Fernanda Pistelli Interview

We sat down with the new status quo in Psytech acts, Fernanda Pistelli, for an exclusive Psychedelic Magazine interview. She shared her journey from business school in Brazil to becoming a renowned DJ.

PM: Hello, Fernanda. Could you introduce yourself to those who might not be familiar with your background?

Fernanda Pistelli: Hello, everyone! My name is Fernanda, and Pistelli is one of my surnames. I was born in Brazil and started playing as a DJ at the end of 2015. Until then, I was studying business and doing an internship at a large company in Brazil. Everything was set for me to pursue a conventional career: study, work, and reap the fruits of my choices. However, due to my growing curiosity in music, there were days when I went to work practically without sleeping after a night of partying. Eventually, my passion for music became serious enough that I decided to leave the company I worked for and drop out of college to dedicate myself to this uncertain path that makes my heart beat faster. Little did I imagine what seeds I was sowing.

I graduated in music production from a Brazilian university, and little by little, I conquered my space. After almost nine years since my first gig in a pub, I still find myself with the same flame of curiosity burning to create the atmosphere I’m looking for. The combination of melodies that puts us in a state of trance. I like to see people vibrating with maximum happiness, because from this state, any relationship becomes harmonious. 

I believe that deep down, it is this harmony that I seek to bring to the world, the lightness that dissolves conflicts and calls us to dance through the movements of the seasons of this ephemeral life. Between the lines of my work hides this mission: to lift the spirits of people. I like to see people light and happy.

PM: Let’s start from the beginning, before your meteoric rise to fame. What pushed you into DJing and what was the local Brazilian scene like at that time? 

When I launched my first video on YouTube, I had 40 subscribers on my channel. I initially promoted this content, but to my surprise, the video went viral organically. After a few months, we went into lockdown. Without gigs and with good growth on social networks, I took the opportunity to record sets and live performances at home with my cellphone. 

This brought together people from around the world to enjoy music at home, online, and in different time zones, creating an international community with a common vibe. When the pandemic stabilized, I had the chance to play at big festivals and establish my name. Now, I have more than 110k subscribers and lots of energy to share in person.

PM: Did your love for Psytrance lead you to explore more techno tunes, or was it techno that drew you into the Psytrance scene?

Fernanda Pistelli: Psychedelia itself was what attracted me.The state of non-thought and surrender to the sound. The rhythm of techno keeps the body active in a natural state of endorphins. In this case, it’s difficult to say whether the egg or the chicken came first; I think psychedelia is directly linked to the creation of new connections and ideas.

I started playing Deep House and gradually honed my musical taste. I’ve always played what I like to hear. When we’re excited about what we play, the dance floor feels it and connects with the DJ. That’s why I always vary my sets, exploring new paths and opening up my range of possibilities without becoming rigid in any specific aspect. I think contrast is what gives life good movement. Currently, I consider my sound to be Psychedelic Techno, the bridge between the two aspects that were previously segregated.


PM: IN our research, we found that you’ve studied music production. Furthermore, we came across a recent release, alongside Boundless and Luis M, titled “Out of The Box,” under the Iboga Tech label. Is this your first official release? We’d love to hear more about your journey on the production side.

Fernanda Pistelli: The first official release was “Reality Senses,” which was also a collaboration between these three projects. “Out of the Box” was the second song we did together. I currently divide my time between Brazil and Portugal, countries separated by the large Atlantic Ocean but which share the same language and other similarities. Collaborating on a track with Portuguese projects was a super fun job that flowed very well and yielded good stories.

Production is an arduous path requiring many hours in the studio to achieve good sound quality. It’s a unique language, and it is natural that it takes time to understand. I have many projects that I have never launched because I don’t feel confident with the result, and I’m not in a hurry to publish them. However, I intend to take them out of the archives to share with the public soon, so I can say that I will be launching some of my productions in the near future.

PM: As a female DJ in a predominantly male-dominated industry, what has been your experience in terms of breaking into the scene?

I confess that it’s still often challenging because I see society as full of judgments, yet I have never let the judgment of others define me or put me in a box. Those who point fingers a lot don’t have time to pay close attention, so I prefer not to interfere with such formed opinions and do my best in what I believe in my heart. The social demands between the sexes are also very different, and biologically we have our differences, but in my opinion, we can use both energies to succeed in this profession. A woman’s heightened sensitivity combined with the male strength of being in control and guiding the atmosphere is a brilliant combination.

In the end, both sexes complement each other, which is why society  needs to adjust its outlook towards the feminine and deconstruct some ideas that limit human beings.

PM: What direction do you see your music taking in the future, and are there any new projects we should be on the lookout for?

Fernanda Pistelli: t’s difficult to predict the future, but when observing repeating patterns, I see many elements from the past resurfacing, with music accompanying this movement by modernizing old-school elements. I notice that tracks are increasingly accelerating BPMs, leading to the birth of many new projects.

I recently recorded a set in Mozambique, in the Maputo National Park, and met some local DJs. I was surprised by the YUSS project. He is a young DJ, producer, and sound engineer. We did a B2B, and it was incredible! He is definitely a rising talent. Also, look out for Sasi, who has a project called Moonclipse with Astrix. In addition to being a great music producer, he is a DJ who explores different aspects and surprised me a lot when we did some B2B.

Kaufmann, a German woman, is surprising everyone with her quality productions and mixing abilities—you should definitely check her out. Project Squid from Israel is also catching my attention. A big talent, excellent producer, and his dance floors are always super high!

PM: Beyond the decks and studios, what activities or hobbies bring you joy and relaxation?

Fernanda Pistelli: I love writing, dancing, creating, having deep conversations, and spending time in nature. I like to feel alive. Music has allowed me to travel the world and explore different cultures and facets of the human being. When I go somewhere new to perform, I try to connect with that environment, read the history, and feel the people.

A curious thing about me is that I always ask permission from the local nature wherever I go to play. I believe there are guardians of these places, so I present myself with my intentions. This makes my performances much more harmonious. I am very connected to this energetic issue, and since I delved deeper into it, I have begun to better understand the relationships in existence.

PM: In keeping with our magazine’s tradition, we typically conclude our interviews by asking about the current top favorite artists or projects. Could you share yours?

Fernanda Pistelli: Yuli is my favorite, both as a producer and DJ. His project, Perfect Stranger, really resonates with me. I’ve always felt different from the standards I don’t fit in, and when I see great artists express themselves in such a way that I get completely involved in the music, it feels like a homecoming. Boris Brejcha is another artist who has my huge admiration for his unique creations and the great impact he has on the public through his melodies.

I’m a big fan of projects from the PsyTrance scene, including Astrix, Atmos, Ace Ventura, Liquid Soul, Dekel, and Captain Hook. There are so many that I love, it’s hard to choose names.

PM: Before we wrap this up, is there a message you’d like to share with the tribe? 

Fernanda Pistelli: I would like to thank the public for the love shared and the paths that electronic music has opened up for me since I started nine years ago. The more people I meet around the world, the more I realize that we are a big family united by the same good vibration. No matter our background or native language, music connects souls and puts us in the highest mood.

I hope to be that portal to good vibes and bring more and more of this message of freedom through sound.

Thank you for opening this space for me, Psychedelic Magazine!

This interview was published in Psychedelic Magazine Issue #5

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