LISSA
DJ | Producer
LISSA is a Berlin-based, Glaswegian DJ, producer and resident on the Bristol-based Noods radio station. Her sound is a palpable blend of EBM, industrial, post-punk, wave and electro; it makes sense that she was a goth in her teenage years. Since then, music of the 80s has heavily influenced her taste and has remained a constant source of inspiration throughout the adulating trends that electronic music has dipped in and out of over the years.
Over on her Virgo Rising show on Noods Radio, it’s clear that LISSA knows her sound and aesthetic. She uses an amalgam of eerie artwork like a rose unfurling in an iridescent pink flame or a bloodied set of vampire-esque teeth to compliment each one hour session of strident tones, textures and ‘sad girl vibes’ that she orchestrates on the airwaves. For those looking for something beyond their comfort zone and outside of the 4/4 soundscape, LISSA’s show is definitely a worthy place to start.
The Noods residency has certainly helped widen her audience beyond the predominately UK based pool of listeners. She has gone on to supply an abundance of podcasts for collectives and platforms across Europe such as The BRVTALIST, Grounded, Knife, Snatchers, CONNECT alongside bookings for Tresor Berlin, Transformator in Wroclaw, Artklub in Slovakia, FFORMAT Brussels and La Cheetah back in her native Glasgow.
For LISSA, there’s more to her memory (below) than meets the eye and it’s an immensely personal one which she explains in more detail…
Photo: LISSA
Where was this photo taken and why did you choose it?
The photo was taken at a club called WWWX in Tokyo, it was my birthday and I found out only on that day that one of my all-time favourite DJs, Tzusing was playing, which was the best birthday surprise!
I went to the party with a Japanese friend I met online through music, which is the reason why I chose this photo, as the night taught me that you can be alone on the other side of the world but not feel lonely - all because of music. The current situation made me realise how lucky I am to be able to experience this and I won't take being able to travel or go clubbing for granted ever again.
The event was really inspiring because it featured lots of different genres, with an amazing performance from Fuyuki Yamakawa. Gaika also played and it was my first time experiencing live rap music and as always Tzusing played a crazy, genre-bending set (he even played my biggest guilty pleasures which is New Rules by Dua Lipa haha).
What kind of tunes are you listening to at home at the moment?
At home I have been listening to lots of minimal violence, Fee Lion and Grimes, and I've also been rediscovering my love for metal music, especially Deftones who I've had on repeat for weeks.
How did you find living in Berlin during the more intense part of the lockdown?
Living in Berlin during the stricter part of lockdown was weird as the streets and parks were still full of people enjoying their life while it seemed the rest of the world was trapped inside at home. As an introvert, I have been enjoying having an excuse to not be sociable though.
Have you found any unexpected positives from the 'new normal'?
One unexpected positive is that it made me more productive. For the first two weeks, I locked myself inside barely seeing any daylight and just made music from when I woke up until I fell asleep, which is something I never have time to do working full-time. Also, I think lining to get into clubs in Berlin is not going to seem so bad now that we have had to line for the same amount of time to get into the supermarket. 😁
What's your ideal post-pandemic celebration?
My ideal post-pandemic celebration would be traveling to a new city to dance, especially Kiev or Tbilisi.
Any tips on how to look after your mind and body during this time, as well as trying to stay motivated as an artist?
I try to limit my social media intake and if I feel anxious, douse myself in lavender oil! To stay motivated as an artist I think it is really important to not compare yourself to others and go at your own pace.
Listen to LISSA’s mix for The Brvtalist here and follow her below: