Nadia Struiwigh - Interview
“I believe in moods… not genres”
A few weeks ago, I had the pleasure of meeting and talking to Nadia Struiwigh to do this interview with her. It took us a while to find a slot for a call but we finally made it! Nadia is such a fun, colorful, and interesting human being to talk to and at the same time a very successful producer and live performer. It’s also amazing that she did everything on her own terms and just did the things that made HER happy first and foremost. I feel that this is the key to success. Not money or fame, just being able to live the life you’ve always wanted with the minimum compromises. Nadia does exactly that. She won’t stay trapped in a specific genre, won’t get obsessive over gear, and will always work day by day to create music and art she feels proud of.
She is the definition of the modern-day creative person. She is making music, performing live, writing a book, coaching other producers on production and composing, and working with well-respected brands in the music industry all by herself. So here is our full interview and thank you Nadia for being a part of our Artist Spotlight!
Q: So, Nadia, you’ve been very busy with releasing music in the past few months, wanna tell us about your latest album “Birds of Paradise“?
Nadia: Of course! My last full LP was released in October of 2023 at Dekmantel label which is quite funny since I’m originally Dutch! When I’m making an album, I’m always at this “freedom“ place, not thinking about genres or specific labels. I just want to have the ultimate freedom to basically tell a story and I realized that I’m such a big storyteller in everything I’m doing whether it’s a song, graphic design, or even music coaching! So I started the album in Australia since I lived there for three years during the pandemic and it made me dive deep into myself, thinking of the sounds I wanted to use and the sci-fi elements I wanted to add. Nature in Australia is quite overwhelming with amazing colors and such a magical experience and that’s where I saw the flower called Bird of Paradise which really looked like a sci-fi flower with all its profound colors and shapes. It kinda made me think about how I see nature in contradiction to all the technology that’s around us. So I immediately knew that this was going to be the album’s name!
Q: The sound of your album is very diverse and blends a lot of genres together, how did you come up with that?
N: I just wanted to share music from ambient to jungle, from experimental to drum & bass! In general, music for me is not about genres, it’s more of a mood - sometimes I feel angry, sometimes I feel sad… Oh! But most of the time I’m really happy! So I can put it all into my music which is great. The sound evolves from very sci-fi and ambient to something very natural and organic but also with some more hard stuff because at the time the war in Ukraine started and I wanted to also write music about it. I wanted my music to be where humanity meets! There is no culture and we are all one big unity of cultures and experiences!
Q: OK, now let’s talk about your latest release, “Blueprint“ which, for sure, went on a different path from the album.
N: “Blueprint“ is much more focused on Techno music which I have such a big love. However, lately, I really feel that Techno has become so commercialized and so far away from the original rave culture that I used to be a part of when I started my journey. It was definitely more underground, secretive, and mysterious but these days the mystery is almost gone. But yeah, if I had to label “Blueprint“, it would be a techno record with a Dubby twist which is also another genre I truly love. Stretched basslines, and wobbly frequencies that are very raw without too many effects and I think I really created my own thing with this release! Oh, and that record was made using only hardware gear - mainly the Korg Electribe and I’m really glad it’s starting to take off!
Q: You’ve talked about genres and not thinking too much about them. If someone had to label you as an artist, they would probably categorize you in the Techno/ Ambient scene. What do you think about this? Do you feel that sometimes you are trapped in making music in a specific genre or style?
N: That’s a good question. I was recently talking to someone in the US and in the US they love to really hone into a specific genre for each artist. In a sense, this is who you are and how I’m going to “sell“ you. For me, every time I’m pushed into one direction I’m not that happy. I see myself as an experimental artist in a very broad way. I always try to make my gear sound like nothing else - almost something unthinkable! I never wanted to put myself in a box saying I’m an Ambient or Techno artist. I just enjoy experimenting with sound and frequencies. I honestly accepted myself being that type of artist and I feel that others accept it too.
Q: So, I had the same question for Oora in our recent interview and I think it also applies to you. How do the environment and the city you live in influence your music and inspire you? You’re now in Berlin which certainly has a certain vibe and mood.
N: Hmm, I would say I’m somewhere in the middle. For example, when I was in Australia I didn’t have a lot of clubbing experiences so my music ended up being more ambient. I mean, when you get back from a surfing trip you are a bit more chill, right? A city, like Berlin for example, does influence me a little, mostly because I’m in touch I’m more in touch with the community.
But generally, I create a mood and a space with myself. That’s why I prefer a home studio and not being in an actual studio space. I really like to create my own bubble or mood to create! Being a musician is certainly a tough sport! And most of the time your biggest enemy is your own thoughts. That’s why I feel you have to have a place to retreat and be on your own.
Q: That actually brings me to my next question. We live in a time that as an artist you can practically do everything on your own. We have all the tools accessible, but at the same time, it’s really hard to “make it“ as an artist. What’s your take on that?
N: I think that for some people this is easier than others. I was always dreaming of a job like this. I’m highly sensitive and highly creative so if I don’t create something I become very off. Over the years, I realized that there is no job that includes all the things I wanted to do. So when this music expansion happened, it was a huge benefit for me. I could make music, share knowledge, do content creation, and do all the creative things I love to do. So for me, it was the perfect timing to start this. Before the pandemic, I didn’t have many followers and a large audience but after a couple of years, it grew a lot bigger. And I believe that it happened because I could finally be who I really am to its fullest.
And I know that this might not work for everyone. A person can be an amazing musician and that’s all they want to be. At the same time, the younger generations, like Gen Z, start their own businesses as it’s a very normal thing to do for them. And this faster pace reflects on the industry. For me, you have to have a lot of dedication, spend all your energy on it, and have a lot of self-motivation. Every day you wake up, you have to plan things and have a goal while always having your music in the center of it since that’s your end product after all. Also, learning different skills like video shooting & editing or graphic design. This is something I personally enjoy because we, as people, are not one-dimensional! It’s all about being flexible and adaptive.
Q: But it’s also about finding the balance between working on your music and generating content and promo material for it, right? You’re quite active on social media but how do you find that balance?
N: I’m kind of addicted to my work, to be honest. Not in a bad way I think but I do love to share my work and also share knowledge with others. Music coaching for me is very rewarding because I can be myself, and share my experience, but also receive so much value by exchanging ideas and seeing others grow.
With social media, it can be very difficult from time to time. Social media can make you question yourself and your own truth. We are flooded by content and we tend to overthink what others think and say, the algorithms, and also end up searching for validation from others. And keep in mind, that this “validation” plays a big part in the business you’re trying to build. This can create a very toxic environment. In my opinion, the best way to do this without letting it affect you too much is to try and keep a distance from it emotionally or even let someone else do it for you if it’s possible. And don’t get me wrong, I do love to create content but I don’t really love being on these platforms all the time because it sucks your energy and it even made me question if all this love I receive and I’m grateful for is actually true.
That’s why I decided to take a little break from it to focus on myself and take some much-needed distance from it.
Q: You mentioned your Music Coaching. Want to tell us more about it?
N: My biggest dream is to someday build a school, preferably in a third-world country. I’ve traveled a lot and seen a lot of hardship and I also came to realize that, when I was a kid, my safe space was school. It was the place where I could be creative and process things on my own. I studied Music Therapy and Sound Therapy in Nepal and now I started doing Music Coaching which is the first step in finding my methods in teaching music. It’s all about how frequencies and how they correspond with us. Not about genres or gear. It’s all about how we react and feel about music and sound. I have coached 30 people so far and the power of sharing and all the things that those people taught me too is so enlightening and reminds me what is actually important in life. It’s something that touches my heart and I want to keep doing it for as long as I can!
Q: I’ve seen that in between all of the above, you’re also writing a book, right?
N: Yes! Everyone has his own unique journey and there’s so much I want to tell and share about all the things that made me who I am today. All the things I’ve seen and experienced. I can also share the title! It’s going to be “On a brighter note“ because it’s all about self-development and how creativity is affecting us as human beings. Creativity enables us to find our inner child and strips us of all the layers that our upbringing and society have put upon our shoulders.
Q: OK, it wouldn’t be a Sinesquares interview if we didn’t talk about gear! Since you’re playing a lot of shows, wanna share with us how you prepare your songs from the studio to a live gig?
N: There are so many ways to do this and I’m actually using a lot of them. It really depends on what the event I’m booked is going to be and what gear I will use. I play DJ sets, live hardware sets, and a mix of both of these so every time is different. To be honest, when I’m playing in front of a big live audience I mostly prefer to combine Hardware, Ableton Live, and DJing and not have a hardware-only setup. I will probably have my laptop, a MIDI controller or two, and maybe a couple of hardware synths alongside the mixer in the venue. I always say to my students “Don’t make this too hard on yourself”. Being on stage is much more stressful than being in your home studio. You have gear that sometimes fails, a live audience in front of you, and so many things happening at the same time.
Q: Anyone who follows you knows that you absolutely love the original Korg Electribe. What makes it so special for you?
N: Oh yes I do love it. I have the Electribe from almost when I started making music. I probably have had one for 12 years now. It is so intuitive for me and I love the sounds it can make, the crunchiness it produces, and the warmth of the onboard tubes. The sequencer, the modulation options, and the synth features allow you to basically create a full track with it. I just know this thing in and out and it kinda works like my brain and I can’t find anything else that does that. It’s definitely a love story! I have two of them and I would gladly take 10!
Q: You recently started working with modular. What’s your experience so far?
N: It’s definitely like a puzzle that never ends. I mostly prefer modular for effects because although it’s cool that you’re building a sound from scratch, working on a single patch for hours, kinda holds me back. I'm a very quick worker and have a certain flow so it can be distracting. Of course, it’s fun and exciting. Manipulating sound with modular is incredible but I guess I’m still not convinced it can become a part of my workflow. I admire people who are really skillful and quick with modular but I’m more of a synth person myself.
Q: Ok then, since you’ve mentioned synths, what’s your favorite synth of all time?
N: Hmm I have a huge love for the Juno and it will always have my heart. Another synth I absolutely love is the Nord Lead A1 which I still explore and can create some very crispy pads, sounds very nice, and it’s one of the synths that always deliver. Another amazing synth is the Moog Sub 37 for bass, leads, and some more trippy stuff. Now that I think of it the Sub 37 and A1 combo is incredible.
Q: What about pedals? Have you integrated them into your workflow?
N: Honestly, not really. I mainly use them for reverb. I have a Strymon BigSky, a Hologram Electronics Microcosm, the Zoom Multi-Stomp, and a Walrus D-1 which is a delay pedal. So if I were to use something, it would be reverb and delay.
Q: So, a question I always ask artists! What’s your dream festival line-up?
N: Oh ok that’s tough. I would say dBridge, Djrum, DJ Nobu, Boards of Canada, Aphex Twin! I also love some more classical composers that are off the electronic vibe. For example, Ludovico Einaudi is one of my heroes, or why not put some Hans Zimmer on top of it?
Q: What’s your biggest musical inspiration?
N: I don’t really think there is a band or someone that actually inspired my music cause like everyone I have my own journey and stories to tell. But those stories sometimes happen to connect to other artists and we share a similar vibe. I would say Boards of Canada because I love this band and they mix genres so fluidly and beautifully.
Q: OK, last one! What’s the best advice you’ve got on making music or art?
N: When I started this journey, someone told me “Just be you“ and at first I didn’t quite get it and understand it to its fullest. But now I start to realize the actual meaning of this. Not focusing on other people, not caring what everyone else thinks, and just sticking with your own beliefs. You need to first to dive deep into your soul and you’ll find out there are so many frequencies and sounds that relate to you. Being yourself will definitely bring you so much more joy and you’ll enjoy this journey!
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