you about people over the years?
Miester: People just want a safe space to be free and just get lost in music. On the dancefloor, everyone leaves their egos at the door and becomes equal. It’s taught me how to read energy without words.
EG: The EP places a lot of emphasis on atmosphere and emotional tension. When you’re in the studio, what tells you a track is creating the feeling you’re looking for?
Miester: It’s a purely physical reaction. If I find myself looping a section for an hour and totally losing track of time, I know this is it. For me, the magic happens when a synth, vocal, or atmospheric pad gives me goosebumps.
EG: Many artists talk about the dancefloor as a place of escape. For you, what do you think people are really searching for when they lose themselves in music?
Miester: I agree with those artists. I think the dancefloor is an escape; a place where you don’t really care about other shit, you go there to have fun and get lost in music.
EG: On a personal level, what has remained unchanged about your relationship with music over the years, despite all the growth and evolution?
Miester: No matter how much the industry changes or how my own sound evolves, music remains my escape and therapy. That feeling you get when you hear the perfect sound or create something from scratch in the studio; that never changes.
“I think the dancefloor is an escape; a place where you don’t really care about other shit, you go there to have fun and get lost in music”
EG: Looking ahead, what would you like the next chapter of the Miester project to explore that you haven’t fully tapped into yet?
Miester: I’ve spent most of my free time locked in the studio over the past year, working on my sound. I’m ready to shift my focus back to DJing. Now it is all about bringing these tracks to life on the dancefloor and taking people on that journey with me.
EG: Thank you so much for your time. We wish you all the best with ‘Hotel Party’ and everything ahead. Take care!
Miester: Thanks so much for having me! Stay tuned; there’s plenty more music coming very soon. See you on the dancefloor!
Miester’s ‘Hotel Party’ is out now via Pure Enjoyment Black. Stream and download your copy here.
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