AZZECCA: A Coachella Ascension

Since her debut release in 2022, Azzecca has carved out a space that resists easy definition. Her sound moves in dualities. Psychedelic yet driving. Emotionally charged but never without a sense of play. It is this tension that has made her one of the more intriguing figures to emerge from the new wave of dance music.

Raised in Chicago, she grew up surrounded by the legacy of house music, absorbing its communal spirit while pulling inspiration from far beyond the genre’s traditional edges. You can hear flashes of Pink Floyd in her more expansive moments, while the textural depth of Massive Attack and Portishead lingers in her darker, more atmospheric work. The result is something fluid and genre agnostic, a sound that feels as comfortable in a warehouse as it does in a late-night reverie.

That same unpredictability defines her DJ sets. Whether on massive festival stages like Coachella, Lollapalooza and Movement, or inside revered club spaces like Watergate and Warehouse Project, Azzecca leans into contrast. Her sets are built to shift, surprise and pull the crowd somewhere unexpected. As she puts it, her sound stays dark and sexy at its core, but the journey is always evolving.

That evolution was on full display at this year’s Coachella, where she stepped onto the Yuma Stage for the first time. After previous appearances at Do LaB in 2024 and Quasar in 2025, this marked her third consecutive year at the festival, but a clear turning point. The Yuma set drew a full house, a packed and fully locked-in crowd that reflected just how far her project has come. There was a noticeable sense of control in the room; creating a deeper connection between artist and audience.

In the studio, her process mirrors the same instinctive, exploratory approach. A track often begins with a single element that resonates, a bassline, a lead, or a vocal sample, and expands outward from there. She leans into unexpected structures, weaving in funky arpeggios and drawing from a wide palette of influences, including the emotional intensity of electro rock. The throughline is versatility, a willingness to move between moods and textures without losing cohesion.

That desire to operate outside of rigid boundaries led to the creation of COSIMEA, first as a party series and now as a label. Built around the idea of exploring otherworldly club sounds, the project reflects both her fascination with the extraterrestrial and her commitment to creative freedom. It is a platform designed for risk taking, encouraging artists to push beyond the safer, more commercial edges of dance music. For Azzecca herself, it has also become a space to further define her own sound without compromise, while opening doors for emerging artists looking to do the same.

The months ahead suggest that momentum is only building. Following her Coachella breakthrough, she is set to release “Make Your Move” on May 1 via Warehouse Project Records, followed by “Back2FM” on June 12 through ATW Records. Through each release and each set, Azzecca continues to refine a world that is distinctly her own. One that thrives in contrast, embraces unpredictability, and invites listeners to step into something just slightly unknown.

FML: How are you approaching your Yuma set differently from your past appearances at the festival?
A: This year feels wildly different to my past two years performing at the festival. I feel like I’ve truly dialed in my sound and I’m really proud of and comfortable with where I am as an artist. Because of that I am bringing a sense of calm and confidence that I’ve never had before to my performances. I’m sharing so much unreleased music of my own which is really exciting.

FML: Since your debut in 2022, you have built a reputation as a bit of a musical enigma. Is that something you consciously lean into?
A: Definitely. Something I’m most proud of is my eclectic style and approach to music. I don’t want to fit into an easy to sell box or be easy to describe. I find inspiration in so many different places, and I don’t ever want to feel stuck to one specific sound. I play music to encourage people to dance and smile and connect with one another and to let go of some of the weight of the world we exist in. I don’t play or make music with the goal of becoming an easy, predictable commodity. Being unique is a good thing in an industry where so many people are just hoping to hop onto a trend and get as famous as possible.

FML: Growing up in Chicago, how did house music shape your musical foundation?
A: Living in Chicago and going out to the clubs, especially queer nights in the city, taught me so much about the pivotal role dance music plays in fostering community, respect and a sense of freedom. I hope to take those core values with me throughout my career. It should always be clear that I do not welcome judgmental, selfish or aggressive behaviors at my shows. The house music scene has once again become extremely male dominated, from the headliners to the dance floor. Because of that we are seeing less women and LGBTQ persons out at events. Diversity is what makes dance music a beautiful and safe space. I hope to do everything I can to make everyone feel warm and welcome on the dance floor.

FML: Your sets are known for being dynamic and unexpected. What is your process when building a DJ set?
A: I love dynamics in music and when I’m prepping for a set I always think about emotions. I try to find a few soft and introspective tracks, a few darker or harder tracks, a few left field tracks to catch people off guard and plenty of high energy euphoria.

FML: You launched COSIMEA as a party series and label. What gap were you trying to fill?
A: I just felt like there weren’t many people in the commercial sphere who feel comfortable taking risks with the music they make and play. I’ve earned some commercial success without totally marrying a sound or sub genre. I’ve also built a pretty loyal fan base and because of this I’m in a good position to properly present interesting and unique sounds to the scene. That’s what COSIMEA is all about, the freedom to be weird and take risks and to help showcase the artists who are actually doing groundbreaking stuff.

FML: What kind of creative freedom does running your own label give you?
A: I was in such a low place creatively last year and found the label landscape to be really overwhelming and stifling. I knew I had to do something to reinvigorate my passion. Starting my label allowed me to completely shed the invisible shackles and to start making music that just felt really good to me. Doing this actually allowed me to fully develop my sound and become really confident in my project and my place in the industry. Since then I’ve signed tracks that I’m so proud of to labels I never really thought would be interested in me or my music.

FML: You have a run of releases coming up. What can you share about “Make Your Move” and “Back2FM”?
A: Two of my favorite tracks I’ve ever made. Make Your Move is energetic and nostalgic but modern at the same time and really incorporates everything I love about old school hard groove, trance and house. Back2FM tickles a totally different side of my brain and leans into some more classic UKG and breakbeat. I play both of these types of tracks in my sets so often that I just wanted to make my own versions that feel a bit more feminine and warm.

FML: With a headline tour on the horizon, what kind of experience are you hoping to create for fans?
A: I’ve grown and evolved so much as an artist over the past year or so, and I’m really excited to present this elevated and confident version of myself to fans. These are all going to be long form shows where I play for many hours, so I want to really tell the story of what types of tracks helped me to become who I am in this new era of my project. Longer sets allow for more time within each emotional landscape and that excites me.

FML: If someone is hearing an Azzecca set for the first time this year, what do you want them to walk away feeling?
A: I want them to walk away feeling like they just heard something they have never heard before. I have a unique ability to thread together tracks that all tell very different stories, I love a journey and I want everyone to feel like they have been on one.

Azzecca’s rise has never felt rushed, and that is exactly what makes this moment land. At Coachella, in a packed Yuma, there was no sense of arrival for the sake of it, but rather a quiet confirmation of an artist who has fully stepped into her own language. The confidence is earned, the sound is sharpened, and the vision is unmistakably hers. As she moves into a new run of releases and a forthcoming headline tour, what lies ahead does not feel like a breakthrough, but an expansion. One that continues to pull her deeper into her own world, and everyone else along with it.

AZZECCA’S #FMLFAVES

Fave Song: “Rhiannon” by Fleetwood Mac
Fave Show You’ve Ever Played: ARC Music Festival 2024
Fave Dish: Shrimp Diablo
Fave City You’ve Played: Amsterdam
What’s In Your Bag: Lip liner, sunglasses, gum and a lighter

EIC: Gina Kim-Park ( @ginakpark )

Photography & Creative Direction: Reinhardt Kenneth ( @reinhardtkenneth )

Muse: AZZECCA ( @azzecca )

Fashion Stylist: Priscila Natalina ( @priscillaxns )

Hair Stylist: Jael Serrano ( @serranostudiosla )

Make Up Artist: Juanes Hernandez ( @juanesmakeup )

Talent Management: Abi Getto ( @abi_getto )

Project Manager: Deki Namgyal ( @itsdekibaby )

Lighting Director: Ralphy Valle ( @ralphyvalle )

Special Thanks to Infamous PR ( @infamouspr )