In conversation with Saku Sahara
by Maeve de Bordóns Álvarez
Fri 21 April 2023
Saku Sahara is a DJ that’s been making waves in the French electronic scene. Her energy is inspired by the UK rave culture which she transmits at the club via percussive and diversified sounds: Jungle, Happy Hardcore, Footwork, UK Bass, Juke, all musical styles of choice that reflect her personality.
In 2022, she released her first jungle track Drums Unity on QSS Vol.3 tape with other french artists. She is currently working on new Happy Hardcore tracks which will be released in the next few months! Saku is also co-founder of the Unit Soeurs collective which aims to highlight the women of the Lyon music scene.
Producer and DJ Saku Sahara
Could you tell us how you started your music career and what your journey has been like so far?
I started mixing 5 years ago, my boyfriend who is also a DJ helped me get started. I think that I first needed to evolve in a healthy and confident environment to then be able to fly very quickly on my own. At first, I started by creating my own music mixes around video games because I'm a fan of Japanese culture as well. Then, video game music led me little by little towards UK music as I found the drums and speed that I liked in a lot of video game soundtracks.
You have a lot of UK influences in your music taste, what´s a record from the UK that has a special place in your heart and why?
Indeed, UK music is a huge source of inspiration for me and this is what I prefer in terms of sounds. Today, I was touched because a mini Resident Advisor article, called me "French juke and jungle queen", which was the best description to hear from them!
It's really hard to choose just one record but the Tim Reaper vinyl and also the 4am Kru one I bought in London brings back a lot of good memories.
How did your collective Unit Soeurs start?
The Unit Soeurs collective was born out of a general awareness about artistic programming with few or no women. With Unit Soeurs, we aim to highlight the female DJs of the Lyon scene and to raise awareness. The project is anchored in a local environment through the proposal of different formats, such as radio residencies and events open to the public and through the creation of sharing tools and moments of encounter.
Could you tell us a bit about what we can expect from you in the next year?
Before talking about next year right away, I wanted to mention that very soon I will make one of my dreams come true, as I will be playing at one of the biggest festivals in England this summer. I hope to see you there (it's still under exclusivity but I’m really grateful to the person who invited me)!
For 2024, I would like to release my first EP, continue to teach mixing lessons, come to mix more often to England and continue to be able to express my passion through new projects.
What are some exciting artists/parties/labels that you love right now?
If I had to quote artists that I adore without really thinking, instinctively I would say Sherelle, We Rob Rave, Sully, Tim Reaper and so many others. But those have a special place for me in terms of inspiration. I also follow Local Action, Club Glow and Super Sonic Booty Bangers crews very closely. And finally, I really love what Keep Hush offers !
Keep up with Saku Sahara on Instagram and Soundcloud, Resident Advisor.