IN CONVERSATION WITH
INDIRA PAGANOTTO
interview by Mariana Malheiro
Indira Paganotto is a force of nature in the electronic music world, weaving hypnotic psytrance rhythms with the deep intensity of techno. With her ability to fuse genres and evoke powerful emotions, she's a storyteller and took the crowd on a journey. Her signature style—psytrance mixed with techno—has become synonymous with her name, showcasing an energetic eclecticism that captivates audiences. At Sonus Festival, I had the incredible opportunity to interview Indira. The festival set against the idyllic shores of Croatia’s Zrće Beach.
Growing up with a DJ father, how did that shape your perspective on the music scene? How did you find your own voice and a unique style within this dynamic?
I grew up with really different kinds of parents. My father was a doctor without borders, and he was helping people with Mother Teresa of Calcutta. He was 10 years in India, in Goa. And when he had time, he was a DJ, but it was not professional. My mom was Italian, did makeup at 8 am, and had super cool dresses. Both very different, so I'm really open-minded, even with the music.
My mom listened to opera and classical music, and my father was in a Goa trance all day. In the beginning, I hated Goa, because I thought it was for crazy people like my father. But later, I realised that whatever your fathers teach you, stays inside of you, even if you try to fight it. It's inside of you. It’s your soul.
Slowly my passion for psytrance came up. It was a long path of making music, alone in the mountain, with my dogs. I was just making music in Madrid, feeling my own spirit. When I was ready, I sent my first tracks to the Charlotte de Vittel. And she took them, the first time! That was the beginning of this crazy four year journey.
What does it mean to you to be acknowledged in this way as the queen of psytrance in the industry? Did you ever imagine you'd reach this level?
I have to say I knew it was happening. I really visualised it into making it a reality. You can visualise everything. If you think you are sick, you will be sick. If you think your boyfriend will leave you, he will. What you manifest is coming. It's not bullshit on Instagram. It's like karma, and karma is a bitch. So, I was really focusing on myself. I didn't want to be famous, because I don't like the ego. I hate it, but I love myself. And I love who I am becoming today, when I was starting, I knew it was going to happen.
We’re thrilled to see you at Sonus! How do you feel about performing at such a unique festival, and what are your expectations for the event? So, it's your second time playing here, right?
Every time I play at a festival, I am like, 'Oh, my God.' I'm so nervous that I don't remember anything. I hated it the first time, because I wasn’t feeling comfortable. This year, I was chilled. I was just playing the first track with a cigarette. I'm ready. I’m home. I know the vibe. I think when I know where I play, I feel more safe. I'm such an introverted girl. It doesn't seem so, but I'm so fucking timid and really shy and asocial. I'm scared of people. So, every time I go to a new place, I'm really sweaty. But Sonus is quite a unique festival. You're by the beach, with a bunch of different stages and clubs. It's open, so fun.
I love your energy on stage, like you dancing and all! What do you look at in the audience while you're playing, is there something specific?
I'm looking at every face, imagine, in a festival of 20,000 people. I mean it's impossible, but I try to make eye contact, like 'I see you.' And when they are not dancing, I try to connect again.
Do you have any ritual pre-set?
My eyeliner, I need it to be perfect. I'm really focused on making it good and it should be a proper, proper eyeliner. it's not trying to be really feminine, it’s my instincts telling me if it isn’t okay. It tells if something went wrong or if it went good.
What was your motivation for having your warrior community? How did that come to place?
The community is something I was missing, because I've never been to a techno party in my life; I have only gone to trance festivals. But every time I was going to Madrid and I would see my friends going into the clubs, I didn’t like it. People are just dancing; no one smiles, no one looks at themselves like a community. So I tried to bring a sense of community to the techno scene and I think I did.
What was your motivation behind creating your label?
I was super tired of sending the music to other labels. Almost all of them love the tracks, but no one is fixing my level. But when Charlotte took it, I thought ‘finally!’
Now there is a lot of psy trance, psy techno, and hard psy. With hardcore, I thought to myself 'I love art.' That’s how, Artcore, the name, came up and I thought it was so cool. I like hardcore, I like groovy, I like house, I like minimal, so why not all in the same level? Why does it need to be in one genre? It is my dream to make whatever I want. I'm not one Indira, I'm a thousand Indiras every day, depending on the set or the mood.
It’s really hard to make a difference and still be elegant and respected with the old generations while vibrating with the new generations. Art is universal but it's really difficult to make art loved by everyone, right? But that's the goal for me.
What else do you want to achieve in your career?
I want to go go go and still be happy. That's my dream, because it's really hard to lose yourself. I just want to keep going and be happy!
What excites you lately?
Having my family be proud of me. Not my Italian family; they are not proud, they hate my tattoos. They are really classic and my goal would be to one day stand in a corner and have them tell me ‘look we love you.’ But for the rest, my parents are super happy. I have a boyfriend who loves me. Finally, The level is going great. I hope I have enough help to keep going with the same energy. I’m always smiling.
