In a world where electronic music is often pigeonholed into rigid categories, YOUNA DJ is proving that you can be both dark and happy at the same time. The Korea-born, Dubai-based DJ and producer has carved out a unique space in the melodic techno and peak-time techno scene, blending aggressive soundscapes with catchy melodies that make crowds jump with genuine joy.

Fresh off the announcement of her upcoming Coachella performance and riding high on her latest Armada Music release “Serotonin,” YOUNA DJ sat down to discuss her evolving sound, the art of warming up for legends, and why club gigs will always be her favorite.

YOUNA DJ’s “Serotonin”: The Paradox of Happy Darkness

When you first listen to “Serotonin,” YOUNA DJ’s latest track on Armada Music, you might be struck by its relentless, hypnotic intensity. But for the producer herself, it represents her happiest work yet.

“For me, compared to my other tracks, it’s very happy,” YOUNA DJ explains with a laugh. “Usually I put more aggressive sounds rather than something everyone can sing and dance to. This time I really wanted to try to find some catchy melody, happy kind of stuff. When I sketched this melody, I could imagine every people on the dance floor dancing together, jumping with happy energy.”

The track’s title references the brain’s happiness chemical, and while it might sound darker than typical “happy music,” YOUNA DJ embraces this duality. “It’s still melodic techno, still my sound, so it can be darker than just normal happy music, but for me it’s very happy and positive energy.”

This philosophy of being dark and happy simultaneously extends beyond her music into her entire artistic identity. “I love dark, fast, hard music,” she says, “but you can smile while listening to these really hard tracks.”

Working with Armada Music: A Dream Realized for YOUNA DJ

Landing on Armada Music was a milestone moment for YOUNA DJ, and not just because of the label’s prestige. “I’m really happy to work with them, not only about the fact that they’re a huge label, but also they’re super professional in every work,” she shares. “For example, I made this Serotonin t-shirt. I suggested the idea of doing some merch giveaway, and they were really supportive of everything.”

The partnership represents the realization of a long-held dream. “It’s one of my dreams to release tracks from Armada, so I’m obviously super happy for that,” YOUNA DJ says, adding that her first stop at Amsterdam Dance Event will be visiting the Armada offices.

The Art of the Warm-Up

One of YOUNA’s most impressive skills is her ability to open for techno titans like Charlotte de Witte, ARTBAT, I Hate Models, and Amelie Lens. But this wasn’t always intuitive, especially coming from the Asian club scene.

“In Asia, most of the time, there’s no concept of warm-up,” she reveals. “Obviously there are warm-up DJs, but they’re banging all the time. It’s common that they play drum and bass before my time, or hardstyle, and I’m like, ‘Okay, well…'”

Moving to Dubai and doing residency at Seoul Garden taught her the art of building energy throughout the night. “For hard techno warm-ups, I play more of my stuff and it’s totally fine because whatever track I play is less hard than the main artist. But I try to be careful with other melodic techno artists. My style is quite harder, so I try to play proper warm-up music and put just one or two of my tracks in between.”

Her secret to making warm-up sets memorable? Connection. “Even though I play less energy music, I always try to make people enjoyable. I always smile at people, interact with them. Even though it’s the same track, there’s a huge difference between just wearing a hat and looking down versus interacting with people.”

From Yachts to Clubs: The Perfect Setting

Despite playing everywhere from desert festivals to yacht parties, YOUNA has a clear favorite: traditional club venues. “Club is always the perfect place to play for me,” she states definitively.

When asked why, she doesn’t hesitate: “I don’t need to prepare the equipment setup. It’s all there. But when it’s outdoor, I first think about setting up properly. Maybe the light’s going to bother me, maybe the sand is going to bother me.”

She recalls a particularly memorable yacht party where the waters got rough: “In the end it was super shaky. People were holding the speakers!” While it was fun, her perfectionist nature prefers the controlled environment of a club. “There’s more possibility for natural disasters outdoors,” she jokes. “Club is a safe place.”

Peak-Time Techno: Finding Her BPM Sweet Spot

YOUNA describes her sound as melodic techno and peak-time techno, citing influences like Drumcode, Adam Beyer, Space 92, and Eli Brown. Her sets typically start at 128 BPM and max out around 132 BPM, though she’ll push to 138 when warming up for hard techno artists.

“These days I’m making much more energetic stuff,” she explains. “I used to do more melodic, more emotional tracks, but now I’m trying to make it more energetic, more techno.” This evolution keeps her sound fresh while maintaining that signature balance between dark and happy energy that defines her work.

Looking Ahead: Coachella and Beyond

If 2025 has been big for YOUNA, 2026 promises to be even bigger. She’s confirmed for Coachella, a massive achievement for any electronic artist. “I’m really looking forward to it,” she says with excitement.

Before that, she’s staying busy with shows in Turkey for Halloween and the Untold Festival on November 9th. She’s also working on new music, including a remix of Sian’s “Guilt” for Manta Label, complete with a music video. “I felt really big inspiration from the original track. It’s more dark techno, peak time, in the middle of melodic techno and hard techno. I really like this combination.”

Reflecting on her favorite memory of 2025, YOUNA points to an unexpected show: “Honestly, the Beirut show was my best memory because it was so unexpected. The love from the crowd was insane. I felt huge dopamine from that show.”

She’s also been expanding her operations, hiring an assistant and exploring new creative ventures like merchandise and music videos. “Everything is new and exciting. I think there’s going to be much more things coming up next year.”

For an artist who proves you can be both dark and happy, both melodic and hard, both emotional and energetic, the future looks bright indeed.

Listen to the full episode on the 10 Days in Dance podcast, available on all podcast platforms.