“what are you doing auntie Maggie?”

And so begins Maggie Tra’s Lazydaze mix, with a question posed by her inquisitive niece. A Sydney based DJ and producer, Maggie’s music is imbued with a hint of sweet and a dash of spice, drawing on the traditional sounds of her Khmer and Vietnamese background.

In the lead up to her first ambient live performance in Darlinghurst on July 2, Maggie veers into ambient electronica territory on Lazydaze #52, paying homage to some of her favourite Asian producers interspersed with her own original productions.

Could you please tell us a little bit about your journey into music? How did the music bug bite you and when did that lead to DJing? I first started just being a music lover, mostly of old school hip hop. Eventually I got to meet promoters and artists and from there I started a music blog. That’s really how it all started. I started DJing about four years ago now. For me I felt ready - I didn’t want to be behind the music scene anymore. 

You recently travelled to your heritage country of Vietnam. How was the trip and what did you get up to? Vietnam is always a lovely and grounded time for me. It’s nice to see the music scene growing there. I went to DJ and to make some music for my upcoming second album Very Vui, which is slated for release in August. 

How did you decide to approach your Lazydaze mix? Was there a concept behind it? I wanted to include Asian music producers and set a very ambient and chill tone. What I’ve learnt recently is that we’re constantly riding and falling in life. This mix was me capturing a new beginning. 

Are there any favourite tracks or moments in there for you? I love the Vietnamese producers Jodeyiam and Lý Trang. I love the sounds they make - it’s very different but at the same time also very relatable. 

What have been some of your favourite live music experiences so far this year? Most of them have been with DJ sets lately, but I did just see a hip hop gig - The Pharcyde with Masta Ace and Marco Polo - which was great. Reconnecting to my love of hip hop felt very full circle. 

It’s a chilled Sunday afternoon at home. What album are you reaching for? I’m a sucker for James Blake’s Friends That Break Your Heart. It puts me in the feels and makes me feel less alone. 

What can we expect from Maggie Tra for the remainder of 2023? Any exciting gigs or projects lined up? I have my album dropping in August followed by an Asia tour. I’m really pushing lots of live music production gigs, so keen to do them and play some solid gigs around Sydney and beyond. 

You can check out the full tracklist for Maggie’s mix over at SoundCloud.