A great crew of like-minded thinkers and tastes can really shape you as a DJ, and for Zeynep that crew has been Harmony Rec, the beloved group and label that has shaped a generation of Prague nights at Ankali and beyond. What began as a short-term residency with the collective quickly turned into something stronger, an outlet that gave her the freedom to experiment her style, to trust her instincts, and to evolve into one of the most compelling selectors in Europe’s underground. With a sublime run of mixes for the likes of Haŵs, Groove, Kalahari Oyster Cult, Earth Dog, Passing Notes and Oddysee, she’s built a fantastic reputation as a DJ, drifting in between the fringes of tech house, groovy house rollers, jacking 4×4 and late morning steppers. The kind of music built for a smoked-out warehouse with a single strobe, where five hours slip by unnoticed and you’re left grinning ear-to-ear. Long form back-to-backs sets with the likes of Roza Terenzi, Yan and Iggy P are must listens over on Soundcloud, and show a DJ comfortable in going with the flow whoever the partner.
Based in Berlin and shaped by her Syrian roots, Zeynep sees DJing as inseparable from community, and she’s quick to tell us architects of a great night extend way beyond just the DJs and promoters. Her Truancy Volume 355 captures that ethos for dance-floor liberation in sharp detail. Recorded at home on her newly-acquired Xone 96, the 90-minute session feels grounded and restrained, yet still loose enough to surprise. Featuring music from the likes of Primary Sequence, Oneiro Say, Huerta, Jay Tripwire, Aiden Francis and Disaia, it’s a mix that feels wonderfully balanced, and totally locked into a mature groove. One listen and you’ll be hooked.
Hey there! So how have you been recently? What’s the year been like for you so far? Any particular highlights you care to tell us about? “Hi <3 thanks for having me. This year’s been a bit of a rollercoaster. Mental health is real and I’m actively trying to feel better even though with everything going on in the world it sometimes feels impossible.
On the bright side there have been some amazing moments. I got to spend time in New York (shoutout to Earth Dog Records; one of the best crews and partys I’ve played for this year), started therapy and finally started working on my driver’s license! Seeing friends thrive has been so inspiring and on a super exciting personal note, I’m going to be an aunt for the first time :) My sister is expecting a baby! All in all it’s been a mix of challenges and meaningful milestones and I feel like I’m learning a lot about myself along the way.“
So as this is your first interview on site, thought we’d just go back a bit, could you tell us a little bit about some of your earliest musical memories, not necessarily in dance music? “My memory is so bad lol but my earliest music memory is probably being at Kurdish weddings as a child which are the kind of events where the music is so loud and percussive that you feel the drums in your ribcage before you even walk in. And then immediately being surrounded by joyful chaos: lines of people holding hands, everyone doing the same dance step (or at least trying to) and an uncle who somehow managed to spin for ten minutes straight without falling over.
Another big part of those memories is my older brother, who was deeply into R&B and hip hop and he kind of schooled me on that stuff. He taught me how to make playlists and burn CDs and before I knew it I was the kid in charge of music at every school or birthday event.
I also tried playing violin when I was around 11 years old even though I really wanted to play drums. But my mum was against drums so I gave the violin a go just to get started on an instrument… turned out I didn’t enjoy it so I quit after two years.”
Has your musical style and the way you approach DJing or a set changed or evolved much to you in the last five years? If you were to assess your skills from maybe a few years ago in what aspects do you think you’ve improved? “Oh yesss definitely! I’ve always been into all styles of house music but I never want to box myself into just one thing. I love digging in every direction and challenging myself, from playing a faster set to a more stripped-back minimal opener. For me, DJing is about being fluid and staying curious.
Five years ago we were in Covid and before that I hadn’t really played much outside of my bedroom. So the last few years have been a time of figuring things out. I’ve learned a lot about adapting to different spaces and situations and I think the biggest improvement has been understanding the dancefloor but there’s still and always more to learn.“
You’ve become an integral part of the Harmony Rec crew, and you’ve shared in other interviews how this has come together. Can you tell us a little bit about what it’s been like being a resident? “It’s been a gift since day 1. I mean, we immediately clicked, both musically and personally. At first, I was only supposed to be a resident for six months. But after going on Australia tour together I was asked if I wanted to extend the residency and it quickly became clear I wasn’t just a resident anymore – I was part of the crew.
Being part of Harmony has been such a special journey because it really feels like family. I’m very grateful for all the opportunities we’ve had together and for how it’s helped shape me as a DJ. At our parties, I get the full freedom to test myself out musically which is so fun and empowering. I also love contributing to our bookings, planning collabs or shaping political choices but the best part is that we decide everything together as a group. That kind of trust and community is rare in this industry and I feel so lucky every day to be part of it <3 “
How important is community to you when it comes to dance music and DJing? Has it played a vital role in shaping who you are, both as a DJ and as a person? What is something you want to see more in the future? “I really appreciate this question. Thank you for asking!
For me, community has always been at the heart of dance music. This culture was built on people relying on each other and that’s still what makes it special. It’s not only the DJ or the music shaping the night – it’s about everyone involved: dancers, bouncers, light and sound tech, bar staff, coat check person, the amazing people cleaning up after and so many more. All of them are part of the vibe. The people I’ve met on dancefloors and in the scene keep inspiring and supporting me, reminding me why I love doing this.
Building community though isn’t always easy. Western culture often prizes individualism which makes interdependence feel unnatural. But true community isn’t just a group of friends or a “coming together” feeling; it’s about creating something together, forming interdependent connections and relying on one another through joy, grief, celebration and struggle. That’s a core value I grew up with and it shapes how I engage with the world and the music scene. Think of community like a village; to make it work it takes trust, shared effort and everyone showing up for each other in different ways. And that could be anything like helping your friends set up or clean up their party, respecting and participating in boycotts, sharing knowledge or skills, standing in solidarity, amplifying marginalized voices and so much more. Those acts and relationships built on trust and shared values sustain and nurture the culture.
Looking ahead I just hope smaller venues and independent festivals can survive because that’s where the magic usually happens. Promoters focusing on more intentional, well curated line ups instead of just stacking big names would keep the culture alive, I think. Local scenes deserve more attention and love, more collaboration, less exclusivity. Genuine progress in overall diversity is essential, moving away from superficial tokenism. Would be great to see more DIY raves or day partys unfolding and it feels like that’s starting to happen more again lately :)“
You’ve been quite well versed in B2B sets over the years, be it with Yan, Kasra V, Roza Terenzi and Iggy P some clocking in at 5 hours too. Do you have tips on mastering a B2B? “I don’t do it often although it’s one of my favorite acts of DJing. But for me it usually works best when I’m playing with friends or people I’ve seen live quite a lot. That way I already know if we’ll click in the booth in terms of music, mixing, energy and vibe.
That said, I personally don’t think you can “master” a B2B; it’s more about going with the flow and feeling it out in the moment. I do like to check in with my partner beforehand and get a sense of the overall vibe we want to create. But of course it’s different with and for everyone. At the end of the day a good B2B is just respecting and listening to each other. “
I can tell from your Instagram you have an extremely good eye for photography. Can you tell us about your history with cameras? “Ahh thank you :) that’s so nice to hear; appreciate it! I started taking analog photos when I was a teenager. Back then mostly with a Canon or I’d also use a disposable camera at raves. There’s no crazy backstory. I just loved capturing moments I could look back on; things that felt aesthetically pleasing to me or memories of my friends and family. A while ago, the lens on my analog camera broke and my friends decided to get me a new one for my birthday which I am so grateful for (big thanks to Ceci for organizing the same model straight from Japan).“
Can you tell us about any books, films, shows or other things you’ve seen or been reading/watching lately that you might want to share? “I’ve just finished Sopranos! I know, I’m super late to the party! I actually started it a long time ago but the first few episodes didn’t grab me so I stopped. My friend Iggy convinced me to give it another go and I got addicted to it. Big fan of the characters and the dark humour. The ending got me shook! So anyone who made the mistake that I did… it’s worth giving it another try!
Then I watched the last season of Demon Slayer a while ago. It’s an anime about a boy fighting demons to protect his sister and avenge his family. The animation is jaw dropping! There’s a new movie coming to cinemas soon and I’m really excited to watch it with my best friend Matthias :) we’re both huge anime fans.
I’ve also gotten back into reading recently and started the book Hijab Butch Blues which was recommended by my friend Steph. It’s a powerful coming of age story about a queer Muslim girl navigating identity, community and self acceptance.”
Could you describe the process of creating this mix? Was there a specific message or feeling you wanted to convey? “As a longtime fan of your platform, I’ve often thought about what I might create for it. I had a vision for the mix but in the end it didn’t come together the way I imagined. Rather than forcing it, I decided to put together a bunch of recent favorites that reflect my current sound and energy including a mix of old and new tracks. I’ll leave it up to the listeners to tell me what vibes they get from it because I’ve noticed the mixes I’m most critical about often end up resonating the most. It’s a good reminder to trust the process, stop overthinking and just let things happen..”
Looking ahead, what are you looking forward to most in the coming months? “I’m taking a short break from my day job to focus on my future and what I want over the next few months. I just started working with KLS which I’m really excited about and there are some amazing gigs coming up like my second all nighter at Raum for Mama Snake’s label night and our Harmony x Transmissions collab at Ankali which is one of my favorite clubs in Europe. It’s a very special place that is at risk of closure and I’d like to mention their emergency store here – If you want and can please donate. That said, I’d love to invite you to our party to experience the magic yourself :) and besides that, I’m also looking forward to catching some incredible concerts by Blood Orange, James K and Smerz.“
Before we end the interview, when was the last time you had a proper dance? “Listening to sets of Quest and DJ Koolt at Selectors in Tisno. The energy and music were just unreal; I couldn’t help but move the whole time. It honestly felt like I was under a spell lol.”
Last usual questions for us, what was the last thing to put a big smile on your face?“I think, when my friend Nawon told me she really likes a side of me that others usually misunderstand or criticize. It was so nice to hear that something about me that may be seen as a “flaw” can actually be valued by someone else :’) big learning and self appreciation moment.”
Zeynep: Soundcloud, Instagram, Resident Advisor
You can download Truancy Volume 355: Zeynep in 320 kbps and view the full tracklist on Patreon here. Your support helps cover all our costs and allows Truants to continue running as a non-profit and ad-free platform. Members will receive exclusive access to mixes and tracklists. We urge you to support the future of independent music journalism—a little goes a long way. If you need any IDs though, please leave us a comment on the Soundcloud link and us or Zeynep will get back to you with the track :)
Main Artwork photo by Ilayda Dağlı.
