photo. SHOTBYSE7EN
Once the Mediterranean summer reaches its final days, the tempo of festival season shifts towards a gentler rhythm. Yet in Cyprus, sun, sound and spirit still reverberated into late September at BEONIX festival. From 19 – 21 September, the grounds of an ancient vineyard set the scene. Totally reimagined into a contrasting concrete edge, it was an immersive space to experience the best in electronic music. Across four stages, each with its own scale and character, the festival had a diverse lineup of genres from hard techno to EDM and afro house. Sets shifted from intimate showcases to expansive performances with appearances from Adriatique, Armin van Buuren, Shimza and Maceo Plex among many others.
The Hangar, in particular, stood out as a stage that held its own identity. It was an enclosed structure whose raw, industrial frame embodied the futuristic essence of the festival with an underground current. It’s where Russian-Italian DJ and producer Anfisa Letyago performed a set that marked one of the weekend’s defining moments. Hypnotic yet propulsive, her sound was like a siren call that echoed through the brutalist shell of the Hangar. Before she bent the space to her will with technical prowess and charisma, Schön! caught up with Letyago backstage.
Anfisa, thank you for joining us! We had a great time with you. How did the set feel from your side?
The set went very well. It was my first time playing in Cyprus and I was curious to see how the crowd is here. We surely had fun!
What stood out to you the most about the energy of the night?
The crowd’s engagement was great. I always try to give my maximum energy when I play and it’s amazing when you get that back from the people.
You’ve played on such a wide range of stages around the world. In what way did this one distinguish itself for you?
It’s never about the stage itself, it’s all about the crowd. As DJs our role is to establish a connection with the people in front of us and take them on a journey through our music selection and mixing techniques [and] make them have fun.
With that context, how did you shape the flow of your show?
I love to read the crowd and feel the vibe of the night. It’s a spontaneous process and it works like a conversation between me and the people on the dance floor. I’ll play a track, see their reaction and that tells me what to do next. It’s about being in the moment and creating a unique experience for that specific night.
Your sound spans from hypnotic depths to powerful intensity, how do you decide which side to reveal more?
I don’t like to limit myself to just one style. I always keep a techno identity, but I love to travel between genres. The decision depends entirely on the atmosphere of the night and how the crowd responds. Sometimes the energy calls for a more intense sound and other times it’s more about a deep hypnotic vibe. The goal is to take people on a journey, and that journey needs different moments of both light and shade.
Let’s talk about your label NSDA. What inspired you to start it and how has it evolved since?
I started NSDA because I wanted a home for my own music, especially the tracks that I felt didn’t fit on other labels. The name is a tribute to Nisida, a small volcanic island near my home in Naples which is inaccessible to people. It’s a beautiful, strange and mysterious place. The label started as a platform for my own productions. It was a way for me to have total creative control. Since then, it has evolved into a space where I can also support other artists and release music that I truly believe in. Giving a voice to those who have something to say through their music is something that makes me very proud.
How does the process of creating music in the studio compare to bringing your sound to life on stage?
In the studio, it’s a very personal and intimate process. I’m alone and I can be very focused on the small details. I can explore different ideas and sounds without any pressure. It’s where I build the foundation of my sound and where I can live in my “fantasy world,” as I like to say. When I’m on stage it’s a different kind of energy. It’s about sharing that sound and that energy with a crowd. It’s a very physical and interactive experience. The crowd becomes part of the creative process. In the studio, I am the creator. On stage, I am the conductor. They are both essential parts of what I do.
photography. Courtesy of Beonix Festival
talent. Anfisa Letyago
words. Sarah Diab
