Mishell on Tension, Groove, and Building a Sound with Bite

Your music walks a fine line between elegant and edgy—how would you describe the vibe you aim to create with your sound?

Mishell:
Cheeky, sexy, and a little provocative—but always with elegance. I aim for that sweet spot where old-school soul meets modern energy. That’s why I use vintage analog gear—it brings character. The vibe is high-intensity, but not heavy. It’s about movement, emotion, and keeping things irresistible.

You blend elements of House, Indie Dance, and psychedelic textures into something distinctly your own. What draws you to this mix of styles?

My roots are deep in old-school house, ‘90s Goa trance, and early 2000s electro. I grew up between the golden age of MTV and the rise of psychedelic trance—it hit me from both sides. That blend stuck with me. I use vintage analog gear to chase that feeling and shape it into something that’s fully mine.

Your sets are packed with your own productions. How important is it for you to perform original material, and how does it shape your connection with the crowd?

It’s super important. When I’m in the studio, I’m already thinking about the dance floor—what would make me move, what kind of energy I want to deliver, and how to bring in that cheeky, sexy vibe. So when I play my own tracks, it’s the most direct connection I can have with the crowd. That’s how people start recognizing my sound. That’s how identity is built.

There’s a fun, cheeky energy that runs through your tracks—especially in your basslines and grooves. Where does that playfulness come from?

Thanks for noticing—cheekiness and playfulness are a big part of who I am, both as an artist and as a person. That energy comes from my need to stir things up on the dance floor, to create moments that disrupt the expectations and play with people’s minds. I love shifting the vibe, injecting a sense of mischief into the groove. But there’s always elegance behind the chaos—a refined edge that keeps it all balanced and intentional.

Your music often moves between darker, moodier tones and warmer, melodic highs. What kind of emotional journey do you try to take listeners on?

It’s a game of contrast. Dark and moody, then warm and melodic—always shifting, always building tension. I like to keep things unpredictable but controlled. The goal is to move people without forcing it. There’s a cheeky undercurrent in everything I do, but the delivery is sharp, emotional, and locked in. That balance—that push and pull—is what defines my sound. That’s the Mishell signature.

In the studio, do you follow a specific process or is it more intuitive and vibe-driven?

It’s definitely more vibe-driven. I usually start with whatever idea hits strongest—sometimes it’s a melody, other times it’s the bassline or a groove. I don’t follow a strict formula, but I do have a process when it comes to shaping the sound and bringing it into my world. It always has to carry my color.

How do you keep your productions sounding fresh while staying true to your core sound?

I’m always chasing that fresh edge. I obsess over the bassline, the groove, the tiny shifts that flip the energy. It’s about who I am—and evolving the way I translate that on the dance floor. It’s not about the tracks sounding the same—it’s about them feeling the same.

Many of your tracks have a hypnotic, psychedelic edge. What role does psychedelia play in your creative vision—musically or conceptually?

Psychedelia brings another layer of tension. It stretches the groove and gives me more space to build the energy I’m after. I grew up on psychedelic trance and rock—it’s in my DNA, whether I want it or not.

Do you approach DJing as an extension of your production work, or do they serve different creative purposes for you?

They feed each other. The studio is where I shape the sound—the booth is where I test it. DJing gives me real-time feedback and honestly, it’s the most satisfying part. It’s where I get to enjoy the work. Production is personal while DJing is connection.

As your international profile continues to grow, how do you stay grounded in your own artistic identity?

I think choosing the right people around you plays an important role. When your career picks up, the pace gets faster—and you need people you can trust to be there with you.

Do your surroundings—whether at home or while touring—influence the mood or tone of your music?

Of course. Music is a feeling—a personal reflection of whatever situation you’re in. So the surroundings always leave a mark. That’s why, like I said, it’s important to choose the right people to be around you. The energy you keep close shapes the sound.

What role does experimentation play in your creative process—and how do you know when a track is finished?

I have quite a few analog synths I’m always playing with—they all react differently, and that’s where a lot of my sound was born. Same goes for the live set—sometimes I test ideas in real time and see how they hit. Finishing a track is part of the creative process, but I usually know what I want from it. At some point, you just know it’s done.

Can you share what’s coming up—any new releases, collaborations, or special projects on the horizon?

Got some exciting ones coming—an EP on Bar 25 Music, and I’m back on Get Physical with a follow-up EP after dropping Cantina there earlier this year. There’s also a collab single with my boy Sapian coming on Planet X, and something a bit more streaming-oriented dropping on STMPD, the legendary Martin Garrix’s label.