INTERVIEW
INTERVIEW
☆ BY LAUREN SANTIA ☆
ROOTED IN THE INTERSECTION OF CLASSICAL COMPOSITION AND ELECTRONIC MUSIC—Alicia Kiah has curated a unique sound entirely of her own. Having picked up the violin at just four years old and later studying at Baltimore’s Peabody Conservatory, her relationship with music has been clear from the beginning. After seeing a Major Lazer and Rusko show in college, Alicia grew an interest in bringing the violin into a completely different sonic landscape. What started as reaching out to producers on Facebook eventually grew into a career as a producer and DJ, finding a multitude of ways to morph classical and bass music.
Her latest EP, Auraline, takes things a step further. Following her 2025 debut EP Stargazer, Kiah puts the violin at the center of the project and seamlessly incorporates heavy bass, unexpected samples and an intimate exploration of transformation. Auraline serves as a continuation of her evolution as an artist and touches the themes of vulnerability and resilience.
We caught up with Kiah to talk about the creative process behind the EP, finding her artistic voice, and the importance of staying true to herself.
LUNA: To start, can you introduce yourself and tell us a little bit about your sound?
Josh Coburger
KIAH: My name is Alicia Kiah, and I’ve been a published recording artist since 2011. I’ve written on and been featured on about 11 vinyl releases so far. I really started as a violinist, writing violin parts over electronic music. That’s where the initial inspiration came from when I was in college.
During COVID in 2020, I went through something difficult and decided I wanted to challenge myself and become a better musician. I bought Ableton and started learning production and how to do everything myself. I’d dreamed of doing that since around 2015, but eventually I decided it was time to actually pursue it. I released my first EP in 2025, then started pairing DJing and violin together. It all kind of turned into this really cool symphony of creativity.
LUNA: Throughout the start of this journey and everything that’s happened since, what do you think has been the biggest thing you’ve learned?
KIAH: Always honor your own artistry and your own artistic perception because you have a unique way of viewing the world that no one else does. Don’t ever stifle your artistic voice. There are always outside influences trying to stifle that, so I think the biggest thing I’ve learned so far is to believe in yourself and really think that you’re the one.
LUNA: Can you also tell us about your newest EP?
KIAH: I just released my second EP, Auraline, which premiered on We Are Studio’s SoundCloud. Right now, I’m delving into the electronic world a little more and starting to write my own instrumental backing tracks to play violin over. That’s a future direction I have in mind.
I also have my project with Kursa, and we’re well into our second album. We have another album finished as well, so there’s tons of music on the horizon. I’m continuing to work on DJing and maybe starting a Twitch show this winter. We also have a bunch of shows coming up and I’m really excited for all of it.
LUNA: You and Kursa have such a special and strong bond and collaborate quite a lot on projects and on stage. How did you two meet?
Moya
KIAH: We actually wrote a track together in 2012 without realizing it until 10 years later when I reached out and recognized his name. After reconnecting in 2022, we eventually met up in New York in January 2023, and things just clicked. We both love music, and I found someone I could talk about it with endlessly. From our earliest conversations, we talked about creating our own musical language, especially since we come from different musical backgrounds. Now, three years later, we’ve built that language together, and it’s something really special.
LUNA: What’s your favorite track off Auraline and why?
KIAH: That’s a hard question, but right now it’s probably “713.” I love how minimal and spacious it feels, with just bass, violin and a subtle two-step rhythm. I also really love the title track, “Auraline.” I used spectral synthesis to create it, which I was learning at the time, and I love the
strange, almost fairy-like sounds at the beginning. Those two are probably my favorites right now
LUNA: What made you want Auraline to be the title, aside from the fact that it just sounds really cool?
KIAH: I just liked the name, and the artwork tied into it because the project is really about honoring the things I love. The artwork actually comes from a painting I made when I was 13 in art class. I was going through a lot emotionally at the time, so I painted this big blue swirl that was supposed to represent the ocean, with an eyeball in the middle. My friends thought it was really strange, but it always stuck with me.
LUNA: Lastly, what’s next for you and your music journey?
KIAH: I’m definitely going to sit with the EP, but I’m also planning to release a few more singles before the end of the year. I recently did a mix with Electric Hawk featuring my solo violin improvisation, which was a really exciting opportunity. Ideally, I’d love to do more shows that combine live violin and DJing. I want to continue developing that side of my project and have it become something more defined, while continuing to release music and explore new avenues.
