When Isabelle Beaucamp takes to the stage, everything around her begins to tremble; it’s impossible not to get swept away and fall into a rave frenzy. The French DJ and producer radiates her musical energy to the dancing crowd, which returns to her like a boomerang. With a focused yet visibly joyful demeanor, she delivers her techno sets behind the turntables. It’s no wonder she was voted second in the FAZE year poll as the 2023 breakthrough artist, captivating her fans at performances in trendy venues with her fusion of hard-hitting techno and enchanting grooves, (psy)trance, and a hint of acid. She enjoys enhancing her tracks with elements from genres such as rap, oriental music, Brazilian tribal, breakbeats, drum & bass, and old-school Detroit techno.
We engaged in a conversation with the Berlin-based artist about the inspiration behind her brand new release “Zersplittert” on Rave the Planet, her sustainable fashion brand, the necessity of reflecting on overall consumption, and her visions for a more sustainable music scene.
photography: press courtesy
“Zersplittert” has a powerful title that suggests fragmentation or shattering. Could you share the inspiration behind the track?
I was inspired by the theme of friendship and passion. A deep human bond that simultaneously becomes an explosive mixture of expectations through this closeness. Love and explosion confront each other and occasionally lead to a crack, like shattered glass, which, however, is always reassembled again within the track.
How do you celebrate your new release? (smiles)
I’ll be toasting the track with my good friend Chiara Gallucci, who sang the vocals with me. And I’ll also be playing this track with the Rave the Planet at the UNESCO celebration of Berlin techno culture as a world cultural heritage on 10 November at the Bundeskunsthalle.
So, how would you describe your music style to someone who’s never heard it before?
My music is very playful and at the same time very solemn. I love long emotional bridges that put the raver into a moment of reverie. The resolutions of these longer breaks then culminate in a drop that sometimes comes very unexpectedly from a different genre. Each set contains many different cultural influences. Between happy bouncy and melodic melancholic, as well as euphoric rave, and unexpected rap, dark bass-heavy breaks, everything can be found in a well thought-out and very sensible composition.
“I was inspired by the theme of friendship and passion. A deep human bond that simultaneously becomes an explosive mixture of expectations through this closeness.”
Berlin has a rich techno scene that’s recognized globally. How do you think Berlin’s vibe influences your own sound?
I have been living in Berlin for 6 years with interruptions in Rome and New York. Berlin has made my love for music grow and totally ignited my euphoria to become creative myself. What I love about Berlin is that it has such a wide and diverse range of artists and that the bookings are mostly not aimed at presenting the big DJ names, but at offering a varied and affordable sound. The clubs are part of the fascination and the no photo policy allows you to really be there for the music. I love going to party at Berghain and Tresor myself, places I have a lot of associations with.
Although the scene is evolving, the club scene is changing due f.e. to gentrification, rising costs, and more people avoiding clubs. Do you also see this change?
This is definitely reflected in the whole music industry. I hope that those clubs who have so much heart and soul in them can still survive, because the core, the longing for music, going out, dancing, connecting, of underground culture and a creative scene will not be extinguished. But I think that many young people perceive partying differently today, especially the generation that was massively influenced by Covid in their teenage years. They will partly reinvent the scene and this breath of fresh air can also signify some good changes. You should always keep an open mind, everything is in constant flux.
Your label, BAZAR SAUVAGE RECORDS, launched in 2023. What inspired you to start your own fashion brand?
I’ve founded the label and the fashion brand at the same time, because for me visuals and audio belong together. I wanted to create an immersive experience where I could bring a complete emotional lifestyle to life. It is the colors and shapes of my sustainably produced, gender-fluid fashion that break with convention. My own music productions and sets do the same, in which I play with elements of classical music, pop music, rock and all kinds of genres always blend into electronic music, mostly techno.
“You should always keep an open mind, everything is in constant flux.”
I read that you combine upcycling with the use of leftover fabrics so that as little as possible has to be produced from scratch. Although there is much more talk about sustainability, global waste is growing. How difficult is it to cope with this reality?
It’s correct that global waste is growing, so we all need to reflect more on our general consumption. Considering that I’m a lawyer too and I studied about the german “Lieferkettengesetz”, I think it’s crucial that we are completely aware of how fabrics are gathered and produced and under which circumstances things are finally shipped to the consumer. With my brand I try to create as little harm as possible to our environment and to fully respect human rights. Therefore I’m producing only from left overs and use upcycling of vintage fashion. Still creating something new but producing only on demand makes my fashion pieces as sustainable as possible but the reflection on overall consumption remains necessary for all of us.
I also appreciate your reflection on the industry, where you mentioned, “I personally think the biggest problem we have in the music and entertainment industry is that we are obliged to travel constantly to cover the range that the music industry allows but also demands.” I’ve thought about this as well, and I’m glad you speak about it. What do you think could change people’s mindsets or make a broader impact on this issue?
It doesn’t seem right that DJs travel nearly daily from country or even continent to the other, some even by using Private Jets. The harm caused by all these travels is incomparable to a lot of other jobs or lifestyles. I understand the need to exporting artists and music but I think clubs and promoters should work more as a team in a certain region / country. Although it concerns my own job I would prefer that more local DJs are supported and that we try to play as much as possible in the regions we are based and for intercontinental flights, it should make sense with a whole tour, but not just for 1 or 2 gigs. I think a sustainability certificate for DJs/ clubs and promoters could be helpful in that sense…
“Although it concerns my own job I would prefer that more local DJs are supported and that we try to play as much as possible in the regions we are based.”
How do you balance your time between music production, DJing, and running your fashion brand?
This is my daily struggle. (smiles) And even more because I started DJing professionally next to my fulltime Job as a lawyer at the United Nations. Nevertheless, it’s possible because these different tasks need different moods and therefore different timing during the day. From my law studies in both France and Germany I’m experienced in making more or less efficient schedules and especially in prioritizing. Further I’m a very enthusiastic person and curious about many things in life, therefore I love to explore a lot of diverse things and I will always give 100 %.
What is the most important thing in life to you?
Family & Friends!
Follow Isabelle Beaucamp for more:
www.instagram.com/isabelle_beaucamp
www.facebook.com/people/Isabelle-Beaucamp
www.bazar-sauvage.com/isabelle-beaucamp
www.instagram.com/bazar_sauvage
www.instagram.com/bazar_sauvage_couture
