The limelight for Tanya La Croix They ignited in 2001, when she qualified for the Miss Switzerland finals, a great springboard that allowed her to realize her childhood dream of becoming a model. Tall, blonde, beautiful, and with a statuesque physique, she had no difficulty taking her first steps on the runways and photo shoots. And once the flow of positive energy was well underway, it was not easy to stop it: in fact, shortly thereafter, a new perspective opened up in Tanja's life: "Thanks to a DJ friend of mine, I was catapulted into the world of turntables and mixing consoles, and suddenly a new world opened up before me that I was unfamiliar with, but which I was very attracted to. I was fascinated by all that technology, and especially by the way music could create and shape emotions. So I began to delve deeper, practicing alone for hours, trying to learn the various techniques. I began performing at small parties, a modest beginning but full of passion. And that's exactly how I laid the foundations for my adventure as a DJ."
From small parties, Tanja moved on to bigger stages, and her career saw a crescendo of appearances at clubs both in Switzerland and internationally. Then, in 2011, a major confirmation: "The Street Parade in Zurich asked me to become their ambassador and produce their anthem. It was a moment of enormous personal significance for me because it was the first time I felt my work was recognized and respected within the Swiss music industry, not just by the public but also by industry insiders."
The unstoppable Tanja La Croix then saw her career take off: her song "We Turn the World Around" reached the top of the international charts, and the artist realized she had connected with people not only through her live performances, but also musically. Armed with these accolades, Tanja knew once and for all that she was on the right path.
Getting into the heart of your work, how do you prepare your evening? Do you have a ready-made set list or do you improvise based on the audience?
I prepare very meticulously, often in coordination with my client. I respect their needs and preferences based on the type of event. For example, if I'm playing at a private party or a wedding, it's crucial to incorporate their personal requests. A well-curated musical set is essential for me because it sets the tone for the evening, but of course I always leave some room for improvisation: it's part of the magic of live performances. Generally, I spend two to four hours preparing a musical set: I download new music, update the playlist, and search for songs that are relevant to the event's theme.
Despite having been performing for years, the nerves before each event are never lacking, nor is the ambition to always give my best: a positive pressure that drives Tanja to make every party a special event: "Seeing people respond to my music, always being involved, sharing that energy with sincere gratitude is an indescribable feeling and a great reward for me."
In addition to music, Tanja also creates abstract art paintings that she often exhibits, and one of her dreams is to create a performance where music and visual art merge into one show.
But how do you find a balance between all the things you do?
"There are two sides to me: the creative and impulsive one that involves my nightlife, and the disciplined and responsible one that I have as an entrepreneur. They must remain balanced; if one side takes over, chaos ensues. Discipline is the key that holds everything together, and that's the most challenging part of my job."
From nightclubs with almost exclusively late-night performances, Tanja has changed her schedule to mainly corporate and private events, so as to no longer be so often busy at night staying out until the early hours.
I imagine it's a panacea for quality too. of your sleep and personal relationships…
"Exactly, this change has brought more structure to my life. For me, it's always been crucial to dedicate myself to the people I love, not in my spare time, but by specifically creating time to be with them. Relationships are a safe haven for my emotions and my source of energy."
Without ever having second thoughts about the path she took, after 20 years of career, Tanja is grateful every day for never giving up, even if it wasn't all easy in the beginning. The success she achieved is the most obvious part; the dedication and physical preparation to achieve it is something perhaps not everyone thinks about.
How do you prepare yourself to always be in shape?
I train often and have a very active lifestyle. I wake up early and go into nature whenever I can. One of my passions is hiking in the mountains. Movement is energy, and I also need it to manage my performances: a healthy and active lifestyle is a conscious choice and it's what keeps me strong in my profession.
And the same goes for her diet, which intuitively leans toward healthy foods. Growing up in a family where her mother always prepared fresh food, with lots of fish, vegetables, garlic, onions, olive oil, fresh herbs, nuts, and legumes, this eating style shaped Tanja's habits and continues to this day: "I don't miss anything; my body naturally knows what's best for me."
A multifaceted life in balance, and that's exactly what Tanja likes: being able to go from the console to her painting studio, designing her own clothes, creating music, writing articles for magazines, developing event concepts, and managing all aspects of her own marketing. Getting bored is definitely something very far from her nature."
And what about Ticino?
Ticino has been in my heart since I was little. I often came here with my parents, and I still love its sincerity, the enthusiasm of the people, the Mediterranean and Alpine style, the good food, the grottos. It's a region full of flavor, and it's also given me great joy professionally: I've played at the Locarno Film Festival, at the Vanilla nightclub in Riazzino, at the CSI in Ascona, and in many other magnificent venues. The energy of the Ticinese is absolutely contagious. It's so beautiful here that I feel like I'm on vacation every time.
To conclude our conversation, I asked Tanja what she saw in her future: "I still see myself as an artist, but more oriented towards visual art. And perhaps, who knows, there will be the opportunity to create something in fashion: I'd love to be able to express myself in this artistic form as well."
But the essential thing for our national DJ will always be to find the perfect balance between work and family, which must be a stimulus for each other, certainly not a competition.
