Belgium’s Alycia Bezgo on going viral and crafting the perfect set

Belgian hard dance artist Alycia Bezgo has fast made a global name for herself with her high-energy sets, crammed with hard groove, techno, 90’s nostalgia-tinged trance. Years of competitive hip hop dancing pre-DJ-career breakthrough distilled into her vibrancy and energy behind the decks; add to that, her forward-thinking track selection, clean mixing, visual performance style, and startling knowledge of music, it’s no wonder she’s getting international attention. We caught her in a brief down moment ahead of a summer jam packed with massive festivals and intimate club gigs. Hey Alycia, thanks for speaking with us! You’re from Belgium, a country with some of the biggest techno/electronic artists to its name. How did you first get into electronic music as a raver, and was there a pivotal moment that made you realise you wanted to do this for a career? I am lucky enough to live in the same country as many inspirations in the electronic music scene, and as a teenager that really shaped my view on music! I first got into music through my father; he was a DJ in his younger years, so music has always been important in our household. When I was about 16 years old, I went out for the first time to ‘Decadance’ a legendary club in Ghent. There, I discovered all kinds of techno music, and it opened up a completely new world for me. At that time, Charlotte de Witte (then known as Raving George) was one of the first women in Belgium to become big in the techno scene. From that moment on, I realised that I also wanted to pursue a career as an artist in electronic music. You’ve been working hard at your craft for a while and building gradually, but it was your HÖR set last year going viral that really put you on the map. It’s up to 400K + views! How did/does that sudden level of recognition feel? It still honestly feels unreal that this set became so viral. I never thought it would be such a big turning point in my career. It’s funny, because this set actually happened by accident as someone else’s slot opened up, and so they asked me to fill in without realising how big of a deal it would be. I’m incredibly grateful to have had the chance to showcase my sound, and that so many people believed I deserved that spot. Before HÖR I only played in Belgium and the day after this set I was asked to play all around the world! Music has always been a part of your story, you used to be a competitive hip hop dancer right? When I was 5 years old, I started dancing, and that remained my passion for about 14 years. After that, my interest naturally shifted towards mixing and exploring music in different ways. Every time I’m about to start a gig, I switch into “performance mode.” That level of focus and dedication I feel is something I really developed through dancing. You’re now touring globally, playing your techno, trance and hard groove to crowds all over the world at festivals, clubs… What are the best things about playing at a festival, and about playing at a more intimate club space? For me, the difference between a festival gig and an intimate club gig is all about connection and energy. At a festival, you’re playing for a much bigger crowd, so your set tends to be more direct and impactful. You have to grab people’s attention quickly and keep the energy high, because not everyone is there specifically for you. It’s more about big moments, strong transitions, and creating a powerful overall vibe. In an intimate club setting, it’s a completely different experience. The connection with the crowd is much closer and more personal. You can take more time to build your set, experiment, and really read the room. I feel like I can go deeper musically and create a journey, rather than just focusing on high-impact moments. What are a couple of tracks that you’ve got on repeat in your sets right now that the crowd always go wild for anywhere in the world? 1. Lisa Lashes – We came, We saw – (Hannah Laing extended remix) 2. Skrillex, Chris Lake, Anita B Queen – La Noche (RIOS VERSION) 3. Siente (el Ritmo) – Dj Gigola 4. Ctrl – Riser Connect with Alycia Bezgo on IG / Soundcloud Upcoming Gigs: 13.05 @maexzuerich , Zürich 16.05 @subcultuur , Nijmegen 17.05 @awakenings.upclose, Houtrak 22.05 @extrema.be , Houthalen-Helchteren 22.05 @onez.cologne , @schrotty.culture, cologne 23.05 @44_frontrow festival, Karlsruhe (B2B future.666) 23.05 @44_frontrow afterparty @club.ost, Karlsruhe (B2B MELIS) 24.05 @pollerwiesen , Dortmund (F2F DJ Guestlist) The post Belgium’s Alycia Bezgo on going viral and crafting the perfect set appeared first on EDMTunes.