Ori The Ghost is a DJ and producer based in Minneapolis. A fixture of the underground electronic scene in the city, she is affiliated with local collectives PIVOT and Acme. Ori’s high-octane style is filled with left turns and kinetic, hand-sculpted grooves.

We chatted with Ori The Ghost about her background and intentions for the mix. Read a transcript of the interview, edited for length and clarity, below:

Where did your DJ name come from?

Not a great place, actually. I’ve always considered myself as someone who's usually on the outskirts of things. So much so that I felt like a ghost in a lot of spaces I was part of. I didn't feel like I was connected with a lot of people. These days, it's a lot different. But the origins of me also being an online person, playing a lot of video games, and having a lot of internet relationships made me feel almost like a transparent entity rather than a regular DJ. I also make stuff and produce things, so I felt like putting the word DJ in my name never made sense.

Has being a DJ helped you become more connected with people?

100% If it wasn't for DJing, I don't know where I would be creatively right now. I wouldn't have so many outlets in which to express my creativity, especially in the city. Without DJing, all these opportunities would just be left in my bedroom. DJing has brought the opportunity to let me share ideas that I have and a lot of the music that I love and have been collecting for a while. It’s been a wonderfully net positive.

What made you want to become a DJ?

The universe. I'm not a super spiritual kind of person, but I do believe in signs. I resisted the idea of being a DJ for a while because I just never made sense for what I was making at the time. Then I got an opportunity from the a local DJ here who gave me the idea to start, but I said no. DJing still wasn’t on my mind. They eventually asked again and I was ready at that point, but they had a big year and got busy, so my opportunity passed.

Eventually, I got a presented with the opportunity again by someone separate, Gerardo Morado. He's the head of the Acme Collective. He like, was like, “yo, I see you on the floor. I see you have a sense of rhythm, do you want to learn how to DJ?” I think at that point the universe was slapping me in the face. All signs point to doing this I was very blessed with the opportunity to have my hands on actual CDJs and XDJs. I feel like a lot of my growth came out of being given these opportunities.

What have been some of the most gratifying moments for you as a DJ?

People's responses. I get really scared, specifically when it comes to playing stranger rhythms, more abrasive sounds that I'll probably sprinkle in between some of the hardgroove that I really wanted to play today, because I'm scared of people's reactions to them.

Being from Iowa, a lot of people don’t even want to listen to regular dance music, let alone the more abrasive sounds. So, I felt very timid about sharing that with people, especially at shows. When I did, there were people who identified with wanting to hear these sounds and wanting to experience the dance floor with music that they listen to. I felt super gratified in the sense that what I'm doing is doing something for at least a few people, that's enough for me.

What do you have in store for us today?

I have a mixture of a few sounds. Hardgroove and a more a fast-paced 140 [BPM] feels right for this space and the legacy of what I hear on Carbon Sound, but also honoring the sounds that I really love and enjoy. I think hardgroove is a really good conduit for that… There will be a lot of different ideas in there that all have high-octane, metallic energy to them that I like to bring to most of my music and sets.

Follow Ori The Ghost on Instagram to stay up to date with her events.

Stay tuned for new mixes on Carbon Sound every other Wednesday. If you’re a DJ and want to be considered for the series, email a mix of yours to jgreen@mpr.org.

Track IDs

FKA twigs - Room Of Fools
Mark Broom - W.W.W.W.W.W.W.WORK (Original Mix)
MYKI -  AAA
BASSBEAR!! - Lil Scrappy Joint
Caru & Micca - JAYWALK
X CLUB. - Block Rockin
PHANTAZN - MISSED CALL
Recluse - Spark Trak
Funk Assault - Corporate Cages
DJ JM - Charge
INTIMATE CLUB RECORDS - Submarine FM - Cute Boys
Ori The Ghost - When Did It Get SAUR Hard (i think about it all the time edit)
WILHELMINA - Gongs of Death
Constantine -  I Want To Be Down Vs Boy Is Mine
Gaszia - Final Round
Dubbel Dutch -  High School Drums
XQZ ME - EXCUSE ME
DR. GABBA - Celestial Trash Collection
Mark Broom -  Paid In Full (Mark Broom Edit)
Maccari - Stardust Rhythm (Original Mix)
Ori The Ghost -  BOOTS