Exclusive Interview: Introducing Linska and Her Debut on REALM

Linska’s solo debut, Bad Boy, has made a significant impact on the electronic music scene, quickly gaining support from some of the genre’s biggest names, including Solomun and Adam Beyer. The track’s origins were far from glamorous. Linska shares that the idea came to her during a sleepless, jet-lagged night in a hotel room in London, which, much to her disappointment, was “super dodgy and nothing like the pictures on the website.” “I was pretty much just sitting awake jet-lagged and organizing my rekordbox. I was putting my playlists together, and I realized there was a vibe of track I was missing,” she recalls. That’s when inspiration struck. “I haven’t heard something like this in a while when I’ve been in the crowd at shows. So I just had a wave of inspiration to pen it myself and actually ended up pulling an all-nighter and finishing the track in one night.”

Despite facing challenges in her makeshift studio, Linska pushed through. “The real challenge for me was probably getting past my own perfectionism. When I look at a project in Ableton, my eye immediately looks for repetition and patterns; regular intervals between certain elements of the track, but often what you see doesn’t translate to how it sounds. So I had to push my want for it to be ‘mathematically’ correct and be free with it.” Working in the hotel with thin walls meant that she had to rely entirely on headphones. “I couldn’t play the track out loud because the walls were paper thin, so I produced the whole track in my headphones.” Yet, despite these obstacles, the track emerged with a pulsating bassline, infectious rhythms, and intricate details that showcase her dedication to the craft.

The support from major DJs has been overwhelming for Linska. “Honestly, it’s surreal. There are DJs and producers that have supported the track that I genuinely had to double take when I saw the footage. People I genuinely admire and look up to and would hopefully be able to work with someday! I’m trying to take every play like a little nod of approval… motivation that I should continue and that I’m headed in the right direction,” she says. This recognition is a testament to the song's power to resonate with industry leaders.

Releasing Bad Boy on Gorgon City’s REALM label was a natural choice for Linska. “I think REALM is constantly putting out great, quality records. A lot of the tracks are sonically in a similar world to the music I like to produce and play. Plus, the Gorgon City boys are just the best, most lovely people, so it was almost a no-brainer. I’ve also been a huge fan of what REALM is doing with their Enter the Realm shows and mix series. Being part of that family and infrastructure was definitely a goal for me!” The release also marks a significant milestone in her career, putting her in the company of artists she admires.

Linska’s sound, a blend of techno and tech house, draws from her early exposure to music. “I think I have nearly every Now That’s What I Call Dance! and Ministry of Sound CD ever made. They’re sitting in one of those CD sleeve folders, in a box under my bed at home, and I have my mum to thank for that. She would buy them religiously and play them in the car on the way to school, the park, Sainsbury’s… everywhere,” she reminisces. Her father’s involvement in organizing dance music festivals in Ireland further immersed her in the culture from a young age. “It’s crazy how many songs I know that, theoretically, I should be too young to know, but I know them regardless.”

Linska’s first collaboration, Digital Dream, with Rebūke, was another pivotal moment in her career. The project allowed her to step outside her comfort zone and into a more conceptual realm. “He had a 30-second instrumental he sent over to me in a voice note and a loose conceptual idea about what the vibe of the track should be, and I was all about it. We really wanted to lean into the AI, dystopian future narrative of it all. That was the experience that really threw me into Ableton for the first time. The ‘404 Error’ hook was actually what I wrote first. No explanation other than I just love computers, so I knew I had to put that in there somewhere.”

Looking back at her rise, Linska acknowledges the challenges of building her career in such a competitive industry. “There are 100% better, wiser, more experienced people to ask this question to than me, I’m still learning myself. But my two cents would be; The hardest thing has been being confident in my own brand and what I want to do. There is so much access to information now; it is so easy to be swayed into thinking you should be doing something else or you need to be making music that sounds more like this producer or playing tracks like that DJ,” she says. But for aspiring producers and DJs looking to make their mark, she has some straightforward advice: “Finish the music. Nothing gets put out if it’s not finished. When it comes to DJing, play music for yourself and the audience. Keep the indulgence to the afters with your mates. When it comes to asking the question, ask it. The worst response you’ll get is ‘no.’ And when it comes to growing, you are the only person in your own way. This industry is competitive but it can be so fun and rewarding... I truly am grateful.”

As Bad Boy prepares for its release on December 13th, Linska is already looking ahead. “I actually have another record with Rebūke coming out in February called Choose Life. It’s another conceptual track we made that draws on the cult classic movie Trainspotting as inspiration. We took the opening monologue of the film and brought it into the present. If you listen to the lyrics, I think you’ll pick up what I’m putting down.” Along with future collaborations, she is eager to explore new sounds and genres. “I’d definitely like to try my hand at fully immersive melodic tracks, but also make some more vibey tech house tracks. I would really love to collaborate with more artists and producers too.”

Linska’s journey from a hotel room idea to a celebrated debut reflects her talent, passion, and determination. As she continues to refine her sound and connect with audiences, there’s no doubt she will be a force in the electronic music scene for years to come.

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