3 Tell us about “gimme some time” - what was the inspiration behind that track?

“gimme some time” literally fell to me out of the sky. I think I finished 80% of the track in the first night! The record feels nostalgic and emotionally light, but when you listen to the lyrics you find that (at least for me), “gimme some time” is capturing that feeling of being in a bit of limbo in a relationship. Maybe you’re working out a fight, or you’re going through changes. Sometimes we all just need a little time to take a step back before we make a decision. That’s what “gimme some time” is about.

4 ‘OUCH’ is a striking album title. How does the name reflect the emotions or stories you wanted to capture on this record?

‘OUCH’felt like the perfect album name because it’s blunt, honest, and true to my story. For so many years I struggled to find my sound, and it took me going to raves again and making some amazing friends in the electronic space who reminded me of who I was before social media. When I first fell in love with electronic music I was 13 and going through really dark times in my home. Getting out of the house to hang with friends, listen to music, skate, go to punk concerts- that was my safe space. My entire youth was defined by trauma, but also those little, simple but euphoric moments where I felt independent. OUCH is basically my tribute to the music that inspired me in my hardest times. It’s a little bit of electro, techno, sharp sounds, darkness and danceable chaos, like if you went back into my iPod in 2010. It represents a bit of pain (hence OUCH), but being okay with that because there’s certainly beauty in not everything being perfect all the time.

5 What sounds or genres most influence your DJ sets right now?

I’ve spent a lot of time with UK electronic artists, and I’m definitely influenced by their insane talent to make things fun. They play around a lot and look towards the future and I love that. I also love fast music and genres like trance and techno. My DJ sets are usually pretty speedy and bouncy, and I try to stay above 135 bmp because that’s where I love to be.

6 How hands-on are you with producing and engineering your own tracks?

Honestly too hands on lmao. I like to get things done! That’s why I learned how to do everything from production, to engineering vocals, mixing + mastering etc. I’m a DIY’er since birth, and fellow DIY’ers know that when we want something done- we learn how to do it ourselves! Music can take SO much time and have so many delays beyond your control, so If I can be totally in control of my music and feel confident about my production, I’ll always do everything I can myself!

7 Can you walk us through what your creative process looks like when building a set or a song?

Both are such different processes. When I’m making music, I don’t always need to start with a vocal or bass. Sometimes it’s drums or a great synth. It really just depends on what mood I’m in emotionally. For example if I’ve been going out a lot and I’ve been surrounded by a lot of club music I might start with a nice drum beat to get the groove going. But if I’m in my feels I might just do some minor key bass and start writing lyrics. But pretty early on, I record vocals. That’s my favorite instrument to play with!

8 You've played in some epic locations. What’s been your most surreal performance moment so far?

Playing the Fred Again… afterparty for the Forest Hills show in New York was surreal, because I was given such a great platform to show who I was sonically. That was an incredible night, but personally one of my favorite sets I played was the closing party for LAAX in the Swiss Alps. I played for HOURS (until 6:30 am) and it was this insane boiler room-Esque setup where everyone was high energy and down to party. The whole club was filled with skiers and snowboarders from around the world and It was just epic. The next day I think about 100 people on the mountain thanked me for how much fun they had, which was really special.

9 You’ve been a huge part of internet culture for over a decade — how has your relationship with social media evolved?

I’m really glad I got to grow up on social media in such an innocent time where no one really even knew the “value” of a follow. When I started my social media you could barely make money online, brands didn’t really understand it and were quite skeptical of it, and it was still pretty weird to post yourself online- most people looked at you sideways if you told them you were a “full time YouTuber” lol. There was so much content just made for the joy of it all. Now the stakes are higher and things seem a bit more desperate, because people know you can make a huge career off of the internet. The “why” is often shifted towards making money/fame/power etc. I try to consistently remind myself that even though social media gets louder and faster, to stay true to myself, and never forget my “why”!

10 What do you want your fans to feel or experience when listening to a Marisol set?

First of all- I want them to dance. I don’t ever play a set where people are just standing around on their phones! I really want people to smile, hug, kiss, meet someone new… and most of all I want people to feel something. I’m obsessed with cinematic timing and I try to build my sets to feel like a movie, in the way that you always leave the theater taking a piece of the main character with you. I want you to leave my set feeling refreshed, inspired, and like something changed… but you can’t quite put a finger on it.

11 Fashion and music often go hand in hand — how do you balance those two worlds creatively?

It’s the cinematics of it all. When you listen to a great song and you look out the window and imagine yourself starring in this epic music video, what are you wearing? What’s the location? What’s the plot? TBH I really wish I was great at taking iPhone outfit pictures, but the truth is I suck. I think I’m just so obsessed with the whole art of color grading and creating a story that I feel more comfortable expressing fashion through music, storytelling, and an editorial lens.

12 What’s next for you — any upcoming releases, shows, or dreams you’re chasing?

Finishing my first album and having it be completely solo produced is a huge milestone for me, so I’m going to try to enjoy this as long as I can! Then it’s time to make more music. I hope that I can inspire more women to take up music production, and know that it’s totally possible to do it all yourself. If you’re waiting for an excuse to start something new, here it is! Go listen to OUCH, and then pick up that hobby you’ve been hesitating to learn ❤