As the year is coming to an end, we had the chance to go Beyond The Booth with Atura! Atura is a rising American electronic music artist and DJ carving out his own distinct lane in today’s club landscape.
What inspired you to become a DJ, and how did you come up with your stage name, Atura?
Atura: Back in 2005, my cousins Ryan and Danny showed me a bunch of cool music by an artist called Basshunter, who was SUPER influential on what I listened to in the years to come. At that time, I was already listening to artists like Daft Punk, Fatboy Slim, and Paul Oakenfold, but Basshunter really struck a deep chord with me. That all eventually led me to start making music a few years later with one of my best friends, Teiji, and my artist name actually comes from his last name’s letters, all jumbled. We were trying to come up with new aliases together, and I was stuck. He came up with Atura and didn’t really like it, but I thought it sounded cool, so I took it, and he ended up naming himself Duumu. Shoutout Teiji one time for the name, love that guy.
For someone just discovering you, how would you describe the sound of your music to them?
A: Honestly, it’s a bit of a mix of all of my influences, but the short answer is I like to take the looping, euphoric feel of French House/Touch (Daft Punk, DJ Falcon, etc.) and mash it with the modern takes on Hardgroove (Club Angel, Kettama, etc.). Basically fast and euphoric with emphasis on the soulful feeling of those ’90s classics.
What ongoing influences or experiences continue to shape your sound as you grow within the music industry?
A: I’m seeing a lot of people go back to the older, dirtier sound that I’ve always loved, so that’s gotten me VERY inspired as of late. I adore hearing very dusty-sounding drums over some warm chords, and everything put together, honestly, very messily. It’s such an innocent sound that makes me so excited to dig and find more.
For someone trying to make it in the music industry, what advice would you give them?
A: Remember, you’re doing this for the kid version of you. Hold that close to you, because the grind is not easy and can be for a very long time. I started making music when I was 13, and the journey has been long and beautiful. Just enjoy the ride and remember that this is not just for you, but the younger version of yourself. Imagine how proud they will be when you get there!!
It can be from any genre, but who would you love to collab with and why?
A: I have 3 artists of very different styles that I’d love to work with. First off, Salute would be such a fun producer to work with; their sound has inspired so much of what I’ve done over the last few years, so working with them would be super sick. I’d also be curious to hear what I’d make with artists like Lido or Anatole Muster; both are artists I listen to a lot and take a lot of inspiration from.
What is your process when collaborating with different artists, and how do you approach blending your style with theirs?
A: When a collab starts for me, it usually comes from me and the other artist hanging in a studio in person or just on a call on Discord, I have a lot of fun just being present together and just bouncing ideas off each other and getting super excited together and having those “BROOOO NO WAY” moments in the studio, I truly believe it comes off in the song and it’s a really special feeling when it happens.
How does your third EP, ‘Rebirth,’ compare to the other music that you have released?
A: Making this new EP, I had the plan of putting my most exciting and club-ready tunes forward, so immediately after I finished Bloomheart, work went right underway for Rebirth. This EP really feels like a love letter to the dance floor and about that amazing feeling of being out there more than anything I’ve ever made before. Overall, it just feels way more intense and high-energy.
How was it opening for Porter Robinson after the party for EDC Orlando? When you found this out, what was going through your mind?
A: The day that I found out I got the gig, I was in Denver hanging with my friends after my show with Demotapes. I got a call from my manager and had to casually go back into conversation immediately after, which felt insane to me. I was super gassed about it obviously, and we all went out to celebrate after and had a fantastic night. When it came time to play the show, the place was pretty packed, and I was ridiculously nervous. Still, I entered a flow state right when I got on stage and was super happy with how it turned out. Meeting him was super dope, too. It was just a super chill, quick convo after my set, and then I went to wind down and watch the show. Super sick night and sick show.
What was it like performing at Nocturnal Wonderland as your first festival, and how did that experience influence your growth as an artist?
A: Nocturnal was such an amazing experience that taught me a LOT. Getting that first bit of festival experience at such a reputable event was honestly such a blessing. Getting to hear the stuff I had been making over gigantic speakers helped shape the EP a ton; it was basically the biggest car test ever.
Before performing, what are some pre-show rituals you do to get in the right mindset for each performance?
A: I’m a man of superstition because of my hockey background, so I do the same thing every show, just like I did before games, which is just pace back and forth four times each way, taking deep breaths, giving myself a speech that amps me up, and then jumping and shaking out the nerves.
How do you switch up your sets to keep them fresh for different crowds?
A: I actually don’t plan my sets out at all, besides like the first two songs. I love reading the energy in the room and just going off of that. I spend most of my show day prep just finding new things on SoundCloud or cooking up quick ideas to play out the same night. It’s a very fun practice, and I really love going about it that way.
What is your dream venue/ festival that you would love to perform at?
A: Oh man, Portola, Tomorrowland, and EDC Las Vegas for festivals, and Red Rocks, The Gorge, and TD Garden for venues. TD Garden, just because I grew up going to Bruins games all the time there, and I would love to have that place all to myself for one night and throw a ridiculous party.
If you had an unlimited budget, what effects (visuals, lasers, pyro, etc.) would you want for your performance?
A: Barely any. Give me lights directly above the crowd, facing down, an old school low-quality 90’s jumbotron screen, and a small set of lasers that go directly above the crowd’s heads. Put me in the middle of the room, and let’s have an absolute evening just listening to music. I’m not curating a spectacle, I want to curate an energy.
Think big picture now: if you get a documentary made about you/your music career, what are some key things that should be included & why?
A: Easily include the absolutely ridiculous times my friends and I had experimenting with music back at my friend Patrick’s house in middle/high school; those days were super formative and where I learned so much about myself as an artist. I owe so much to those guys.
What has been the most memorable thing you have experienced since you have been in the music industry?
A: That’s gotta be playing my first show in my home city of Boston in 2019, alongside Underscores, Peter Kuli, and Chuck Sutton. Genuinely an insane lineup if you put it together today, wouldn’t really work, but such a nuts thing to see where we all are now.
How will you know that you have “made it in the music industry”?
A: On an emotional level, making it in this industry is all about if your music has impacted even one person. To get DMs about how a song got someone through a tough time is genuinely the best feeling in the world, and simultaneously getting to meet so many great people and do so many cool things that I’m grateful for, that’s why I feel as if I’ve made it to some degree.
How do you stay authentic to yourself while being in the music industry?
A: Just by remembering that this is all just music and we are all just people who love this stuff. I am just a fan too, so are all of my favorite artists, and the same for you and anyone reading this. It’s all a big pool of nerds who love this stuff.
At Moon Lvnding, we show gratitude every day. How do you show gratitude in your daily life?
A: Every single day, I am so grateful for the people around me, whether it’s the people I work with, my friends, or my mom. I make sure it’s known how much they mean to me and how much they impact my life.
Where can fans discover your music?
A: You can check my stuff out on any streaming platform, including and especially Soundcloud! The same goes for social media, where you’ll get to hear sneak peeks of what’s coming up next.
Is there anything else that you would like to share?
A: Next year is going to be a super sick year, got a few really cool collabs with some incredible artists and some people I look up to, and a bunch of shows, headline, support, festivals, you name it. Not gonna say too much yet, but it’s gonna be a really fun year! 🙂
Keep up with all things Atura with the links below.
