Playlist of the Week: Alinka
Alinka
Alinka is the kind of DJ who’s lived every corner of the dance floor, and you can feel that energy baked into her Beatport Playlist of the Week. Landing just after her groove-soaked Changes EP on K7 Records, the selection plays like a personal diary of house music – Windy City bounce, late-night memories, and timeless cuts that still hit just as hard today. It’s raw, heartfelt, and built from the tracks that shaped her, the ones she still reaches for when she wants to make a room move.
My new EP Changes on K7 was a huge milestone for me as an artist, and it’s a reflection of the broad spectrum of sounds that I love, and my Chicago roots and influences. I wanted to create a playlist of timeless tracks that helped shape me as an artist, and are a part of my story.
From magical moments on dance floors around the world, these are some of my favorite productions, and tracks that never leave my playlists. I always strive to create timeless and fresh music as a producer, and that’s what I look for in tracks as a DJ. Chicago made me fall in love with this sound, and I always want to pay homage to the music that changed my life. These tracks represent that.
This track is off my latest EP on K7. It means a lot to me and feels like a full-circle moment. I’d say this is one of the tracks I've produced that really represents me as a DJ and what I love about Chicago house. It’s raw and has that edgy energy I look for in what I want to play. I’ve been trying to get to a place where I can create the timeless tracks I love to play, and this one feels like I have found my place.
"Love Inspired" is one of the first tracks Shaun and I wrote together; it is still one of my favorites. That time in Chicago, working with Shaun was really magical and life-changing for me. It was a time of self-discovery and finally believing in myself as a producer and wanting to push ahead. I still love listening to this, and it still feels fresh to me. I’m very proud of this record.
It’s hard to choose a favorite Derrick Carter track because he’s such a creative genius and has made so many amazing tracks and remixes. He’s always been a huge influence on me. This was one of the early records that I really love, and it still feels very special and ahead of its time today.
Jamie is epic in everything he touches, but this track is one of my favorite classics. It is completely timeless and will never get old to me. I could listen to it on repeat forever. I hope it’s playing when I get to heaven.
Cajmere and early Cajual records releases changed my life; they were always so ahead of their time. Every record is just magical, but this one is one of my first vinyl buys as a DJ, and I remember playing this in Chicago like it was yesterday. It’s a classic. So much energy and unique. Chicago at its best.
Gene has always been an amazing producer, but this track is one of my favorites and still does the job on the dance floor. It will never get old. The whole EP is fantastic, I still play every track.
Todd is obviously one of my favorite producers; you can always tell when it’s a Todd Terry record, he’s got such a brilliantly distinct sound. It was hard to choose a favorite, but this one I play quite a bit, and I really love it. Constant energy and pure joy.
This one represents my endless love for NYC. I love The Daou’s music so much, and the Tenaglia remix of this is one of my favorite tracks ever. I saw him play in the park in NYC last summer with my friends and will never forget that day. One of the best sets I’ve ever danced to and exactly why I fell in love with House Music.
Beroshima and The Hacker are two of my favorite producers. This is one of my go-to tracks that always works, no matter where I’m playing. I will never get sick of this one, it’s just perfect.
Barbara is legendary, and Armand will always be one of my biggest influences and favorite producers. I love everything he touches. His music changed my life. This remix is timeless and always makes you twirl.
This track was just so ahead of its time and is so epic. It’s an instant classic. It’s timeless. It’s genius. Great closing track.
I’m very sentimental about this track. It was our first release on Twirl, and it meant so much to have Stereogamous and Kim Ann Foxman remix our work for our own label. This version is one of my favorite intros, and it’s timeless. Stereogamous is incredible and did brilliant work with this one.
Love me some Armando! This track brings so much heat and instantly makes you smile. Can’t not dance to this.
Roy is another Chicago legend I love dearly, and Solid Groove was such a unique producer in the early 2000’s and really inspired you to take risks and find your own sound. Classic was one of my favorite labels when I started DJing. I had a whole section of my record shelf dedicated to the label and tried to get every release I could get my hands on. This remix is still so fresh and has the craziest intro. Never gets old.
