DJ Sabrina the Teenage DJ is here to break your brain. Weaving dense packets of pop music with her experimental production techniques, the London-based producer has made her name by overwhelming her audience. Whether it’s through albums routinely clocking over three-hour running times, a staggeringly rapid release schedule, or cramming more samples into an 8-minute dance track than previously thought possible, DJ Sabrina has found an undeniable voice and a tight-knit following online.
By embracing a medley of crunchy memes, a sardonic social media presence, and crafting a rich mythology around her music, DJ Sabrina is catching ever-greater swathes of the internet under her spell. Taking a break from the studio to recount her origin story, favourite places to dance, and what’s cooking for future projects, the artist spoke to FAD magazine about her toils, troubles, and the interstice between pop hooks and black magic.
Following detailed instruction sent over email, Instagram and carrier pigeon I was sent to visit DJ Sabrina at a pre-arranged location, named by the artist herself as ‘The Expandable and Limitless Halfway Closet in The Other Realm’. As to where this closet is located, and in which London borough the artist resides, remains a mystery, though it has been described as a haven for positive thoughts, a nexus point for powerful spells, and the home of exquisite vibes; all of which aid the songwriting process. Never without the fragrance of her coffee-flavoured incense, smouldering gently from its nearby wand, nor her rose quartz paperweight, DJ Sabrina invited our reporter to join her in this otherworldly studio to candidly discuss her work.
DJ Sabrina, given your knowledge of the dark arts, what drives you to produce music? Why not broomstick acrobatics, potion-making, or necromancy?
I spent so much time learning all that for school in the other realm (if you’ve ever seen Halloweentown 4, you’ll get the picture) I was tired of witch-work and wanted to do something a little more… mortal. Music was easier than making movies (fewer people needed, cheaper to produce) so I picked something to work on that wouldn’t just appeal to witches and their familiars.
Your output is extraordinary, with hours of music released each year. Just how do you do it?
I work every day and don’t really do anything else, it’s not that much when you put it in those terms, but it probably seems it if you have to be busy with other non-music-making activities! Actually, I cast my own proprietary potion around 7 years ago that gave me limitless stamina, inspiration and grind energy to work on music as much and as long as I need (it can only be broken by a special anti-potion I have locked up in the other realm, and I’ll drink it if people stop listening to my music you can betcha!).
That sounds positively supernatural to me. Do you have a compelling, playful, or perhaps tragic origin story that gave rise to your powers?
It was hard to be half-mortal, half-mage growing up and I never had any friends besides Salem, so I had to find something to do with my time that was productive but satisfying, as if I had a social life and a career… making music is probably much more fun than having any of the regular things that full mortals or full mages have!
If there’s one thing to learn from old TV ads, breakfast is the most important meal of the day. What fuels your creativity? Oats?
I tend to follow the Prince doctrine of working: never eat until your work is done! *taps forehead*
Walk me through your day, after breakfast where next? Straight to the studio?
Yes, straight out to the studio to work on either a new song, finish up an old song, or most likely mix and master a track that’s been sitting around for a couple of years!
Your work is often overwhelming, and euphoric, given the number of samples you use. What draws you to this maximalist production style?
The old Aphex Twin adage, “people thought I filled the tracks with sounds to show-off, but it was actually so I forgot how they went and was always surprised when I listened to them,” or something like that. It’s nice to listen to tracks when there are sounds you forgot were there; it’s as if someone else made the track for you to listen to. I also find most songs sound empty or missing something in a certain frequency range unless it’s MAXIMAL!
Where are your favourite places to dance?
My chair in my studio!
Would you ever consider joining a coven, or forming a band to perform live?
It’s definitely something I’d consider, it’s just difficult to know how to pull it all together since I’m self-managed and self-released… I haven’t really got anyone to assist me with arranging a live show right now, but never say never! But you can bet if I do, there’ll be dancers involved!
You collaborated with pop-band The 1975 last year, co-writing one of the lead singles for their last album. What does ‘happiness’ look like to you?
Happiness looks like working on Happiness with the 1975, being able to bring a little of that magic from the cauldron out there into the wider mortal realm.
Full moon, new moon, or crescent moon?
Crescent always has a mystery about it, a subtlety… on the other hand I love a Full moon for its cleansing properties!
On your days off, where do you hang out online? What do you obsess over, and what inspires you?
I don’t really have many days off, but I spend a lot of time checking out what my supporters are saying, answering emails and DMs, sending out physical orders, getting music videos edited, etc. I’m inspired by mostly the same artists and movies I’ve always been inspired by, but my greatest inspiration is, as always, people actually listening to my songs! I do however have a soft spot for browsing Vinted looking for my next fabulous outfit…
When’s the next DJ Sabrina project coming along? Any hints, or would this break the spell?
I’ve still got a lot of tracks that need finishing, polishing, and mixing/mastering from the third of the three albums which were originally intended to be released in 2022! It was meant to be Bewitched, which ended up being half of Destiny and a third album, but it was too difficult to get them done in time, so I split the work up. I still have the third album and some leftover material and lots of new songs for the next couple of albums planned this year, so there’s always something being worked on!
DJ Sabrina’s latest music can be found at djsabrinatheteenagedj.bandcamp.com
and djsabrina.com. Instagram: @djsabrinatheteenagedj
