Energizing dance floors with bass and tech house

Ana (performing as AZA) is a Ukrainian, Portland-based DJ and emerging music producer with a background in classical music. Born and raised in Ukraine, she studied piano, music theory, music literature, and sang in choir at one of Kyiv's music schools for eight years, graduating in 2014. After moving to the United States with her family in 2016, she continued singing in her high school choir, although at the time she did not plan to pursue music as a career. Instead, her original goal was to become a concert videographer.

Discovering the electronic music community became an important turning point in her life. In March 2019, she attended her first electronic music event, Lucky at the Tacoma Dome in Seattle. Inspired by the experience, she began attending more shows, exploring different genres, meeting new people, and building connections within the electronic music community.

When the COVID-19 pandemic brought live events and social gatherings to a halt in 2020, Ana began teaching herself how to DJ from home. What started as a way to stay connected to music during isolation quickly developed into a passion. She began recording mixes for fun and sharing them on SoundCloud. As live events returned, friends in Portland began organizing gatherings focused on rebuilding community, leading to her first official DJ gig at Club Lavender Lotus (formerly known as Detour) in the summer of 2021.

Since then, Ana has performed at more than 60 shows, progressing from small local clubs to established venues including Realm, 45 East, Wonderlove, Departure, and Holocene. She has had the opportunity to open for artists like Walker & Royce, Max Styler, Sonny Fodera, JOYRYDE, Angrybaby, Sickick, San Pacho, FOVOS, and TSHA. Most recently, she performed a direct support set for KREWELLA at 45 East on September 26, 2026.

Her sets are primarily rooted in house music while incorporating elements of Brazilian funk, techno, drum & bass, and dubstep. Her background as a classically trained pianist influenced her approach to rhythm, musicality, and performance, but community has been just as important to her development as an artist. Ana has been working with Circuit, a Portland-based community dedicated to supporting and uplifting local artists, which has given her opportunities to collaborate, build connections, and contribute to the local electronic music scene. Collaborating with passionate people in the industry has reinforced her belief that the electronic music community is at its best when artists support one another and create opportunities to grow together.

Currently, Ana is expanding her work beyond DJing into music production, with the long-term goal of producing and performing her own original music at festivals around the world. She hopes to combine her music with visual art and collaborate with a strong production team to create immersive live experiences. One of her upcoming goals is to perform at the next Beyond Wonderland festival at the Gorge while continuing to grow as an artist within the electronic music community.