Berlin producer and DJ Khira Li says that she grew up surrounded by music.
"My father was a passionate music writer, and from an early age he introduced me to his creative world," she says. "I watched songs go through countless stages of development, often ending up surprisingly close to where they started. That process taught me something valuable very early on: sometimes you have to let go of ideas you personally love if they don’t serve the bigger picture."
"That fascination is what got me into producing," she continues. "At first it was just curiosity—I wanted to understand how music is built—but over time it became much more. The more I learned and experimented, the more I wanted to find my own sound. DJing came naturally after that because I wanted to share the music I was making and experience it with people on the dancefloor. Somewhere along the way, it stopped being a hobby and became something I knew I wanted to dedicate myself to."
The artist describes her sound as hypnotic, emotional and powerful.
"I love blending hypnotic vocals, shimmering synths and driving techno with a strong sense of feminine energy," Li says. "I want my music to pull people in, make them feel something, and completely lose themselves for a little."
Li's latest release is the "Like Me" track, from the Exhale VA008 comp.
"With 'Like Me,' I wanted to go deeper into sound design and create something that feels raw but still emotional," she says. }It blends classic techno elements with gritty synths, driving rhythms and a powerful, techy energy. The vocal line, 'They won’t be like me,' is my own voice, and it comes from a very personal place. Growing up, I often felt like an outsider. I was more introverted and always felt more comfortable doing my own thing than trying to fit in. Looking back, I think that’s become one of my biggest strengths. Like Me is really about embracing that—turning the feeling of not fitting in into confidence, authenticity and your own kind of power."
As for gear: "I’m obsessed with my ATC speakers. I honestly don’t think I could produce anywhere else anymore—they’ve completely spoiled me. I also love old-school synths. There’s just something about them that feels alive. And… I’m still scared to update from Logic 10 to Logic 12. Maybe one day, but not today."
Looking ahead, Li has plenty planned for the second half of 2026.
"My team and I are currently working on an India tour, which I’m really excited about, and I’ve got more music coming over the next few months," she says. "There’s one track in particular that’s very special to me, and I already have a clear vision for turning it into a film. I love the idea of creating a visual world around the music and telling a bigger story through it."
Photo credit: ©TobiasOrtmann12
