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Artist Profile: La Fleur

ARTIST PROFILE
ADD TO READING LIST WRITTEN BY STEVE RICKINSON

La Fleur, known offstage as Sanna Engdahl, is a Swedish DJ and producer whose style merges technical mastery with raw emotional pull. It is a style that has brought her around the world, and on Saturday, November 9, she joins Room 1 of Control, alongside Julia Govor (US) and Chlroys (RO). 

Born in Örebro, Sweden, her relationship with music started early, blossoming through mixtapes and ballet. As a young girl, La Fleur studied piano and flute alongside dance, creating a foundation in rhythm and melody that infused every track she touched. These early artistic pursuits taught her a precision and fluidity that later became her trademarks as she moved from classical music to electronic.

Saturday, November 9, 2024

NIGHTS HOUSETECHNO

ctrl NIGHTS: Julia Govor [USA], La Fleur [SE], Chlorys

MORE INFO

Although La Fleur was initially trained in pharmacology—a skill she would utilize during the pandemic at the emergency hospitals in Stockholm—she found her true calling in Stockholm's club scene. Performing at venues like Berns and Grodan Cocktail Club, she would shape her sound and refine her mixin, paralleling the precision necessary in the laboratory. But it wasn’t until she moved to Berlin that her career truly took off. In 2010, she launched her label, Power Plant Records, a collaborative space where artists could bring music, art, fashion, and environmental sustainability together under the ethos of an “organic and constantly growing foundation." Power Plant’s debut release, Flowerhead EP, immediately struck a chord.

Over time, La Fleur attracted notable collaborators, including remixes by legends Carl Craig, Man Power, Dana Ruh and Kenny Larkin and a collaboration with Sasha on the Förbindelse EP (2018; Last Night on Earth)—named an "Essential New Tune" by Pete Tong. Her own remix discography includes names like Damian Lazarus & The Ancient Moons, Francesca Lombardo, Adana Twins, Jey Lumen, and more.

Aside from her imprint, La Fleur has also featured her sound across various labels, including Kompakt, Cocoon, Truesoul, and Watergate—a club hosting her regularly—all of which highlight her capacity to straddle classic and innovative elements within techno and house. This month, La Fleur released her debut album, Väsen—meaning “essence” or “spirit” in Swedish—on PIAS Électronique. Now back in Sweden, she channeled Swedish folklore and naturalism elements, creating an album reflecting the cultural heritage and introspection. Singles like Chian, with its hypnotic arpeggios, and Plastic Miami, which hints at Kraftwerk, reveal her knack for physically and mentally engaging soundscapes. With its range of styles and moods, Väsen invites listeners on both a dancefloor adventure and an intimate personal journey.

Beyond the studio, La Fleur is known for electric performances, which combine her classical training with an instinctual sense of rhythm. Her sets have taken her from Amnesia Ibiza to London’s Printworks and fabric to Brazil's Warung and major festivals like Sonar, Creamfields, Ultra, Drumcode Festival, Tomorrowland Melt, and Awakenings. Her 2018 Essential Mix on BBC Radio 1 drew widespread acclaim, with Mixmag naming her a Breakthrough DJ.

La Fleur’s success lies in her ability to balance infectious energy and meticulous skill with creative freedom. Her Scandinavian roots, scientific training, and emotional depth converge throughout her work, making her one who honors tradition while also pushing boundaries. In a world constantly in flux, La Fleur remains a consistent, distinctive presence.