Ilona Maras, originating from Podgorica in Montenegro, made an impact on international DJ scene. When it comes to music, she released for Get Physical and new EP is out. We spoke with Ilona about her time in Dubai, ‘Change’ EP and got to know her a little bit better. Enjoy!
Hi Ilona, how are you? As I can see, you are currently playing in Dubai mostly, so how is it? What’s the charm of parties and crowd there?
I am feeling great, the spring is coming and love is in the air! The truth is I am a bit chaotic as I am moving countries for the 5th time, but I am very happy as I will live the spring soon after a long time. And yes, I am about to close the season in Dubai, which is great with a lot of shows, and the city seems to be on its peak. As the weather is getting better, the crowd is crazier.
How did your first contact with electronic music happen and how did you get interested in it?
My earliest memory is listening to some weird music on cassettes I would find in my parents’ drawers, which I wish I kept somewhere. But I would say my real connection was made during one small festival in my town that happened in my teenage years. There were djs playing over 3 days, and I simply could not stop dancing over these days. I didn’t not know what was the music, how is it called, I just knew I loved it, and it entered my veins.
Can you tell us something more about your career? How did it all begin? When did you decide to choose DJing as a professional career?
It began in a club in Zurich. I was working for one club back in 2010 during my studies, collecting pennies, and trying to survive in that super-expensive city at that time. Years before that I followed the scene in Greece, Dubai and slowly started climbing to that Dj booth. Music was ready, my mixing skills were not the best, but I decided to step up and enter the booth. I asked the manager to test my skills one ‘school’ night. He gave me the chance, and I literary never looked back since then.
What are the charms of being an artist for you? What do you like the most about DJing?
The freedom of creation, and making something unique and authentic is irreplaceable. I feel myself (most of the time :). Simply that feeling of giving something positive away, making connection with the crowd through the sound, making them feel good, whether they just stand, listen or dance, that energy flow is really something special. It’s rewarding, it makes me feel beyond great.
What’s your favorite thing when it comes to producing your own track? How are you describing your sound?
The favorite thing is when it starts getting ‘shaped’ from nothing. I won’t say finished, but it really does make me happy before I reach close end as it almost feels like a beautiful end of one great and sometimes long journey. At the moment I feel my sound is a bit darker, but still very melodic. There are ‘weirder’ moments in my sound, but I like it, and it somehow feels good in my ears.
Speaking of production, your new release is out on 20th March. Tell us something more about it and the creative process.
Yes, ‘Change’ Ep is something I made last summer, smooth techno yet uplifting track I would say with Rafael Cerato on the remix with great spectrum of his sounds. It got already great support from a lot of fellow djs, so I am looking forward to the crowd’s reaction after the release.
You released Existe for Get Physical Music, one of today’s the most notable house labels. What inspired you for the single?
The track actually stared with Sanja, my dj friend, who played for me some beats and dropped it there. I heard it and asked her if I can finish the track. There was really something special in this song from the very beginning that got me hooked and it actually took some time for me to finish it. It’s funny that not many people believed in the track including Sanja, and it almost got me convinced that it’s not as good as I was feeling it from the start. We added Sutjas subtle vocals, and soon after played it to Get Physical who liked it straight.
How has your collaboration with Get Physical started?
I sent to Get Physical a few demos before ‘Existe’ EP, believing that they would like more a bit darker sounds of mine. Bryan Kessler, who did the remix of Existe, suggested to send it to Get Physical. I was very sceptical, but it actually proved wrong.
You started Quan2m parties, so what was your starting idea and what can we expect next?
We started in the UAE in 2016 with Quan2m parties, a concept which was shaped to bring people together in the middle of the week, with intention to break the weekly working routine, with raw but very carefully crafted house and techno, niche location and positive energy of course. We launched in Abu Dhabi, and the season will be continued in Switzerland with myself and a few more guest djs.
What are your plans for the future?
Well, I will definitely be more concentrated in Europe after my long stay in the Middle East, and I am sure you will feel that change in my sound and upcoming releases as well. I will have a few more releases till the end of the summer and amazing collaboration with some of my friends djs. Ana Coya, who has been making music with me and sang in some of our releases, and I prepared also one dreamy remix to give away very soon, so stay tuned for that.
Where can we expect to hear you in the next couple of weeks?
After beautiful spring/summer in Dubai with Audio Tonic and Back2basics nights with Sander Kleinenberg and Umek in March, you will hear me in Relevance festival with Ministry of Sound in Copenhagen 22nd April.
