Cynthia Spiering is a new school star who fell in love with techno when she worked at the notorious Rotterdam club Perron when she was 18. Pioneers like Jeff Mills and Octave One shaped her understanding of the craft and inspired her to take up DJing, and she made her debut in 2016. Since then, she has carved out a reputation for sets that balance euphoria with uncompromising kick drums, drawing on classic rave and acid influences while keeping her sound firmly forward-thinking.

Beyond the booth, Spiering founded her own label and event series, Courtoisy Records, in 2019, a platform that champions both local talent and adventurous bookings. Here we speak to her about that, her love of rave, the importance of representation and plenty more.