DJ Yung Lucy is establishing a stronger and stronger presence on the Polish scene. She has already played at major events like the Polish edition of Teletech and the EXIST Showcase. We invited her for an interview to talk about her fascination with Hardcore, her own event series Ketwalk, and playing with a Hamburg-based collective. Łucja Janukowicz also opens up about completely losing herself in music and focusing on it as the most crucial element.
This is the kind of emotion-packed interview you’ve been waiting for - enjoy the read!
Artur Wojtczak: You’ve been on the scene as a DJ for over 5 years now. How did your journey with electronic music begin? Which tracks or genres first caught your attention?
Yung Lucy: My journey with electronic music as a DJ started with groove, but right from the beginning, I loved exploring different genres. Over time, I started diving deeper into industrial, schranz, and other heavier sounds. Even though most people mostly associate me with hard techno, my selection has always been very diverse. However, industrial and industrial hardcore resonated with me the most. I think that's why I'm naturally drawn more and more to faster music. It's in these sounds where I feel the most freedom and can express myself best.
What made you decide that you wanted to try your hand behind the decks?
Yung Lucy: It all started a bit by accident. When I moved to England after high school, I came across VTSS - a DJ from Warsaw - somewhere online. She really inspired me back then, and I thought, "Damn, maybe I should try it too?". I always felt like I had a good ear for music and could pick up on things that resonated with me.
When I came back to Poland, I bought a controller, and after that, everything moved really fast. I didn’t just want to listen to the music others were playing; I wanted to create my own sets and tell my own story through music.
My debut was in 2021. I remember my legs were shaking from stress, but at the same time, that was the first time I felt like this was exactly what I wanted to do. My whole life I had been looking for a space where I’d feel at home, and behind the decks, I knew right away that this was it.
For almost a year, you were part of a DJ collective from Hamburg—what was it called and what kind of music did you play?
Yung Lucy: The collective was called Saltarus. It was a very important chapter for me because that’s where I really spread my wings. Our sets were very diverse because I always play spontaneously, and a lot depends on the event. The guys in the collective mostly played bounce, industrial, hard techno, and groove, while that's exactly where I started leaning even more towards hardcore. The trips to Hamburg gave me massive motivation and energy to keep going. I found my listeners there, and to this day, I truly appreciate how they welcome me there. It’s a genuinely special feeling.
Do you see any differences between Polish and German crowds?
Yung Lucy: Every time I’m in Germany, I get the impression that the crowd there is more united. There’s a lot of freedom and genuine energy radiating from them. I also feel like people there often come primarily for the music and the experience itself, not just to show up at an event. My time in Hamburg was amazing and it really shaped me - both as a DJ and as a person.
You put it beautifully that "when the BPM goes up, you feel at home" - what do you think is so cool about faster genres? And where do you think the trend comes from that dance music has speeded up significantly, making hard techno, schranz, or hardcore so popular?
Yung Lucy: I feel at home when I can fully be myself. I’ve been told many times that I shouldn't play hardcore or such fast stuff, but that’s what resonates with me the most.
I don’t limit myself to one genre. I’m musically flexible and I like combining different styles, but fast tempos have always hit me the hardest. I feel like I can express more emotions through this kind of music than through words.
As for the popularity of these genres, I think it’s simply a reflection of the times we live in. Everything has become faster, more intense, and overstimulating, and the music reflects that in a way. People sometimes want to go into a club and totally disconnect for a few hours. Hard techno, Schranz, and hardcore deliver a massive dose of emotion and let people release that energy.
Your Ketwalk project is - as you proudly describe it yourself - inspired by the paths of ancestors, alchemy, and consciousness. It sounds incredibly intriguing. Tell us more details and the inspirations behind this venture.
Yung Lucy: Ketwalk is something much bigger to me than just another music project. It’s not a collective—it’s a series of events that I create with a specific intention.
I wanted to create a place that has its own symbolism, history, and a slightly more mystical character. I’m interested in the paths of our ancestors, alchemy, transformation, and consciousness. My intention is for people to feel safe, to lose themselves in the music, and to discover artists who deserve more attention but aren't necessarily the biggest headliners yet. Apart from the first edition, every following event will be recorded with two cameras and published on Ketwalk’s YouTube channel.
I don’t want to create massive hype around it. Not everyone needs to know about Ketwalk. My approach is that whoever is meant to find it, will find it. And if you already know what Ketwalk is, then pass it on to another good soul. The paths of ancestors are important to me because understanding their history helps us understand ourselves better. It teaches us that everything passes, and often what we remember most vividly isn’t specific events, but the energy we felt at the time.
You can always find me on the dancefloor at my events. I try to curate line-ups in a way that, even if they are diverse, they tell one cohesive story.
For me, music is a form of transformation. You enter a party in one state of mind, and after a few hours, you can walk out with completely different energy. I want people to recognize Ketwalk not just by the line-up, but above all by the emotions it carries.
You have undoubtedly been recognized, playing at events by the promoter EXIST - how was it playing there, and how did you feel playing alongside big names from the international scene?
Yung Lucy: First of all, I felt pure excitement, but also unimaginable stress.
The first time around, nerves completely ate me alive. I was practically fighting off a panic attack through my entire set. The second time, I felt way more comfortable, though the stress was still there.
Playing for EXIST gave me plenty of moments where I truly felt an exchange of energy with the crowd. Especially since I saw many people in the crowd who came specifically for me. I’m really grateful for that trust and opportunity. I’ve had many difficult moments in my life when I thought it was all over; that’s when EXIST came along and gave me hope that things could look different. The energy at those two events was absolutely cosmic. Teletech literally blew my mind. I felt such an adrenaline rush that it finally made me certain that this is where I belong. The second time, I stepped behind the decks with more confidence and with the intention of playing a heavier set than before. For a long time, I kept hearing what I should play, how I should play, or that people only book me because I’m pretty. With that set, I wanted to show that there’s so much more behind it - hard work, emotions, and a vision of my own.
By the way, let me ask: which artists are currently an inspiration to you, and what would be a dream b2b set for you?
Yung Lucy: Because I listen to and play so many different genres, it’s hard for me to point out just one or two people. I have really a lot of inspirations. Definitely Flucc from Berlin - his music resonates with me very deeply. I also love the energy that Rikhter creates. These are artists who will always inspire me.
I’ve never really had a dream of playing a b2b with someone. If I had to name one person, it would be Yung Lean, even though that’s a completely different musical world. It’s actually his music that, in a way, started everything for me. He motivated me to do things my own way, not to fit into boxes, and to find my own path. His music gave me a lot of strength during a very difficult time in my life, and to this day, he’s one of the artists I respect the most.
Your next chapter is undoubtedly your own productions. What made you focus on producing your own tracks?
Yung Lucy: I knew that just DJing was only the beginning for me. If I want to grow and leave something more behind, making my own productions is simply the next step.
I won’t deny that for a long time, I had a pretty toxic relationship with Ableton. The more pressure people put on me, the less it worked out. Only when I took a step back and cleared my head did I start sitting down to produce out of enjoyment, rather than feeling like I had to prove something.
I already have two tracks of my own. I played the first one during the Exist Showcase and later dropped it on SoundCloud. In August, the next one is coming out on Spotify, which I’m really happy about because I feel like it's finally working out.
What makes me happiest is that these are 100% my own productions. I don't use a ghost producer. Every sound, every hour spent in the software, every emotion - it’s all mine. I was told once that I shouldn’t produce the kind of music I actually wanted to. Except I want to do it my way. I’m not interested in fitting into standard molds. If I started making music to meet someone else’s expectations, I probably wouldn’t have released anything at all.
Every track of mine has a personal meaning to me. They aren't just sounds - they are emotions, memories, and pieces of me. That's why I want every next track to be authentic, not just technically correct.2
You represent the younger generation: what matters most to you and your friends in clubbing? The music, the soundsystem, safe spaces, or the community?
Yung Lucy: Everything matters to me. You can have the best line-up and a great soundsystem, but if people don't feel safe or if the energy isn't right, something will always be missing.
For me, music has always been the most important thing. I used to walk out of parties completely drenched because I’d just dance for hours and completely lose myself in it. Since I started DJing myself, I look at clubbing a bit differently. Most nights out feel like "work" to me now, but I still occasionally stay for someone's set if I know it’s truly worth hearing.
However, I feel like nowadays a lot of people go to parties just to show off or post a story, rather than to actually experience the music. We’ve all gotten a bit lost in that.
I wish we could focus more on what matters most again - the music, the energy, mutual respect, and the feeling that we are creating a community together.
What are Yung Lucy’s dreams for the next 5 years?
Yung Lucy: A while ago, during an interview, someone asked me where I see myself in three years. Without hesitation, I answered: a Teletech resident. Later I heard that I was the first person to answer that question so quickly and confidently. Dreaming doesn't cost anything, so I allow myself to dream big.
I’d love to play at festivals like Defqon.1 and other major events tied to hardcore someday.
Even more than that, I care about not losing myself along the way. I want to have the strength, peace, and awareness to truly enjoy everything that’s happening.
I want to keep evolving, making music my own way, and creating things that people will identify with. And if in five years I can say that I feel fulfilled and still love this just as much as I do today, that will be the ultimate success for me.
I wanted this interview to simply be honest. I hope it helped you get to know me a little better. See you on the dancefloor or behind the decks.
