ARTNOIR / In conversation
DJ ELENOIRThe Next Wave
Music, movement and the art of being yourself.
· From ARTNOIR’s October 2026 issue
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On the cover
ELENOIR
The Next Wave
Our October cover brings ELENOIR’s music and visual identity into the same frame.
Photography: Marc Evans
Makeup: Vjollca Bregu
ELENOIR approaches the dance floor with a choreographer’s sensitivity to movement and an art director’s eye for atmosphere. Rooted in techno, her musical vision brings together power, emotion and a visual identity inseparable from the performance. Her story began with vinyl and tape at thirteen, before an unexpected opportunity behind the decks in 2008 gave her early fascination a new direction. Today, that curiosity extends across music, fashion, art and live production, with the audience helping shape each night as it unfolds. In conversation with ARTNOIR, the DJ and producer reflects on the discipline behind the glamour, the instinct it takes to read a room, and the personal experiences behind her releases. It is an invitation into a creative world built on feeling, individuality and connection.
ELENOIR in conversation with ARTNOIR.
What first drew you to DJing, and when did you realise it could become more than a passion?
Music and dance have been my passion since childhood, and I was always surrounded by fashion, music and dance. I was 13 when I started practising on vinyl and tape at home, long before I imagined where it could take me. By the age of 19 I was already working as a choreographer for art events. As luck would have it, at one event in 2008 a resident DJ did not turn up. I stepped behind the decks almost by accident and Elenoir DJ was born.
How would you describe the sound and atmosphere you want people to experience during an ELENOIR set?
I like to create a combination of power and energy with a touch of softness and emotion. My sets are not simply about playing tracks one after another — I want to take people on a journey of inspiration, freedom and energy. If my music is an addiction then there is a sign that people love life. MY PRIZE — they come back for the next dose of my music because they connect to the sound with emotion.
When you’re building a set, what guides your choices: the room, a story you want to tell, or something else?
For me, I create the set and let the crowd tell the story. Once I step behind the decks, I feel the room. The people, their emotions, their reactions and the atmosphere become part of my sound. I observe the energy on the dance floor and allow it to influence where the set goes. I let the vibe take me on an unexpected journey — one of the most exciting and challenging moments in a DJ’s life. What follows is a moment that belongs to that particular night and cannot be replaced.
Can you recall a moment when the crowd took a set somewhere you hadn’t expected? How did you respond?
I think this can happen almost every night. Every crowd is different, every venue has its own energy, and every night can take you somewhere unexpected. For me, the most important skill is the ability to adapt and respond when I feel the audience is ready for something different from what I had prepared, I read the room, follow my instincts and adjust the musical direction that makes people dance and be in the moment. The most unexpected moments become the most memorable and rewarding sets.
What has changed most about your musical taste since you first began performing?
Interestingly, I remain connected to my legacy as a techno inspired artist. What has changed is my experience and my ability to understand how to translate that sound into a set. After more than 18 years behind the decks, I have developed a much deeper understanding of music, audiences and different environments. I continue to explore new styles and create exciting expressions of my sound. I evolve by creating with passion and curiosity.
Your visual presence is part of what an audience encounters during your set. How do style and image connect with your music?
For me, music, performance and visual identity are deeply connected. My background as a choreographer, art director and event organiser helps me to create a stage experience — not only what people hear, but also what they see and feel. I align my style with my music. They are both expressions of the same person. When I perform, I want the audience to join the real ELENOIR, the energy, character and emotion.
What is the most difficult part of working as a DJ that people rarely see?
People usually see the glamorous part of being a DJ: the stage, the lights, the travelling, the beautiful venues and the crowd. What they don't always see is everything behind it - the sleepless nights, constant travelling, long hours, days spent in the studio, endless music research, preparing sets, building new relationships and collaborations. I have also faced technical faults, difficult set-ups, last-minute changes. A DJ cannot be sick or exhausted -the show must go on. There is also another side that is rarely discussed: the judgement and stereotype that female DJs sometimes face in a predominantly male-dominated industry. A successful performance may last a few hours, but the work behind those hours takes days, weeks or years. The audience sees the moment; they don't always see the discipline behind it.
Has there been a track, artist, or scene that challenged the way you think about electronic music?
I am a witness of the changes that come from the way social media affects the electronic music industry. Today, talent can be discovered in completely new ways, which is exciting. But it has also created a new challenge: media visibility and PR campaigns cannot be a true measure of musical ability and professionalism. Some artists build or buy enormous audiences through social media promotions before they have developed a matching level of experience. It reminds me why I value authenticity so much. Social media can amplify an artist, but ultimately, I believe the music, the performance and the personality behind the decks is what makes a true artist
What do you hope someone carries with them after leaving one of your performances?
I want people to leave with joy, positive energy and happiness — but most importantly, a lasting memory. I want them to remember the atmosphere, the friendships, the music, and the feeling they experienced on that particular night. And, of course, I want them to leave with one more thought: download my tracks on Beatport and experience ELENOIR again.
What are you exploring creatively now, and what should we look forward to from you next?
Right now, I am creating a new kind of event experience — one where music, art, fashion, performance and dance exist together as one concept. My background has always been broader than DJing, so I want to bring all those worlds together and create events that feel more like a complete artistic experience than simply a night out where the DJ becomes part of a larger stage production. This is the direction I'm very excited about now — creating something people don't simply attend, but something they connect to and participate in.
Which performances or collaborations have been the most memorable and unforgettable moments of your career?
There have been many unforgettable moments, but performing at major festivals such as ADE, Nameless, Error Festival and Rugby Sound stands out. There is an incredible feeling in standing in front of 5,000–8,000 people and seeing an entire crowd connected to your music. That energy is something you never forget. An exciting moment was accepting residency at Ciper Project, the first techno project in Dubai. It opened new opportunities for me and allowed me to share the stage with artists such as Element, NTO, Oliver Huntemann, YellowHeads, 19:26, Roy Rosenfeld, Nusha and Einmusik, etc. A few of many memorable collaborations include Formula 1, Porsche, Lamborghini, Cartier, Dolce & Gabbana and Louis Vuitton. Bringing music into these worlds of fashion, luxury and global events has been a very special part of my journey.
What inspires your latest releases, and what does their success mean to you?
My latest release, “Promise,” is much more personal. It came from an internal struggle — constantly wanting to become better and questioning whether we are ever enough. It is a promise I made to myself: “we don't need to become better for someone else.” The response to my releases has been incredibly rewarding, reaching the Top 10 or Top 20 on Beatport. Chart positions can be exciting, but the greatest reward is knowing that the music I created from a personal experience can connect people. My latest release feels like a story, rather than just another DJ/producer achievement. My track, “Interface” was inspired by the rapid influence of AI on our lives. “The Wave” represented the first wave of my own journey into producing techno. Every track I create has a story behind it inspired by a particular situation, high emotion or exciting life moment. I want each release to carry a message that also resonates with my audience.
What stays with us is ELENOIR’s clarity of purpose: to create experiences people carry beyond the dance floor. Her reflections reveal an artist attentive to both the smallest shift in a room and the larger possibilities of performance. As she develops events that unite music, art, fashion and dance, that ambition finds an intimate counterpart in “Promise,” a release rooted in her own questions of self-worth. There is something compelling in this meeting of creative confidence and emotional openness. Her next chapter promises a fuller expression of the qualities that animate her work: instinct, imagination and a deeply personal relationship with music.
The creative team
Credits
- DJ & producer: ELENOIR @elenoir_ua
- Photography: Marc Evans @marc_evans_photography
- Makeup artist: Vjollca Bregu @vjollca.bregu.1
Designers: Agent Provocateur · Dior · YSL · Marina Pasale · La Perla · Napoleão César Atelier
Discover more from the October issue in ARTNOIR’s magazine collection.
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