Breaking the monotony: Sarah Wild’s genre-fluid journey
Sarah Wild, a talented DJ and producer from Berlin, has come a long way from her early days hosting underground raves in the German capital. Her journey into electronic music is as diverse as her sound, which blends acid basslines with piano elements, creating energetic and genre-fluid sets.
Photo Credit: Sarah Wild – Official
Sarah’s musical journey began early. She toured with her father’s surf-rock band as a child, experiencing Europe’s music scene firsthand. Her grandmother, a singing teacher, fostered her talents in saxophone and piano. Sarah’s youth was filled with band performances and jazz projects, while she simultaneously developed a passion for electronic dance music.
Although born and raised in Jena, a former East German city known for its vibrant electronic music scene, Sarah’s path to becoming a DJ was not straightforward. Initially resistant to the idea of DJing, preferring to see herself as a musician, a pivotal moment in 2015 led her to embrace it as her calling. Since launching her solo project in 2016, Sarah has toured extensively, performing across Europe, Mexico, Panama, Guatemala, and the USA.
EG recently had the opportunity to sit down with Sarah Wild to delve into her latest releases, creative process, and future aspirations, including her upcoming debut album set for release in October.
EG: Sarah, your journey from the backstages of your father’s surf-rock band to hosting underground raves in Berlin and now being a renowned DJ and producer is fascinating. Can you share a pivotal moment in this journey that significantly shaped your musical direction? Tell us a little bit about your background.
Sarah Wild: I remember very clearly that I never wanted to be a DJ back then because I felt more like a musician and always found the DJ thing a little bit strange. Playing music from others felt strange and unreal to me. Therefore, I was more hobby-like, working as a saxophone player and giving piano lessons. But this did not really give me the opportunity to live off my music.
It’s a bit of a funny story how I recognized how beautiful and artful DJing could be: After my studies in 2015, I was doing a very strange job and suffering a lot because it was a very boring, typical startup kind of thing, and it was really not for me. A close person who inspired me quite a lot saw me suffering and said to me after 2 weeks of me doing the job: “Babe, what the fuck are you doing there? You are supposed to perform; you should start DJing, because you need to live from your art!” This moment kind of opened my eyes, and I went to the office the day after and told them that they should fire me because I am a musician and belong to the street.
I was wearing a punk outfit that day to make clear that I do not belong in this office world. I felt strong and went to buy a music box for street music at JustMusic afterward. The same day I drove to Potsdam and stood there all day with a drum machine and my saxophone. My income: 1 Euro. Even the damn ticket to the station was more expensive. My start into the music life was not easy. Haha.
EG: Your latest release, ‘Draw Me In,’ features a collaboration with LASKÀ and blends Italo Disco with Indie Dance. Can you walk us through the creative process behind this track and how the collaboration with LASKÀ came about?
Sarah Wild: LASKÀ was a recommendation from my DJ friend Ciao Ella. I was telling her that I would love to work with a singer sometime, and she led me to this very talented singer. We were sitting a lot in the studio and created this track in many sessions. My tracks always start in my head, and I try to dive into certain emotions or situations. In this one, I was imagining how two people meet and truly fall for each other.
EG: You’ve been influenced by various genres, from surf-rock to jazz to electronic dance music. How do these diverse influences manifest in your current work?
Sarah Wild: I get very bored with tracks that are too much into one genre, and I think that my surf-rock/jazz background is one of the reasons for that. Electronic music can become very monotonous quickly, and I think it’s important to break this a little bit with some more natural elements.
EG: Tell us about Midnight Operators. What are you trying to bring to the electronic music community with the label?
Sarah Wild: My label is my space to support smaller artists from the scene who would potentially not get signed by bigger labels. I am basically releasing everything I like or believe in and try not to be influenced by numbers too much. It’s nice to give something back to the scene in this way and to help young artists grow.
EG: You’ve performed all over the world, from Europe to Mexico and beyond. How does the energy and vibe of different locations influence your sets, and do you have any memorable moments from your travels that stand out?
Sarah Wild: I think every show and every setting I enter stays in my mind a little bit and teaches me to adapt quickly to many different vibes as a DJ. It’s very interesting how different places can be, and I am thankful that I have met so many nice people on my journey. Some of them became very close friends, and I love being in touch with so many different people from around the world. Therefore, I think that there is not one single moment. Every situation can be interesting and stays with me somehow. It sounds a bit cheesy, but it’s true.
EG: Your music oscillates between acid basslines and piano elements, bridging traditional instruments with modern electronic sounds. How do you balance these elements in your production process?
Sarah Wild: I stepped away from saxophone productions a long time ago, and now I am basically trying to implement the piano in a more trippy, hypnotic way because I am personally not a big fan of saxophone sounds in electronic dance music at the moment.
“I get very bored with tracks that are too much into one genre”
EG: You mentioned that ‘Draw Me In’ is made for those special early morning moments on the dance floor. Can you describe what makes those moments so magical for you and how you aim to capture that in your music?
Sarah Wild: LASKÀ is singing: “Out of the Night — Into The Light,” and we were thinking about those special people you sometimes meet in these pulsating nights. In the best case, you can meet friendships for life or a new lover or any other kind of great new connection. This happens very randomly just while waiting for a drink or in the toilet line. I met my best friend that way: We were waiting in the toilet line at Kater Holzig, and one of us came up with these stupid Hausmeister Krause jokes randomly. We had a shot after, and 10 years later, we are super close friends, talking all the time, and probably going to stay in touch forever.
EG: As someone who has seen various sides of the music industry, from backstage as a child to front stage as an artist, what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced, and what keeps you motivated?
Sarah Wild: I think my biggest challenge was how to deal with the constant information and communication overload through social media. It’s so hard to stay focused with that, and it took me some time and strength to focus on the positive sides of it. I stay motivated because everything is changing all the time, and I love to see that it’s actually paying off to work constantly and hard on something.
EG: Since starting your solo project in 2016, how has your sound evolved? Are there any particular experiences or influences that have driven this evolution?
Sarah Wild: In the beginning, I was playing only house music, and then I dived a little bit more into a deeper style. I think now I am playing genre-fluid sets that try to find a balance between my two sides, always shaped by the setting.
EG: Having navigated the music scene from a young age and established yourself as a prominent figure, what advice would you give to aspiring artists trying to break into the electronic music scene today?
Sarah Wild: I think it’s very important to take any show in the beginning. I was playing very often for free or for very small fees in the first years. My passion was not really connected to financial rewards. Nowadays, I see many people trying to get big fees from very early career stages, and I find this strange because I see it a little bit like an education process to dive into DJing. In the beginning, you pay a little bit on top, but you learn how to become a good DJ. It’s strange to assume you can make crazy money from the very beginning. In my opinion, it’s important to stay fair to the promoters and to keep the expectations a bit lower when you start. Also, I think it’s nice to have something more to give than just your own art. Create a label or your own event to give something back!
EG: Are collaborations a significant part of your work? What do you look for in a collaborative partner, and how do you ensure that the partnership enhances the creative process?
Sarah Wild: Yes, of course! It’s always nice to work with other artists, and I believe in the flow when it comes to collaborations. I decide very spontaneously and just approach people if I feel it. Sometimes people ask me to team up, and in many cases, I say yes, but if it’s really too far from me, I also say no sometimes….
EG: Music is a journey, as you’ve said. On a personal level, what has been the most rewarding part of your musical journey so far, and where do you hope this journey will take you next?
Sarah Wild: I am really looking forward to playing at Burning Man this year and really hope that I can dive into the US Scene within the next few years. My dream is to live in New York for some time. I feel a big call to this city.
“My label is my space to support smaller artists from the scene who would potentially not get signed by bigger labels”
EG: You have a background in Jazz projects and bands, and now you’re deeply rooted in electronic music. Are there any other genres you’re interested in exploring in the future?
Sarah Wild: Well, I am going to stick with Electronic dance music for now!
EG: Berlin is known for its vibrant and diverse music scene. How has the city influenced your music and your approach to DJing and producing?
Sarah Wild: Without Berlin, I probably would not have become a full-time artist, I think. In this city, my passion for the scene and for nightlife grew very big, and I dived really deep into it a couple of years ago. I love how many different spaces we still have, and I think I am able to produce and DJ only because I used to be a raver back in the days. Even though I have to say that the raver inside is never really fading away. Everything is just so busy and fast these days that I rarely have the time to live out my raver side. It’s still boiling inside of me; I just release this energy differently now. (Most of the time at least)
EG: Can you share any upcoming projects or goals you’re excited about? What should your fans be looking forward to in the near future?
Sarah Wild: I just finished a new single with the title ‘One Summer Is Not Enough,’ including vocals by my very talented good friend Romina Langenhan. It’s going to be released in August. Moreover, I am working on my first album at the moment. It should be ready in October!
Sarah Wild’s ‘Draw Me In’ is now available via Midnight Operators. Stream and download here.
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