Performance in Science and Music: How DJ-ing Complements a PhD

Below, Andrey Sysoev tells us about his musical passion and his DJ-ing story. From the spark that started his journey as a DJ, to evolving musical styles, the parallels to the world of science, and the novelty of playing at an MPIB Happy Hour.

Hi Andrey! Could you briefly introduce yourself and tell us what you do?

Yes, of course. I’m originally from Russia, specifically from Siberia. Right now, I’m a PhD student in the International Max Planck School Matter to Life (MPS MtL). I’m working in the lab of Petra Schwille, and my research focuses on combining protein design with bottom-up synthetic biology — basically, I’m trying to understand how different biophysical phenomena can arise from protein structure and protein interactions, and understanding those functions across different scales.

When you’re not in the lab, you’re quite involved in the music scene and you like to DJ. Was there a specific event that got you into DJ-ing as a hobby?

There are actually two connected parts to this: how I got interested in electronic dance music in general, and then how I got interested in actually playing the tracks myself.

I got into this type of music when I moved to Heidelberg to do my master’s. Before that, I was living in Dortmund, and honestly, I felt a bit lonely and depressed there. So when I moved to Heidelberg, I was incredibly excited to suddenly be around so many students and international, like-minded people. I immediately connected with a group of friends who suggested we go to a techno party. Before this, I played guitar and listened to rock and jazz, but I was always skeptical of techno — I used to think, “What is this German music, just a lot of noise?”

But then we went to this local event at a strange, niche villa outside of Heidelberg, and it was a revelation. It was this perfect combination of techno and a genuine community event. It wasn’t about looking cool; it was just people taking care of and being respectful towards each other. The room was completely dark, and people were just standing in lines, vibing by themselves to the music. No one was staring at you or trying to pick anyone up. It was a completely safe space where you could just find your spot and dance freely like a child. I was immediately hooked by that feeling of connection and excitement. After that, going to techno parties was like going to the gym for us — we would go jumping and dancing for the entire night, every Friday or Saturday, traveling to places like Mannheim, Karlsruhe, and Stuttgart just to experience the scene.

So how did that translate to you wanting to become a DJ yourself? 

That happened about three or four months later. I wanted to go out one night, but my friends weren’t in the city, and I didn’t have much money to spend on a club ticket. I looked around for something free and found this “Open Decks” event. It’s basically an open stage for the local DJ community at a small bar venue. There’s no set lineup — anyone who wants to play can just show up and get a 30 to 45-minute slot. It’s a place for newcomers to test the waters and get feedback.

I just went there to chill and listen. At one point, I was dancing next to a guy and we got into a random chat. He was a music therapist who also DJs. We started talking and hit it off. I don’t remember exactly when, but at some point he noticed that I really got a kick out of music and dancing, and suggested I try my hand at DJ-ing. His reasoning was that this way, I’d be able to better understand what other DJs do and get even more enjoyment out of music events. He invited me to try out his DJ equipment and I got into it right away. After that, I started going to “Open Decks” events regularly, taking every chance I got to practice and to get feedback from the crowd. At the same time, I gradually spent more time with a group of DJ friends who organised their own music events and went to raves less frequently but rather to specific ones to hear how a certain DJ is playing, for example.

What kind of music are you drawn to playing now? Has your style evolved since you started? And do you think there is a perfect set that a DJ can play?

Initially, I started with Speedhouse and Hardgroove (for reference, check out my first recorded set: https://on.soundcloud.com/6XKRNIoxB9X3elWdn0). I think it’s because this music instantly makes you want to move and twist; it’s very swingy, chaotic, and organic. Hardgroove particularly is very characteristic — it creates this massive wall of sound filled with percussive instruments. In the beginning, I also listened to a lot of trashy tracks because you could get this music for free. In these tracks, producers often used mashups of hip-hop or vocal samples over the beat and made a dance track to it. These tracks might be hilarious, but sometimes they can bring incredible energy to a room.

More recently, as I’ve gained more experience and became more picky, I’ve started moving toward something a bit more elegant and minimal. I still enjoy Hardgroove very much, but Minimal Techno and Dub Techno have this beautiful, raw simplicity. I’ve also started playing House music, especially since moving to Munich. House is great for warm-up slots (which you get more often as a beginner DJ) because it has a lower BPM and a much more relaxed, welcoming vibe while people are just arriving and settling in. And I would say the perfect set really depends on the environment, the venue, and the mood of the crowd. This is something you learn when you become a DJ, you start to think about settings in which a particular track would work well, and then, when playing a live set, you try to pick the right tracks at the right moments and adjust on the fly by “reading” the crowd. It should be a nonverbal dialog between the DJ and the crowd and the quality of the set for me depends on this connection.

Do you feel like you are a different person when you’re in the lab versus when you’re DJ-ing? And do you have an “ultimate goal” as a DJ?

Not at all; I think I’m very much the same person. The traits that make me a good scientist are the same ones that help me enjoy DJ-ing. They satisfy similar needs. Being a scientist involves performing and being public a lot: giving presentations, speaking at conferences, trying to get people hyped about your research. DJ-ing is also about capturing and holding people’s attention, and about being receptive to their feedback to what you’re playing at every moment. And both give you a ticket into a bit of an isolated, exclusive world, which I enjoy.

But I’m also not pushing it, I don’t want to become a world wide-known DJ. I’m doing it because it’s fun and connects me with a lot of good people. But I would be happy if I could eventually play at a big venue, like BLITZ here in Munich, or RSO.BERLIN. Not for the fame, just because I think that would be an incredibly cool experience. Even more so because I think I already have the skills to do it. Since it’s more about being known and getting invited, DJ-ing is a lot about self-marketing — that’s a lot of work. And I don’t want to advertise myself in that way. I just want to go with the flow and take opportunities that are thrown my way.

Do people in your lab and at our institute [MPIB] know that you’re DJ-ing?

I don’t know how many people know about it, but I played at the last Christmas Party and I was recently playing at a Happy Hour here at the institute. I also advertised a gig a friend of mine and I had at the TAM TAM Treppenbar.

Playing at the Happy Hour was fun but also a bit of a strange experience, because what I was doing there was a completely different kind of DJ-ing. Unlike at a club, music isn’t the main focus — it serves more as background noise for socializing.  And in this case, people want to listen to music that they know — it does not necessarily push them to dance, but rather makes them feel comfortable. Nevertheless, as a DJ you still have to try to catch the vibe, listen to people’s feedback and play what people  want to hear. It is just harder, because it’s not all about dancing and experiencing new edges of music.

Opposed to that, as a DJ, you’re usually invited to play at a venue because your sound fits the venue, and the people go there because they’re open to hearing something new from you. At the Happy Hour, toward the end of the night, I also transitioned to playing some music that I really like, and the people that were still there actually really enjoyed it. It’s a pity that you can’t always play this kind of music during the main event, but the end of the night is perfect for it. So, my advice is: just stay for the end of the Happy Hour to listen to the good stuff, or come out to my events! Next one on Friday 29.05 May, again at TAM TAM Treppenbar.

Check out Andrey (syssndr) on SoundCloud! 
https://soundcloud.com/syssndr