Dazed Mix: Surusinghe

With the UK heatwave bringing some fiery energy to this year’s festival season, summer is officially here – and what better way to get ready for the weekend than with this month’s Dazed mix, brought to you by Melbourne-born, London-based DJ and producer Surusinghe. The co-founder of multifaceted club platform Drifting, a music blog, discourse hub and party, Surusinghe’s interest in dance music comes from the floor itself, starting her journey both as a punter and an industry head, before getting into DJing and production. Released today (June 20), her new EP i can’t remember the name of this, but that’s ok is a party track through and through, featuring four techno-infused tracks geared for the club, peppered with MC chatter and high-intensity hooks.

Ahead of her set at Glastonbury next week, Surusinghe shares a playful mix, inspired by, you guessed it, the dance floor. “I concentrated a lot on very long blends and letting tracks play out and have their moments,” she expands. I wanted it to be a nice reflection of the flow of a night out and how the sounds I like could develop.” Listen to it below. 

Hey Surusinghe! Congrats on the launch of your new EP. Can you tell us a little about what we can expect?

Surusinghe: Like most of my other EPs, each track is quite varied from the other. There are two more tracks to go. One is super bass-y but has similar distinctive synths that you heard in ‘FTRW!’ and ‘Kinda Like That’. The other is a big euphoric track. I’ve never released anything like that before. It was pretty self-indulgent to be honest, but I’m hoping one day I’ll have the perfect closing festival slot moment to play it.

What are some of your earliest music memories? 

Surusinghe: My earliest music memories probably revolve around my late father. He was an incredible guitar player. It would probably be him playing my brother and me. 

You can see an example below, of my dad and I in my childhood home – it is one of my favourite photos ever! Look at the size of the TV in the background. You can tell she was thicc. Also the print on those couches! It’s definitely giving 90s baby.

Tell us about Drifting. How’s it going?

Surusinghe: I love it so much! We have this beautiful WhatsApp community group chat where we all share music with one another. And then do our monthly ‘Drifting Music Club’ meetings. This month we're discussing Erika De Casier’s new record, which I’m looking forward to.

I think the thing I like the most about it is that it’s a space where I can appreciate music in a non-music industry format. I’ve worked in the music bizz for a long time (long before I was a producer/DJ) and it can sometimes mean you listen differently and concentrate on shit like ‘how will this perform’ or ‘who’s the audience’ rather than, ‘why do I like this’. I am really enjoying listening and appreciating music with the club with the sole purpose of discussing it as a fan.

Where do you see club music going? Are there any trends you’ve observed lately?

Surusinghe: The trend that I am observing the most that is probably affecting the crowds I play for is how much ‘harder’ and ‘faster’ club music is getting. I know it’s very counterintuitive, but honestly, it just makes me want to play slower and softer. I always used to be a pretty loyal 140 BPM girl, but now I find myself starting most of my sets at around 130 BPM. I even do so in this mix, it never hits higher than 138 BPM.

I think like all trends, it will pass. If I'm being completely honest, I don’t love it. With this mix, I tried to demonstrate what a three-hour set would be like from me, but in half that time. I wanted to start with some floaty and bubbly house and then end with the harder, darker stuff I like in the techno space, but never get too fast. Great techno for me is all about the intricacies. It’s the subtle sounds and dynamics between the soft and hard moments, and it definitely doesn’t have to be four-four or follow any patterns. I tried to be really purposeful in the track selection behind those moments to showcase that.

How important is collaboration to you?

Surusinghe: It’s everything! No great art is created solo – all ideas should be soundboarded, and if you think your idea can’t be improved by someone else, you’re an idiot.

What’s the best and worst advice you’ve ever received?

Surusinghe: I saw a TikTok that said ‘just say dafuq and move on’ and I thought that was very brilliant. The worst advice was to post all my thoughts as Facebook statuses when I had them. I looked back recently and, Jesus, they did not age well.

What are you listening to at the moment?

Surusinghe: New James K! Drool. 

Tell us about your Dazed mix.

Surusinghe: It’s definitely a mix inspired by the dancefloor! I concentrated a lot on very long blends and letting tracks play out and have their moments. I wanted it to be a nice reflection of the flow of a night out and how the sounds I like could develop. 

I’m all about my focused and purposeful listening so that’s what I hope you can do with this mix. Visualise how the dancefloor starts with some softer, more playful moments and then end with lots of broken rhythms and intense soundscapes.

TRACKLIST

Demented (Or Just Crazy) - Tres Demented 

Zorn Gottes -  Tornado Wallace 

Dolphin Girl - Mabel 

Numerical Deviant - Roza Terenzi 

Chocolate (Tom Middleton Cosmos Mix) - Kylie Minogue

Stay Playful - DJ Life

Trick - Eden Burns 

La Bomba - Leibniz 

She's Startin' - Maara 

??? -  Aiden Francis

??? - Burna 

??? - Wils*rish

44 Bongo - Toura     

Accelerate - Nathan Alexander 

Rise From Your Loop - CHIMERA 

Boxhead - Sons of Slough 

Muckle Drum (Peder Mannerfelt Remix) - Dyslecta

Leven Lever Liver Love - Metrist 

Shbash - SUBARO (Toumba Dead Sea Rally Mix) - Toumba

i can’t remember the name of this, but that’s ok is out now.