Asja Shtein — aka Astrocue — is a Berlin DJ and producer crafting deep, emotional grooves with a sharp club pulse and subtle storytelling. Her style-shifting sets slip effortlessly between techno, house, indie dance, and electronica — woven with precision, warmth, and a cinematic sense of mmomentum. Rooted in Vedic astrology, philosophy, and meditation, she treats the dance floor as a space for release and renewal — a place to leave lighter than you arrived.
What picture (or mental reel) describes your sound best?
It’s like enjoying a sunset and a cold drink after a very sweaty, strenuous climb—both cleansing and satisfying. I want people to release whatever they need to on the dance floor, to feel lighter, renewed, and stronger after. The dance floor is so much cheaper than therapy—and so much more effective.
Which gig completely threw you off – in the best or worst way?
My first gig, at the loveliest small festival. My sisters were there, my music mentor, friends. I saw how much love and effort the organizers put into creating that special, music-centric vibe. I was so nervous that my hands were shaking. Tremendous stress—but I’ve never felt anything like that since. I guess that experience was the initiation fee demanded by the gods of music.
Which current trend in the scene annoys you – and which inspires you?
Playtimes tend to be quite short—around 1.5 to 2 hours—which is fine, but I’d love to see extended sets come back in fashion. A 4–5-hour window allows for a deeper dive into one’s collection and a beautiful journey across tempos and genres. On the other hand, daytime raves inspire me endlessly. Bringing music to those who need to dance — parents of young children, people who can’t sacrifice sleep — feels like a cultural reset in the best possible way.
If you could redesign a club or festival from scratch, what would it look like?
Like something straight out of Saturday Night Fever with John Travolta — that kind of cinematic glow and communal joy, a place dancers naturally gravitate toward and love to frequent.
Analog or digital – and why?
Digital. I adore vinyl — who doesn’t? But I practice within a yogic tradition, and the philosophy is to accumulate less rather than more stuff. So the digital format suits me better.
What’s next for you – and what’s completely new about it?
I’m finishing my first EP — a small collection of genre-weird tracks inspired by Balinese gamelan prayers I heard while traveling through Indonesia last winter. Those hypnotic bells and mallets I woke up to every morning stayed with me,—along with the lessons learned from the wonderful people of that land. It will be my first EP and my first detour outside of dance music.
What’s your ultimate “drop everything and dance” track?
“Everybody Dance Now” by C+C Music Factory. Timeless, untouchable energy.
How does your background or environment influence your sound?
My Vedic astrology research shapes a lot of what I do. I notice how, with the seasons and shifts in cosmic weather, I get inspired by different sounds—how my perception of music changes. House music will always feel like home, because it was the first genre that moved me deeply. But over time, I’ve grown more and more drawn to genre-nominal territories.
Imagine it’s 2030, you’re playing your dream set – where is it and what’s the last track you play?
At a festival deep in the forest, surrounded by family, friends, and the community I’ve grown with for years. The final track would be something I made specifically for that moment — a gift to the night and everyone in it.
and then 