ARTIST OF THE MOMENT: Aleja Sanchez

reading time: 9 min

It's truly a pleasure to feature Aleja Sanchez in our series. Hailing from Colombia but currently based in Barcelona, this exceptional artist embodies an ethos that intentionally fuses electronic music with the profound wisdom of nature and organic aesthetics. As a prominent figure in the deep techno realm, we find it timely to showcase her mystical and dedicated approach to techno. Colombia boasts one of the most dedicated techno scenes globally, and Aleja equally embodies and represents that passion and spirit. 

Aleja, a DJ, producer, and label owner, possesses a keen eye for talent. Noteworthy artists like Deepbass, Oscar Mulero, and Polygonia have already graced the Raices series of her label, Northallsen Records, where she releases her work as well. We can be curious about what is next on the label, as she specifically seeks out artists outside the social media's focus. In Aleja's sonic realm, "deep" is also transcendental; it encompasses a rich diversity inspired by nature and indigenous communities. Her mix serves as a testament to this, a purposeful narrative for introspective journeys while still focused on a deep connection on the dancefloor. It's a profound story, and our conversation with her mirrored that depth and significance.

Hi Aleja, it is great to have you here, and thank you for the beautiful mix you created for our "Delayed with… "series. While we want to let the music speak for itself, I'm curious about what inspired you to make this mix.
Hi Theresa, thank you for opening this space to share some thoughts and perspectives; I appreciate it. Nature is the primary source of inspiration for me. The endless soundscape of nature immensely impacts my mental health and general well-being. Since the beginning of my career and even more lately, I have been interested in the dualities and dialogue between the technological basis of electronic music and the organic and natural sound and its aesthetics. The session I recorded combines the energy of techno with organic elements and orchestral sounds. I intend to show my musical universe where nature and harmony are protagonists. 

While you are now based in Barcelona, your origin is Colombia, a country known for a passionate techno scene that - unlike others- embraces techno of the deeper and more hypnotic kind. I'd love to hear more about your musical roots in Colombia and how they influenced you.
I am from Bogotá, a tough city full of diversity and chaos. Bogotá is a city I love so much but also hate; it's a duality. The city holds one of the biggest rock festivals in the world, "Rock al Parque." It was one of my first relevant influences because I discovered a new rebel world during the 2000s when I was a teenager. On the other hand, later, because of my biology studies and research with Indigenous Communities in Colombia, I became interested in understanding nature from other perspectives different from formal science. There, I established my interest in ritualistic and hypnotic music.

My observation is that the scene is very Eurocentric (maybe with a few exceptions, such as Japan). What South American artists or collectives would you like people to know to explore further?
I think Danza Nativa, Alderaan's label, is a gorgeous and genuine project. Nowadays, authenticity in techno music is very difficult to find; Danza Nativa holds a genuine concept and intention towards music. About artists, particularly from Colombia, I think Zemög is an example of hard work and pure love for music. We met in Pereira many years ago. He was just a little boy passionate about DJing and music. I feel very happy for him and his evolution. I am sure many good things will come for him. 

I love to discuss the current "state of affairs" in the electronic scene with my guests. You shared with me earlier that you think deep techno is a bit "stuck" at the moment. Can you share a bit more about why you think that is?
Not just deep techno; in general, techno music has been stuck for a long time. There is a tendency to emulate and repeat the same formula over and over again because it's functional and it sells. Recently, a renowned DJ said in an interview for ADE that sometimes, at a certain point in your career, you must make a choice. You have to decide what you want, which implies changes; that is the point where I consider you can make something different or simply follow the formula. With something different, I am talking about adding value and meaning to your sound because there, in the realms of meaning, is the real power of music capable of transforming realities. If we look at it from the perspective, the "techno formula" has become so lacking that we are now flooded with this fake underground trend, where music is just one accessory for the business. Many of the "Electronic Music Culture" values are being smashed.  This is not a new phenomenon; it happened with disco music at the end of the 1970s, just to give an example. When people with an uncontrolled ambition for making money or gaining visibility touch music, the result is not genuine; it kills the art of the music. Independent of what kind of music we are talking about, we need to promote more respect towards it. The music itself is ultimately abstract and follows its logic. No matter the meaning you assign to it, it can be a completely different one for someone else that is no less valid; the meaning holds dreams, beliefs, ideals, statements... The acknowledgment of meaning is perhaps a way to respect music. Whether the music is fast or slow, we need to pay attention to the meaning and what we want to say as artists with the music we create.

How did that change the way you play as a DJ yourself?
This perspective has pushed me to be more attentive to detail, to pay close attention to the concept itself in my productions, and to the message I want to transmit through my performances. It's also a call to dive deep inside myself to understand the meaning of music in my life and what I am pursuing with music. 

As an artist yourself, you are strongly influenced by ancestral culture and mysticism and translating that into some powerful techno. As an artist, you have been evolving and exploring and are now working on a new album that will feature more piano and orchestral sounds. How was that process so far?
It's been a roller coaster! The process has been slow and, in a certain way, difficult but very exciting. In the last three years, I have learned the importance of giving myself time when training my ears to perceive sound details. This skill can be developed, but the process of reaching it is very slow (or at least for me), and sometimes, one can feel that it needs to improve. Sound involves perception, and perception is subjective, and it has been a big lesson for me. Mixing sound far beyond right or wrong is a matter of perspective and meaning; what do you want to say with that sound or note and the full set of elements?  When you approach music production this way, the process is endless, making it more difficult to finish my projects. At some point, I was so focused on the technical part that I couldn't advance with the creative part itself. 
In the meantime, trying to figure out a way to develop a better creative workflow, I decided to experiment with the piano, playing it (or trying to) and going with the flow. The magic came back, and I learned creativity comes for me in the absence of self-pressure. The album is about my spiritual journey and understanding death and life. I am very happy with the results so far; I am still working on it and intend to release it this year. I'm not in a hurry to release music anymore, so I know it will be the right one when the time comes.  

You run the label Northallsen Records, which is very much focused on finding artists with a very genuine and distinct sound. Especially the series "Raices" is a testament to that. How was Raisces conceived and what are the plans for the future?
Raices is a series I created to mark the beginning of a new cycle for Northallsen after a long silence period (during and after the pandemic). The compilation is organized into five releases; the fourth reference will be released next month. The compilation explores the relations between nature and electronic music. I came up with the concept when I decided to restart my DJ career and my musical projects with a stronger focus on creating my musical universe endowed with meaning. I am not interested in selling music as a product but in producing, thinking, and reflecting through the music I do and the music released on my label, so the future for Northallsen demands taking risks.

Northallsen also has a very specific visual identity. Who are the artists you work with, and how do you decide on artwork?
I am the designer. Once the concept behind the release is clear to me, the visual part is easier for me. 

For the label curation, you focus mainly on artists outside the social media focus. Social media can be a great tool for people outside the "club culture" or access to locations to discover new music and artists. How do you look for artists to collaborate with?
I want to release music that moves my soul; that is the fundamental reason I get in contact with an artist. I like to have a conversation to discover if we have a shared vision. If that is the case and the artist is willing to participate, putting the same effort on a track released in a digital format, we start planning the course of action. It's not always an easy process when the release format is a relevant factor for some people. I truly respect that decision. I reckon vinyl is the ideal format when adding value to music because of the sound's quality and the fact that it makes music a touchable and tangible element through a physical material. Nevertheless, the difficulties around the vinyl market and the challenges for a small label are huge, and I want to avoid facing that pressure, at least at this moment.