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The past few years have marked not only new musical chapters for Emanuel Satie but also profound transformations in many other areas of his life. Moving from Berlin to Lisbon, founding the collective Scenarios, and the birth of his first child have all deeply influenced both his life and his art, while his international reach has continued to grow. Already in 2016, Emanuel was named “Best Producer” at the Ibiza DJ Awards. Since then, he has found a home on labels such as Innervisions, Crosstown Rebels, Diynamic, and Cocoon Recordings, as well as on stages like Hï Ibiza, Burning Man, and Fabric. Today, he is considered one of the key voices of a generation that blends melodic house with emotional depth and global appeal, proving that artistic success and personal reinvention don’t have to be mutually exclusive.
“It’s more of a feeling now. When a track moves me emotionally or physically, when I can play it in my sets and it works there – that’s when I know: this is an Emanuel Satie track,” he says about his creative process. “Of course, I have some trademark sounds – piano chords and Roland Juno synths – but it’s really more about the feeling: uplifting, driving, and emotional.”
New releases are lined up on several major labels in the coming months, though they do differ from what appears on his own imprint. “With Scenarios, we do exactly what we feel like in the moment – completely without compromise. Over time, we’ve created our own distinctive sound: timeless elements combined with a modern touch, which we call ‘futuristic house music.’ When I produce for another label, like Cocoon or Defected, I don’t change who I am, but I keep the label’s history and vision in mind and let that inspire me. Sometimes, though, those influences just happen by chance and completely unexpectedly.” His bond with Cocoon remains especially emotional and deeply rooted in his musical biography. “For me, Sven Väth and Cocoon are the reason I became a DJ and producer in the first place. It all started with a mix CD by Sven that my brother brought home – that sound completely fascinated me and was unlike anything I had ever heard. After that, I spent countless nights at the Cocoon Club and eventually even interned at Cocoon Recordings, where I learned a lot about how the industry works. That’s why working with Sven and Cocoon still feels so special to me – and it always will.”
With the founding of Scenarios, together with Maga, Tim Engelhardt, and Sean Doron, Emanuel created a platform that goes far beyond the concept of a traditional label. “Scenarios was about creating something that puts teamwork over ego. Every track we make is a collaboration, our DJ sets are all back-to-backs, and we make every decision together. It was a natural consequence of the isolation during the pandemic – and it’s proven to be the right move. Our last seven releases all entered the Beatport Top 10. Keinemusik, Black Coffee, Rüfüs Du Sol, and many of the biggest names in the scene play our tracks, and our showcases are booked worldwide. You can simply achieve so much more as a team – and it’s a lot more fun, too.”
Emanuel describes the group’s internal dynamic as something that has evolved naturally: “Everyone has found their role by now, and we try to use each person’s strengths in the best possible way. Maga and I both live in Lisbon and work together in the studio every week. Tim and Sean work remotely on tracks and provide invaluable input. We talk to each other every day – the group chat is definitely buzzing from morning till night.”
Not only teamwork but also traveling serves as a major source of inspiration for Emanuel. His tour schedule has taken him to a wide range of places around the world in recent years – from Burning Man in the Nevada desert to Warung in Brazil, from London’s Fabric to Pacha in Ibiza. “You learn what kind of music truly connects with people on a universal level. Over time, you develop a sound that works globally. In the beginning, my music was still quite influenced by a German or Central European perspective – those are still my roots – but with time, you understand how to translate that into other contexts. In general, traveling is a big inspiration for me. I make a lot of music on planes and in hotel rooms.”
Another defining change in his life has been becoming a father: “Yes, that was truly a life-changing moment. Nothing really surprised me, because I consciously tried not to have too many expectations. I wanted to stay open to whatever came and adapt to it as it happened. But the love you feel for this new little person is just unimaginable. And I’m definitely more motivated than ever. Suddenly, I’m not just making music for myself anymore, but also for my little family.”
His living environment has also changed dramatically. He moved from Berlin to Portugal: “Berlin was an incredible school for me. The city gives you the freedom to figure out who you really are without much social pressure. That was very important for me, but at some point, that chapter of self-discovery came to an end, and I started craving more sun, a new culture, and fresh inspiration. Originally, I wanted to move to Ibiza, but since we had our Scenarios studio with Maga in Lisbon, I was already there a lot – and then I fell in love with the city, and with a woman who’s now the mother of my child. Everything happened very organically. Lisbon welcomed me with open arms.”
This new lightness is also reflected in his music: “I’d say my music has become less cerebral again. Berlin, over time, kind of made me more uptight. There’s a strong expectation there to be arty and underground. That pushed me at times, but overall, it held me back. Now, I just make what I like and what moves me – and I couldn’t care less about what some self-proclaimed tastemakers might think. It’s been really good for my music and my productivity, and I’m having a lot more fun in the studio again.”
There’s no shortage of upcoming projects: “I’m really looking forward to my next release on Cocoon, which is coming out soon. The track is called ‘Activate,’ and Sven’s already been playing it non-stop. My single ‘Give It All’ will be out on Defected at the end of this year – it’s a gospel house-inspired track, followed by another Defected release, my remix of Grigoré & SERVECOLD’s ‘Dancing.’ And of course, there’ll be plenty of new Scenarios releases as well. As for shows, I’ll be playing in New York, London, Ibiza, Barcelona, Brazil, Thailand, and many other places over the next few months.”
With his family, a creative home in Lisbon, a strong collective by his side, and an international career that continues to gain momentum, Emanuel Satie seems more grounded than ever. Perhaps it’s precisely this mix of experience, stability, and openness that makes his music so special today: uplifting, driving, and emotional – just as he describes it himself.
From FAZEmag 164/10.2025
Text: Triple P
Photo: Arianne Amores
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