A young DJ based on the vibrant island of Bali, Carla aka Pretty Liar has quickly made a name for herself on the local scene. She currently holds residencies at Hatch, Thruster Club, and La Playa Uluwatu. She is also the founder of SHE, a community-platform created to highlight and empower female-identifying DJs through music, creativity, and collaboration.  The full interview is below, taken from the Star Wax Bali special, and can be downloaded in English here.

Welcome! A glass of?

Red wine.

Where did you grow up, in what kind of artistic environment, and did you have vinyl records at home?

I grew up in Bali-Indonesia, was not surrounded by music but I personally love music in unexpected ways. My parents didn’t collect vinyls, but they loved listening to music sometimes. So my earliest "crate digging" was actually through old CDs and pirated MP3 folders, ipod, radio, etc. The artistic vibe around me was more about improvisation, I love dancing.

Your first approach to Djing?

In 2023 started mixing vinyl as therapy, and it unexpectedly became something deeper.

When did you get hooked and get into the game permanently?

Since I played my first real set and felt something I never felt before. From that point on, there was no turning back — I started investing in myself, playing more shows, and even flying out for gigs.

Who are your current main influences and can you explain your artistic vision?

Artists like Traumer, Sonja Moonear, Sweely, and even my friends, they deeply inspire me — for their taste, groove, and mystery. My vision is to create moments that feel like déjà vu but totally new — music that pulls you into a trance, makes your body move, but also stays with you emotionally after the night ends. To create sonic experiences that feel nostalgic to move bodies and stir emotions and feel the crowd, especially through platforms like SHE, a space for female dj’s which i built on community and feminine power.

When you are diggin, what kind of music/song are you obsessed with, and do you spend a lot of time in records store or on line only?

I’m obsessed with stripped-back grooves, deep house with character, or cheeky edits that no one sees coming. I mostly dig online (Bandcamp, SoundCloud, Discogs), but I try to hit record stores whenever I travel — especially to find those unexpected gems. I wish to have my own turntables and continue to collect and dig more records

What is your favorite Indonesian adage?

“Sedikit-sedikit, lama-lama menjadi bukit.” Little by little, eventually becomes a hill. It reminds me of how it started: small, local, but full of intention. Now it's growing into something real.

Your top 3 indonesian record labels?

Future10, Dunia, Tantrà.

Mountains or sea?

I can’t pick (laught).

To dress, a pair of…?

Baggy pants, boots with anything always.

What comes to mind when you hear Hatch, can you describe the experience as Dj and visitor-client?

Hatch is my home, feels like a vortex. As a DJ, it’s intimate but powerful. The crowd’s close and the energy is raw. As a guest, it’s where you can dance with no expectations.

Best memory on stage?

My new year gig in Kazakshtan, first time playing in front of a thousand people.

And worst?

Once the deck died mid-set which happens a lot.

Your top 5 new releases

- Dyed Soundorom “Déjà Vu”

- Gene On Earth “The Juggler”

- Gabrielle Kwarteng “Present State”

- Sweely “Gotta Keep On”

- Priku “Bleep Sequence”

Your top 5 oldies

- Mr. Fingers “Can You Feel It”

- Moodymann “I Can’t Kick This Feeling When It Hits”

- Rhythm & Sound “King in My Empire”

- Larry Heard “Missing You”

- Bizzare Inc ”Took My Love”

Another passion?

Doing charity works, dancing, writing, creative direction and storytelling — whether it’s through visuals, events, decorations, or music.

What makes you proud today?

That I built something on my own terms. Not just as a DJ, but also as a woman.

What comes to your mind if I say Zen?

Stillness inside the chaos. A quiet mind in a loud world. Something I’m still learning — but sometimes I find it in a mix, or while dancing with my eyes closed.

What job would you like to do if you weren’t a DJ?

Creative producer or visual curator — something that blends sound, story, and aesthetics. Or maybe running a cultural space like a creative café + record bar and owning a foundation or a Non Profit Organization

What’s next? 

More gigs abroad, original releases coming soon, and the next chapter of SHE — its like a community or platform created to spotlight and empower female-identifying DJs through music, creativity, and collaboration. It’s a movement dedicated to breaking barriers in the electronic scene by giving women a front-row seat behind the decks. I want to more connected to women across Southeast Asia and beyond.

Interviewed by DJ coshmar