Belgian DJ and producer Charlotte de Witte is gearing up for a memory-making weekend as she connects with Wonderland. “It appears I have rolled myself into yet another intercontinental tour as I am currently answering these questions from a hotel room in Venice Beach,” she says. “The crew and I are, at this moment, in Los Angeles preparing for our big weekend at Coachella.” As one of the most sought-after techno artists in the industry, it feels natural that de Witte is the name in charge of bringing club culture to one of the festival’s biggest stages in the Californian desert.

For the past 14 years, she’s been building up a reputation for herself, starting as a curious 16-year-old obsessed with Belgium’s underground scene and becoming the first woman and techno artist to close out the iconic Mainstage of Tomorrowland, the world’s largest EDM festival. Around the world, de Witte carries a legion of fans, selling out concert after concert from Europe to Asia, while supporting and empowering a new generation of powerful voices in the scene through her own label, KNTXT.

Here, we caught up with the techno powerhouse to discuss expectations for her big Coachella performance — what she anticipates to be “much more than a DJ set” — how connected she feels with her crowds, and what it means to be a female artist in such a male-dominated industry. Keep scrolling…

Listen to Charlotte de Witte’s new single, “Roar”, out now…

Hi Charlotte, thanks so much for chatting with us! How have you been? What are you up to these days?
I’m very well! It appears I have rolled myself into yet another intercontinental tour as I am currently answering these questions from a hotel room in Venice Beach. The crew and I are, at this moment, in Los Angeles preparing for our big weekend at Coachella.

What inspired you to pursue a career in techno music, and how has your journey unfolded since then?
Clubbing. I started going to underground clubs at the age of 16 and fell in love with the music and craft of DJ-ing. In the early days, I made myself mixtapes to be able to listen to a continuous selection of music. That evolved into buying my first DJ setup and playing shows in Belgium. From there, it grew into performing all over Europe and ultimately playing shows across the world. The past 14 years have been a thrilling and amazing roller coaster.

Your Coachella performance is around the corner. What are you most excited about, and how do you prepare for such a big presentation?
We’ll be presenting Overdrive at Coachella which is so much more than just a DJ set. With Overdrive, we try to bring techno to the bigger stages by adding a strong visual component. The entire design is very unique and represents what techno stands for. Through Overdrive, we really try to reach a bigger crowd while still remaining true to the core values of club culture. Logistically, it also requires quite a bit of work. We filled the whole production in containers, shipped it across the Atlantic and flew out our full production crew from Belgium just to be able to share this with the people of Coachella. We’re very excited for everyone to see it!

What excites you most about live performances, and how do you connect most with your crowd?
The most unique experience in every show comes from the crowd and the connection that can be felt between myself – as an artist – and the people in front of me. They’re the ones providing the magic. It isn’t always easy to feel that interaction with a big crowd in a less intimate setting, but there’s still a very strong connection happening during each show. The bond of the artist to audience energy is very powerful.

You’re one of the big names working on bridging the gap between underground techno and mainstream audiences. How do you navigate these fields while maintaining your artistic integrity and essence?
Even when playing on a non conventional techno stage, I have always experienced a very open minded, supportive crowd, which ultimately enables me to do what I stand for. I’m very cautious of the style of techno I select for these sets. I try to represent the genre without making things too complicated or challenging, but it’s not always easy to keep the balance. This is probably also my biggest challenge in life. How to respectfully represent club culture in a bigger setting.

What factors do you think influenced most in the rise of techno music? Do you see the genre as a layered realm? Is there room for all kinds of people and tastes within the techno scene?
In my view, techno has always been an inclusive and open community, so every layer is a part of its expression. I believe that’s also the reason why people connect with the genre so strongly. The sense of togetherness that originates on a dance floor – moving to this powerful techno sound – is simultaneously unique and uniting. This is something that becomes more and more essential during times such as these in which our world can feel divided.

You’ve made history as the first woman and techno artist to close out main stages at prestigious festivals worldwide. What challenges have you faced in this male-dominated industry, and how have you overcome them?
Honestly, I’m still learning to overcome prejudices for being a DJ and being a female DJ. I would love to say that sexism in the music industry has been eliminated, but this definitely still exists. There is still work to do. It takes a long time to change people’s perception, but I’m proud to say that in the techno scene there are a lot of very strong women contributing to a healthy, forward-thinking landscape. Especially now, in comparison to 15 years ago. There is a healthy trend upwards, but we’re not there just yet.

What is one piece of advice you were given early in your career that you’d like to pass on to other women who are just starting out in the scene?
I had to overcome many hurdles myself and I’ve encountered my fair amount of sexism. The best advice I could ever give anyone is to not let other people bring you down. Don’t look too much at social media, and don’t compare yourself to others. It’s one of the most toxic things you can do to yourself. Stay true to your most authentic self and pave your way forward.

You’ve just launched your new label. Can you tell us more about your vision for the project and what we can expect from it? Where do you draw the line when looking for new artists to work with, and how important is it for you as an industry powerhouse to support newcomers?
KNTXT launched in 2015 as a party concept and grew into a music label in 2019. Nowadays, KNTXT organizes events, has its own publishing, develops apparel and releases music across 3 distinct labels. Obviously, we still have our initial KNTXT imprint, which is now flanked by RPM, a tastemaking digital only output. We recently also launched Epoque, a label that aims to capture the spirit of discotheque culture past & present.

It has evolved into something so much greater than I initially envisioned years ago, but I love it. Within the label, I’m responsible for finding new artists and this is also one of the coolest, most satisfying things about my life. I can offer a platform to very talented artists and give them a better chance to be heard – Which was the primary reason for me to start the label in the first place.

Looking ahead, what are your goals and aspirations for the future of your career and the techno music scene as a whole?
I am trying to be more balanced throughout my life – personally and professionally. Touring is beautiful, but also very demanding physically and mentally. It’s important to maintain a healthy equilibrium and to leave enough room to be creative and work on new music and projects. Professionally, I am always looking for ways to make techno more relevant and exciting to new audiences. For me, it is so fascinating to connect the world of techno to other fields and see the synergies. As an example, the worlds of moto racing and techno are quite similar if you look at their touring schedules. The lifestyle of chefs and DJs also mirror each other with out of control working hours. We are all more similar than it sometimes appears, and this genre is more approachable and relatable than many people realize.I would love to see the techno scene develop itself in the same sustainable way, leaving room for internal growth and representing inclusivity. A safe haven for those who need it.