Chicago-based DJ and producer Azzecca AKA Allie DeCastris has got us feeling some type of way (again) with her latest house-fuelled heartbreaker track ‘Holding Back’. As you may already know, this artist thrives in the shadows of house, techno, and the moodier corners of disco, crafting music that hits hard and linger long after the lights turn on.
““My sound is always dark and sexy, but I experiment with different genres and vibes. My sets are dynamic, I love to surprise the crowd. I start my own tracks with a bassline, a lead or a vocal sample, I love to use funky arps. My diverse musical tastes give me extreme versatility as a DJ/producer, resulting from early influences like the harsh but emotional elements of electro rock.’”
This new instalment is a little different from her normal stuff, it’s one of those tracks that’ll have you grinning through the tears with your mates at 3 AM, arms in the air, lost in the moment. Think bright breakbeat drums, swirling synths, a bassline that grips you by the soul, and a piano melody so anthemic it should come with a government warning.
Azzecca describes the track perfectly: “The vocal on this one felt so uplifting, I just wanted to take a swing at making something light and fun and housey, while still incorporating some of my signature cosmic sounds.”
When she’s not producing and performing, she’s likely devoting some of her time to running her “Dirty Disco” event series, featuring some of the world’s most notable rising dance artists.
After 2024 saw her sell out LA’s Sound, grace the stages of Coachella, Movement, and ARC, and rack up endorsements from BBC Radio 1, UPROXX, and DJ Mag, ‘Holding Back’ feels like the next logical step—an instant club essential with heavyweight credentials to back it up.