For almost two decades, Avis Vox has been exploring the many sides of electronic music, from her early years in trance and downtempo to the melodic and driving techno sound she has developed today. But despite all those years of experience, one thing hasn’t changed: the excitement of stepping on stage and discovering what each performance will bring.
That constant sense of exploration is also at the heart of her music. As her sound has evolved, her voice has gradually become less prominent, allowing the production itself to carry more of the story. Her upcoming track “Time” takes that idea further, combining energetic grooves, dense analog textures, and a lighter, dreamier breakdown to capture the feeling of life moving at full speed — and the moment we stop to ask ourselves if we are still truly present in it.
In our conversation, Avis Vox talks about artistic freedom, the story behind “Time,” her Tiësto inspiration, and the artists she would love to work with, while opening up about why she feels a musician is never truly finished and what keeps her searching for the next sound.
Q: Looking back at everything you’ve experienced with Avis Vox so far, what still gives you that “wow, this is actually happening” feeling?
A: Yes, without a doubt. When I look back at the 18 years I’ve been involved with electronic dance music, I’m happy to say that I still feel that excitement before going on stage. Every performance is completely different, and very often I have to deal with interesting challenges both before and during the show. This is especially true with live performances and whenever I introduce new equipment into the setup.
Q: Your voice has always been an important part of your music. Do you ever feel that a production can say more than vocals?
A: This is a very relevant question for me, because if you look at all the tracks I’ve ever created or been involved in, you can notice that there have gradually been less and less vocals in my music. In the past, especially in trance, vocals were an essential part of a track’s melodic character. Now, working in techno, I can sometimes limit myself to just a few words repeated in a loop. And yes, in that case the music itself becomes more expressive. This is exactly the transformation that has taken place in my work over the past few years.
Q: You’ve explored so many different sides of music over the years. Is there anything from your earlier work that you’d love to bring back to Avis Vox?
A: I like the word “explore” because immersing yourself in the context of a particular genre is inevitable. You explore and observe not only the musical direction in which you create, but also yourself: your feelings and your thoughts. Looking back now, I realize that in my earlier work I simply didn’t have the skills or the freedom of self-expression that I have today, so there is nothing I would really want to bring back from the past. Quite the opposite: I would love to go back to myself at the very beginning of this journey and say the right words to her.
Q: You’ve built your own label, created a live show, and developed a sound that feels very personal. Do you feel like the Avis Vox identity is still evolving?
A: Absolutely! That is exactly what it is all about for me: constantly developing and searching for a new path. The downside is that you never really feel like a fully accomplished or complete musician. It’s like existing in an endless open space with no wall to lean against. But at the same time, you are completely free in your self-expression, with no stylistic boundaries holding you back.
Q: You like leaving space for listeners to find their own meaning in your music. Has a listener ever shared an interpretation of one of your tracks that surprised you?
A: It happens quite often, and I’m always very interested in hearing and analyzing other people’s interpretations. I think the same thing will happen with my new track “Time”, because everyone experiences the direction and speed of time differently. The word itself creates completely different associations: “time heals pain” or “time never stands still”, for example. These evoke completely different feelings and perceptions. I’m curious to know what time means to you.
Q: What was the most fun or exciting part about making your upcoming track “Time”?
A: The most exciting part was combining the energetic, groovy sound of the main section with a light, airy synth in the breakdown. I wanted to express the feeling of life rushing forward and carrying us along at enormous speed through specific sounds. That feeling is embodied in the dense analog pads of my Sequential FOURM synthesizer, as well as the deep bass parts of my beloved Korg MS-20. At the same time, the light melody in the breakdown brings us back to the concept of time itself – something intangible that passes through all the noise and movement of everyday life. For that, I needed a dreamy synth sound dissolved in reverb, which I also found in FOURM.
Q: Your voice plays an interesting role in this track. What can you tell us about how you approached vocals this time?
A: At the beginning of the track, the vocals are fragmented and sampled, almost as if it is trying to break through while repeating the phrase “I am alive”. It finally breaks free in the breakdown, where the vocal becomes a kind of conversationwith myself – a reminder that I am alive and that my inner flame is still burning.
Q: You’ve mentioned Tiësto as one of your inspirations. Did he inspire any part of “Time” as well?
A: Absolutely. When creating the drop, I was inspired by Tiësto’s track “Traffic”, which for me is one of the legendary pieces of early rave culture. I really love its massive chord section and the way it keeps you in a state of tension. That was exactly the feeling I wanted to bring to “Time” in order to express the idea behind the track.
Q: If you could spend one day in the studio with any artist, who would you pick — and what would you want to make together?
A: Right now, I’m especially interested in sound design, originality and creative freedom, so at this point I would choose Skrillex. I also saw one of his DJ sets this summer and was extremely inspired by his unique sense of music. More than anything, I would love to learn from him how to step outside established formulas with the level of confidence that hedoes.
Q: What are you most excited about right now — new music, collaborations, live shows, or something completely different?
A: I’m really looking forward to releasing all of my upcoming tracks this year. I hope they can surprise you and give you some new emotions and sensations while listening. I’m also working on two exciting collaborations with some greatartists, although those will be released at the beginning of next year. Oh, and soon I’m going to record my very first vinyl set – something I’ve been learning and practicing for several months. For me, it feels like another step deeper into the roots of dance music culture, and the experience is almost impossible to describe.