Lost Paradise images via Byravyna / Interstellar Groove images via @jadedamico & Make Up via lottiegmakeup //
The rising talent has been making laps up and down Sydney as of late…
DJ/producer/singer Roxy Lotz is a mainstay on dance floors around Sydney, the musical one-stop shop establishing herself as an in-demand curator of all things tasteful and groove. It’s culminated in her playing the likes of Finer Things festival, Splendour XR and Lost Paradise, all the while helping her become a regular face at local venues like The Abercrombie and Lost Sundays at Ivy. Now, following years of grinding behind the decks, Roxy has stepped front and centre with her recent debut single, ‘Interstellar Groove’.
Boasting dreamy production layers and pristine vocals right up there with the likes of Sabrina Claudio and Billie Eilish, the new track is a cauldron of dream pop with elements of soul, disco and funk splashed throughout. It’s a solid amalgamation of the genres that underpin Roxy’s many DJ sets around the city, and it’s safe to say that she’s off to a flying start for what is sure to be a very long career as a producer/vocalist.
To celebrate ‘Interstellar Groove’, we caught up with Roxy to chat about her musical beginnings, her production journey, DJ milestones and more. Check it below.
Roxy Lotz is one of the coolest DJ names we’ve heard in a minute. How did you come up with it? Or are you lucky enough to have it as your real name?
It is my real name actually! Well, my full first name is Roxanne, but I have been called Roxy my whole life and Lotz is my last name! It’s a bit of a random last name and is actually an adopted last name. Fun fact, my dad was adopted!
For our readers who may not be familiar with your music or haven’t been lucky enough to see you live, can you give us a brief intro as to who Roxy Lotz is?
I am an Eora/Sydney based DJ, producer and vocalist! In terms of my DJ sets you can expect a wide range of disco, electronica, a bit of funk and of course, house. My production and vocal style sits in a more of a poppy space, but holds true to my love for disco and grooves. Give me a groovy bass with some heavy kick sidechaining and you’ve hooked me [laughs].
The last three years have been pretty crazy for you, having played sets at Lost Sundays, Finer Things Festival, Splendour XR, Lost Paradise and more. Have you been able to stop and take a breath after it all?
Honestly, no! [laughs]. The last three years have definitely been wild and the best years of my life. I’ve made so many new friends, met some crazy talented humans, and have just been been very fulfilled. I feel like I’ve always got a million and one things going on at any one time, so sometimes it’s hard to take a beat and breathe. But looking back at it all, I feel really grateful for every incredible opportunity I’ve had, and can’t wait for the next three!
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You’ve also supported a variety of dance juggernauts throughout your career, with Folamour, CC Disco, Palms Trax and Ewan McVicar to name a few. Have you had any memorable encounters or experiences with any of those artists?
Oooo fun question, I actually have! Two of my best friends who are twins, have an older sister who went to uni with CC:DISCO! and are quite good friends with her. So, when I warmed the decks for CC at Lost Sundays back in January, we had a realisation moment and little laugh about that. She’s super lovely.
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You’ve played a variety of venues since your first gig at Oxford Art Factory in 2019. Have you found your way back behind the decks at Oxford since ?
I haven’t been back actually! But I would absolutely love to. Always such a fun energy. I’ve grown so much since then it would be a nice full circle moment for me to play there again.
Now, you’re hot off the release of your debut single ‘Interstellar Groove’, what’s the reaction been like to it?
Ahh, so crazy. The reaction has been really great. I’ve been so lucky to have so much support from so many friends and family since the song’s release. We got to 1000 streams in the first weekend which was pretty sick as well. ‘Interstellar Groove’ has also been played on some community radio stations around Australia, as well as on WLOZ Radio Show, which broadcasted it across 24 different radio stations around the world, each day last week, which is so exciting.
‘Interstellar Groove’ is a wavy bop that finds this really nice blend of dream pop, soul and disco. Did you start it with the intention of creating a song featuring all of those elements? Or did it naturally evolve that way?
With ‘Interstellar Groove’, I was definitely going for a groovy pop track with a lighter vocal and strong disco and soul influences, so I’m really glad it that has translated [laughs]. But it’s safe to say that finding the sound I’d like my production to sit at definitely took some time. I believe my DJing journey, and love for disco really helped solidify that for me, but I can feel my sound is ever evolving, with new influences and inspirations emerging everyday.
What does the term ‘Interstellar Groove’ mean?
‘Interstellar Groove’ to me is a dance through space, an intergalactic journey. I wanted the name to translate through the song and production sounds. She’s a space groove.
If ‘Interstellar Groove’ was a cocktail, what would it be?
Hmm, I’d have to say something sweet, bubbly and sparkly for sure. Maybe a Berry Gin Spritz? It’s gotta be gin, we love her.
Disco and funk are two genres that you clearly have a natural affinity with, as evidenced by your production and various DJ sets around sydney. What is it about those genres that you resonate with?
Honestly, disco and funk never fail to put a smile on my face. I really do associate that music with connection and inclusion. Disco and funk have origins across so many different communities, cultures and ethnicities. The sound just brings people together in such a beautiful way. If everyone was listening to disco and funk all day, everyday, nothing bad could ever happen right?
Given that you’re predominantly known as a DJ, was it at all nerve wracking showing off this singer/producer side of your artistry and releasing your debut single?
Oh for sure!! It’s never an easy thing to showcase your creative work to people. Before releasing this track, I’d been sitting on it for so long that by the end I had built the release up so much in my head. So, it was a huge weight off my shoulders finally letting it out into the world. I was a nervous wreck, that’s for sure, but I was so happy I did it and am excited to do it all over again.
You sing, DJ, produce and have even played the violin! Do you have any more talents? Any that our readers might be surprised by?
Not sure about talent, but in addition to music, I have a love for painting. I completed my first oil painting when I was ten years old and I’ll easily spend hours and hours mixing colours without realising. Similarly to how I get lost in producing, I get lost in painting. My inner peace right there.
You’ve talked about being introduced to Ableton while attending a Women in Music event in 2018. The first time you get into Ableton, what was it like? Was there a sense of freedom when using that software for the first time?
I love this topic! So for a bit of background I studied music production at uni and was first introduced to Cubase 9, and really enjoyed it. I then did some live recording units using Pro-Tools and loved the recording and vocal comping capabilities. Some might disagree, but to me it felt like it really lacked the midi and sound design aspects that I was longing for at the time and could find in Cubase. In my opinion, there wasn’t a happy medium for me yet between the two softwares.
I had been producing little beats and vocal projects at uni for around tw years at the time but was still in the early stages of my production skills. Then, I attended a Women in Music event and was introduced to Ableton. I was absolutely blown away by its capabilities and I loved how clean and simple it all looked. Every button I wanted was right there. Plus, the software had so many amazing stock plugins and effects. Honestly, you can do so much with just the native effects and samples alone. So I downloaded it as soon as I got home from the event that night, and moments later it was 3am [laughs].
Obviously Ableton has a really steep learning curve, did you pick it up immediately or was it a gradual process?
My journey with music production has definitely been very gradual. I’ve been producing now and using different softwares for around seven years, but I’ve really refined my skills in the last three years or so. But in saying this, I still feel like a newbie with so much to learn, so ‘gradual’ is a good description [laughs]. Many hours of YouTube tutorials.
I also did an Ableton course at Ableton Live school called ‘Produce Music’. The guys there are honestly so amazing and I can’t recommend the school enough. You really do learn from the best when you go there. I’ve even kept in touch with a few tutors and made some great friends through it all. One of the friends I made there actually played bass on ‘Interstellar Groove’. Shout out to Jayden Whitbread! What a weapon.
Are there any easter eggs production or vocal wise you’ve left in ‘Interstellar Groove’?
There are actually! I’m not sure if many people would notice but there is a play on words in the chorus of the track. People may hear the lyrics to be “I’ll be there to twinkle for you. Round the globe. You coming with me?” but really it’s “‘You comet with me?”. Not sure if that classifies as an easter egg, but they sounded so similar when I was writing it, I had to throw it in there.
You’ve also teased a bunch of unreleased music that you’re currently sitting on. What can you tell us about them?
I do have a few tracks in the pipeline I am excited to share, some ‘Interstellar Groove’ siblings for sure. Expect more funky bass, fun vocal melodies and sparkly production bits. There is a killer synth sound in the mix as well. I had fun with the sound design there.
I’m guessing the thought of making a dance track with your own vocals has popped into your head at some point of another. Can we expect any 120-130pm records from Roxy Lotz, featuring Roxy Lotz?
Oh yes it has, and you can definitely expect some tracks in between 120 – 130bpm, sooner than you may think!
Lastly, what else do you have coming up you can tell us about? What’s on the horizon for Roxy Lotz in 2023?
Expect more music, dancing, and creation! Hopefully 2023 is going to be my year for releasing more original work. I’m in the midst of creating a home studio in the garage, so come make some sound with me, friends!
Roxy Lotz’s new single ‘Interstellar Groove’ is out now. You can buy/stream it here. Be sure to keep up with her on Instagram to stay up to date on all of her latest projects.
