Carina Lawrence crafts a diverse progressive set filled with story…
Carina Lawrence is a Melbourne-born DJ and producer now based in London, where she has become a steady presence in the city’s underground electronic scene. Her sets draw on melodic elements, tribal-leaning rhythms, and a wide range of influences, shaped by a careful and considered approach to building atmosphere.
Her debut solo release, No Quit, on Mobilee’s Zoom Vol.1 received support from established names including Sasha, John Digweed, and Yotto, while her follow-up EP, Love Language, on TalkTalk Records reached the top ten of Beatport’s indie dance Hype chart shortly after its release. With upcoming shows that include a slot at Balance Croatia in 2026, she continues to develop her sound and presence on dance floors in the UK and beyond.
For her Balance Selections mix, the Australian ex-pat showcases a diverse sound rooted in progressive influences. Featuring tracks from Enamour, Budakid, Ezequiel Arias, and more, this 90-minute mix offers a thoughtfully crafted journey through her melodic world.
Tracklist
- Barker – Paradise Engineering {Ostgut Ton}
- Paul Fakos – Sirens {Vapour Recordings}
- Budakid – A Conscious Distortion {Flores}
- Enamour – Imagination Sequence {Rebellion}
- Rich Curtis – Don’t Throw That Away, I’ll Eat It {Plastic Fantastic Records}
- M.O.S – Nanda {Mango Alley}
- Simos Tagias – Melted Pot {Movement Recordings}
- Made By Pete & Just Her – The Tide (Jody Barr Remix) {The SoundGarden}
- Chambord – Mondovision {Around Midnight}
- Dave Seaman – Two By Two (Alican Remix) {Selador}
- Jeremy Olander – Gator {Vivrant}
- Gai Barone & Luke Brancaccio – Freelove {Bedrock Records}
- Ezequiel Arias – Delirio {Anjunadeep}
- Amandra – Linale (Antigone Remix) {Obscura Music}
- Carina Lawrence – Enigma {TalkTalk Records}
- The Grid – Floatation (Made By Pete Remix) {Skint Records}
- Syntra (UK) – ID
- Martinou – Hold Then Release {Fauxpas Musik}
Name: Carina Lawrence
Location: Currently living in London, originally from Melbourne
Alias/Producer name: Carina Lawrence
Labels affiliated with: Mobilee, TalkTalk Records
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From a very young age, I grew up listening to jazz music. My grandfather would always have it playing in the car when he drove me to school or around Melbourne, and that’s definitely what sparked my interest in learning the clarinet, which I played for seven years.
I also distinctly remember my dad playing the Buena Vista Social Club albums on CD and vinyl, and to this day I still listen to their music while I work or to help me relax. I also can’t go past the classics—Australian icon John Farnham, as well as Lionel Richie and The Bee Gees.
Videos of their concerts were constantly playing in the background at home every weekend.
The first time I heard electronic music was through the Ministry of Sound – The Annual compilation CDs. I remember pumping them every summer with my brothers and friends.
We’d drive around with the music blasting, and those tracks became the anthems of many summer pool parties. That’s when I really fell in love with electronic music.
The first time I saw a DJ play in a club was when I was about 16 or 17. Yes, I had a fake ID… We went to a few clubs in Melbourne, but I think the first one was a place called QBar.
From there, we also went out to venues like Boutique and Seven—ironically, those were the first clubs I ended up DJing at when I was around 19. Back then, we were mostly listening to EDM and RnB.
I’m inspired by so many producers and DJs, and I feel that really comes through in my sets. I don’t like being boxed into one specific genre—I’m all about playing whatever track feels right in the moment.
Right now, a few of my biggest inspirations are Patrice Bäumel, both for his productions and his DJ sets, and John Digweed, whose sets I’ve always admired. I love the way they create groove and atmospheric moments, and how their sets just keep rolling—you completely lose yourself in the music.
Carl Cox is also someone I really look up to. He has the best energy behind the decks, he’s incredibly versatile, and he always has the crowd in the palm of his hand. I think I’ve seen him play around 15 times, and every single time feels like the first.
Lately, I’ve also been loving the music coming from Meera and Made By Pete—probably over the past two years. There’s rarely a set where I don’t play at least one of their records. Honestly, there are too many inspirations to name. I’m constantly influenced by the people I see playing out.
I haven’t downloaded or purchased a full album in quite a while! Off the top of my head, I know I have the full Above & Beyond album We Are All We Need. But the last EP I purchased was Love Is A Glitch by Butch on Permanent Vacation.
My studio setup at home is pretty minimal. I use Logic on my laptop, along with an M-Audio MIDI keyboard that I love to mess around on, studio headphones, and KRK Rokit 5 speakers. For production, I mostly work directly from my laptop, using many of Logic’s stock plug-ins.
In terms of my DJ setup, I currently have a Pioneer XDJ-RX. Back in Melbourne, I had my CDJ-900s for almost ten years, but they were too much to bring over.
I’m usually based in London, but next month I’m travelling to Sri Lanka to play a show at The Secret Pearl, which I’m super excited for! I had the opportunity to play there back in March this year and the vibes were unreal. They truly love their progressive music, and I can’t wait to go back.
After Sri Lanka, I’ll be heading home to Melbourne, where I’ll be playing a few shows, including at my favourite venue, Revolver. Over the next few days, I’ll also be announcing some London shows with Simon Doty and Nora En Pure, plus I’ll be performing at Anjunadeep Explorations in Albania in June, and of course, Balance Croatia in August!
With every mix I create or set I play, I always aim to take the listener on a journey and create a story. That approach lets me experiment with different moods, genres, and styles—which I love—because I enjoy such a wide range of music. The challenge, of course, is making it all sound cohesive.
For my Balance Selections mix, I’ve kept it true to my groovy style while leaning into my progressive side as well. Some standout tracks in the mix are Nanda by M.O.S (a secret banger), Gator by Jeremy Olander—this track really takes me places and is perfect for kicking a set into gear—and the beautiful wind-down track from Martinou, who has become one of my recent favourites.
The mix took a few days to plan, but it was recorded in one take, live on CDJs at home, accompanied by a few glasses of vino! I really hope you enjoy it ☺
Mission Impossible – The Final Reckoning. This was the last movie I saw in the cinemas and it was very entertaining despite some of the cheesy lines! Also, the fact that Tom Cruise does most of his stunts is wild!
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Safari in Madikwe – South Africa. There are no holidays like a Safari, one of the most incredible experiences I’ve ever had.
