In the ever-evolving world of electronic music, few artists balance raw energy with cultural depth quite like RAJA. With the release of Zorya, a powerful collaboration with Ukrainian singer Jamala, he bridges future rave intensity with timeless storytelling. In this exclusive interview, RAJA opens up about the creative spark behind the track, the mission of his label Brahman Music, and how he weaves ancient influences into cutting-edge soundscapes. What follows is a candid conversation on chemistry, courage, and the belief that music can be both a sunrise on the dancefloor and a beacon of hope beyond it.
HMWL – “ZORYA” is a collaboration with Jamala, a Eurovision winner with a very distinct voice. What drew you to working with her, and how did the collaboration come about?
RAJA – At school I loved chemistry because it is all about reactions. With Jamala the reaction was instant. Think test tube storm that turns into an elixir of love.
In Berlin my partner Nikita and I wrote a dynamic, emotional beat – deep future rave with a techno spine. It felt stadium wide and cinematic. I knew a strong female voice had to sit in the center.
When we thought about who in Ukraine could carry that weight, Jamala was the obvious choice. I wrote to her on Instagram, she replied right away, and everything flowed naturally.
The creative dance was easy. We did not step on each other’s toes. She is open to new territory and bold experiments. Our visions met in the same place.
HMWL – The track blends pulsating synths, ethnic textures, and driving bass lines. How did you approach balancing these elements while keeping Jamala’s voice at the center?
RAJA – We wrote the core idea around the word Zorya which means dawn in Ukrainian. That told me where the vocal should live from the start.
When Jamala sent recordings we had many takes. The task was to weave her performance into the heartbeat of the groove. I tried a few of my own vocal lines, then removed them. Her voice already filled the sky.
I focused on depth and clarity. Carve space for her midrange. Let the synths move around her rather than compete. Bring ethnic details as quiet answers and not decoration. Keep the bass disciplined so the song breathes.
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HMWL – “ZORYA” is described as both a festival anthem and a deeply emotional journey. How do you personally connect to the themes of resilience and inner light that the song represents?
RAJA – My country needs light right now. A beacon. A horizon. Hope.
Zorya is the reminder that after the darkest night the dawn still arrives. I wanted a record that carries that message with both power and tenderness. It can lift a festival crowd and still speak straight to the heart.
HMWL – The extended mix was released on your own label, Brahman Music, while the radio version came through Universal/CompMusic. Why was it important for you to put out this club version independently?
RAJA – From the first day we thought about where the music should travel.
Universal and Jamala’s team focus on radio and strong reach in Ukraine and surrounding regions. Brahman Music is built for the global electronic world – DJs, clubs, festivals.
So we split the work. Universal pushes the song where radio belongs. We handle the long club format with speed and control. That lets the extended arrangement stay intact and useful for DJs.
HMWL – What inspired you to set up Brahman Music in the first place, and what vision do you have for the label going forward?
RAJA – Brahman is a curated circle. Artists, producers, visual creators, AI designers who do not copy the mass product. People with a point of view.
Our goal is to propose and to shift, not to repeat. We pair brave music with strong visual stories, support collaborations across scenes, and keep quality above volume. Fewer releases, more intention.
HMWL – Beatport’s melodic techno and future rave communities are specifically mentioned as key audiences for “ZORYA” How do you see yourself contributing to and shaping those scenes?
RAJA – We bring a modern, high energy sound that still respects form and storytelling. Future power with melodic emotion. We thread it with ancient rhythm, culture and ceremony so the music feels new and rooted at the same time.
We avoid templates. We test ideas on stage and refine them. The artists around Brahman are builders of new spaces. The shows are immersive and memorable which is how we add energy to these communities.
HMWL – Your productions often weave in authentic ethnic influences. How do you strike the balance between honoring tradition and pushing electronic music forward?
RAJA – Respect first. Immersion instead of surface sampling.
We connect present, future and past with care. Fundamental ethnic pulses often become the heart of the track. Technology then builds a bridge so those voices can travel forward without losing their truth.
HMWL – At 130 BPM, the track feels tailored for DJs and tastemakers. Do you build music with the dancefloor in mind first, or does the story/emotion come first for you?
RAJA – The story comes first. The floor is the final exam.
I start from a feeling or an image, then translate it into DJ grammar so it works in a set. In performance I also use voice – real singing that opens people up. Not hype shouts. That human layer makes the experience deeper while the tempo keeps urgency.
HMWL – The press release calls “ZORYA” a “statement” – uniting voices, cultures, and dancefloors. What do you hope listeners around the world take away from the track?
RAJA – Courage and lift. A small sunrise inside the chest. You do not need the same language to feel the same light.
If Zorya helps someone stand taller for even a moment, the record did its work.
HMWL – Looking beyond “ZORYA,” what role do you see Brahman Music playing in spotlighting artists, sounds, or collaborations that might not otherwise fit the traditional industry mold?
RAJA – We work carefully and conceptually which attracts collaborators. Brahman is our face and reputation so every project must offer something new and clear.
We honor genre, groove and what moves a dancefloor today, but we always add a unique voice – through vocals, perspective and the brilliant people we invite in. That is our role – a home for fresh forms that connect quickly with listeners and DJs.
Buy/Stream ‘Zorya’ here – https://compmusic.lnk.to/ZORYA