By Taylor Anderson

Summary: Off the Couch featured DJ, DJ KarlaInTheMix is a bonafide clubhead hailing from Paris, France. Karla’s lifelong love of music and movement ultimately influenced her to become a DJ at Club Djoon where she is part of their residency, The Djoon Experience, in an effort to bridge the dance and club communities of Paris. She delivers deep house vibes to her audiences but has been bathing in different genres of music since she was a child. 

When she’s not on the decks, you can find her on the dance floor or deep in nature.

“Off the Couch” is a virtual dance party focused on getting those buns off the couch and on to the dance floor. This quarterly event brings you a full day of dance music covering a variety of genres mixed by 5 notable DJ’s from around the world.

WBL: Hi Karla! Can you tell us about yourself and your background?

K: Hey there! Thanks for having me at Words Beats & Life! I am a dancer and DJ living in Paris, France but I’m originally from Helsinki, Finland.

I’ve been into music since before I could walk so movement came into the picture naturally as I was always surrounded by sounds and vibrations. I started taking dance classes at the age of ten, mainly in hip-hop and showdance, which immediately became a major passion of mine. 

Thanks to my attitude and being able to pass as someone a bit older than I was, my teenage years were filled with club-hopping where I instantly fell in love with the ambiance. I became interested in seeing more than what my little club scene in Helsinki had to offer which pushed me to travel to other European cities like Berlin and London, as well as the U.S., to understand the origins of hip-hop and house music that had become focal points of my musical universe.

WBL: What inspired you to get into DJing? How were you able to learn and sharpen your skills?

K: Over the years, I’ve been close to many DJs through our shared passion for music which helped me accumulate an understanding of the art even though I wasn't doing it myself. COVID-19 was actually a blessing in disguise as the first quarantine here in Paris was very long and strict, so I finally took up an offer of a good friend to try his DJ controller and it was a done deal from the first time I laid fingers on it! 

My move into being a DJ wasn’t a deliberate one but more of an organic transition from having been this mad music lover, artist, and dancer throughout my life. Being a dancer has affected my taste in music and the way I DJ in the same way that DJing has affected the way I dance.

WBL: What is it about house music that makes it your favorite?

K: In the DJ community, we tend to talk about a defining moment where someone finally “understands” house music. From my first club visit in New York City, electronic music has had a huge effect on me as a person who dabbled with live instruments then was elevated into a music style that took me beyond. The inexplicably beautiful energy in the air, the unity of the people, and the deepness of music that made people travel within and above themselves was mesmerizing. 

Even though house music is closest to my heart, my library is wide enough to enjoy different music styles as well as to understand their history and linkages. I try to provide a journey for my listeners by playing sounds on a spectrum depending on the audience and occasion, although nothing is better than a late-night final crescendo of deep house tunes!

WBL: Who are some of your musical inspirations? 

K: I start every morning with jazz by artists like Miles Davis, Ray Charles, or Kamaal Williams. In house music I look up to producers and performers such as Kerri Chandler and Joe Claussell. I have huge respect for women like Colleen ‘Cosmo’ Murphy who has been paving the way in a very male-dominated industry. From the newer generation, women like Ash Lauryn and Nina Sol are killing the game. I’ve also been intrigued by the house scene in South Africa where their level of production is off the charts and has started to push global recognition. 

As always, I am continually inspired by my close colleagues and friends at Djoon Club where we are building our residency night, The Djoon Experience, in an effort to bridge the dance and clubbing community. 

WBL: How did Coronavirus affect your life as a DJ? What do you think of the transition to doing virtual shows?

K: I haven’t been too focused on building my virtual presence because I’ve been lucky to have some opportunities with in-person events, even during the pandemic, but I still enjoy connecting with my global music family on live streams. I believe the interplay between in-person and virtual events will remain even after COVID-19 as people have learned to appreciate the access to artists from everywhere and the virtual communities they’ve been able to create. 

When everything started to open up again in Paris, I was fortunate to be able to play for an audience right away as people were ready to go for jam sessions that kept us all sane. One of the big happy accidents was the creation of a weekly “Wheelz and Feet” jam here in Paris organized by a good friend of mine that brings people together every Sunday to dance and enjoy a moment of good music. 

WBL: I heard that you love to dance! What are some other things you like to do outside of making music?

K: Being a dancer and a DJ are two complementary facets of being a music lover at heart. Even though music and dance do fulfill 99% of my time, I have a personality that craves the closeness of nature. Every so often, I need to find myself either on top of a mountain, deep in the forest, or diving in the depths of the sea. Connecting to bigger energies around me is what feeds my creativity and artistry.

WBL: Any advice for your fellow DJs or someone looking to get into mixing? 

K: Always do you! People will feel your energy when you are doing something you love and is a true expression of you rather than when you think there is a norm to respect and abide by. To each their own and that is the beauty of the diversity of individuals and sound.

Every artist has a different way of expressing themselves and it’s this uniqueness that makes them interesting. To me, being a DJ is beyond just technical skills; it’s the ability to control the energy of a room and take your listeners on a journey that will unlock something in them. It’s about giving them that special moment that will live in them forever.