14 FAKTS INTERVIEW WITHMALIN LINNÉA

Scorpios Mykonos resident Malin Linnéa is a Stockholm-born DJ and music producer. After 10 years living and DJ-ing in London she relocated to Mexico City in 2019, inspired by the country’s growing music scene and magical nature. Apart from Burning Man and various other festivals, Malin frequently plays in Brazil. In 2021 she released ‘Crosby’s Midnight Train’ on AMITAHA and ‘Wild’ in collaboration with Chris IDH on Bercana Music.

Q: Please introduce yourself

I’m Malin Linnéa - a Swedish DJ and curator of Lúcido, a music series focused on old school house music. We try to do at least some of our events earlier hours and in venues outside the typical club format to offer an alternative to so many late night club experiences that are already out there. 

Q: One person you'd dream to have a coffee with?

David Mancuso, for his perspective on how dance music culture was shaped in its early days or a fashion figure like John Galliano to hear about the fashion scene in the 90s. 

Q: If you could have any superpower, what would it be and why?

I guess most DJs will say teleportation! It would make the constant travel that comes with our job much easier, and more importantly, it would allow me to spend more time with my family in Stockholm.

Q: If you would have been given the chance to do a film score, what movie would you choose and why?

Something visually rich and cinematic, like films by Baz Luhrmann or Sofia Coppola. I’ve always loved the soundtrack to Romeo + Juliet, and I like when things are a bit unpredictable and unexpected. 

Q: Who influenced you the most in your music career and why?

I went to Ibiza as a student in 2007 and saw Carl Cox play at Space the first night. That whole trip was full of technicolor experiences and very indicative of the scene at its peak if you ask me. 

Q: Tell us about your journey, what got you to where you are today?

Coming back from Ibiza inspired me. I took an extensive DJ course but didn’t start playing professionally in London around 2010. At that time, the landscape was very different, there were fewer DJs overall, fewer female DJs, and social media didn’t exist in the way it does today. Most DJs were happy playing for London clubs, there wasn’t this idea that you hadn’t “made it” unless you were touring internationally non-stop.

After 10 years in London, I moved to Mexico City, but I also spent four summers DJ-ing at Scorpios in Mykonos. The fact that I’ve been able to travel and play in so many different places—often by living nomadically and giving up a fixed base at times—has definitely helped shape where I am today.

Q: What’s one piece of advice you’d give to someone just starting out their career in music?

I’m currently part of a mentorship program through Soho House where I mentor a young DJ from Miami. Finding your style takes time—it’s not something most people figure out early on.

A strong starting point could be learning how to play house, funk, and disco because those are typically genres you can play in bars and restaurants which means you can start getting actual DJ experience early and be paid. From there, you can branch out and develop your own identity and of course play in local night clubs.

It also depends on where you’re based. In cities like Berlin, it seems some DJs were able to build their own platforms and events quite quickly, but in smaller cities that’s not always the case.

Q: Can you recall a DJ set or performance of yours that remains unforgettable to you? Where did it take place, and what makes it stand out among all others?

Definitely outdoor settings, like playing for Maxa at camp at Burning Man or at Scorpios in Mykonos. There’s something about those environments that completely changes the energy of the music and the crowd.

Q: How has your music style evolved over the years?

I started out playing house and electro around 2010, and I feel like I’m now coming back to my roots a bit. I’m playing more and more vinyl sets, collecting a lot of 90s house, early 2000s Ibiza classics, and groovy tech house from that era.

Q: If you were to venture into another music genre, which one would you choose and why?

Pop. I love early Madonna, and I’m also a fan of Charli XCX and the late Sophie.

Q: Could you name 3 tracks that got you into electronic music and why?

1- “The Cure & The Cause” (Dennis Ferrer Remix) – Fish Go Deep

2- “Plastic Dreams” – Jaydee

3- “Finally” (Danny Tenaglia Return to Paradise Mix) – Kings of Tomorrow.

These are all tracks I heard on my first trip to Ibiza.

Q: Can you recommend a hidden gem in your home country that would be perfect for a rave?

Dalhalla in Dalarna, Sweden. It’s a former limestone quarry turned into an open-air amphitheatre, with dramatic natural surroundings.

Q: Could you tell us about your upcoming releases and plans for the year?

I have around 10 tracks I’m currently working on and refining so they follow a cohesive musical direction. At the moment, I’m deciding whether to release them independently through Lúcido asa label—which would allow me to move on my own timeline—or to share them with an existing label and be part of a wider musical network.

Q: Can you share a fun fact about yourself that most of your listeners are probably unaware of?

I’m convinced I was Brazilian in a past life—I picked up Brazilian Portuguese surprisingly easily after spending time there. Meanwhile, I studied French for six years in school and can still barely form a sentence.