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DARIA BIO
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Daria is an intensely creative individual with a bohemian charm that proves infectious to other music lovers. As a DJ and producer, her natural ability to connect with crowds stems from an output that is always sprinkled with surprises: soaring melodies, lush harmonies and free-spirited beats. Whether she is channelling her cosmic charge through clubs around the planet, or compressing her personality into productions such as ‘Pampero’, the Daria aesthetic is all about energy, emotion and expression.

Of Swiss-Persian origin, arts-loving Daria (Daria Mechkat) was born in Geneva, Switzerland. This is where her creative journey began and where she lives to this day. Initially feeling the draw of music as a teenager, at the dawn of the 90s, she formed a three-piece band that blended both acoustic and electronic elements, and became the lead singer. They had some success and played several live gigs but ended up parting ways. In the years that followed Daria chose to concentrate on developing her graphic design skills – something else that is very close to her heart. Hence in 1996 she created her own graphic design outfit and started creating record sleeves for labels like Geneva’s own Mental Groove and Berlin’s Get Physical. She excelled, eventually joining the famed Swiss design collective La Fonderie, before founding a rather funky line in couture, called Dame Pipi.

Daria has constantly worked across various mediums to satisfy an innate artistic wanderlust. However, once bitten by the DJing bug, she realigned her musical focus and faced the dancefloor, full on. Consequently, in 2002 she started her first club residency, at Weetamix in Geneva, where she performed alongside such renowned figures as Carl Craig, Luciano, Ricardo Villalobos and Richie Hawtin. Building upon these foundations, she has since gone on to DJ at a string of top venues. These include Watergate, Weekend and Bar 25 in Berlin, Harry Klein in Munich, The Loft in Barcelona, Montreux Jazz Festival and regular sessions at Loft Club in Lausanne. In 2008, she also completed a South American tour, playing for the first time in countries like Chile and Argentina, where she made a welcome return in 2009. And, of course, recent appearances at Cadenza showcases, and alongside Luciano at parties like Circoloco in Riccione, Italy, have been instrumental to her outlook.

Over time Daria has become ever more deeply involved as a DJ, and several years ago she even set up a small home studio, where she could start producing her own music. The culmination of her efforts fast came to fruition in 2007, when she released her haunting debut production, ‘Alpaga’, on Raphaël Ripperton and Sam K’s Perspectiv Records. This technoid groove was also featured on Perspectiv’s first compilation, Family Tree, and selected for a CD sampler from French magazine Tsugi. The next sensation to scorch floors from Berlin to Buenos Aires was Daria’s Les Gourmandises, her first EP, released in early 2009 by Denmark’s very exclusive Lomidhigh imprint. This was another essential project as it housed ‘Pampero’ and ‘Bonbon’ – dual delights that have received support from, among others, Laurent Garnier, Nima Gorji, Barem, and Jorge Savoretti, who said ‘Pampero’ was one of his and Barem’s favourite summer hits at Bar 25.

Adding to the rich tapestry of textures that can now be found in her discography, Daria has also remixed ‘Papucho’ by Argentinian artist Urss for Canadian label Monique Musique. This will be released later in 2009, alongside Mirko Loko’s remix of ‘Mamucha’ by Urss. As always, her music elegantly shifts between the lightness of warm percussion and the shiny tension of bright arpeggiated melodies, assuring the excitement of the dancer as well as the emotion of the listener. Tight grooves delicately integrated into a fulfilling musical experience.

What’s more, with her international profile growing every year, the German-based DVD magazine Slices recently completed a great feature documenting her life and style. Here, Daria gracefully guided their cameras around Lake Geneva and to a local flea market – showing that she is every bit as colourful and organic as her sounds.