Checking in with Dog Mom and Marginalia Boss Elif

Following the arrival of Bestiary Vol. 1, Elif filled us in about life as a label head, what comes next, and her love for canines and coasters!

When Elif was welcomed into the Anjunadeep family in 2019 with “Random Act Of Kindness,” little did we know how far she’d come in just a few years. She kept her legacy at the forefront of her mind as she quickly dominated the festival scene, placing her stamp at iconic gathering places like Tomorrowland, ADE, Coachella, Burning Man, and inside the lush forest of Tulum.

These days, the melodic house & techno moment-maker remains in charge of her destiny as the pioneer of Marginalia. She launched the label with the Medusa EP in the fall of 2023 and has since placed our ears on promising talents like Argentinian producer RADON and Turkish artist Jaffer.

With amazing music constantly flooding the boss’ office, it was only a matter of time before Marginalia’s debut compilation would arrive. It’s called Bestiary Vol.1 and features 17 outside-the-box tunes, including one special soundscape from Elif alongside up-and-coming Israeli DJ/producer REBRN.

If you haven’t given it a listen, go ahead and smash play on it below and then continue for our chat. Within, Elif catches us up on everything from self-care to dog adoption and what’s brewing in the studio to her thoughts on Thrill City at Six Flags Magic Mountain in LA. The event, put together by RASA, is on March 16, and tickets are still available!

Stream Bestiary Vol. 1 on Spotify:

Hello Elif, thanks so much for taking time out to chat. You kicked off the year at CORE Tulum. While there, you took the opportunity to slow down, connect with nature, and keep your laptop closed as much as possible. Can you discuss that and the full spectrum of your self-care journey in a high-stress industry?

Hello. My pleasure. Yes, I’m naturally a very hardworking person, but the intensity of the last few years made me realize that for a more sustainable approach to this journey, it’s important to rest the body, mind, and even emotions.

Part of self-care is also the ability to say no to substances like alcohol. As someone who prefers not to drink, do you find that you’re treated differently or pressured in an industry that often promotes excess? Talk to us about it.

I started drinking again every once in a while, but when I didn’t, no, I never got any pressure. Only very surprised promoters sometimes.

From self-care to caring for a four-legged friend! We’re dying to know how your new dog came into your life and how things are going. Do you have any advice for touring artists regarding pet ownership?

I grew up with dogs but it was kind of impossible to have a dog for me in my adult life because of all my travels yet I am kind of obsessed with dogs.

One of my close friends in Istanbul has the cutest dog, Cooper, which I also used to dog sit. He had several babies that my friend easily found homes for. On my last trip to Istanbul, I found out that he decided to take back one of the puppies he gave to a friend as he was not able to take good care of him. He had to give him up eventually but he was not ready to leave him yet so he was taking care of two dogs when I was there.

I don’t know how we made the decision at that moment but I sent a picture of Cooper’s son Bambam to my boyfriend saying he needed a home and at that moment he replied that he fell in love and that we should adopt him. Because Bambam is in Turkey, we’re still in the waiting process. From the day of adoption, it takes four months for Turkish pets to be able to travel to Europe. We have less than two months left, and we can’t wait!

Advice to touring artists regarding dog ownership — find a partner who doesn’t travel like you do so they can take care of the dog while you are away.

From your personal life to your career, let’s dig into being the pioneer and cultivator of Marginalia. Can you tell us what a day in your life looks like when you’re wearing your label boss hat?

Listening to a lot of demos, giving feedback to artists, planning the release schedule, finding remixers, having meetings with the design team, the marketing team, and our distributor and publishers, sending out promos to DJ colleagues, and social media… I think a little bit of everything.

That’s certainly a lot to juggle, and part of it was bringing Marginalia‘s very first VA compilation into the world — Bestiary Vol. 1. Spill the details, and where do you see this compilation series heading in the future?

Since I started the label I received so much good music that I didn’t want to keep them any longer. Our release schedule is super full, and I wanted to introduce some of the very talented producers ahead of their solo releases on Marginalia. For me, it’s an investment in some of these producers.

Outside of Bestiary Vol. 1, do you have any music brewing that you can share details with us about?

I have some new remixes coming up on Watergate, MDLBST, and Kiosk ID Records for some artists I admire. Can’t wait to share them!

Let’s end with a fun one. You’re about to be back in the US, and your first stop is in LA for Thrill City at Six Flags. I’m dying to know: what’s your favorite amusement park ride of all time?

I still can’t believe this is happening. The promoters in LA were the first ones to book me there, and we’ve become friends over the years. Their brand has grown a lot since then, as has my artist project.

I used to play the Six Flags Theme Park game when I was little and love roller coasters and attractions in general. Not fair to pick one. I’m sure it’s gonna be a great production. I’m SO excited!

Elif, thanks again for your thoughts. We can’t wait to see where this year takes you!

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