Aida Arko’s unconventional path to techno

Aida Arko’s journey from the high-flying world of Cirque du Soleil to the throbbing beats of techno is nothing short of extraordinary. With a deep passion for performance, her transition into music is an inspiring story of reinvention, resilience, and relentless pursuit of one's true calling. In this exclusive interview, Aida shares her personal story, her musical influences, and her thoughts on the evolution of the techno scene.

Having worked for over a decade as a circus performer, Aida’s transition into music came as a natural shift. She spent years as an acrobat and fire performer, even creating her own solo show. However, the short lifespan of a professional athlete prompted her to pivot towards her long-standing passion for music. Moving to Europe was a crucial part of this journey, as she had to start over at the age of 25, learning new skills and embracing a fresh path in music.

“Transitioning from a professional circus performer to a music producer and techno DJ was a significant shift. For over 10 years I worked in the Sport Industry and circus, I was an acrobat and fire performer; I created my own solo show where I was performing on a rotating star shape object 10 meters up in the air while on fire, loved the intensity of it and to create this momentum of optical illusions! As a pro athlete you have to accept that your career has a short lifespan, and when I decided to pursue my passion in music I had to let go of nearly all the skills I’d honed over the years. I needed to start from scratch at the age of 25 all over again, learning entirely new skills to pursue my long-standing dream of creating and sharing powerful stories through music. My years as a performer taught me that to excel in any field, you must dedicate yourself fully. I still carry that mindset; for me, there is no work-life balance, it’s a lifestyle in passion. It’s all or nothing.”

Aida’s journey took her from Tehran, where she grew up, to India, where she discovered music. She then moved to Europe, and after much hard work, she found herself in cities like Vienna and Berlin, where she is now based. These cities have allowed her to connect deeply with the electronic music scene, overcoming obstacles and building the foundation for her career as a DJ and producer.

“I’m always on a mission, I follow inspiration and a clear sense of purpose. I grew up in a small city, named Arak, about four hours from Tehran. As a teenager, I left with a backpack and one-way ticket for India to find myself—it may sound cliché, but that’s where I discovered music and, ultimately, my purpose. Moving to Europe against all odds and starting from ground zero all over again was a challenging but natural step in my journey to become a DJ and music producer. Now, living between Vienna and Berlin, I feel I’m in the perfect place to pursue my passion. I remember the past but look forward to a future and a full life worth looking forward to.”

Aida’s Persian heritage plays a significant role in shaping her music. The cultural richness of her upbringing, which included literature, poetry, and spiritual practices, infuses her work with a sense of depth and connection to the world. She sees her music as an extension of these cultural roots, offering listeners an emotional and transformative experience.

“Growing up in Iran had a profound impact on me. Persian culture, spectacular cuisine, rose gardens, Persian celebrations, especially literature and poetry, is woven into who I am. This influence shapes my view of the universe—I’m spiritual, believe in good art, good food, good people, and a mindful approach to life. These values seep into my music, adding layers of depth that connect with audiences on a universal level.”

Aida’s upcoming Hard Disco EP on Sara Landry’s Hekate Label is highly anticipated by her fans. The EP takes listeners on an emotional journey, exploring different energy levels and moods. Her collaboration with the UK artist PRYDIE on the track "Hard Disco" is one of the standout moments. Aida describes how this project is different from her previous work, particularly in terms of sound design and tempo.

“Hard Disco is an emotional journey, filled with intensity and moments of release. Each track explores different dimensions of energy and reflection, capturing moods that are bold yet personal. For the track ‘Hard Disco’ I’ve collaborated with a very talented young Artist from the UK named PRYDIE and I’m very satisfied with the results. This EP stands apart from my previous work by pushing boundaries in tempo and sound design, while still holding onto the essence of my style for Hekate Records.”

The track Knock Out from her Hard Disco EP addresses the serious issue of domestic violence. For Aida, music is a powerful tool for storytelling, and she wanted to bring attention to the impact of abuse through this track.

“For me, music is life, and every piece I create holds a message, a reminder, or a personal note. With Knock Out, I wanted to bring awareness to the impact of domestic abuse. It’s a taboo topic that’s often silenced, yet it affects people of all ages, races, and genders, leaving long-lasting scars on mental and physical health. By addressing this in my music, I hope to open up dialogue and advocate for more support for victims.”

Being chosen for Beatport's Artist Development Program, Beatport NEXT, is a huge achievement for Aida. She sees this opportunity as a major milestone in her career, providing her with the platform to grow as an artist and collaborate with more musicians and labels.

“Working with Beatport NEXT has been an absolute privilege. This program has inspired me to center my focus on music more than ever. The team at Beatport has been incredibly supportive, and through this experience, I’ve been able to collaborate with more artists and labels, fuelling my creative growth and recognition. I’m excited to continue this spirit riding the wave for all my upcoming projects.”

As a producer known for her hard-edge techno sound, Aida’s creative process is centered around patience, failure, and the willingness to push through moments of doubt. She embraces the idea that experimentation and risk-taking are essential for growth in music.

“My guiding principle is simple: there are no limits. Progress comes from small, consistent steps which ultimately make milestones. Creating music takes patience, dedication, failure and the willingness to push through moments of self-doubt. Some of my best music came from a failed experiment! I’m not afraid to step out of boundaries, I love individualism and unique identities and being underground and having an element of risk! I pour all my emotions into my work—whether it’s dark and intense or bright and high energy, big time rave sound. I try to keep an open palette while staying true to the electronic dance music realm.”

Aida views the evolving techno scene as a dynamic space filled with diverse sub-genres and opportunities for artists to express themselves. She is particularly excited by the new sub-genres that continue to emerge, allowing techno to evolve while maintaining its core essence.

“Our modern life moves at a very fast pace, especially the youth generation and the entertainment scene, both equally demanding. I love how techno has evolved, branching into so many sub-genres—from hypnotic to hard style—giving people a rich variety of options for club and festival experiences. The constantly evolving nature of techno lets audiences choose their own style and BPM, making it feel like they’re wielding a unique weapon of expression. For me, techno is a movement, a form of resistance. With new sub-genres on the horizon, it has so much to offer—from hypnotic to melodic, minimal to hard style, hard dance to prime time, and industrial—all under the umbrella of techno. How cool is that!”

Finally, Aida is an advocate for women in the electronic music scene, recognizing the ongoing challenges women and non-binary people face in a male-dominated industry. She is committed to advocating for more inclusivity and equal treatment within the scene.

“Unfortunately, the core of the scene is still very much white male dominated. Changes are already happening, but there’s still a long way to go! For most non-binary people, women, and people of diverse ethnicities, it remains challenging to be treated equally as white men. Music and what you have to offer as a part of a community should be at the center of our scene, not circumstances, showing that talent and passion should always take precedence over other factors.”

Looking ahead to 2025, Aida is focused on releasing new music, performing internationally, and pushing her artistic boundaries. Her recent success, including performing at Boiler Room, has only fueled her desire to keep evolving.

“2025 is going to be a big year! I want to release new music, perform more internationally, and push the boundaries even further. Performing at Boiler Room was a huge moment for me and a perfect example of how I want to push myself further in front of an audience. I have more collaborations lined up, and I’m working on new sounds that I feel will really resonate with my audience.”

For Aida, 2025 promises to be a year of milestones, collaborations, and sonic exploration, and she’s ready to embrace it all with the same passion and dedication that has defined her journey.