Name: Gabriela Sinclair-Desgagné aka Sinca
Occupation: Producer
Nationality: Canadian
Recent release: Sinca's remix of John Digweed's "Santiago" is out July 19th 2024 via Bedrock. She will also perform at Birgit Club in Berlin on July 20th. Catch her live here:



Recommendations on the topic of sound: I really enjoyed a very interesting episode of Netflix’s show “Explained” on music. It was released a few years ago, but the full episode is available on YouTube. It’s very interesting yet digestible content on this beautiful topic.

[Read our John Digweed interview]

If you enjoyed this Sinca interview and would like to know more about upcoming releases and live dates, visit her on Instagram, Facebook, and Soundcloud.



When I listen to music, I see shapes, objects, and colors. What happens in your body when you're listening? Do you listen with your eyes open or closed?

That’s very interesting because, for me, I don’t necessarily see things. I feel emotions like nostalgia, hope, and motivation. I’m a deeply emotional person, and my emotions have driven me in many ways throughout my life.

This is also my motivator when creating songs or building sets. I’m always trying to evoke some kind of emotion or ensure the tracks will build memories. That’s why I’m often drawn to melodic sounds.

Quick story: I remember when I played in Seattle a few months ago, someone came up to me after the set, congratulated me, and told me how my song “Mancora” somehow saved him during very difficult moments.



This is one of the best compliments I've ever heard.

How do listening with headphones and listening through a stereo system change your experience of sound and music?

Headphones are a great way for me to enjoy music without being distracted by other noises in my environment. It becomes a very intimate experience with the music, it’s really just your bubble. They also help me stay focused when working on my computer. For instance, while answering these questions, I’m listening to a great set from Eelke Kleijn, an artist I really like, in my headphones.

[Read our Eelke Kleijn interview]

With a stereo system, the experience becomes more communal. You're sharing the sound with others or blending it with the ambient noises of your environment. This shared experience can add another layer of enjoyment, making the music feel more alive and integrated into your surroundings.

Tell me about some of the albums or artists that you love specifically for their sound.

There are so many artists I love, and my taste is quite eclectic. I gravitate towards the broad 'house' genre but enjoy navigating between indie, deep, even tech house, and melodic techno.

Recently, I’ve been really enjoying productions from Eli & Fur, Adam Ten, Durante, and Rodriguez Jr. They consistently release high-quality tracks.



[Read our Rodriguez Jr. interview]
[Read our Rodriguez Jr. & Liset Alea interview]

Do you experience strong emotional responses towards certain sounds? If so, what kind of sounds are these and do you have an explanation about the reasons for these responses?

Classical music always gives me the most shivers and emotions. I can literally cry at a classical concert or a ballet show.

In terms of electronic music, I’m really moved by vocals. I don’t always include a lot of vocals in my songs, but there’s always something because vocals are very relatable, and you can feel immediate emotions from a tone, word, or note.

Sustained synths, like pads or bass, also create a strong emotional momentum for me. My song 'Printemps' is a good example, in my opinion.



There can be sounds that feel highly irritating to us, and then there are others we could gladly listen to for hours. Do you have examples for either one or both of these?

I can definitely listen to old-school happy house music for a long time.

But, I can’t listen to dark techno for too long. Being very emotional, I find that listening to dark techno for a long time brings out negative emotions like anxiety, stress, and sadness. It’s almost like experiencing a bad trip ...

Are there everyday places, spaces, or devices which intrigue you by the way they sound? Which are these?

I find a lot of peace in putting my head underwater, whether in a pool or even better, in the ocean.

As a highly sensitive person, the calm and slow sounds underwater are very therapeutic.

What are among your favorite spaces to record and play your music?

As a producer mainly working on my computer, I’ve created tracks in many places. But I feel most inspired when there are no distractions and when there’s sunlight. Sunlight gives me motivation and inspiration. But once I’m in the zone, I can work on a track for hours, even until 3 in the morning.

I don’t think I could be very productive if I were to produce every day in a closed studio with no natural light.

Do music and sound feel “material” to you? Does working with sound feel like you're sculpting or shaping something?

I can understand how someone would feel that way. For example, we use the term “sound design” which involves shaping something concrete. But for me, it all comes down to emotions and intuition.

Many producers are very technical, but in my case I usually let my feelings take over. I’ve learned a lot from more technically minded producer friends, but sometimes you just have to ask, “Does this sound good?” If the answer is yes, keep going. If not, remove it, regardless of how technically good it is.


Sinca Interview Image (c) the artist

How important is sound for our overall well-being, and to what extent do you feel the "acoustic health" of a society or environment reflects its overall health?

Music is an integral part of many people’s lives, not just those in the music industry. While music is important, it’s become overly abundant in my opinion. With new music constantly being released and more accessible than ever, people consume it quickly, and then discard it quickly too.

We hear music everywhere we go, which has made it somewhat mundane. I sometimes worry that people will become indifferent to music in the long term.

Tinnitus and developing hyperacusis are very real risks for anyone working with sound. Do you take precautions in this regard, and if you're suffering from these or similar issues, how do you cope with them?

I definitely wear earplugs as much as possible when the music is loud. My hearing has decreased a bit since working more in the music field, but I’m hoping it won’t worsen.

There’s no cure for hearing loss at the moment, and it would be so sad to lose that ability.

We can surround ourselves with sound every second of the day. The great pianist Glenn Gould even considered this the ultimate delight. How do you see that yourself, and what importance does silence hold?

I think silence is super important. With the abundance of sound all the time, silence provides the peace needed for mental health and creativity. It also makes you appreciate music more when it plays.

It’s all about balance.

Seth S. Horowitz called hearing the “universal sense” and emphasized that it was more precise and faster than any of our other senses, including vision. How would our world be different if we paid less attention to looks and listened more instead?

Both hearing and sight are super important, but hearing brings me the most emotions.

I can appreciate beautiful art and landscapes, but music, a voice, or a sound moves me much more.