In this exclusive interview, we dive into the journey of Atlanta-based DJ and producer Stephanie Laine, whose passion for techno and house music ignited in childhood. From early influences like Nina Kraviz to her evolution in the underground scene, Stephanie shares the story behind her captivating sound and artistic vision.
– How did your music career begin?
My music career started with a deep love for techno and house music and of course storytelling. But honestly, it all began back in fourth grade when my best friend’s mom used to bump Nina Kraviz in the car. We were tiny techno heads before we even knew what that meant.
By sixth grade, we were all about dubstep because it was wild and new, and from there, my taste kept expanding. Eventually, I started experimenting with mixes on the radio, which gave me early exposure and helped me shape my own sound in the underground scene. Then I had this unforgettable moment at the Songwriters Hall Of Fame in New York, sitting at a table with Dallas Austin. I was surrounded by legends like Justin Timberlake, Timbaland, Missy Elliott, and Halsey and it was all so surreal and inspiring.
I also found myself backstage at shows with Hardwell, Nghtmre, 3LAU, SLANDER, Illenium, Steve Aoki, Dom Dolla, Cheat Codes, Whipped Cream, Gryffin and Diplo. Being around artists who were so passionate and down-to-earth made me feel like I was in the right place and that I needed to be part of that world…
– What drew you to the music industry and who had you inspired by?
It all started with Nina Kraviz; her music had this energy that pulled me in because she’s a pioneer of her time – and so am I – and that really stood out to me. As I got older and started DJing, I realized she represented so much of what I wanted to bring to the table: inner power, mystery, emotion, and edge.
I’ve always been into sounds that break the mold and electronic music gave me the freedom to do just that. By the time I was 20, I officially started my business and knew without a doubt that I wanted to play techno. That was always the card I was holding and the sound I felt most connected to.
At the time, Atlanta didn’t offer many opportunities for techno artists, so I dipped into dubstep temporarily because that’s what was getting booked on the big stages. But throughout the eight years of my career so far living in Atlanta, I was still playing a lot of underground house. Even while navigating other genres, my heart was always with techno. I’ve been in love with it from the beginning.
And no matter the genre, I’ve always been naturally good at getting creative with my sets. I made some mashups during that time that I’m still proud of and still listen to. That creative energy carried me through until the techno scene started to open up more. When it did, I was one of the first female techno DJs in Atlanta to break into it. I had already been holding that sound close for years so when the door finally opened, I walked right through it.
Techno was never a phase for me; it’s the sound that reflects who I am at my core: grounded, bold, intuitive, rebellious, visionary, and unapologetic.
– Which record labels and artists have you worked on with till now?
I’ve released music with labels like Dancewood Records, Flyover Records, The Greenroom, and Ravestar Records. Each one has supported different parts of my journey and sound, especially as I’ve evolved from underground house to headlining techno.
Some of my tracks have also been featured by major EDM artists such as Dimitri Vegas & Like Mike who included one of my songs in their mix, which was a huge moment. I keep a lot of collaborations under wraps until they’re ready, but I’ve been lucky to work closely with creatives and engineers who really understand my vision and help bring it to life.
– Which was your latest release and also which your next song is going to be?
My latest release is called “Match My Freak”, a collaboration with Travisfaction; it captures this surreal, trance-like moment that just makes you want to make out with someone. It’s bold, groovy, seductive, and totally in the moment.
There’s no telling which track will come to fruition next, but one of my favorites that I’m most excited to share is called “Don’t Let Me Sleep”; it tells the story of a girl unraveling in the aftermath of emotional damage from a relationship. Lost, disoriented, and drowning in her own mind. But in the quiet spaces between dreams, her higher self rises to guide her back. She realizes she’s been following her intuition all along. It’s not about longing or heartbreak, it’s about awakening; about remembering your own power when the world tries to make you forget.
– Is there any hidden meaning in any track/s of yours?
Absolutely. Every song I make holds a deeper meaning, but “Don’t Let Me Sleep” is layered with symbolism. At its core, it’s about breaking through illusion and confronting your pain head-on.
It tells the story of someone who’s emotionally torn from a relationship, not because she lost herself, but because of the emotional damage someone else caused. And yet, even in that pain, her higher self shows up quietly and steadily, guiding her from within.
Her higher self first appears in the depths of the ocean, a space that represents emotional heaviness and overwhelm. But then there’s panic; she’s struggling to breathe, to make sense of anything, and she starts swimming frantically toward the shore. That desperate swim represents the body’s natural response to pain. The need to survive, to find relief, to get out.
The shore isn’t peace; it’s clarity. And when she finally reaches it, gasping for breath, she realizes the real danger isn’t behind her. It’s still happening. She sees herself drowning in a bathtub, locked behind a closed door. That door becomes a symbol of the part of herself still submerged in private pain, the space where the trauma lives. And now, she knows she has to find it. She has to open it. She has to save herself.
“Don’t Let Me Sleep” isn’t a heartbreak song. It’s a story of self-rescue, of knowing deep down what’s right, acting on that truth and still finding yourself trapped in the aftermath of someone else’s damage. It’s about realizing that even when you follow your intuition, you can still end up in pain and have to save yourself anyway.
Pain isn’t always the result of losing your way. Sometimes, it’s what happens when you choose the right path and still get caught in the storm. And that doesn’t make you broken; it makes you brave.
– How has your musical taste evolved over the years?
I’ve always been a techno head at heart. I fell in love with the genre early, like fourth grade early, when my best friend’s mom would blast Nina Kraviz in the car. That was my first real connection to electronic music, and it never left me.
As I got older, dubstep took over the festival scene, so naturally I got into that for a while. It was loud, chaotic and exciting, and I had so much fun exploring it. Then came house music, which pulled me in with its rhythm and energy, especially when I started playing more underground shows in Atlanta. That was a huge part of my growth, diving into different styles and learning how to express myself through each one.
But even while I was experimenting, techno was always waiting for me. It was the sound I kept coming back to. Now, I’m finally making and releasing my own techno tracks and it feels like coming home! Every step of the journey shaped me, but this is the space where I’m meant to be.
– Do you think AI is affecting the music industry? If yes, how do you plan to adapt and use it to your benefit?
Yes, AI is definitely affecting the music industry and I think it can be a powerful tool when used with intention. I don’t believe in using AI to make things up for you or replace your creativity, but if you know yourself, your style, your voice, your vision, it can be an amazing assistant that helps bring all of that to life in a sharper way.
For me, AI is just another way to expand on what’s already inside of me. I use it to help organize ideas, streamline certain parts of my process and craft concepts that are still completely rooted in who I am. It’s not a replacement for authenticity, it’s a tool to refine it!
– Which DAW do you use to produce music and what is the setup in your studio?
I use Ableton on my laptop as my main DAW. I also have an Apollo X interface and a Warm Audio WA-87 condenser mic, which gives my vocals a really clean, warm tone. Sometimes I like to sketch out ideas on my iPad using GarageBand, just to get a rough preview before I fully build it out in Ableton later.
I have my own production studio and content warehouse at Dream Creative Space. It’s where I create, collaborate and bring a lot of my vision to life. I invite my friends over to make music and they usually bring their own laptops if they’re engineering something. We also host podcasts and throw events for creatives and entrepreneurs in the city. I love throwing my release parties there too. It’s more than just a studio; it’s a home for big ideas and community energy.
– What do you think sets DJing apart from other performing arts?
I think DJing is a lot like directing. You’re not just performing a role; you’re building the entire world the audience is stepping into. Every song, every transition, every moment you create on stage is shaping how people feel and move. It’s a form of storytelling that’s completely live and intuitive.
I love stepping into a character when I’m acting; it’s a chance to explore different layers of emotion and experience. But when I DJ, I’m stepping into a more animated version of myself. It’s still performance, but it’s personal. It’s heightened. You become this bold, electric version of who you are and that energy pulls people in.
– When you perform in public as a DJ, how does what you play affect your style of DJing and what is your general process for discovering new music?
When I’m DJing, I have to feel every beat. It’s like every bone in my body wants to dance. I imagine I’m the one shooting the lasers with my hands like an orchestra, syncing every movement with the sound. It really is a full production, and when I let go and get lost in the music, that’s when I’m at my best. I move however I want. I trust the music and let it guide me.
As for how I find new music, I dig everywhere! SoundCloud, YouTube, Spotify. I love discovering hidden gems in unexpected places. But when I’m finalizing what I’ll actually play live, I head to Beatport. That’s where most of the professionally released tracks are uploaded and I know if it’s on Beatport, it’s ready for the dancefloor. A lot of the songs I find elsewhere end up on there too, so it’s like a final checkpoint.
I’m definitely a techno head at heart, but nothing’s stopping me from throwing in some tech house, UK garage, or even DnB if it fits the moment. I love keeping it fresh and unpredictable.
– How do you engage with your fanbase and what role does your audience play in your creative process?
I stay really connected with my fanbase. I respond to every DM and comment because I want people to know they’re seen and appreciated. I also do livestreams, post regularly across my platforms and use polls and Q&As to hear what people are feeling or excited about. I love being part of the conversation, not just the one talking.
I always hear and see what people are saying, not just about my music but about the entire scene, the culture and what people are resonating with emotionally. It gives me insight into what people are experiencing and feeling. But ultimately, the stories I tell, the sound I design, and how I build my world are rooted in my own life experiences. That’s where the heart of it all comes from!
I’ve built a private fan community where people can connect on a deeper level, get early access to my music and exclusive content, and feel like they’re part of something real. My audience plays a huge role in my process. The energy is mutual. I’m giving but I’m also receiving constant inspiration just by listening.
– What is your favorite DJing experience?
One of my favorite DJing experiences was playing at Marquee Las Vegas. I played seven shows in five days and it was nonstop energy the entire time. Being in that environment with the lights, sound and people from all over the world dancing to my set was so surreal.
It pushed me in the best way. I had to stay sharp, stay inspired, and deliver every single time. But more than anything, it reminded me that I’m built for this. Performing that often in such an iconic space really affirmed how far I’ve come and how much I love what I do.
– What has been your biggest challenge as a DJ and music producer?
One of the biggest challenges has been finding people to collaborate with who truly understand the vision and have that same innate drive to grow, create and succeed. Not everyone has that level of ambition or emotional maturity, and for a long time; I found myself scouting for talented people who ended up being unprofessional or disrespectful. Whether it was due to underestimating me or projecting their own insecurities, it ended up being their loss.
I’ve stayed true to who I am from the very beginning! I never swayed from my values and I always trusted myself to make the right moves. I wanted to build something real with people, make memories, share a journey, but so many couldn’t see that. A lot of them were selfish and many tried to project false narratives onto me that had nothing to do with who I really am.
It showed me just how many illusions exist in the world, and at the same time, how grounded I’ve always been in truth! That’s the irony; they twist the truth while I’ve been sitting in it the whole time. And now, they’re still stuck in the same place, while I’ve moved forward with the right people by my side.
In the end, staying aligned with myself brought exactly what I needed. And that’s something no one can take away…
– How would you describe who you are at work and in the world, and how does your destiny guide you?
Who I am at work and in the world is remarkable and exceptional. I move with purpose and confidence because I know I was born to lead from a place of vision, creativity and truth. I don’t follow someone else’s path, I create my own. I’ve always been driven by a sense of alignment, not approval.
My destiny tells me to do what makes me feel alive. That’s the compass. If it doesn’t excite me, it’s not meant for me. I’m here to break the mold, not to be molded. I thrive in spaces where I can be the visionary, the one who brings big ideas to life and makes people feel something real. I need autonomy, I need truth, and I need depth in everything I do. That’s how I stay connected to who I am and why I know I’m on the right path.
– How do you stay connected to your inner fire when the world tries to pull you in other directions?
I was never meant to be pulled. I was meant to remember.
The world is loud with distractions, expectations, projections, but my inner fire doesn’t flicker in all that noise; it burns steady because I know where it comes from.
My fire isn’t something I built to prove myself. It’s something I uncovered by listening, by aligning, by being honest with who I am. That confidence people feel, it’s not inflated. It’s destined. It’s written into who I came here to be. My path was never about fitting in; it’s always been about remembering my power and walking it fully.
Doing what makes me feel alive isn’t a luxury. It’s my calling. If something doesn’t excite me, it’s not part of the vision. My passions were given to me for a reason, I don’t second-guess them, I honor them. Because every time I follow that fire, I get closer to the truth of who I am and the impact I’m meant to have.
I don’t dim myself to be understood. I don’t contort to belong. I let the world rise to meet me. And when I walk into a room, when I step behind the decks, when I’m in creation mode, it’s not just confidence you’re feeling, it’s clarity. That’s the difference. I don’t need to chase power. I am power. And I’ve known it all along.
– What’s something most people don’t know about you?
Most people don’t know that I spent a lot of my 20s doing spiritual practices. I knew I was aligning with something greater, even if I didn’t know exactly where it would take me. I followed my intuition, stayed close to my values and trusted what I felt, even when no one around me could explain it.
Through the Siddha walk, I experienced a kundalini awakening and eventually reached a state of nirvana. The things I was feeling were intense and surreal, things I had never heard anyone else talk about, but I knew they were real.
And then, one day, I stumbled upon a Siddha walk park that already existed. That moment confirmed everything I had been experiencing was true. It was quiet, but undeniable. It reminded me that I’m a part of something much bigger, and I’m right there with the yogis who experienced it too.
– If you could go back and give your younger self one piece of advice, what would it be?
You don’t have to carry everything on your own. It’s okay to reach out and ask the questions that feel a little uncomfortable. The clarity you need often lives just beyond that fear.
Getting outside perspective from people you trust doesn’t mean you’re doubting yourself. It means you’re choosing to grow with more insight and support. You can trust yourself deeply and still open the door to guidance; that’s where real strength comes from.
– What advice would you give to another female artist, DJ or music producer starting out in their career?
Stay grounded in your values from day one! People will project their own insecurities onto you, they’ll underestimate you and they might try to twist your truth, but don’t let any of that shake who you are. Your clarity is your power.
Not everyone is going to understand your vision, and that’s okay. Protect it. Stay close to your intuition because it will never lead you wrong. Don’t shrink yourself to fit into rooms that don’t deserve your presence. Create your own. Build your circle with people who match your energy, your ambition and your heart.
And never forget; you don’t have to follow a formula! You can be soft and powerful, mysterious and loud, creative and strategic; all at once. You don’t need permission to take up space. You’re already more than enough.
– How is an ordinary day like for you and what do you like to do in your spare time?
Most mornings start with breakfast in bed. My housekeeper brings it to me. She also takes my dog for a walk, does my laundry and keeps everything around the house running smoothly, which allows me to stay focused on creating and being who I am.
In the mornings, I’m usually coming up with new song ideas, practicing vocals, working on mixes, planning out content rollouts and dreaming up visuals for my music videos. Around noon, I have lunch and then in the afternoon I either have acting class or meet with my personal trainer; sometimes both, depending on the day.
Dinner’s around 7, and after that I love hanging out with my friends. We usually end up doing something creative together. Whether it’s building content, vibing to music, or just tossing ideas around. My days are filled with passion and purpose, and I feel lucky to be able to live this way!
– What do you want your legacy to be?
I want my legacy to be a mirror for others, to show what it looks like when you choose truth over validation, alignment over approval and soul over surface. I want to be remembered not just as an artist but as someone who turned pain into purpose and made music that cracked people open in the best way.
I want people to say I was brave enough to hold onto my vision, even when others couldn’t see it. That I didn’t conform, I carved. That I stood in my power so others could remember theirs.
I want to leave behind more than just songs. I want to leave behind a shift, a frequency, a reminder that it’s possible to be fully yourself in a world that constantly asks you to be something else. If my legacy is anything, let it be proof that you can lead with your heart, protect your truth and still create something unforgettable.
– Do you have any dreams and plans for the future?
Absolutely. I plan on touring the world and bringing my sound to as many people as possible. I want to headline major festivals, release music that leaves a lasting impact and create unforgettable experiences wherever I go.
I also want to expand into film and gaming; projects that carry the same energy, intention and tell stories in new dimensions. Whether it’s through a soundtrack, a character or an entire world, I want people to feel something real. I’ve already been approached with a publishing deal and that just confirms I’m on the right path.
Most of all, I just want to keep evolving and stay aligned with who I am. I’m not here to follow a formula. I’m here to create moments that matter and share them with people who truly get it.
Find Stephanie Laine on https://www.instagram.com/_StephanieLaine and listen to her released tracks on https://open.spotify.com/artist/1kNIpJ4dzxk6on4O264xWz
