Feature: Konfusia [Interview + Premiere]

Step into Konfusia's world, where deep basslines meet psy, trance and minimal elements in a groove-driven fusion. Konfusia’s music defies genre boundaries, blending different techno styles with her own recorded vocals and peak time energy. Experience the unique blend and captivating confusion that is Konfusia.

Hi Konfusia, thanks for catching up with us today. How has the start of 2025 been for you so far?

It’s been pretty adventurous! I spent the beginning of the year traveling through Latin America and played shows in Guatemala, Mexico, and Costa Rica. I met amazing people and ate the best tacos of my life. Yes, there was some food poisoning involved – but honestly, it was totally worth it!

We’re now three months into 2025, what tracks which have come out so far this year have impressed you the most?

Lampé – Far Away (Alula Tunes)
Brandon & KXNE – Guess I Never Know (Confession)
Maurice Mino, Sinport, Nonameleft – Rolling Stone (Tragedie)

What’s been a standout gig for you so far this year and why?

Mia Tulum was definitely a highlight of 2025 – playing right on the beach with the full moon rising behind me between the palm trees. Just wow. Another one was at Kater Blau in Berlin. I always love playing there, and this time I went with a bunch of friends, which made it extra special. When you're usually traveling alone, sharing these moments with some people you like means a lot.

Is there a song or songs that you’ve never stopped listening to since childhood? And why has it stayed with you for so long?

Definitely “Faint” by Linkin Park. Growing up, I was often very quiet and introverted (okay, I still am sometimes :D), and at home, things weren’t easy because no one had the space or energy to listen to me. The frustration of being ignored that is described in the song really resonated with me. Even today, when I feel unheard or overlooked, I blast “Faint” and feel like slamming the door on the world, just like the little teenager me.

Also, what I always found really inspiring about Linkin Park, especially on "Faint" and other tracks from the album Meteora, is how they went beyond genre boundaries. They didn’t just stick to one style, they mixed hip-hop, nu-metal, and electronic elements to create something different. It’s that genre-blending and also the refusal to fit into a box that really speaks to me and also inspires my own approach to music.

What was it like growing up in Germany and how did you discover electronic music there?

Growing up in the west of Germany, techno wasn’t really big where I lived. I was more into pop-punk and rock, played guitar in a few bands, and went to a lot of concerts. Being right by the Dutch border, my first experiences with electronic music weren’t with "classic techno," but with gabber, a subgenre of hardcore techno. We danced a lot to that music when we were 16, but at some point, I realized I was more into bouncing and stomping than hakken and that’s how I ended up diving into the world of techno. :D

Were there artists, DJs or club nights in your country which inspired you when you got into techno?

MS Treue in Bremen and my friend Miniyme who inspired me with his blasting sets.

Your music has been difficult for some people to classify, it’s rooted in techno certainly, but also a bit psychedelic at times and more minimal at others. How would you describe the music you make?

I get this question a lot, and honestly, I think it's the mix of influences that makes it “my” style. I like to experiment with different elements that resonate with me, whether they come from psychedelic, minimal, hip hop or somewhere else entirely. In the end, for me it’s all about finding a groove that feels right. I’ve never liked putting things into boxes – not in music, and not in life in general. I find boundaries often limiting and unnecessary. Music, to me, is art, and art should be free. So no, in my eyes, I’m not a psy-techno DJ or a minimal DJ, I just make “Konfusia music,” whatever that means in the moment.

You’ve been releasing music since 2019 and have had a full schedule of gigs since 2017. When you look back on your releases and gigs up to now, what would be some pivotal ones to the success you’ve achieved today?

I would say my journey has been quite organic – every gig and every release was a small stepping stone that led me to where I am now. There wasn’t really that one moment that gave me a big breakthrough. But of course, playing the Turmbühne at Fusion Festival in 2023 was definitely a very special highlight in my DJ career. Performing in front of maybe 8,000 or 10,000 people was incredible, and the energy from the crowd was absolutely unforgettable. I am really thankful that I can experience beautiful moments like that.

You’re making your debut on Stil Vor Talent this week with the ‘Moment’ EP, tell us a bit about the project and what sort of vibe were going for on the tracks?

With the tracks on my debut ‘Moment’ EP, I wanted to capture a duality that younger generations often feel nowadays. In "Moment," I recorded softer German vocals for the break, representing that feeling of completely opening up to someone and feeling deeply connected. It's sweet in the break, but the real impact comes when that connection explodes into something intense.

"Pressure," on the other hand, captures the other side of social connection – the pressure, stress, maybe even too much closeness and responsibility. For this track, I went for a more rap-like vocal style, put some vocoder and more effects on my vocals, giving it a bit of a cheeky edge. Visually, "Moment" is represented in red, while "Pressure" is in blue, to reflect the contrasting energies of both tracks.

How much play have the tracks gotten in your sets and where do you generally program them?

"Moment" has been the perfect closing track for several of my sets. It carries a sweet, distinctive vibe that stands out from my other productions, making it a beautiful way to wrap things up on a more emotional note. "Pressure," on the other hand, is made for peak-time energy. The crowd always responds with such a good vibe when the vocals start to flow during the break – I love to see that reaction!

Let our readers inside your studio for a moment—what does your current setup look like, and what tools played a big role in shaping the sound of the Moment EP?

My studio setup is digital-focused, as I always work with Ableton. My sessions tend to get pretty dense, often with over 100 tracks, which can look konfusing to others! :D A lot of those tracks are subtle bass shots, percs, and other groove elements that might not be immediately noticeable in the final mix but are crucial to me for creating the overall groove. For synths, I mostly use Serum (for the EP, it was still Serum 1) and also Diva when I want a more analog vibe. As for samples, I highly recommend the Belocca’s Mainground Label sample packs, I use a lot of them.

What I love is experimenting with atmospheric sounds, which I usually create by cutting parts of vocals, or working with pads and lead synths. I love combining different atmo styles and layering them together. For "Moment," I have three distinct layers of atmosphere: two vocals that complement each other with different melodies (though, to be more precise, this “atmo” could also be seen as the track's lead synths), and one background layer with other sidechain settings. I’ve also recently discovered an LFO tool called Submerge, which I used on the vocals in "Moment" (you can really hear it in the drop – it gives the vocals this mystical whispering effect) and I love the effects you can create with it.

Why was Stil Vor Talent a good home for this particular project?

I'm super happy to be releasing this special EP on Stil vor Talent. They’ve always supported artistic freedom and have a really strong curatorial vision. While the label is traditionally known for more Indie Dance and melodic styles, it's exciting to see a more techno-driven side emerging now. I think it’s really cool to be part of shaping that direction with this release. Having my EP sit next to Kaufmann’s work in that evolving techno lane feels like a great fit and a big honor.

What goals do you have going forward? Or a better question might be do you think about the future?

Right now, I’m pursuing a PhD in social research because I want to maintain my creative freedom as a DJ and producer. I believe that depending too much on the music industry can limit your authenticity – you end up creating what’s expected, following trends, instead of what truly inspires you. For me, like I already said, art is about freedom, and I want to stay free to create what I feel, not just what’s in demand. That’s why having a second path, outside of music, is important to me. When it comes to my music, my goal is to keep growing and improving each day. I don’t have a fixed long-term plan, I’m open to wherever it leads me. If things don’t work out in the future, I’ll accept it, rather than trying to force something that no longer feels authentic.

As mentioned, you are a very well travelled DJ, having performed with a variety of top international talents, so please tell us how your work asa DJ has influenced your view of music, your way of listening to tracks and perhaps also, your work as a producer?

I’ve learned to pay more attention to the feeling a track creates, not just how it sounds. What amazes me most is how a track can hit just right - whether it’s a break, a melody, or a shift in energy – and suddenly, everyone in the crowd feels it at the same time, no matter where you are. It’s a bit like football when a goal is scored. That shared reaction and instant connection, is what music can do too. When it comes to producing, I’m always on the lookout for those moments that catch me, that spark something real, and I try to build on them.

How important is it for you to have gigs to be able to test your own unreleased music?

Once a track is finished, I often experience listener fatigue from hearing it repeatedly during the mixing process. I need some distance to appreciate it with fresh ears. So, I only test my new tracks a few times to tweak details that might differ from other tracks in my sets. After that, I’ve learned to accept it as it is, and I avoid playing it until it’s officially released and by which point any changes are no longer possible. :D

Current Top five tracks in your sets?

Every of my sets is different. I’m digging for new tracks every week and also I try to adapt to the crowd’s mood and my position in the lineup. So, if you want to know what I'm playing, come along and Shazam the tracks yourself! Haha – just kidding! Some tracks I played a few times in the last month were:

Carbon, Clap Codex, Flanko – Shapes & Colours (Lampe Remix)
San Nicolas, Roman Adam – Kryptonite
Phoenix Movement – Fire Eyes
Oscar L, Metodi Hristov – Up & Down Lautaro Ibanez,
GrooveAndYes – Astral Ritual

How important would say networking is in making it as an artist in 2025? And what role (if any) has it played in your own success?

I’d say networking is a crucial part of an artist’s success, and it’s definitely been important for me. But in my eyes, what really matters is building genuine connections, not just trying to meet certain people for the sake of it. For me, authenticity is everything. If a conversation flows naturally, that’s great and maybe then I am open to party a little longer with you. But I’m not about forcing things or making connections that don’t feel real.

If you could set up an event with a line-up of five artists of your choice, who would you book and what set times would you ascribe to the artists?

Susi & Paula 23-1
Pauli Pocket 1-3
Max Styler 3-5
Mosher b2b Sebastian Mora 5-7
Akari System 7-9

If you weren’t a DJ/producer, what do you think you’d be doing with your life? (Something outside of music)

I am doing my phd in social research right now, so I guess I would be a social researcher or urban planner (and my phd would be finished 2 years faster haha)

What’s something people don’t know about you?

I was caught in a crowd panic at the Love Parade in 2010, and to this day, I still get nervous when a crowd gets too packed.

What TV series have you been enjoying recently, and what are some of your all-time favorites?

I grew up with Lord of the Weed, a fandub of The Lord of the Rings, and to this day I think it’s one of the most hilarious things ever made in Germany, haha. It was just a bunch of teenagers messing around in their bedroom, no script, no plan – and that’s exactly what makes it brilliant. It really shows how something great can happen when you’re not stuck in rules when you create art. The sound design alone is hilarious – for Sauron’s footsteps, they literally just slammed something like a chain onto a table. Absolute chaos, but somehow genius. I kinda lost my point there, like I sometimes do when I tell people about something I'm really into – but what I meant to say is: growing up with that, I still have a soft spot for really stupid humor. I love series like solar opposites. On the flip side, I’m also into more serious, historical, and exciting stuff. Right now, I’ve just started watching The Kennedys – curious to see where it goes!

What can we look forward to from you across the rest of 2025? Any releases or gigs you are looking forward to?

I’m really looking forward to the festival summer – returning to some places I already know and discovering some new ones. Two I’m especially excited about are Mystic Creatures Festival in Poland and Moyn Festival in northern Germany. I know both, I love both – and I can’t wait to be back there. There are also some big festivals coming up, so stay tuned! 😊 On top of that, more international gigs are on the way – I’ve planned a tour in India and will be playing in Denmark, the Czech Republic, and back in London for the second time this year. Hope to see some of you there! <3