OXIA: "The magic is creating what none could alone"

OXIA is one of the most respected names in the French electronic scene and a true icon on the global stage. With a career spanning over two decades, countless international tours, and an impressive catalog of releases on top-tier labels such as Kompakt, Hot Creations, Knee Deep In Sound, All Day I Dream, and his own Diversions Music—founded in 2016 with longtime friend and collaborator Nicolas Masseyeff—OXIA has firmly cemented his legacy in the worlds of house and techno.

Best known for his global hit Domino (2006), he continues to evolve his sound through high-profile collaborations, remixes for legends like Moby and Joseph Capriati, and a signature style that blends groove, depth, and finesse. In 2024, OXIA shows no signs of slowing down, kicking off the year with fresh releases that reaffirm his status as a driving force in electronic music.

Your career spans over twenty years and entire continents: what still motivates you today when you step up to the decks or lock yourself in the studio?

After all these years, my passion for music hasn’t changed, I think it’s my driving force.  When I perform at events, it’s the crowd’s energy and excitement that keeps me going. Seeing people react positively when I play one of my new tracks is incredibly energizing. It motivates me to keep creating. I'm constantly coming up with new ideas, and turning them into reality is both a necessity and a true source of fulfillment for me.

You’ve collaborated with iconic artists like Miss Kittin, Agoria, and Nicolas Masseyeff. What makes a collaboration truly special for you?

What makes a collaboration truly special is when each artist brings their own world and perspective, but that together you create something that perhaps none of you would have thought of on your own, that’s where the magic happens. Even when styles are different, or maybe especially when they are,  that contrast often leads to something fresh and unexpected. And to me, that’s the whole point of collaborating.

Your classic “Domino” has surpassed 100 million streams. How do you feel about a track becoming timeless over time?

It’s honestly incredible. When I first created "Domino", I had no idea it would resonate with people for so long. The fact that it’s still being listened to so many years later is something I’m deeply grateful for. As an artist, you always hope your music will have a lasting impact, but when it actually happens, it's really surreal. And it’s hard to explain, I think the fact that so many DJs of different styles have played it over the years is a big part of why it’s become a "classic".

You’ve played at some of the most iconic festivals in the world, such as Cercle and other international events. What are the main differences between playing in an intimate club setting versus a large festival, and how do you manage to connect with the audience in both contexts?

Both settings are really special, but in different ways — I honestly enjoy both. When I play in an intimate club, there’s this direct, almost physical connection with the crowd — you feel the energy up close, and you can take more risks, go deeper... At a big festival, it’s a different scale — it's more about creating a powerful journey. The energy from thousands of people is incredible, and it pushes you to think bigger in terms of sound and atmosphere. I believe that if you're truly connected to the music and doing it with honesty, the audience feels it — and gives that energy back, no matter the size of the venue.

With Diversions Music, you’ve built a very personal sonic identity. How do you decide what to release on your label?

With my friend and label partner Nicolas Masseyeff, when it comes to deciding what to release on Diversions, it’s really about feeling. We ask ourselves: does this track resonate with us emotionally? Does it have the energy or vibe that aligns with the identity of the label? We want to release music that excites us, but it also has to stay true to the core of what Diversions represents. We’re very open-minded, we enjoy different styles, and as long as we both connect with a track,  no matter the style,  we’ll release it,  that’s the main thing for us. And with Nicolas, we always need to be in agreement before releasing a track,  if one of us isn’t convinced, we don't release it, even if sometimes one of us tries to convince the other :-)

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