Joining the WORK Resident 2022 roster, Stephen Disario is a multifaceted producer and DJ. Disario’s tracks have been featured on labels such as Planet Rhythm, Liberta Records, Say What, Trau-ma, and many more. His techno sounds take dancers from the genre’s deep and hypnotic realm to the high-octane and peak-time hours.
Hi Stephen, welcome back. You’re part of the newly launched WORK Residency Program and as part of it, you’ll be playing at selected events throughout the year. What does it mean to you to be invited to be a part of it and recognized as a standout talent?
It is truly an honor to be a part of the WORK residency, alongside like minded peers in this industry. I have worked with the crew since 2018 and it has been such an amazing journey for us all. So much has changed since then, but our passion for this scene stays the same. I couldn’t be happier to officially be on board with the WORK team. Everyone is very professional, easy going and we all check our ego at the door, which I think plays a vital part in creating such a pure and genuine vibe for our events.
Why do you think the WORK Residency program is an important initiative?
The WORK residency is a great opportunity for Los Angeles and surrounding based artists to get a bit of recognition in our city. With so many local artists it really helps shed light on the producers and DJ’s doing something special in our hometown.
Living in these cement walls we call Los Angeles, it is essential to get away and connect back with Mother Earth and remember the planet we are actually living on.
Nature inspires Stephen Disario’s creative flow
Is there a specific moment that made you realize you wanted to pursue music more than just a hobby?
The spark for me was NYE of 2014; Some friends and I decided to throw a desert rave in the Mojave Desert. Hundreds of people showed up despite the little promo we did. The energy was electric! The feedback after the event was absolutely mind blowing. At that moment, I knew that this was something I wanted to pursue professionally with my entire heart and soul.
Are there any artists who’ve really inspired your work as an artist?
There are so many artists that I take influence from, and it’s constantly evolving. In the early days I was in love with artists like Recondite, Rødhad, Maceo Plex, Noir, and others within that realm of deeper techno back in the day. As I got deeper in the rabbit hole, I met Brennen Grey who has been a huge staple in my journey. He truly helped me navigate the industry as well as in the studio. I am extremely blessed to call him my brother! From there, I started to develop my own sound and these days I am inspired by many artists; I am lucky to call friends like Marcal, Vinicius Honorio, Arthur Robert, Rene Wise, and many others. I am always discovering new artists and that is probably my favorite thing about music. There’s an endless world of inspiration out there!
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Name a track you’ve had on repeat recently.
Arthur Robert “Kinship”. This track brings out so many emotions. Arthur is a very refreshing take on techno and really locks the listener in on a journey from start to finish.
You’ve said that going out in nature is inspiring to you. Do you have any dream nature escapes or ones planned for the future?
I am always plotting new places to explore. Living in these cement walls we call Los Angeles, it is essential to get away and connect back with Mother Earth and remember the planet we are actually living on. It’s easy to get consumed by the fast pace of life out here, and in that regard it is extremely important to hit the reset button from time to time. Yellowstone is on the top of that list currently, I also really want to explore South America and the Amazon.
I am my own biggest critic and with that comes a double edge sword. The solution: don’t stop and continue working. It’s all a matter of being consciously in tune with yourself and knowing that this is a part of the journey. It’s all about the passion of creating music, and if more opportunities come out of that then that is wonderful, but I think a great piece of advice is to create without expectation.
Stephen Disario balances work with play
What has been the most challenging aspect of your career, and how have you managed or overcome this challenge?
Covid-19 was the most challenging time for me, as I had my biggest releases to date during the pandemic, which was bittersweet. It was amazing to get some recognition in times of doubt, although I didn’t get the gig opportunities that may have come with those releases, had it been pre-Covid. The pandemic has completely reshaped me as an artist and revamped my sound. I had a handful of burnout moments with extreme self doubt, but continued to work through it. I am my own biggest critic and with that comes a double edge sword. The solution: don’t stop and continue working. It’s all a matter of being consciously in tune with yourself and knowing that this is a part of the journey. It’s all about the passion of creating music, and if more opportunities come out of that then that is wonderful, but I think a great piece of advice is to create without expectation.
Anything else you’d like to share?
Thank you so much for the opportunity, I am forever grateful for the love and support by the WORK team and community. This collective is one of the most special ones coming out of LA and I could not be more grateful to be a part of it. Cheers to the amazing future ahead! Also there will be new music soon and even bigger news to come toward the end of the year so keep your eyes peeled!
Connect with Stephen Disario: SoundCloud | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Beatport | Spotify | Website
