One thing is for sure: DJ Milica is not here to ‘play it safe’ as an artist. Alongside industry stalwarts such as Nic Fanciulli and Stacey Pullen, the mononymous maven of mixing has taken the UK and Southern European club scene by storm, redefining the modern house and electronica sound with admirable ease and finesse. The DJ’s meteoric rise has secured her place as a visionary in the field, with her ear to the pulse point of the emerging techno scene.
As a resident DJ at premier club venues around the world, it’s difficult to quantify the many hours which Milica Mazzoncini has poured into honing her craft. Balancing the roles of producer, disc jockey, and mother, it’s not hard to see how Mazzoncini has managed to translate those intersections into her DJing style, mixing a blend of techno, house, and minimalist music into her live sets. More commonly known as the mononymous moniker ‘DJ Milica,’ Mazzoncini initially entered the music industry nearly 15 years ago as a writer and producer, but found herself gravitating toward Europe’s booming DJ landscape in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic.
As a multi-hyphenate mainstay of electronica, the DJ has found the past three years of her career to be equal parts whirlwind and excitement. “To see how many doors have opened for DJs who previously never would’ve been booked at certain venues is very encouraging,” Mazzoncini said. “Whether it’s restaurants, lounges, or resorts, residency opportunities for DJs in the post-pandemic world have really increased throughout the past few years. This lifestyle is definitely not for the faint of heart, but it’s been great to finally see the shift.”
For Mazzoncini, the idyllic shores of Ibiza have proven to be the perfect backdrop for the launch of her career, allowing her to rub shoulders with the likes of German producer and label owner Matthias Tanzmann, as well as the iconic American house music duo, The Martinez Brothers, who have similarly established their careers on the Mediterranean outpost. Alongside the Martinez Brothers, Mazzoncini also credits her long-time friend, British DJ and label owner, Nic Fanciulli.
“I feel so lucky to have had so many talented people in the industry help me fine-tune my passion,” Mazzoncini said. “Between Ibiza, London, and Vienna, I’ve encountered some of the best people and crowds just through being my authentic self and sharing my love of electronic music. Watching people dance and enjoy my sets means everything to me.”
Whether working in her hometown or on the other side of the globe, DJ Milica has encountered her fair share of challenges within her blossoming career, but has nevertheless managed to find purpose within the hurdles.
“Even within the past year or so, there’s been a huge transformation within the DJ scene in regard to women thriving in the industry. It’s not only the music itself — our presence has been missing at the forefront of electronic music for too long, and I think it really needed a flux of strong women coming in and contributing their talents to the scene to create real, tangible change. It’s an honor getting to work alongside them and witness this in real-time.”
Citing London’s infamous E1 nightclub and Ibiza’s Destino as being amongst her favorite venues, Mazzoncini is now looking forward to finding a home record label for her newest releases, this time under the latest facet of her career as a producer. Her two most recent productions, Somebody At Space and Bad Room, both come from her forthcoming EP, and have already been played in sets by renowned Italian DJ Marco Carola and the UK’s Nic Fanciulli.
When asked what motivates her to keep pursuing a career in an often demanding field, Mazzoncini’s answer is simple: sheer passion. “Above all, I would advise new DJs to be almost doggedly persistent in their pursuit of opportunities. Patience is your friend, but your passion for the music will continue to carry you when the ‘trendiness’ of DJing wears off, and it’s time to get down to work. Always be ready to jump into the booth, because your next biggest success could be just around the corner, I promise.”
As for what’s on the horizon? “I can’t share too much at the moment,” said the DJ, “But I will say… big things coming up in November!”
Save the date for DJ Milica’s upcoming set at E1 London’s Bamboleo Halloween After Party on Sunday, October 29th.
