HOW MIA MORETTI WENT FROM BEING NYFW’S FAVORITE DJ TO MAKING A LATIN HOUSE EP
With the imminent release of her EP “TAMBOR” Mia Moretti went from being every fashion designer’s hottest accessory to a burgeoning record producer. If you don’t remember a fashion week without Mia Moretti it’s probably because there wasn’t one.
Before there was cancel culture, before there were fashion bloggers, before there were digital invitations, and even before there were fashion djs, there was DJ Mia Moretti.
In the city that never sleeps, MIA MORETTI became a pivotal force in a DJ revolution. Designers such as Prabal Gurung, Jonathan Simkai, Maxwell Osboure, Jeremy Scott, Tommy Hilfiger, DVF, Rebecca Minkoff, Alice & Olivia, Monse, & DKNY all called upon Moretti to compose their runway tracks and helm their afterparties into the wee hours of the morning (And well, needless to say, Galore has loved Mia forever!).
Moretti’s journey as a dj is more than just playing records; it is an immersive education in music, people, and storytelling. Moretti honed her skills in perception and intuition, understanding room dynamics and adapting her sets to the shifting energies. Being a DJ in nyc for over a decade taught her everything she needed to know about a dance floor, this knowledge would become the driving force for her original production.
“I couldn’t have been a producer ten years ago while DJing. That time was for learning — learning about people, places and sounds. I’m making music now because of that decade spent in the DJ booth – I was waiting for something to call to me, and I was also just having a lot fun,” Mia reflects from her early days.
Moretti’s shift to music production marked a significant turning point in her career. “As soon as you enter production, you lose the freedom to be flexible,” Moretti describes her transition from being a responsive DJ to an authoritative producer. “Maybe it’s growing pains,” she added. From aiming to please everyone to developing a unique personal voice. A necessary discomfort in the pursuit of artistry. She emphasizes the importance of this transition for young and old artists, highlighting the need to stay true to one’s voice as well as taking the time and space needed to find that voice.
“As a “fashion” DJ for lack of better word, I was deeply perceptive of what was happening around me, using intuition to adapt my sets to the room’s changing energy, “Mia explains. “Now it’s more about pulling away from being a responsive sponge to becoming an authority. From trying to please everyone to developing a sound and being true to my music — understanding that not all music can please everyone and that that is a good thing.”
“TAMBOR” is not just an EP; it’s a reflection of Moretti’s extensive experience and fascination with music’s narrative power. It blends the soulful rhythms of Afro-Colombian music with contemporary electronic dance beats, showcasing Moretti’s skill as a global music curator and a storyteller. The EP features samples from Colombian mainstays such as Totó La Momposina, Petrona Martínez and Eryen Korath, as well as original recordings from the community around these artists.
Listen to ROSA here.
“I feel a connection between modern dance music and the ancestral Afro-Colombian music of artists like Totó La Momposina,” Mia explains, “These songs are matriarchal anthems that are passed down through the women of the community. My songs are meant to do the same – I believe house music is built on a pulse that brings us into a deep trance – this trance connects us to ourselves and to our community.”
“The single ‘ROSA’ (November 17), emerges as a standout track on the EP, imbued with rich Afro-Colombian history and reimagined through a unique multi-generational collaboration. Originally seeking to clear a sample, Moretti’s journey led her to a deeper creative pursuit. This path brought together Totó La Momposina’s granddaughters and the veteran artist’s long-time collaborator, Jorge Aguilar, culminating in a soul-stirring composition. Recorded in diverse locations from the Caribbean coast to Bogotá and London, ‘ROSA’ has evolved into a vibrant, drum-driven electronic dance anthem.
With “ROSA” and “TAMBOR,” Moretti dives into the realm of cultural storytelling, blending narratives and rhythms. Her journey to Colombia was pivotal, discovering music that echoed with matriarchal strength and inspiring her to share these sounds with her community.
“It’s not about the language of the song; music is something everyone’s connected to. These are women and stories that I fell in love with – I wanted to share them and pass them on to my community as well,” Mia explains.
Mia Moretti’s ascent from the high-energy DJ booths of fashion’s most illustrious events to the innovative world of music production embodies a tale of growth, adaptation, and cultural synthesis. Her transition, marked by “TAMBOR” and “ROSA,” showcases her dazzling beats and journey of self-discovery and artistic evolution. Through these releases, Moretti shares more than music; she invites us into her narrative, reflecting the courage and resilience required to remain faithful to one’s artistic voice amidst the dynamic challenges of a creative career.
More photos of this journey below.
PHOTO BY ANDREW ARTHUR
PHOTO BY ANDREW ARTHUR
