Q&A: Pop as Liberation—Disco Shrine on Love, Identity and the Dance Floor
INTERVIEW
INTERVIEW
☆ BY INDI TEJEDA ☆
FOR DISCO SHRINE, MUSIC HAS ALWAYS BEEN ABOUT CREATING A WORLD—The Los Angeles-based electronic dance-pop artist, DJ and producer has built her career around a universe where high-energy beats, Y2K nostalgia, camp aesthetics, and unapologetic self-expression collide. She calls her sound “Lip Gloss Pop,” a blend of hardstyle-inspired dance production and glossy mall-pop melodies that feels equally at home in a nightclub, a pop fantasy or a glitter-covered dream sequence.
Born and raised in Los Angeles to immigrant parents who fled Iran following the Iranian Revolution, Disco Shrine’s identity as a first-generation Persian-American has shaped both her artistry and her understanding of storytelling. After graduating from UCLA, she made the leap to pursue music full-time, transforming personal experiences, cultural influences, and larger-than-life imagination into a project entirely her own.
Her debut single “Up in the Air” drew inspiration from her parents’ immigrant journey, introducing listeners to the emotional foundation behind the project. In 2021, her EP xoxo, disco expanded that universe, introducing her “Persian Barbie” alter ego and inspiring the creation of Barbie Rave, a pop-culture event centered around queer empowerment, community and collective joy.
Now, Disco Shrine continues to push that vision forward with her latest singles, “Wifi Wifey” and “Only You,” two explosive dance-pop tracks. From their euphoric production to their emotional core, the songs reflect her ability to turn vulnerability into something made for the dance floor.
We caught up with Disco Shrine to talk about the inspiration behind “Wifi Wifey” and “Only You,” performing at San Diego Pride, creating spaces of liberation through music, and building the visual worlds behind her songs.
LUNA: "Only You" captures such an infectious, high-energy dance-pop euphoria. What was the exact moment or memory that inspired the track, and how did it come together in the studio?
DISCO SHRINE: I wrote “Only You” while I was falling in love and finally letting my guard down. I remember having this feeling of wanting time to stop because I didn’t want the moment to end. In the studio, I wanted the production to feel just as overwhelming and euphoric as that feeling, like you’re fully surrendering to it.
LUNA: How does turning feelings of intense desire into euphoric, upbeat dance music help you process those emotions as a songwriter?
DISCO SHRINE: I’m not always great at saying exactly how I feel in real life, but I can say it in a song. Dance music lets me fully give in to the feeling instead of trying to make sense of it.
LUNA: You shared the stage at San Diego Pride alongside powerhouse acts like Krewella, Marina and G Flip. What was the energy like performing for that crowd, and what did taking that specific stage mean to you?
DISCO SHRINE: The energy was insane. Everyone was so open, loud, and ready to have fun, which made me feel like I could give even more of myself onstage. It felt like I was exactly where I was supposed to be.
LUNA: Pride festivals are known for celebrating liberation, identity, and community. How does performing in those spaces shape the way you connect with your audience compared to a standard tour venue?
DISCO SHRINE: Pride gives you permission to be the biggest, loudest, most unapologetic version of yourself. That's the entire ethos. There’s less of a wall between artist and audience because everyone is there to celebrate together. That's why those shows always feel really natural and special to me.
LUNA: When launching a new single or era, how do you decide on the visual concept and styling that best brings your sound to life?
DISCO SHRINE: Building the world goes hand in hand with making the music for me. I usually see the world of a song in my head before it’s even finished. It can start with a color, an outfit, a movie reference, or even a really specific character I want to become. I love taking all of those references and pushing them until the visual feels as exciting and dramatic as the music.
LUNA: “Wifi Wifey” plays with technology, connection and romance in such a fun, cheeky way. What inspired you to use the language of WiFi and the digital world to describe love and desire?
DISCO SHRINE: The digital world is so intrinsically tied to dating and relationships now. It’s where we meet people, keep up with them, connect, and disconnect. It has also created all these new complications and unspoken rules, like ghosting, being left on read, not double texting or calling and wondering how long is too long for someone to respond. All of that can make forming a genuine connection feel even more complicated. I wanted to write about the desire for something deeper and more real, despite all the digital hurdles we have to navigate to get there.
