Zuzana Retkesova spent seven years behind the scenes running her own music production company before launching Plasmatique — her melodic techno alias defined by arpeggiated basslines, cinematic textures, and a deep commitment to emotional storytelling. Influenced by Stephan Bodzin, Innellea, Adriatique, and Thomas Helmich, her work avoids formula, aiming instead for a spiritual, ascetic sound that’s both mysterious and forceful.
Photo credit: Plasmatique – Instagram
Since stepping into her solo project, she’s performed at Archetype and contributed to HARTHOUSE 2023 with the track ‘Circularity’, followed by her ‘Infinity’ EP on the same iconic label. Her track ‘Obsidian’ was picked up by David Guetta for both his radio show and Spotify playlists — a breakthrough moment for her distinctive, twilight-toned sound.
With a blend of trance-inflected pads, evolving synths, and delicate vocal elements, Plasmatique creates productions that are slow-burning and emotionally immersive. Her music is less about crowd-pleasing impact than it is about reconciling structure with intensity, designed to move both body and spirit.
In this conversation, Plasmatique opens up about discipline, dream-chasing, and the role of intuition in her craft.
EG: Welcome to EG. Before we begin, where are you today?
Plasmatique: Hi, thank you so much for having me. Right now I am in Germany, after a short winter break, back on track in the studio.
EG: You spent years working behind the scenes before stepping fully into your own artist project. What internal moment told you it was time to move from supporting others to expressing yourself directly?
Plasmatique: The strongest impetus probably came during Covid. People couldn’t meet like they normally would. There was more time to be alone and that’s when I remembered my old dream of being a DJ. And so I started working on it. And so here I am, working on making my dream come true, playing music for as many people as possible.
EG: Coming from an engineering and production background, how do you decide when to trust precision and when to let intuition take over?
Plasmatique: Precision and intuition have to go hand in hand. There should be a balance and then it works. However, intuition often has the last word. Sometimes precision doesn’t let me sleep.
EG: When a new track starts to form, what usually arrives first for you: a sensation, a sound, or a movement you want to create on the floor?
Plasmatique: That’s individual. Sometimes it’s an experience, a feeling, an image, a smell, a memory. But at the end of the process, goosebumps must come. And of course I ask myself if I would enjoy the track on the dance floor, too, or in the car, or by jogging.
“I hope that my music will help them forget about the daily hustle and stress for a while and let them enjoy the present moment.”
EG: Many artists feel pressure to follow formulas that already work. How do you protect your own vision when expectations or trends start to creep in?
Plasmatique: My opinion is that a hit is a hit and will remain a hit in 10, 20, 30 years. Trends are here for a short period of time. It’s about leaving something that people will remember. That’s the essence of art, to leave something beautiful behind for future generations.
EG: You have mentioned influences that shaped your musical direction. Beyond sound, what did those artists teach you about patience, tension, or storytelling?
Plasmatique: I’ve always been very patient. It’s probably more about the presentation itself and also about competitiveness, to achieve a sound as good as my idols, but at the same time not to copy and remain unique, memorable. So that people can recognize that this is me, this is my work.
EG: Releasing music on an established label can be a defining moment. What did that experience reveal to you about your identity as an artist?
Plasmatique: It pushed me further. It convinced me that you need to go after your goal, work on it, and not give up. And not rest on your laurels. That nothing is impossible as long as I will firmly pursue my goal.
EG: When your music reached a much wider audience through unexpected support, how did you process that moment internally rather than professionally?
Plasmatique: Of course, it’s an incredible feeling when the DJ whose hits you were partying to a few years ago suddenly plays your track on his radio show or in his set. It’s a pure feeling of happiness. And that’s another thing that drives me forward.
EG: Your upcoming release, ‘Dunes’, arrives at a specific moment in your journey. Without giving too much away, what state of mind were you in while creating it?
Plasmatique: My goal was to, at least in my mind, move from this cold part of Europe to somewhere with a nice, warm climate. Simply use music to bridge this period with the feeling that the time of summer festivals and parties will come again.
“Precision and intuition have to go hand in hand.”
EG: When people encounter your music for the first time on a dancefloor, what do you hope they feel before they try to analyze it?
Plasmatique: I hope that my music will help them forget about the daily hustle and stress for a while and let them enjoy the present moment. Relax, relieve tension, feel good about themselves — you name it. I personally know that music helps me overcome a bad mood. Music is an art and it is there to beautify people’s lives.
EG: If you had to describe your artistic path so far in one word, what would it be and why?
Plasmatique: Dedication. It’s a journey of dedication to the craft and the sound, to constant growth, discipline and passion. It also means countless hours spent in the studio, choosing long-term vision over instant results and trusting the process even when the outcome isn’t clear. Every step shaped not only my sound, but also who I am as an artist.
EG: Looking ahead, what questions or ideas are currently pulling you back into the studio?
Plasmatique: Every break from the process is about gaining a little distance and gaining new experiences that will bring new ideas. But there are also ideas that are lying unfinished in the studio and this will help in completing them.
EG: Thanks for the time. Cheers.
Plasmatique: I am grateful for the opportunity to talk to you about my journey, which continues.
Plasmatique’s ‘Dune’ is out now on Luft & Liebe. Stream and download here.
Follow Plasmatique: Spotify | Soundcloud | Instagram
