Can you tell us a bit about the mix we’re about to hear?‍

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Expect some floaty minimal with hints of dub and occasional breaks. I approached this mix quite methodically, which is a change from the spontaneous nature of my gigs and radio shows. I had a vibe in mind and sifted through my collection until I ended up with a few playlist ideas. The one I recorded contains some of my favourite artists and lots of music from friends and locals. I hope you dig the tracks as much as me!

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What are the origins of your dj alias Kooscha?‍

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This is my second alias. I started production back in high school with melodic and ambient stuff which I've been posting online. Kooscha was a fresh start for me as I got into DJing and got my first local gigs. I jokingly came up with the name 'Kooscha' from what my little brother used to call me when he was just learning his first words, something like 'kusha'.

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What are you doing for self care during this lockdown?‍

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I've been trying to preserve my usual sleep, diet and exercise habits as it's easy for them to slip when you're always at home!

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I've taken a small break from music in the beginning and dedicated my free time to things I always wished I had more time for. Oil painting, online games with friends and my brother, and cooking interesting new veggie recipes!

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What’s your favourite record at the moment and why?‍

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Currently it's one I don't own :(. Roger Gerressen – Heading In A Backwards Direction. Sleek techno rhythms lightened by pleasant dubby chords, such a nice sound palette. It really nails the balance of giving an album listening experience while also just being a solid collection of tracks for any house/techno dj. Hoping to get my hands on a copy one day!

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How did you first get into producing and who are your biggest influences when producing music?‍

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I got into producing when I was 16 when I discovered and started playing around with a free DAW called Audiotool. It's been a long and slow journey from there, just having fun and learning at my own pace. Artists like Skudge, Wax/Shed, Mr G, Mike Dehnert, Deepchord always remind me to not overthink things. Keeping it simple and nailing the basics can be all you need.

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The local house/techno scene has also played a big role in my musical output. I've had some really memorable experiences at parties like Touch of Loft, B.A.G, Something Else, Dirty Feet and many others, shaping my current taste and output.

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How has your sound developed over the years?‍

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When I started I just liked to make pleasant melodies and progressions drenched in reverb which turned into trancy/proggy stuff and quite far from what I actually liked at the time. Now it's mostly dubby house and techno that's more inline with what I DJ. The soundscapy aspect of my productions stayed though.

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Any tips for people starting their production journey this lockdown?‍

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If you're only just learning the basics, don't grind at ideas, don't try to perfect them, finish them and move on. Keeping it fun is important. Make sure you share it with friends as feedback will be both motivating and help you improve!

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How would you like to see our local scene change and grow when things start to open back up again?‍

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It's difficult to answer this because our scene has become quite divided since the pandemic started. I hope people can reunite and don't crucify each other for their differing opinions, you can't expect everyone to know best and be right all the time.

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But I would like to give a shout out and wish success to those who put their community above themselves. Our scene is definitely not without egos, for better or worse, but I highly respect those that can put theirs aside in light of uncertainty. I know crews and event organisers who would postpone events even before NSW government lifted their finger, that's the level of responsibility I want our scene to be recognised for. The 'people first' mentality has always made an immense difference to any event. I hope these crews get to put on lots of parties when things open back up!