In a city where it seems every other arts block student owns a turntable and a mixer, it takes a lot to stand out. I got to sit down with one of these standouts, Trinity student and DJ Sahana, to catch a glimpse of her world and the Dublin DJ scene. Sahana, who is in her fourth year at Trinity studying psychology, is originally from New York City but came to Dublin in 2021 for college.
Sahana, whose full name is Sahana Sridhar, tells me that she had always wanted to get into deejaying but only started teaching herself the summer before coming to college. “My parents were ravers, my grandparents were big into dance music” she says, adding she grew up watching boiler rooms as well as with a keen sense of club culture in New York. She bought herself a “tiny set of decks” before coming to college and discovering the Dublin University DJ society. In fact, DUDJ was the very first society Sahana joined. A month later she played her first gig and was on the committee of DUDJ by the end of her first year.
“My grandma and my mom were the ones who shaped my music”, Sahana says when I ask her about her greatest inspirations, adding “I grew up at five or six years old in the car listening to a lot of house music”. As far as other influences, Sahana lists Honey Dijon, Jeff Mills, Sally C, and Surgeon, calling them “pioneers for electronic music”. Sahana, whose sound Midnight Disco has referred to as ‘hectic, eclectic, and electric’, is also deeply influenced by Dublin DJs, including S-Agenda, Patrick Weaver, Jezebel, and Puzzy Wrangler. “We’ve all known each other for years now and we’ve all seen each start up and grow in the scene”, Sahana says of her peers.
The DJ scene in Dublin is very welcoming, Sahana tells, “the scene in Dublin is very welcoming, it’s very tight-knit but it’s a very open community, it’s very easy to make friends and there are people who want to support you”. This is in contrast to the scene in places like London, New York, and Berlin, which Sahana describes as “very big and it’s very competitive and it leads to a lot of competition and cliqueness and it’s harder to find your sound and stick out”. In Dublin, she says, “with clubs shutting down and the government trying to shut down clubs and late-licensing laws, I think we’ve all kind of banded together to keep the nightlife scene going, keep clubs going, keep dance music active”.
I also asked Sahana about how she sees the intersection between music and activism, as she is extremely outspoken about her beliefs on politics and human rights. She tells me, “With music, a lot of us have platforms. I think if you have it, use it”. She continues, “I think a lot of people think that music isn’t political but there are a lot of collectives, clubs, people in general that are still censoring artists because of their views. Whether that’s racism, sexism, homophobia, especially what’s going on in Palestine. You can say we’re not a political entity but at the same time, you’re still censoring artists for their beliefs… I think you can use music as a form of liberation, especially I think there are a lot of oppressive regimes and oppressive scenes out there where people can’t express themselves and I think clubs and dance music in general is a way to do that, to express yourself”.
It is clear, when it comes to a platform, Sahana is serious about using her own for good. For the past two years, she has had a monthly residency with Dublin Digital Radio. In her live shows, which are live the first Sunday of each month, Sahana focuses on spotlighting people of color and ethnic minorities in the music and DJ scene. Saying, “it gives a platform for other artists who have never recorded a mix”, she refers to it, as she calls it, “decolonising music”.
As a high in demand DJ as well as a full-time student, I wonder how Sahana manages it all and what challenges she has encountered on her way. Mental health, she says, is a “big struggle. I think a lot of people can relate to this, there’s definitely a lot of imposter syndrome. A lot of feeling like you’re not doing good enough”. She continues, “there’s moments when you’re getting five-six gigs a month and then there’s moments when you’ll have one or no gigs a month and you’ll see other people getting more gigs than you are. You can’t beat yourself up, that’s how the scene works.” She deals with it, she says, by learning to let things go and to go with the flow, “if I’m meant to get a gig, I’m meant to get a gig. If not, then I’m not”. When I ask what she would advise others feeling similar to do, she tells me it’s about “collaboration not competition.” She adds, “I also think with social media, that’s such a big deal and such a big part of being in the club scene, being in music, promoting yourself”. Sahana admits there are moments where she wishes she could take a break from social media, however bookers and promoters often reach out on Instagram. “It’s kind of annoying for me” she says, “right now I’m doing my dissertation and I’d love to be off but at the same time I still have to promote myself.” She says it’s crucial to put your health and wellbeing first and it’s all about finding the right balance.
In reflecting on what she describes a “pretty hectic” last semester, Sahana acknowledges “I think a part of me also likes the chaos of having music as my outlet and college during the weekdays.” With her dissertation due so soon, she has told promoters and friends in the scene that she will be taking a break until March. “I think it’s okay because you’re putting yourself first and I think people respect that” she says, adding “I know I’ll have opportunities after. And it sucks because you feel like you have to keep this momentum going but also at the end of the day, I came to Dublin for college not for deejaying”.
The chaos is clearly worth it as Sahana describes some of her biggest achievements to date which include playing for NTS Radio and Rinse FM. She also played in London last summer for the UNiSON show at The Cause where her parents got to see her, as well as world famous festivals like All Together Now and Electric Picnic, shows where she says she got to play for some of her heroes.
Looking forward, Sahana tells me the most exciting gig she has coming up is AVA, a Belfast-based festival. “It’s one of the most well known festivals in the world, it’s huge”, she says. “Since coming here, every year I used to watch the boiler rooms. It’s unreal to me that I’m on the poster, playing. Sahana also is looking to play another London show or debut in Berlin.
For now, she is the secretary of DUDJ, where she tells me she sees so much potential talent. For those looking to get into the scene, she recommends not putting pressure on yourself, calling it not worth it. “Don’t compare yourself to anyone” she suggests “also, don’t feel like you have to find your sound immediately. I’m still finding my sound after four years.” Beyond this, she says networking is crucial. “I think the reason I was able to work my way up is just through networking in Dublin, meeting promoters and bookers for different clubs, reaching out to smaller collectives or collectives you think are aligned with your values and your music” she reflects. She also encourages aspiring DJs to go out, saying there are “so many great clubs and acts that are getting booked” as well as collectives that spotlight women, queer people, and other underrepresented voices.
For her final piece of advice, Sahana tells me, “don’t feel shy”. She continues, “Even for me, I’ll be honest, I met the booker for AVA in April. I met him again in Belfast”. Sahana reveals she texted him saying she wants to get involved and two weeks later he had sent her the offer for AVA.
“Sometimes you just have to ask because people want to see new talent, they want to see new people, new voices, new music. I think there’s much potential in the scene now. There’s definitely a new generation of people that I think are gonna take over,” she tells me.
For Sahana, this advice has obviously worked. With amazing upcoming gigs and a passion for the art, it will come as no surprise as she continues to make splashes in the scene and take the world by storm.
