Brina Knauss Shares Insight on New Single, "Savannah"

Brina Knauss stopped by to chat about the creative journey that led to “Savannah” and how she balances the demands of an artist and a label head.

Slovenian-born DJ producer Brina Knauss‘ journey in house and techno began in 2014, but it wasn’t until she refined her craft in some of the most renowned Milanese clubs that she began catching the attention of industry heavyweights like Luciano and Damian Lazarus. Through her classical training, she has the unique ability to bring together the precision of her musical foundations with the pulse of contemporary techno. The result is a sound that’s both sophisticated and electrifying.

Over the years, Brina Knauss has taken the stage at major international festivals, including Tomorrowland, Electric Daisy Carnival, and Ultra Music Festival. With each performance, she continues to evolve while staying deeply grounded in the essence of her musical roots. Now she proves once again why she’s one of the most exciting talents in the scene with her powerful debut on Interstellar Recordings, “Savannah.”

“Savannah” is a track that is grounded in rhythm yet soaring through a dreamlike melody. Brina Knauss combines a tender male vocal that adds a layer of intimacy and warmth, giving the overall feeling of expansive beauty. As if you’re caught between the comfort of the familiar and the allure of the unknown, the song marks another remarkable chapter in Brina’s sonic evolution.

Before she heads off into a busy summer tour, we caught up with Brina Knauss to chat about classical roots, the journey behind “Savannah,” and how she stays on top of touring, music production, and label management. Read on for the whole conversation and stream the track on Spotify or your preferred platform.

Stream Briana Knauss – “Savannah” on Spotify:

Hi Brina! Congratulations on the release of “Savannah” and your debut with Interstellar Recordings! What can you share about this new record, and how do you see this track fitting into your broader journey as an artist?

Thank you so much – it means a lot! “Savannah” feels like an important moment for me. It’s my first release with Interstellar Recordings, and also a track that really reflects where I’m at emotionally and musically right now. It’s deep, melodic, and carries this sense of surrender and movement, which I think resonates with the journey I’m on both personally and artistically. It’s the kind of track that tells a story without needing to say too much, and that’s something I’ve always gravitated towards.

Love that, it’s so cool to see your classical training giving your music such a unique emotional depth! When working on “Savannah,” did you find yourself returning to those roots or intentionally breaking away from them?

I think my classical background is always present, but it’s very intuitive now – more of a subconscious layer than a deliberate reference. With “Savannah,” I leaned into that emotional storytelling through melody and harmony, which definitely comes from my classical roots. But at the same time, I wanted it to feel raw and modern – something that lives on a dancefloor, not just in a beautiful structure. So it’s a balance between honouring that foundation and evolving beyond it.

It’s refreshing to hear that kind of depth on the dancefloor. “Savannah” really captures the feeling of surrender and losing yourself in the moment. What does the track mean to you personally?

For me, “Savannah” is about release – letting go of control and allowing yourself to just feel. I wrote it during a moment of stillness after a really intense period of touring and personal reflection. There’s a tension in the track, but also this warmth that opens up as it progresses. It feels like nature to me – wild, expansive, grounding – and I think that’s where the title came from. It’s an internal landscape as much as it is an external one.

Between running your label EMPATH, producing new music, and playing at major festivals, how do you balance the studio work with the live performance side of things?

It’s definitely a challenge sometimes! But both sides feed into each other in really important ways. Touring brings this energy and real-time connection that inspires the studio work, and being in the studio gives me space to reflect, to reset, and to grow creatively. EMPATH has also become a place where I can curate a sound that feels personal, so even when I’m working across different roles, there’s a core vision I always come back to. I’ve also learned to protect time for each thing – otherwise, you lose that balance.

The balance is everything! Sounds like you’ve found a way to stay connected to your vision while juggling so much. You’ve got some incredible performances lined up this summer, from Sonar Offweek to Zamna parties in South America. What are the highlights you’re looking forward to the most?

I’m truly excited about every single one, but playing at Zamna in South America is just so special – there’s such a unique energy there, and I can’t wait to bring my sound to that audience. Also, Offweek in Barcelona has a really vibrant community vibe that I always love returning to. Every city has its own pulse, and I’m looking forward to tuning into each one and seeing how “Savannah” connects in different environments.

There’s something magical about letting each track breathe differently in every space. How do you plan to integrate “Savannah” into your performances at major events like Tomorrowland and Afterlife Tulum? Are you psyched to see how it resonates with those crowds?

Absolutely! “Savannah” was made with that cinematic, open-air feeling in mind — it’s a track I imagine breathing fully in those kinds of spaces. I’ve already played it in a few sets, and the response has been beautiful, so I’m really looking forward to seeing how it lands with bigger audiences. It’s one of those tracks that can build or close a moment depending on how it’s placed, so I’m excited to let it evolve naturally in the set.

Can’t wait to hear how it unfolds in those bigger moments! Now that the new single has launched your partnership with Interstellar Recordings, are there any plans for a follow-up EP or album with the label that continues to explore your signature sound?

Yes, absolutely – we’re already working on what’s next. The relationship with Interstellar is really organic, and it feels like a space where I can push my sound further while staying true to the emotional and melodic core that defines what I do. Whether it’s an EP or something more long-form, I definitely want to keep building on what “Savannah” started and explore even more intimate and expansive sounds