Sagia On Desert Space, Emotional Restraint And Finding Depth Inside ‘Storyteller’
- Undrtone Blog
- 12 minutes ago
- 3 min read
Sagia’s music has always felt inward looking without losing its grip on the dancefloor. As a London based producer and DJ, her work sits comfortably between melodic house and techno, guided by sensitivity rather than excess. With her new EP Storyteller on Desert Hearts Black, that balance sharpens into focus, shaped by place, memory and a growing confidence in restraint. Grab your copy here.
The starting point is rarely technical. “I definitely lead on the feel of the track first and foremost,” she explains. Her process begins simply. “I usually start with a synth sound and pair it with a kick for a feel of the rhythm. Then I add the bassline and start jamming back and forth until I hit the spot.” Structure follows emotion, not the other way around.
That emotional grounding became especially important while writing Storyteller. The EP draws inspiration from the desert, not as an abstract idea, but as a lived experience. “The Mojave Desert is not completely quiet,” she says. “You can hear the sand shifting and the wind moving through the landscape, which creates a special kind of mystique.” That subtle movement stayed with her. “It was one of the most inspiring places I’ve had the privilege to visit so far.”
Translating silence and space into club ready music is not about filling gaps. It is about knowing when to leave them. Sagia points to the influence of artists who have mastered that discipline. “The less is more concept is a craft on its own,” she says. “I first heard Patrice Bäumel and Kölsch talking about how you can say so much with a limited number of elements.” That idea runs through the EP, where atmosphere carries as much weight as rhythm.
The title track, ‘Storyteller,’ sets the tone. Vibrant melodies unfold slowly, creating a sense of motion that feels suspended rather than driven. It invites immersion rather than impact. ‘Inner Zone’ follows with cut through synths and deep progressive momentum, building emotion through patience. Closing track ‘Mojave’ shifts the energy darker, rawer and more physical, without breaking the spell. Early support from artists like Guy J, Anthony Pappa and Drumcomplex reflects how naturally the EP sits in late night spaces.
Desert Hearts Black was a natural home for that mood. Sagia’s connection to the label runs deeper than a release slot. “I first went to a Desert Hearts event while visiting LA a couple of years back,” she recalls. “I was completely blown away by the vibe, the crowd and the positivity.” What stayed with her was authenticity. “The whole message of House, Techno and Love really speaks to me, and it’s not just words. The whole crew lives by this.” The Black imprint’s focus on darker sounds felt aligned. “Late nights and early mornings,” as she puts it.
Compared to earlier releases on labels like Desert Hearts, 100% Pure and Natura Viva, Storyteller marks a moment of growth. “It was a long process,” she admits, “but it brought me to a new level of being able to express myself.” The lessons learned are already feeding forward. “I’m taking it all into my next productions.”
Support from artists such as Kölsch, Anja Schneider and Eli & Fur feels less surprising when viewed through that lens. “I feel we’re all connected by this form of expression,” Sagia says. “I tend to relate to artists who share inner depth in music, but still have full blown energy paired with it.”
Despite playing very different spaces, from Miami Music Week to London Fashion Week, her approach stays grounded. “First and foremost, I am a DJ,” she says. “I only play tracks I love. Always with melody and always with strong basslines.” Genre labels remain secondary to feeling.
Her monthly radio show, Flight Mode, offers another outlet. “It lets me express a journey like approach,” she explains. Moving from deep melodic sounds through progressive and into techno, it reflects how she listens as much as how she plays. “I find great joy in finding and promoting fresh talent.”
Winning the Change The Beat competition for her remix of Beth Lydi’s ‘This Is Love’ added momentum, but not pressure. “It gave me a boost of energy,” she says. “I felt my remixing skills had been appreciated.” More importantly, it reinforced connection.
With Storyteller, Sagia captures a moment of alignment. A record shaped by space, guided by emotion, and confident enough to let silence speak.
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