⋆˚࿔ untitled 909 podcast 269: forest ⋆˚࿔

“for this mix, i imagined myself playing at a festival as the sun was setting, a set that begins in the late afternoon and flows all the way into dusk. being a long set gave me more freedom to improvise and let the music unfold naturally.

it brings together nearly all of my influences, from ambient, percussive sounds, dub techno to progressive house / trance, dub and deep techno. i mixed older tracks with new releases, keeping the energy that i love to create. i recorded it at a really positive moment in my life, and i hope it conveys freedom, immersion, and emotion.”

thrilled to welcome the french pixie forest to the untitled 909 series this week! <3

co-founder of the brilliant record label & mix series geosmine - a platform that aims “to showcase a diverse spectrum of modern electronic music, ranging from trance to dub, and from experimental to club, with a strong emphasis on sound design and texture”, forest is an emerging artist within the low end psychedelia scene, leaning more towards the glistening, vibrant soundscapes of prog, deep techno and trance. a resident at hor-sol and gimic radio, forest has become a staple within both the french and belgian scene, captivating dancers with her spellbinding sets. long and swirling in blissful, driving energy, forest has a knack for creating these organic worlds to get lost into. they are full of colour, beautiful pads and grooving rhythms, drawing from her daily life for inspiration; from everything including travel, art, the people she surrounds herself with and nature. there’s one for certain that everything she does comes from the heart and all of her output, both mixes and productions, are drawn from the emotions she is feeling at the time. as a producer, forest has released on her own gesomine, whomp, evolve, and kluster records.

forest’s early inspiration came from living room dance parties with her sister, the internet and her move to england for university, it was at that point she really discovered her connection to electronic music. she is a deep connector of the old and new, most of her collection stems from the 90s/early 00s soundscapes of prog and trance, intertwined with the sound of now.

after a few years of connecting online, we finally got to hang out irl in paris last month which i feel very grateful for - a kindred spirit in artistic approach and purpose <3 my trip in the city was rounded off by a really special back-to-back where it felt like we were gelled together for three-hours, pure magic! so i’m really excited to be sharing her story and music with you today! 🧚🏻

hey chloé! how are you doing? what have you been up to lately?

hey love, i’m doing really good, thank you! i just got back from a little holiday, which was the perfect moment to reset and reconnect with myself. i’m now back in paris feeling very inspired musically, exactly the kind of energy i was craving for spring and summer ahead.

let’s start from the very beginning, what was your first introduction to music in general and then more specifically electronic music?

i think my first connection to music came through dancing. when i was a kid, my sister and i had a cd player at home, and our favourite part of the day was coming back from school, putting music on, and just dancing for hours in the living room. it felt completely natural, something we did without even thinking. later, i started modern dance, which really helped me connect with music and movement.

electronic music came a bit later, around 13, with friends from school. we grew up with the internet, first youtube, then soundcloud, so i was exposed to a lot of different sounds from an early age. i’m from lille, where there’s a real culture of going out and sharing music, so we were already organising small parties in nature or going to clubs in belgium.

but i think everything really clicked when i moved to england at 17. that’s when i started playing and building a more personal, conscious relationship with electronic music.

who was the first artist or band that you were a fan of?

madonna, definitely haha! we used to blast her music with my mum in the car after school, and i’d watch all her videos on youtube. i loved her world, her attitude, and the way she constantly reinvented herself.

was there a formative moment growing up, whether that’s seeing your favourite band live or an incredible dj set, that led you to this path?

i’d been into electronic music since i was young, but everything shifted when i discovered hors-sol, especially the festival. i really admire what jules and léo have built. the music, the passion of the artists, the energy on the dancefloor, and the care people showed for each other were overwhelming. i even cried the first time i went, struck by how freeing it felt to just be yourself surrounded by so many beautiful, kind people. that moment taught me that the environments you choose to immerse yourself in don’t just inspire your creativity: they shape how you see the world and what you value. for me, it was about connection, trust, and daring to express yourself fully, lessons i carry into my music and my life every day.

what is the most meaningful part of being an artist to you?

music feels like a language to me. growing up, i often struggled to channel my emotions, and music became my refuge, my way to express myself when words weren’t enough. over time, i realised it’s not just about me, it’s about connecting with people in a genuine, healthy, and beautiful way. there’s something incredibly meaningful in creating spaces where others can feel seen, feel free, and reconnect with who they truly are.

i especially want to help flintas find a sense of refuge in music, a place where they can feel legitimate and safe to express themselves. when i started, there were so many moments of doubt, the feeling that this world was reserved for men, that i didn’t belong. music helped me find my way, and now i want to create spaces where others can feel that same freedom.

that’s also why i love storytelling in my sets. it allows me to translate emotions, experiences, and personal journeys into music, taking people through highs, lows, and everything in between. inspired by artists like sybil and bambi, storytelling helps me give shape to feelings and moments, and it’s become one of the most powerful ways i connect with people.

where do you look for sources of inspiration outside of music?

i find inspiration everywhere: from travel, human connections, and art, to the emotions i experience in daily life. joy, serenity, vulnerability, frustration, gratitude, all of these feed my creativity, and i try to translate them into music as a language. i think it’s really important to stay connected to your own experiences and emotions, especially today, so you don’t get trapped following trends or imitating what others are doing on social media.

sometimes i make a point of disconnecting and reflecting on what’s in my heart, exploring sounds and emotions that resonate with me personally, without worrying about style or genre. i also draw a lot of inspiration from dancefloors, listening to other artists, discovering new sounds, and supporting the scene. it’s a mix of listening, feeling, and living: all of which ends up shaping my music and allowing me to tell my own story.

how has france influenced or informed your sense of self and artistic output?

france has been incredibly inspiring for me, especially my local scene. what i love most is the kindness of the people, their thirst for music, and the diversity of sounds and initiatives. there are new collectives, events, and projects popping up every day, and the energy and passion around it all is just contagious.

this year in particular, i’ve met some amazing people, and those friendships have been really elevating. being part of a scene that’s so supportive and full of incredible talent has shaped not just my music, but also how i see my role as an artist. the community here constantly reminds me of the power of sharing, collaboration, and creating spaces where everyone can feel inspired and included.

what has been your most recent musical discovery that you’re obsessed with?

honestly, it’s hard to pick just one, but this question made me think of “orange dreams” by mark ambrose, released in 2007 on crayon, which i discovered not long ago. he’s one of my favourite producers, and this track is exactly what i love: proggy, dubby, psychedelic, trancy, and emotive. i included it in my mix for untitled 909, and i think it’s the kind of track i’ll keep coming back to again and again.

you’re also one of the founders & curators behind the label and mix series geosmine - what motivated you to start this platform? what is the ethos and what is your approach to curation?

geosmine started as a way for us to express ourselves and share two main things with others. first, the music that inspires us the most and makes us vibrate, through the projects of artists we deeply admire. i think it’s really important to highlight other people’s work and show how you can draw inspiration from others, because my own music alone can’t express the infinite range of sounds i love.

second, we wanted to explore the connection between sound and visuals. with gauss and arroyo, we put a lot of care into how each project looks and feels visually. i’m a very visual person, and for me, sound and image are deeply connected. curation for geosmine is about creating a space where these two worlds meet.

you’ve also contributed a mix for the 909 series, what’s the story behind this one?

for this mix, i imagined myself playing at a festival as the sun was setting, a set that begins in the late afternoon and flows all the way into dusk. being a long set gave me more freedom to improvise and let the music unfold naturally.

it brings together nearly all of my influences, from ambient, percussive sounds, dub techno to progressive house / trance, dub and deep techno. i mixed older tracks with new releases, keeping the energy that i love to create. i recorded it at a really positive moment in my life, and i hope it conveys freedom, immersion, and emotion.

how does your approach to dj sets differ from studio mixes and radio shows? is there a narrative in mind that you’re always trying to tell through your sets?

radio shows and mixes give you more freedom, i’d say. without a live crowd, you can take your time, explore slower or deeper tracks, and really focus on the emotions or ideas you want to share. it’s a space to experiment and reflect in a way that’s different from being in front of a dancefloor.

dj sets are a completely different energy. you feed off the room, follow your instinct, and improvise in the moment. i felt this most vividly in january at la cité fertile during our b2b with gabbor for hors-sol and kluster. the crowd, the way the set evolved, the freedom to take risks and trust the moment, it was one of the most transcendent experiences i’ve had. everything is alive, immediate, and unpredictable.

that said, i also love bringing club music into radio shows and podcasts because i just love it haha!

when was the last time you were on the dance floor?

i actually went out last sunday to listen to jane fitz at essaim, and it reminded me how much i need to be on the dancefloor. her set completely blew me away. you could really feel her years of experience in the way she built the set, in her selection, and in how she responded to the crowd. it was the most techno, deep psychedelic, and hypnotic set i’d heard from her. the energy was incredible, and i honestly couldn’t tear myself away.

i go out a lot to have fun, get inspired, and connect with the energy of the music and the crowd. being on the dancefloor feels natural, but i also see it as part of my learning, like a day in the studio or digging for music. it teaches you something new every time.

what are you most excited about right now?

i’m really excited about all the releases coming up and, of course, the festival season. it’s my favourite time of the year, there’s nothing like the energy of being outdoors with music blasting, seeing people connect, and feeling that collective excitement.

what’s on your vision board for this year?

i actually don’t make a vision board. i like to let music and life surprise me. a year ago, i never imagined this could even become my path. life is full of little surprises, and i want to enjoy it as it comes, staying open to whatever feels right in the moment.