Avi Sic: Spinning Success from the Decks to the Studio
Avi Sic shares her journey from open-format DJing to producing & releasing music on top electronic labels, discussing the challenges and lessons along the way.
Avi Sic is a name that has steadily carved its mark in the Electronic music scene, bridging the worlds of high-energy DJ sets and forward-thinking production. With a career spanning over two decades, she has transitioned from an in-demand open-format DJ to a formidable artist in her own right, releasing music on heavyweight labels like Spinnin’ Records, Revealed, SKINK Records, and Generation Hex. Her music has earned support from industry titans including Martin Garrix, Diplo, and Laidback Luke, while her live performances continue to push boundaries. As she gears up for major shows and continues to refine her craft in the studio, we caught up with Avi Sic to discuss her journey, creative process, and what’s next on the horizon.
Hi Avi, how are you doing?
I’m great, thank you for having me!
Looking back over your career, what do you consider the biggest milestones that have defined your journey in electronic music?
The one thing that remains consistent aside from consistency itself, is that every little win is a step to a larger milestone. I’ve been at this a long time, like over 20 years, so there's definitely been a lot of memorable moments. Releasing music was key to my evolution from an open format club DJ to an artist. I had made a name for myself in the DJ world long before I started taking production seriously. I was starting at square one on the business end. But they do have a lot of overlap. My first milestone with my music was when Showtek signed one of my tracks. That was a stepping stone to working with larger labels, other artists, and garnering support. In time my music was being played by DJ’s such as Martin Garrix, Nicky Romero, Diplo, Timmy Trumpet, Robin Schulz, Don Diablo, Benny Benassi, Laidback Luke, Fedde Le Grande, and more. I was putting in the work on all fronts. In addition to regularly releasing music, I was continuing to play live shows and had also started up a weekly radio show called Late Checkout. That was a great tool for networking. So aside from getting booked as support for artists like Diplo, Kaskade, Cardi B, Lil Wayne, Lil Jon, Joel Corry, Matroda, Walker & Royce... I had a multitude of other projects going on simultaneously. All these smaller projects work in tandem to create something larger.
With releases on top labels like Revealed, Spinnin’ Records, Mentalo Music, and Generation Hex, how have these achievements influenced your creative mindset?
It’s funny because when I started releasing music my main goal was to be on labels such as these. Now that I've accomplished that, the reality is, I'm working harder than ever to keep up the momentum. It’s definitely not a one and done kind of thing. It’s given me the confidence and the push to keep going harder and stronger with each new idea. I’m a big believer of staying true to yourself and your style - it may not resonate with everyone or many labels. But I’m making music for myself first and foremost - the icing on the cake is that other people like it as well. Making music is a very personal and special thing. But actually finishing it and releasing it is where you really start to challenge yourself.
How has your evolution as a DJ and Producer shaped the way you approach your music today?
I'm always on the hunt for tracks that speak to me. My sets are energetic and fast paced. I was an open format DJ for years, still am, so my net is super wide as far as genres go. The main thing for me, while DJing, is reading the crowd. I have one goal - to please the people in front of me and for that you have to be flexible. I channel that flexibility into my studio also. Instead of forcing something to work I’ve learned to be more adaptive and open to changes. I always ask myself ‘is this something I would play live’ because chances are if I wouldn’t play it out then other DJ’s won’t want to play it either. Overall, I’d say that I approach both scenarios with a grain of salt and a lot of integrity. You have to be you - but you also have to play nice with others. Put your focus outward but at the same time, inward as well. After all, the people might not know what they want until you play it for them. Or even better - until you create it.
Your collaborations have played a crucial role in your growth; how has working with other artists, like you’ve done lately with FOOTWURK and Nessø, helped push your creative boundaries?
I love collabs. Having more minds and ears on a record is always a good thing. I used to make music completely solo - maybe I'd send it for feedback here and there but I’ve learned that trying to do something yourself from start to finish isn’t always the best. Teamwork is the dreamwork. There’s a reason why most major records have 20 people on a track. It’s about utilizing various strengths to create something great. You can learn a lot by observing or working with other creatives.
In your latest release, "Work It," you blend your signature style with new elements, how does this track reflect your current artistic direction?
This track is definitely a meeting of the minds. I had this idea - it was decently far along in the production process but it was only okay. I knew it had potential to be great. I realized I couldn’t carry it over the line by myself. So, I hit up my guys FOOTWURK. They are fantastic at catchy Tech House grooves so this record was a great match. We ended up working really well together. It was a lot of fun going back and forth. You can hear both of our styles in this song which is so cool. We are actually working on a second collaboration now, so stay tuned for that!
As you gear up for major live events like Beyond Wonderland this summer, how do your live performances inform and inspire your studio work?
I’m in a great place to be able to test out works in progress in front of an audience on a weekly basis. It really helps inform the direction of my music. My studio work is definitely inspired by reactions I receive during live sets. Since I don’t plan my sets I often stumble on cool wordplay live or do something unexpected and I'm like oh yeah I definitely need to make an edit of that or use that idea again. Other times, I get inspired by songs I’m playing and I think, how can I flip this or create something with similar energy for myself. It really is all very full circle - the performing aspect and the studio time.
Can you share a recent live performance experience that truly captures how far you've come as an artist?
Back in the day I was playing other peoples music completely. Now I play like 60% my own music - a variety of my own records, mashups, and edits. I was closing for Imanbek the other week and he came back up after my set. We ended up going B2B after the club closed. I showed him some new stuff I had been working on. We ended up talking until the early hours of the morning. He told me that this reminded him of an experience he had where he did the same thing with Tiësto. In that moment right there I knew that the needle was starting to move. To just vibe out with other artists and talk shop is a dream. I’ve done support for many artists over the years and it wasn’t until I started releasing my own music that I had something to give the other person. It’s not just DJing anymore. It’s being creative on another level now. And sharing that with other people. But it’s the fanbase that comes first. I played a show recently and a group held up their phone for a request. To my surprise it was my song they were requesting. Haha. It was so sweet. After the show another group came up to me and said they had come from Michigan to see me play. It’s all very heartwarming.
What key lessons have you learned throughout your journey that continue to shape your music production?
If I could give any advice it’s to just be kind to everyone. To stay humble and keep your eye on the prize. Make connections, water those relationships, and watch them grow. Don’t talk about what you're doing, show it. Personally, I can get super wrapped up in the idea of perfection, one of the best things I've done lately is learn to let go a little.
How do you balance maintaining your signature sound while experimenting with new ideas in your productions?
I love to experiment. I’ll spend days on something and then be like nah. But every hour spent is an hour learned. A signature sound comes naturally, doesn’t take much effort. The real effort is in trying new things. I have learned a lot of restraint. Not all songs call for huge synths and dirty bass. I’m really just playing around a lot while maintaining the joy there is in making music. I don’t take myself too seriously. Overthinking things like - what label a song would be good for or trying so hard to sound like something causes me to shut down and lose interest fast. So yeah, I try to just focus on having fun.
Looking ahead to the coming year, what are your aspirations, and how do you plan to build on the milestones you’ve achieved so far?
Music has been the most consistent thing in my life since I was a kid. When you don’t give up, the achievements unlock themselves. That’s all I can hope for. I’ll continue to work towards that!
Avi Sic’s journey is one of persistence, evolution, and a deep connection to both her craft and her audience. Through her meticulous approach to production, her ability to read a crowd in the moment, and her growing network of collaborators, she continues to shape her own path in the Electronic Dance music world. As she looks ahead to another packed year of releases and performances, one thing remains certain, her passion for music is as strong as ever, and she shows no signs of slowing down.