“As a kid, music could give me the feeling of going into a time capsule where nothing else mattered” says Elias Mazian, and that is something he tries to convey in every DJ set he now plays. The Dutchman has a Moroccan background but was born in the Netherlands and is now a firm fixture on the capital’s club circuit. Elias openly admits to being passionate, emotional and sensitive, and it shows in his DJ sets which take inspiration for the music around which he grew up – Michael Jackson, Prince, Stevie Wonder – as well as from more contemporary flames like Moodymann, Pepe Bradock and Tom Trago. Besides his residency at the much acclaimed Trouw he has played venerated spots like Melkweg, Paradiso, Into the Woods, Lowlands, Studio 80, 5 Days Off, Mysteryland, Welcome To The Future, DGTL and so on… “When I make music and I play out, I have to open up my heart and be able to spread the same love that I get when I’m on the dancefloor,” he admits. “That warm feeling that hits my soul is the thing I aim for when producing my tracks or when I play in the club. Music is a highly emotive way of expressing myself, and when people recognize that I’m the happiest person on the planet.” Elias released his debut EP on Tom Trago’s imprint Voyage Direct in november ’14 and there’s a whole lotta more music coming up! “People need to dance more, let themselves go” Elias says. In his capable DJ hands, it would be hard not to. De School, Voyage Direct, AMS. For bookings: jorn@voyage-select.com