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In this interview, we sit down with Lady Decibel, an emerging duo in the Electronic music scene known for their dynamic blend of House and Techno. From their early beginnings in Minnesota to becoming a rising DJ duo based in Orlando, Lady Decibel’s journey showcases their passion, resilience and creativity. As they carve out their unique sound and challenge industry norms, we explore their influences, creative process, and the evolving role of female DJs in the music world.
Join us as we dive into their story, discover their new musical direction, and learn more about how they continue to innovate within the Electronic music scene.
Hi Lady Decibel, how are you today? To start, can you tell us about your journey from Belarus and the Philippines to becoming a dynamic DJ duo based in Orlando?Â
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Hey there, we’re doing great, thanks for asking! Both our families immigrated to the US back in the 90s. Anya’s family came over in 1992 when she was just three months old. Can you imagine flying to America with a three-month-old? My family moved here in 1998 when I was 8 years old. We’re based in Orlando, Florida now, but we actually grew up in Minnesota, so we know all about those cold winters.Â
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We met during our first year at an all-women’s college in St. Paul, Minnesota. We were super young then—I was already dabbling in DJing, and Anya had never even been to a club before. I used to sneak her into shows, haha. Her first show was Benny Benassi, I think? Since then, we’ve been hooked on the scene. Around that time, I started making a name for myself, becoming the youngest female DJ in town to open for big names like Benny Benassi, Kaskade, and David Guetta. It was an exciting time for Electronic music, as it was just starting to go mainstream.Â
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I still remember 2009 like it was yesterday. That year, Dance music really took off in America. David Guetta’s album ‘One Love’ dropped, and tracks like ‘Memories’ with Kid Cudi and ‘Sexy B****’ with Akon were being played everywhere. The next year, I got to open for David Guetta at a sold-out show in Minneapolis when I was just 19. It was a wild ride!Â
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Your music blends House and Techno. How did you develop this signature sound?Â
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We’ve always been huge House fans and primarily played House music, but lately, Techno has really caught our attention. We didn’t listen to much Techno before because it didn’t click with us—probably because it lacked the melody and vocals we love. But in the past few years, Techno has gone through its own renaissance. Artists like Layton Giordani, Eli Brown, and Lilly Palmer have taken the genre by storm, pushing it in new creative directions.Â
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Right now, Lady Decibel is going through a big shift in style and sound. Our earlier releases were mostly House, but we’re now moving towards a mix of Dance and Techno. It’s like a blend of old-school Eurodance from the Y2K era with modern Techno. We’ve got a lot coming in the second half of this year, so stay tuned—we can’t wait to share our new sound with you!Â
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With roots in such diverse cultural backgrounds, how would you say your Filipino and Belarusian heritage influence your creative approach? Â
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Our families were all about karaoke, haha. Music was a huge part of our childhood. I’m Filipino, so I grew up with a baby bottle in one hand and a microphone in the other. Anya’s family loved their Russian karaoke parties too. Anya was really into Euro stuff like Eurodance, Europop, and mainstream Dance, while I was all about House and Dance.Â
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What Artists or genres would you say have inspired your style the most?Â
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The biggest influence on our music – Rollergirl. She’s a German act that took Europe by storm in the 2000s. I was about 14 when first heard “Luv U More”, and it’s one of our favourite Dance songs to date. Another huge influence was the Russian pop-duo t.A.T.u. Their career was nothing but controversy, but musically, their stuff was really, really good.Â
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Have you faced any challenges as a female DJ duo in a male-dominated industry, and how have you overcome them?Â
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So far, with Lady Decibel being this early on in the game, we haven’t faced any major challenges quite yet. However, being taken seriously in the industry is super important. With the internet and social media blowing up over the years, we’ve seen a lot of female DJs making their mark. But sometimes, we question if they’re genuine. On YouTube, you’ll find quite a few female DJs in provocative outfits, like full-on bikinis behind the decks. Is that really necessary? Â
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It makes you think—are they truly passionate about the music, or is it more about gaining followers and attention on social media? Plus, young kids, especially little girls, are going to look up to you. Is that really the image you want to project?Â
How do you approach creating a new track? What is your typical workflow from concept to final production?Â
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We use Ableton Live and, honestly, 95% of the tracks we start are finished the same day. We believe the best songs come together in one day. From our experience, if you keep coming back to a track day after day, you can lose the main idea, and it just doesn’t sound as cohesive.Â
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Our process usually starts with finding a good vocal sample. Once we have that, we build the entire song around it—drums, bass, melodies, everything. We believe the voice is the best instrument, and if you have a track centered around a strong vocal, it usually ends up being really catchy and enjoyable. We aim to create tracks that people want to listen to over and over, whether they’re streaming it somewhere or hearing it on the radio. All our newest unreleased tracks were made with this approach, and we can’t wait to share them with everyone!Â
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For someone new to your music, which track would you recommend as the perfect introduction to Lady Decibel’s sound?Â
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So, our current catalog is kind of our “old” sound. It was all about experimenting and figuring out who we are as artists in the industry. Now, we’re shifting to a newer, fresher style of Dance and Techno. This is going to be Lady Decibel’s new signature sound from here on out, so keep an ear out for our future releases!Â
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How do you see the role of female DJs evolving in the future, and how do you hope to contribute to this evolution? Â
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We think female DJs are really starting to get the spotlight and influence they deserve in the music industry. With social media blowing up and everyone talking about diversity and inclusion, we see more and more opportunities for female DJs to shine and get the recognition they deserve. Personally, we want to be part of this wave by pushing boundaries and challenging old stereotypes. By putting out top-notch performances and fresh tracks, we hope to inspire other women to chase their dreams and help create a more welcoming and supportive scene for everyone.Â
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Can you share how you prepare for a live set? What do you aim to convey to your audience during your shows?Â
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Our set preparation process is a bit different compared to a lot of touring DJs. Some DJs play totally different sets every time, picking tracks on the fly based on the crowd, while others stick to mostly the same stuff from venue to venue. Many touring DJs only play about 20% of their own tracks live, but think about it—people came to see YOU. They want to hear YOUR songs and YOUR remixes, right?Â
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Our approach is more like live artists or bands. They usually have pre-planned sets with their own songs and maybe a few covers. We’re the same—if you come to a Lady Decibel show, you’ll hear mostly Lady Decibel tracks and IDs. We aim to play at least 50% of our own tracks or more in each live set. And just to be clear, pre-planned doesn’t mean pre-recorded. Every single show will be played live.Â
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We’re all about bringing back the vibe of the old rave days from the 90s and Y2K era. We want to revive that loving, carefree energy—everything that PLUR stood for. We’re talking stage dancers, bright colors, fur, and faster BPM Dance music. We want to truly bring back the rave and everything it represented.Â
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That’s what Lady Decibel is all about. It’s about reviving Dance music, bringing back that vibe, and uplifting the culture. Because at the end of the day, it’s not just about us, it’s about the people, the community, and the music that unites us all. Â
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Looking ahead, what goals are you hoping to achieve next?Â
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Lady Decibel’s future is shaping up to be really exciting. Right now, we’re focused on introducing our fresh sound, and looking ahead, we’re planning to release an album and go on our own tour. It’s our first year, and we’re ready to bring Dance and Techno to the forefront. Stay tuned for our upcoming releases!Â
We wrap up this interview by thanking Lady Decibel for their time and for sharing a deeper look into their journey so far. From their roots in Minnesota to making waves in Orlando’s Electronic music scene, they embody the evolving landscape of Dance music and the increasing influence of female DJs. With a fresh new sound on the horizon and exciting plans for the future, Lady Decibel is set to continue leaving their own mark in the industry, so stay tuned for their upcoming releases and follow their journey, as this is just the beginning.
Lady Decibel Online