Amelie Lens Interview: “The community is EXHALE and EXHALE is the community, we grow together.”

To celebrate the tenth episode of EXHALE Radio dropping on Keakie this week, we spoke to its presenter and founder of EXHALE, Amelie Lens, about the show’s premise, its connection to the EXHALE live events, and her plans for the summer.

Amelie Lens DJing at the EXHALE event at Printworks, London, November 2021.

It’s impossible not to be taken in by Amelie Lens’ love for techno. Far from the detached superstar DJ, content with playing their allotted time and disappearing into the VIP area, you’ll find Amelie in the crowd before and after her sets, enjoying her fellow DJs on the line up she's playing and dancing with her fans.

It’s unsurprising, then, that this infectious passion for the music she plays has seen her rapid rise from club resident to headline name coincide with her building a legion of followers, on social media and in real life. As her influence has grown, so have her ambitions to turn that relationship between fan and DJ into something more tangible: a club night and online community called EXHALE. Wanting to show off her curation skills beyond her live gigs, EXHALE Radio followed, giving Amelie a chance to speak to fans each week (no matter where they are in the world) and platform the artists she wants to support, even if their productions might not make it into one of her uncompromising headline sets.

Hi Amelie, congratulations on the tenth episode of EXHALE Radio. For those who haven’t heard it before, what is the premise of EXHALE?
Amelie: Thank you! Our premise is that raving is a lifestyle which builds connections that last a lifetime. A place where DJs and producers are given a chance to be seen & heard. ;)

How did the idea for the show come about?
A: I had my first residency at Labyrinth Club in Hasselt, Belgium. It was there that they gave me the chance to start curating my own night. At the time I was just excited to get the opportunity to do so! I decided to call it EXHALE after my first release on Lyase Recordings. Quickly, though, I started to notice the energy that everyone brought to the parties, people were so happy and dancing together. It really felt like the start of a new family or community.

“Describe EXHALE in three words? Community. Energy. Love.”

— Amelie Lens

What do you want listeners to take from your show?
A: Firstly, I want them to enjoy it! Haha :) For me it’s a really good chance to show different sides of myself. Often I play headline or peak hour set times and, don’t get me wrong, I love this set time, but with the radio show I can present high energy sets or something more melodic you wouldn’t necessarily hear me play at a festival or club. It’s so different doing a radio show, I love the challenge.

When is the ideal time for listeners to check out your show?
A: It depends on your lifestyle! I wake up to techno, so maybe I am not the right person to ask. I would guess for many people it’s perfect for the weekend as you are getting ready to go out, driving home from a long work day or something to make you keep up the pace at the gym. :)

Describe EXHALE in three words.
A: Community. Energy. Love.

Your sets are well known for their bass-heavy, minimal style, with elements of acid techno in there too; can listeners expect the same approach in your Exhale show, or are you exploring more of the techno spectrum?
A: This is why a weekly show is so exciting! I feel freedom to present listeners with a set they could hear me play on a Saturday night, or with and one they wouldn't expect. I will also invite some EXHALE guests in the future. Short answer is: keeping listening to find out how each show differs. ;)

What has been the most satisfying aspect of playing the music you showcase?
A: The crowd. We call them our community for a reason. Some of them have been in the crowd watching me play since I started, some have been to almost every EXHALE show. To look out onto the dance floor and see the community that makes up a big part of life is so rewarding. They are jumping, going crazy, forgetting whatever is happening in the world together with me! I can even see how people who I used to notice on different sides of the crowd have met, because I see them dancing together!

How important to you is supporting new and upcoming artists the show?
A: I really believe that everyone deserves a chance. I really value how I was given one. For these reasons I’ll continue to support the artists I believe in and that I think deserve a larger platform for their music to be heard.

You’ve cultivated an incredible community around the brand - how does it guide what the brand does?
A: Thank you! It’s been crazy to watch the brand grow and the community that grows with it. We really involve them, we are in touch with some of the people I mentioned before who have been to almost every show, we ask them questions in the FB community group, we listen to feedback or dreams when they DM me on IG or write to our team’s info email. The community is EXHALE and EXHALE is the community, we grow together.

What are the plans for EXHALE in 2022?
A: So many! We’ve had festival stages at Extrema Outdoor, OFFSónar, and one to come at Tomorrowland in July. We are doing a 24hr event in Berlin on 25th June and we have a residency in Ibiza at DC-10 every Wednesday in August. That’s our 10-show summer tour. In autumn we return to Awakenings and have few more big shows planned.

After two years of COVID, we are so ready to come out strong and celebrate together!