The truth is, becoming a DJ isn’t just about the music— at least not at the beginning. Nobody tells you that the come-up also means working multiple jobs, endless self-promo, and basically becoming a one-person media company.

For MARTA, she’s been busy making a name for herself with her throwback rave energy and fresh house sound — but her journey wasn’t all smooth sailing. This time around, she’s talking about the things that nobody mentions when you’re just starting out.

Here’s the top 5:

1. Never leave the house without your USB (and bring back-ups!)

I know this is an obvious one, but every DJ has a story about the night they forgot the one thing they actually needed to play. What doesn’t get talked about as much are the missed opportunities that come with it. For MARTA, that moment came when she was asked to jump on for a few minutes at an afterparty so a popular DJ could run to the restroom. Without her USB, he ended up having to hold it. They laughed about it afterward, but it turned into a lesson she never forgot.

2. You’re not just a DJ, you’re a content creator

Behind every hour on stage are countless more spent filming, editing, and posting just to stay on people’s radar. Add in a full-time job, and MARTA is juggling making music, playing gigs, and creating enough content to keep her momentum going.

3. Your vibe is better [more important] than your transitions

Crowds don’t remember a tiny slip in a mix — they remember how you made them feel. It’s the vibe, not the perfection, that keeps people locked in. MARTA proved this during her recent Electric Island set in Toronto, when she slipped up on a transition. Nobody — not even me — noticed, because she held her energy, stayed confident, and played it off like it was part of the plan. Turns out, the best transition was the confidence to keep the party going.

4. Network, network, network!

One of the most underrated parts of building a career in music isn’t technical at all — it’s who you meet along the way. You never really know who’s going to be at a show, hear your set, or end up in the same green room. For MARTA, that’s why networking is so important — and not in a clout-chasing way. In rave culture especially, showing up consistently as a decent human goes further than any perfect set ever could.

5. You have to be slightly delusional (just a little bit)

Every DJ needs a little bit of ‘delulu’ energy to survive the come-up. You have to believe in yourself so much that it borders on unrealistic — because if you don’t, no one else will. MARTA admitted she leans into that mindset too, being her own hype person and picturing herself on massive stages even before the bookings come. It’s that fake-it-’til-you-make-it energy — because if you can’t see yourself on Tomorrowland’s Mainstage one day, why would anyone else?

At the end of the day, the music matters — but so do the lessons you pick up along the way. They’re the difference between just playing music and actually building a career for yourself.

Marta’s new single ‘World of the Rave’ is OUT NOW!

Connect with MARTA:

Instagram | SoundCloud | Spotify | YouTube