SONOS CLUB : SIGNORINA
INTERVIEW
What are some early memories of music from your upbringing that shaped your taste today?
SIGNORINA: Music has been a significant part of my life since childhood and is a huge party of my identity. I was born in Berlin but moved around a lot as a kid, never staying in one place for more than 3-4 years, which meant constantly being exposed to different musical cultures. My dad plays jazz piano, so our home was always filled with sounds of jazz. He grew up in New York during the rise of old school hip-hop, funk, soul and alternative rock, all of which really influenced me. I have home videos of myself as a baby, bopping along to classic hip hop tunes, and from the age of about eight or nine, I had Rapmasters 4, a CD filled with old-school rap tracks, on repeat in my Discman for months. At 13, I moved back to Berlin which is often referred to as the hub of electronic music. Ironically, I actively avoided electronic music which was playing in most clubs in Berlin until I discovered artists like Sango and Kaytranada in my late teens who revealed the depth and creativity within electronic music for me. Fast forward ten years, and genres with electronic elements like Electronic Alternative R&B, Jungle, Baile Funk, and House are now some of my favourites.
How do you integrate your heritage or identity into your DJ sets or productions?
SIGNORINA: Growing up in different places and spending my teenage years in Berlin, along with having a Czech mother and a Sicilian-American father from New York, exposed me to a diverse range of sounds that shape my music. My background, combined with my work as a human rights lawyer, greatly influences my artistic approach. Advocating for justice and holding state institutions accountable resonates with the themes I explore in my music. I’m particularly drawn to artists who address social issues, which is why hip-hop particularly speaks to me – its roots in activism and storytelling are powerful and inspiring.
Are there any specific artists or genres from your background that have been particularly influential to your craft?
SIGNORINA:From traditional Eastern European folk music to German rap to funk, hip-hop and jazz, the diverse sounds I grew up with instilled in me an appreciation for cultural fusion. Just as my identity is shaped by various influences, the genres I play mirror this blend, combining melodies, arrangements, and rhythms from different traditions. This fusion allows me to create a unique sound.
When you’re crafting a DJ set, do you have a particular story or vibe you aim to convey? How do you build it?
SIGNORINA: My political work as a human rights lawyer significantly influences my approach to preparing DJ sets. The work I do of advocating for justice and accountability reflects the stories I want to tell through music. I want to create spaces where different sounds and narratives come together, to create a sense of belonging and community for everyone on the dance floor. Hip-hop specifically is fundamental for my sets due to its rich history of activism and storytelling. Ultimately, my goal is to bring a vibe that not only entertains but also evokes feelings of nostalgia and joy, creating moments that connect us all. I do this by being intentional about my track selection, and only choosing songs that I really resonate with emotionally. While not every track has an explicit political message, and in fact most of my songs don’t, it’s the underlying sense of empowerment I feel and want the listeners to feel when playing them that matters to me.
What’s your process for discovering and selecting new music? Any go-to sources or methods?
SIGNORINA:Music sourcing for me is a very emotional process. When deciding whether to download a track I always ask myself “does this track make me feel something”? If not, it doesn’t pass the test. While my main source of inspiration is SoundCloud sets, I spend a lot of time on Spotify playlists to uncover fresh tracks and artists. I also love going to live music and DJ gigs of different genres to get inspired. I sometimes even watch movies that evoke specific emotions to spark new ideas.
Can you talk about a track or mix you’ve created that holds a special meaning to you? What’s the story behind it?
SIGNORINA:One set that holds special meaning to me is my recent mix on Platform LDN on Voices Radio. This was one of my first public mixes where I fully embraced the slower hip-hop instrumentals I grew up loving. I feel the blending the soulful vocals of artists like Snoh Aalegra and Sampha with classic Kendrick Lamar and Dr Dre beats, really reflected my personal journey as an artist. This mix serves as a reminder to me and perhaps others how music can evoke powerful memories – with a twist of newness.
How important is representation and visibility for you in the electronic music scene?
SIGNORINA:Representation and visibility are crucial to me in the electronic music scene. Genres like house and techno have deep roots in Black, Latinx, and LGBTQ+ cultures, yet as the scene evolved particularly in the 2000s and 2010s we witnessed significant gentrification of these sounds, which robbed the original voices of their place. I'm happy to see a renewed focus on the sound-originating cultures today, with platforms like this one, Sounds of Craft, as well as Black House Radio, Soulection, and Cultur FM, and record labels like Larizzle's Larah Records, which highlights African electronic music. I’m also proud to be part of this movement through my own all-women music collective, Musenverse. We curate events, filmed sets and radio shows that not only celebrate diverse sounds but also emphasize collaboration and community by showcasing artists from various backgrounds, providing a platform for emerging artists and highlighting the richness of electronic music's cultural heritage. It’s about creating a space where everyone feels represented and inspired.
Have there been moments where you’ve felt your identity helped you stand out or connect with your audience in unexpected ways?
SIGNORINA: Definitely! Being a woman human rights lawyer and being exposed to so many different cultural backgrounds and upbringing allows me to connect with audiences on a deeper level. When I incorporate sounds from those cultures, I often see people in the crowd light up – that’s the best feeling really. It’s rewarding to know that my identity not only shapes my sound but also fosters a sense of belonging among my audience.
What are some emerging trends in electronic or experimental music that excite you right now?
SIGNORINA: I’m really excited about the rise of Baile Funk and its fusion with other genres like hip-hop, R&B, and even house, creating a unique sound that feels both nostalgic and innovative. And to be honest, despite the hate they often receive, I do have a true love for edits and mashups. They reflect my identity as a person who thrives on blending different cultures, both old and new. Edits are a great way to breathe new life into classic tracks while making them accessible for today’s audience.
How do you envision your music evolving in the next few years? Are there new sounds or ideas you want to explore?
SIGNORINA: I see my music evolving to emphasize jazz influences, while incorporating hip-hop instrumentals and electronic sounds that have shaped my sound. I really want to create my own tracks that blend these styles and I'm excited to experiment with this. Having played the piano for 12 years and singing for most of my life, I would also love to collaborate more live sounds into my sets, and maybe even collaborate with my dad playing the jazz piano.
If you could curate a dream lineup for an event, which artists would you include and why?
SIGNORINA: If I could curate a dream lineup for an event, I'd definitely include my fellow Musenverse collective members, SNDYVIBES and Esthahh, as well as some of my other friends in the DJ community including my good friend Shinzee. Community means everything to me, and their energy and support make this a no-brainer. Other DJs who have profoundly inspired my journey and who would be on my dream line up are the Soulection collective, who were a major reason I started DJing, Jordss, with her unique sound and creative edits, Sango, one of my favourite producers and DJs, and of course, the Godfather of future beats, Kaytranada, whose influence has shaped so much of what I do.
How do you stay motivated and keep your creativity flowing, especially during challenging times?
SIGNORINA: While being an artist is incredibly rewarding, it can also be exhausting. When I’m at home, I can get overly consumed by music, mixing for hours or producing social media content. Additionally, my daily work as a human rights lawyer can be emotionally taxing. Going out and engaging with nature and the world is therefore crucial for my well-being. I’ve discovered the importance of stepping back to recharge, making it a point to meet friends outside of the music context, go to movies, visit museums, and just allowing myself to be inspired by different art forms. This balance between disconnecting and immersing myself in new experiences helps me find fresh inspiration and keeps my creativity flowing.
What’s one message you hope people take away when they listen to your sets or mixes?
SIGNORINA: One message I hope people take away when they listen to my sets or mixes is the power of connection through music and its potential for social change. I want them to feel that they’re part of a larger community, and that the sounds we share can evoke emotions, spark memories, and bring us together. Ultimately, I hope my sets inspire listeners to explore new sounds and perspectives while fostering a sense of belonging and awareness of the issues that matter.
SONOS CLUB is an initiative from Sounds of Craft Records, designed to highlight the eclectic electronic music scene through the perspectives of the BIPOC diaspora and marginalized communities, while being open to all.
