Photo taken by Zirus Media Photos
On Saturday, August 12th, 2023, Illuminasian stage presented by ProjectXIX debuted Canada’s only all-Asian Canadian DJ lineup at The Stanley Barracks during the Toronto Waterfront Night Market, with DJs like Hoang & Sabai in the lineup along with support from DeeCee b2b Quim, Celestial, Intothemiks, Ninekai & Trekk. All are hosted by Electric Escape. During which, I had the opportunity to interview Somna from AVA Recordings at Hotel X.
For those of you that don’t know. Ben aka Somna is a Chinese-Canadian DJ, producer and Co-owner of AVA Recordings, which was founded by Andy Moor. Both specialize in producing trance music. Somna started his DJing career in 2003 and throughout the past two decades, he’s been known for remixing songs and producing his own singles, along with two albums “Beside You” and “Satellites”. Aside from producing, he has been performing all around the globe at many different festivals and events, such as Creamsfields and Dreamstate.
Photo taken by Zirus Media Photos
That day at the Toronto Waterfront Night Market was such a vibe. Getting to try all the foods from the different vendors was definitely a treat. But having DJs play one after another was the cherry on top. The stage started filling up with more people arriving at the night market and filling their bellies with food. Following up on the DeeCee b2b Quim set, we had Somna spinning that evening. This time, he was back in Toronto with new music for all of us to hear live, considering his new album “Satellites” was released in May. So that night, I got my trance fix in! Before the night market, Somna played here in Toronto for the previous two U4RIA Trance festivals in the previous years.
As some of you may know, I have been with Electric Escape since the beginning of the year, and from my first interview with Gem & Tauri earlier in May. I was presented with the opportunity to conduct more interviews with DJs who come to Toronto to play. So I would like to thank Jolo from Electric Escape, Haider from Canadian Ravers, Somna, Hoang, Sabai and everyone else from all teams involved for helping me continue this journey. Prior to their sets, I had a chance to sit down at Hotel X and chat with each of them, and man was I nervous, these were all video interviews. My first video interview ever! Nonetheless, we did the interviews and in the end, I’m glad I did it because just had the opportunity to chat and make these connections with them. I’m forever grateful.
THE INTERVIEW
K: Can you tell us about yourself, your journey, and where did the name Somna come from?
Somna: Well, I'll start by telling you what my name is about. So Somna, when I was trying to figure out a name for my artist alias, I used to play a lot of Call of Duty zombie mode. And this friend of mine was like “yo, Somna's a kind of zombie.” And I was like, all right, yeah, sold. I'm done. And it turns out Somna actually means to fall asleep in Swedish. So then I was like, okay, I make trance music, falling asleep. Like I don't want people to fall asleep, obviously. It's very fitting, right? So I was like, yeah, that's kind of how the name came about. And I've been DJing for like a really long time. I started in 2003. So this is actually September. It'll be like 20 years of DJing. I had a different name before Somna. Somna started in like 2011, but I used to do like hard dance stuff. Under a different name under Rodi Style.
K: You just released an album Satellites this year. Can you tell me more about the thought process when you were making it? Because I noticed that it's a completely different style than what you usually do. But I like it. And I also noticed that Satellites is also one of the track names, along with the album as well.
Somna: Yeah. So stylistically, I definitely branched out a bit. But I wouldn't say it's too far out from my usual style. There's a bit of everything on there. The more like progressive trance that I'm known for, some harder stuff, a little bit of bass music on there. I love that kind of stuff, even though I don't, I'm not like a dubstep DJ or anything. I love all kinds of music. The album Satellites, I wrote that during the pandemic and during that time, like when, when all touring stopped and like we were locked at home, I was like, oh, crap, like what am I going to do? So I started streaming on Twitch. During that time, I connected with a lot of different people, had a lot of people come to my stream and basically made all these great connections. And so the name Satellites is kind of like my love letter to the fans that I met during that time when we were locked in. It kind of represents me beaming my music to them and then also like their love and support coming back. So like we're connecting by like Satellites. That is sort of like the ethos behind the album title. I wrote it during that time and it's my second album. So I'm just excited that it's finally out.
K: You've been producing music for a while. How and when did you start getting into dance music?
Somna: So I went to my first rave in like 2001 and it was in Calgary. So I grew up in Calgary and it was a New Year's rave and my dad drove me to it. Not knowing it was like a rave. He dropped me off and I'm like, yeah, I'm staying. I'm having a sleepover at my friend's place after. Then I left the event at like 6am. I didn't know where I was because in the middle of nowhere, I started walking and then I finally found the train station. And then I went straight home because I wasn't staying over right and having a sleepover at a friend's place. I fell asleep, got home and then my parents were like, why are you home so early? And I was like, I don't remember what I said, but I came up with some great excuse. But yeah, so that's kind of when I actually, that's not when I discovered dance music, but that's my first like event that I went to. I think maybe a year or two before that, my friend was playing some track called “I Can't Stop Raving” by Dune. It's like a really old-school track in his Ford Taurus, and I'm like, I like this!
K: Just curious at what moment did you believe that you made a mark in the industry?
Somna: See, that's a tough one because I feel like I'm very fortunate and blessed to be able to share my music with people. Um, I think, I don't want to be like, yeah, I've made my mark. I'm still trying to find my place in the world and share what I'm passionate about. Um, but I think, there definitely have been a lot of instances where I can look back at achievements that I'm very proud of. I did a guest mix and interview on A State of Trance recently. So that was a big milestone for me. Before Somna, I actually, as Rodi Style alias, I also did a guest mix and interview on BBC radio when I used to live in the UK, which is a whole different story. But that was also like a big landmark thing for me as well. But I'm just trying to do the best that I can, make good music. Hope people like it. And just feel very happy that I get to share it with people.
K: How is it being a label manager for AVA recordings, a DJ and a producer at the same time?
Somna: Uh, it's a lot of work, but I think it's, it's such a blessing to be able to sign music from other talented artists and release it and help them grow their careers as well. As well as shape like a record label and the sound and stuff. So, it's very time-consuming, but we have some amazing people that work in the label. My wife, also DJs under Memory Loss and produces and handles all our social media. We have Ishuka, he's from India. He also helps with social media. Yang, he's another Canadian Asian DJ. He does our A&R. So he listens to the demos and stuff. And then we also have LTN, it's named Louis. He's from Indonesia and he runs our deeper labels. So like the deeper sounds. and then we had A.R.D.I. from Poland who runs our uplifting sub label. And obviously Andy Moor, who is my partner and then Dylan over there as well too. He's one of our partners as well at Ava. So Andy Moor is like the founder of it and it's actually Ava. (A-Va) Named after Andy's oldest daughter. So It's busy. Um, juggling that and producing my own music and DJing is tough, but I don't know, it's just, just do what you can when music is encompassed into your life.
K: Aside from that, being a producer and DJ aside from trance, what other genres do you usually listen to? And I've noticed that you've mixed “Hollow” by Dabin and Kai Wachi in a set before. Also, Amidy remixed your song “Pretty Lies” before too. I was listening to that on the way down. It was so good.
Somna: Oh nice. Yeah, I love bass music, melodic bass and sad boy music. It speaks to me cause I kind of feel like it's like, it's like trance, but with a different rhythm and different beat, cause it's all like emotions and feels. Yeah. So, um, I actually listen to that stuff a lot, even though I don't make it aside from like my track, “Satellites” and stuff. But I listen to all kinds of music when I'm driving around and stuff, but I just, I like stuff with singing.
K: What advice and tips would you give DJs and producers trying to make it out in the industry?
Somna: I think staying true to yourself and your sound is important. One of the things that is easy to do and want to do is to chase a trend. You see and hear what's popular and you're like, that's the sound they need to do, even if it's not really the sound that you like. And I think the scene goes in cycles. So what is popular at the moment might not be popular later. And then you're always compromising on your own sound as well. So I think it's important to write the music that you're passionate about. Because if you don't, you will hate yourself in the future because you're going to look back on songs that you just, they're not you. They're just a reflection of what you think people want to hear and what's popular. And like I've done that before like I've written songs where I'm like, I need to get this signed to this record label. It has to be the sort of sound. I wrote it. They sign it. I'm like, yes. But then I look back at it now, and I'm like because the sound has also changed. It's not popular anymore. Um, and I look back, and I'm like, I was just chasing this trend at the time. And like it's not something that I would play now. And I wish I just spent that time writing something that I'm happy with for the rest of my life.
K: Having played at so many events and festivals, what were your top three favourites?
Somna: Okay. So that's not too hard. Um, two of the best crowds I've ever played to would be Tokyo and Mexico City. They go absolutely like ham, and like Mexico, they go ham. And in Tokyo in Japan itself, they also go ham as well too. Um, just amazing crowds out there. And then, Dreamstate as well, too, the first time I played. At Dreamstate on the main stage was an experience. It was like a massive stage, and Haliene came on singing live during my set because we did a song together at that time. So yeah, that was a really cool experience. And, like, I'm excited to be back at Dreamstate again this year. But I think those are kind of like my top three for kind of different reasons aside from like Mexico and Mexico is really interesting. Cause it was, you know, that venue was really not up to code. It was so funny. There were like stairs leading up onto the stage, and then the sound guy's like going up, and he just went through it. The board just broke. He wasn't hurt or anything. And then they just brought another board to replace it. Nailed it on, and it was like equally as thin. And we’re just like yooo, this does not look like it's very safe. So we just like, the rest of the time we had to pull ourselves up onto the stage on the side to like, cause we're like, we're not taking those stairs. So that was like the experience. It's like an amazing crowd. But then, like the fire marshals, they showed up, and they’re like, there’s a pothole over there, random things.
K: What is next for Somna, aside from Dreamstate?
Somna: I have many exciting shows coming up, like I'm playing in Seattle next week. And then I also have some stuff like I'm returning to Tokyo. I've got Amsterdam and the UK as well, too. And, um, yeah, just working on new music. There's a bunch of remixes coming out of songs from my album. The Sean Tyas remix comes out next month. And then there are a couple of other remixes. But I guess now it's just, you know, start to write new music. I don't think I'll do another album, maybe for a long time. So it's just maybe just singles and stuff. Yeah, I'm just carrying on trying to write things that I enjoy and hopefully everyone else wants.
K: One quick question. Which year for Dreamstate did you play?
Somna: 2019. Right before the pandemic. The fifth Dreamstate.
K: Nice. Is there anything you would like to say to the readers and viewers?
Somna: I guess like a huge thank you to Electric Escape and Waterfront Night Market for having me. Cause like I just, I'm, I was saying this earlier to like Jolo, but I'm just so happy to be able to share our heritage as Asian and be a part of this lineup and show my music and stuff. And also like, you know, night market food is so good. So I had Takoyaki. Right before I came here it was like, it was fire. Bubble waffle times like 10!
K: Are you a big bubble tea fan? What's your favourite bubble tea?
Somna: Yeah. Like, like you wouldn't believe. My favourite is the roasted milk tea with pearls, like 30% sugar from Chatime.
K: So I noticed that you're a gamer and you said you played COD earlier. I also noticed on your Instagram that you played Pokemon Go. Do you still play Pokemon Go?
Somna: I don't. I haven't in a while. I used to and I remember like getting in the car and just like the maps was like, hunting for Pokemon. But I still have it. I usually like bust it out if I'm traveling in a different city cause I don't know what I can get, but I think nowadays the game that I mostly play is like Starcraft.
K: Fun question. What are your go-tos when it comes to food and drinks?
Somna: Well, we established bubble tea. And then food. I love sushi. And I like pizza. Pineapple on pizza.
LIGHTNING ROUND!!!
What's your favourite fast food? Arby's. The meats.
What's your favourite drink to order? Well, it's roasted milk tea.
First rave as an attendee, which would be the one in Calgary. I don’t remember what it was called, but it was probably 2001. It was a New Year’s Eve event for that.
Favourite rave music festival. I guess it was like Tokyo, Mexico. And Dreamstate.
Favourite season of the year? Oooh, that's a good question. I don't know. Probably like, I guess, Summer. Because I'm thinking like Spring is like when all the allergies show up. Not down with that. And then the Fall is like, it's just going to rain a lot and stuff. And then Winter, like I lived in Calgary and it's like the snow. And so I think Summer.
What's your favourite colour? Blue.
Starbucks or Tim Hortons? Tim Hortons, because they got that new quencher's drink. It's like this Blackberry Yuzu. I’m like this guy that has all these drinks. Blackberry Yuzu quencher.
House or trance? Oh, I got to go with trance. Yeah.
Dubstep or drum and bass? Oh, shit. That's a tough one because I love drum & bass. Okay. So I would say if it was like Dubstep, like the riddim, like the hardening stuff, then drum & bass. If it's like Sad Boy, like melodic bass, then I think it would be the melodic bass like the Seven Lions kind of thing.
Okay, what about tech or psytrance? Tech
Day or night? Night.
Okay, and the last one. Cold or hot? Ooh, cold.
Following the interview, Ben & I were being true snackers together. Little did I know, as much as he loved his bubble tea, drinks, sushi and pizza. Snacks would get him, too! What kind of snacks, you may ask? Well, it's these green peas that I’ve been snacking on for the past year or so. Must I say, these peas have replaced my urge to eat chips? I’m sorry, Ruffles? But legit, I’ve been getting everyone addicted to these, especially at events, haha. But of all people to be so excited about my peas. Omg, this was a moment haha! I’m so glad I could share my love of these peas with Ben, both original taste and garlic flavoured as well. Ben even made a video of this and posted it on his Instagram as a reel. When I saw it, I started dying from laughter because this was the moment I realized I was Pushin Peas. LOL! xD
To anyone who hasn’t seen Somna spin yet! I hope you check him out whenever he comes to your city to play! Somna also scratches on top of his sets so that is also an interesting fact about him being a trance DJ. And just in case you don’t get the chance to catch him live, he usually streams on Twitch on Sundays so you definitely can’t miss out!
Make sure to check out the full interview below
Somna Socials
Written by Keith Au
