Suzanna, aka Bazzzuk: My Love For Electronic Music

Live:STR SELECTIONS

by Alexandra Mansilla

Suzanna, aka Bazzzuk: ‘My Love For Electronic Music Started With Prodigy’

16 Oct 2024

Don't miss Bazzzuk at The Crowd Test Festival — the very first Art and Music Festival by The Sandy Times on November 16, 2024, at Monkey Bar, Dubai. Tickets are available here.

You know her: you have seen her behind the decks at Analog Room Parties and at Dancewerk; she has played in Yerevan at Moct Club's 5th anniversary and in Amsterdam at RadioRadio and SkateCafe (where she performed her first 5-hour all-nighter). Suzanna, aka Bazzzuk, is an incredible DJ with an energy I can only describe as pure and refined — it reaches you whether she is electrifying a dance floor or sitting across from you in a café, having a conversation. That is exactly what happened to me: we met in Amsterdam and ended up talking for hours.

Here, you will find her story — how her curiosity and obsession with music led her, unexpectedly, to becoming a DJ.

— Suzanna, hello! We truly want to dive into your story to get to know you from the very beginning. Where are you from?

— I was born in Moscow. My parents are immigrants from Armenia who moved to Moscow in the early '80s. They had three kids there, and I’m one of them!

I got interested in music around five or six years old — it was just after the Soviet Union collapsed. Cassette tapes and CDs with foreign music started appearing in markets (in Moscow, this market was called Gorbushka). That is where I spent most of my money. I was especially crazy about African American music, from soulful R&B to political hip-hop.

— You were pretty young. How did you find out about this music?

— My cousin always shared new music and recommended what to listen to. That is how I first heard Prodigy — I was about 10 or 11 at the time. My love for electronic music started with Prodigy. Before that, I hadn’t listened to anything like it.

— Did you attend music school?

— Yeah, from the age of seven, but I didn’t finish. Music was my main passion, but I was also a very active kid. I loved dancing and sports like running and tennis. Sitting at the piano was hard for me, even though I loved playing. Eventually, when I was around 11 or 12, I quit music school, which was a big challenge for my parents at the time. Honestly, it was a bit of a rebellious decision. Looking back, I think it would have been better if I’d finished — I might have even started my music career earlier.

— So after Moscow, you moved to Dubai, right?

— Not exactly. I left Moscow only about five years ago. First, I moved to Bali, and then, at the end of 2020, I got the opportunity to move to Dubai for work, and I have been here since.

— What do you do besides DJing? It seems like DJing might not be enough to make a living in Dubai.

— Yeah, unless you are DJing at mega clubs several times a week, it is not enough to make a living. I work a day job at a big tech company — that is actually why I moved from Bali.

— So you moved to Dubai for work, probably didn’t know anyone, and then started DJing?

— Exactly. I moved in late 2020, at the peak of the pandemic, when everything was closed. No parties, no friends. You are right; I didn’t know anyone at all. I’d occasionally visit an independent record store called Flipside. That is where I met the owner, Shadi, who is also a DJ — a really great one. Through him, I started meeting other people who hung out there, mostly DJs, too. That is how my social circle started to grow.

In fact, my journey as a DJ began here in Dubai. Before this, I wasn’t playing sets — I was just obsessed with music and always took charge of it at house parties. But diving into the world of DJing and actually playing in front of people was something I hadn’t done before. I had always been in survival mode, focused on making money, so I never imagined that I could make a living doing something I loved.

One of my best friends eventually told me, "Suzy, it’s time to stop waiting for the perfect moment! I have a friend who’s a great DJ. Let me introduce you, and he’ll teach you the technical side. After that, you’ll be fine because you have already got the taste for music." So I met a DJ named Lesha, and he taught me everything. Then, when I moved to Dubai, I immediately bought my own equipment and started practising.

At first, I played at home and invited the friends I’d made, thanks to Flipside. And at some point, word must have spread, because I got an invitation to play at Analog Room, and then I became a resident DJ there. Before that, I’d only played in my living room, so performing at a party with so many people was a fantastic experience.

Then, there was another cool party series in Dubai called Gallery. Ran by Hani J, Kevork (who is known by his DJ name Diamond Setter). They played really good music — disco and old-school house. They always had chances to bring fresh talents into town and create such a memorable vibe. That was the first party I attended, even before I knew anyone.

Later, after I sent them a mix, they invited me to perform. From there, everything took off. That same year, Analog Room invited me twice. Everything started rolling from there: Analog Room made me their resident DJ.

Later, I played in Tbilisi at Tes Club alongside some great Dubai-based DJs: Hani J, Salah Sadeh, and Hassan Alwan. At the time, it was my all-time favourite night as a DJ. And while I was in Beirut, I got a chance to play a funky set at Soul Kitchen.

Then there was Cairo. The guys from Scene Noise were having a “return” party and invited Shadi Megalla and me to play. What an incredible experience it was! And the scene there is just amazing. It seems like places where life isn’t always easy tend to produce the most interesting and unique talents.

Other memorable nights happened this year: in Armenia, playing for Moct Club’s 5th anniversary, and at Amsterdam’s Skatecafe, where I played my first all-nighter of five hours. I was so caught up in the moment, with time flying by, that I didn’t even notice my feet were completely destroyed until it was all over. When you are in the zone and enjoying the flow, you feel no pain or discomfort. I also did a live radio show on Amsterdam’s RadioRadio this summer.

And many more smaller local gigs curated by our small hut alternative scene.

— What does your schedule look like?

— You know, I don’t really have a set schedule. I always choose where I want to play. If I get invited somewhere and I realise it is not my kind of vibe, I will just say no. I only play when everything clicks perfectly.

Plus, we have our own event, Dancewerk, with Hani J and Assi Abogado, known as Sonchauni, which we launched in May 2023.

— How did that come about?

— We met at the Gallery party, where Hani was one of the co-founders. The first thing we bonded over was how much we love Lipelis, and we talked about how great it would be to bring him to Dubai to perform. Since we were on the same page about music and how we see events, we decided to create our own brand. With DanceWerk, we wanted people to forget their worries, listen to great music, and just dance. What kind of music? Honestly, it doesn’t matter what genre, as long as it is music that doesn’t weigh you down but instead frees you up and helps you relax. Lipelis performed for our first event, which was exactly what we envisioned!

Then, there was a break for almost a year. First came the summer when everyone leaves town, then the tragic events in Gaza, which really broke our hearts. This year, we decided to push ourselves to recover and relaunched the event in March. Now we host it on the last Friday of every month at Casa Latina in Al Barsha.

— Why that location?

— We love the vibe there. It is a very simple venue, but the energy is amazing. We also get to design the decor for every party ourselves, exactly how we want it. We hang disco balls, theatre curtains — anything we like. We wanted the parties to have a DIY feel but with really great music. And that is exactly how they have turned out. We are also thrilled to see new faces — people we have never seen before. One of the challenges of organising alternative parties in Dubai is that the community is quite small. You often see the same crowd at these events, mostly Gen Z, as they tend to be the most curious ones in this city. So we are really happy that new people are finding us now.

— When you and Hani decided to create your own parties, what were you missing from the scene?

— I was missing the opportunity to play and listen to the music that I longed for. There are a lot of DJs in Dubai who can play great music, but not enough parties for them to play at. There are a few events like that, but they are rare. There are several alternative promoters in town that are trying to transform or add to the scene, and we hope to bring a refreshing sound.

— Is there a set you have played that you will always remember?

— Of course! I mentioned earlier the five hours all-nighter at SkateCafe in Amsterdam (which you didn’t come to, by the way!); it is known to be one of the hot spots in the city. And at Radio Radio in Amsterdam, too. Amsterdam is one of my favourite cities when it comes to the music scene, so playing there felt like another level of accomplishment as a DJ. Both times, I was super nervous, especially at Radio Radio, because it was a live video broadcast, and I don’t have the best relationship with cameras. [Smiles] I get really shaky when I’m filmed, literally.

It was also nerve-wracking to play at Moct Club's fifth anniversary in Yerevan this April. They had a three-day rave with an amazing lineup, and it was such a big deal for me to finally perform on a big stage in my home country. The Armenian dancing crowd is so supportive, receptive, and curious. I was overwhelmed with joy.

— Is there a story behind how you got invited to Moct?

— Oh yes, there is! I was in Yerevan in January for another gig at Simona Bar. And one night, Daniel, a friend of mine and a great DJ from Yerevan, invited me to go hang out at the office of Moct Club, where, of course, they have a full DJ setup. We were just fooling around, playing b2b for some friends there, and Daniel said, “Our music together sounds really good. It would be amazing if we played a b2b gig one day.” And it just so happened that the club's owner was in the room. He said, “Why not? Play together!” I asked, “Where?” and he replied, “Here, at our club’s fifth anniversary, I think you will be a great addition to our lineup”. And that is how I ended up actually getting this gig.

Things just kind of fall into place for me. I never write to anyone to ask for gigs; it all happens naturally. Like with my sets in Amsterdam. I told a friend there that I was coming, and he sent my SoundCloud profile to SkateCafe, and they invited me! The same thing happened with Radio Radio. It is funny, but I still have imposter syndrome and struggle to ask for opportunities.

— Can you see yourself living anywhere besides Dubai? If so, where?

— If I leave Dubai, I’d love to live in Portugal. First, because of the weather. Second, because of the warmth of the people. I feel a connection to Southern Europe, but not somewhere as intense as Italy or Spain. Portugal strikes the perfect balance between Northern and Southern Europe for me.

Besides, the music scene there isn’t too crowded. If I ever want to open my own place — which is my ultimate dream — I’d love to open a cozy bar where local DJs can play in the evenings.

— Do you have a dream festival you’d love to play at?

— I am not usually a fan of festivals; I’m more into intimate vibes when it comes to partying, but I recently attended Waking Life in Portugal, and it definitely changed my perspective. It is quite different from what you normally experience when going to this type of event. It is set in the forest, right on the border with Spain, around a lake, with beautifully designed stages.

Every detail is thought of, while at the same time, it all looks effortless. Not to mention how they focus on the quality of the sound — it is organised by a Belgian crew who are generally known to be one of the best in the electronic music scene when it comes to production, whether it’s music or parties.

I guess, after experiencing this festival, I could see myself playing at a similar one. It is a very different feeling to witness a dance floor filled with people who move until they are exhausted, all in sync, completely immersed in the music. I remember observing the crowd moving together as one unit almost to this hypnotic beat — it reminded me of that scene from Matrix movie, if you know what I mean. I can imagine how rewarding it is for a DJ to play for an audience like that, where you can feel the energy flowing between everyone.

I’d also love to play at an outdoor event in Armenia, maybe somewhere in the mountains.

— Where can people usually find you in Dubai?

— In my living room. I have a dog, so if I have a choice between staying home with him or going out, I will stay home. Plus, the best music is always at home.

— What music do you listen to at home?

— I listen to everything. Well, except Taylor Swift.

— Random fact: Taylor Swift fans trade friendship bracelets at her concerts.

— Whatever makes these girlies happy! In the car or at home I would listen to almost everything from classical music to techno, post-punk, old-school hip-hop, soul and funk.

Generally, when you are a DJ, you spend a lot of time not really listening to music but digging for new tunes or old ones that you heard somewhere and want to play in your sets someday. So, I spend a lot of time hunting for music on different platforms.

I’m a big fan of old funk, including Bobby Caldwell, Teddy Pendergrass, and Marvin Gaye. I love the classics, especially African American music. I even enjoy hip-hop, but not the new stuff. I listen to A Tribe Called Quest, Run-D.M.C., Slick Rick — all the old-school '80s and '90s stuff.

One of the interesting findings from the modern commercial or pop scene happened last year when I discovered an artist called Shygirl. You could call it R&B with hip-hop elements and experimental electronic with a very nice and provocative vocal. Very refreshing sound for a commercial artist.

So yeah, to wrap up, my musical taste ranges from classical to electronic and I think it shows in my sets as well, I almost never stick to one sound when I play.

By the way, let me share a cool hack with you. One of my favourite music apps is Radiooooo — I discovered it when I was living in Bali. You can choose a decade, pick a country on the map, and it starts playing music from that time and place. Imagine how much music there is in the archives that we have no knowledge about — I have found so much Armenian music I didn’t even know existed!

by Alexandra Mansilla