Two Souls, One Sound: MASOUL’s Journey from Ukraine to the Global Stage.

Today we bring you MASOUL, the Ukraine-born DJ duo founded by Asia and Kristina, in a warm, candid chat about their passion for music, how their partnership began, and the realities of life on stage.

Let’s listen to them in their own words and energy.

AWL : Could you introduce yourselves and share the origin story of MASOUL? How did you meet, and what values guided you as you launched the project?

Hey there, we’re Asia and Kristina, dj duo MASOUL. We’re both originally from our beautiful homeland, Ukraine.

MASOUL : We first met about 15 years ago in Dnipro, though honestly, the exact moment is a bit of a blur—probably because we were too busy living life back then! We stayed close friends for nearly a decade before music entered the picture. Kristina has always been tied to the arts; she was a professional dancer from a young age, hitting the stage as a kid for school events, singing and grooving like it was her superpower.

Me (Asia), on the other hand? Let’s just say I was on a wild exploration tour of careers and passions. My friends even nicknamed me the “Intuition Show”—as in, “Guess who Asia is today?” I’ve tried doing different things and wanted to find something that truly feels like mine. It was chaotic, but fun!

Fast forward about ten years, and we’re chilling at this cozy café in Dnipro called “Skver.” A DJ named Adel is spinning an electronic set, and Kristina? She jumps up and starts dancing like no one’s watching—literally the only one in the place! Everyone else is sipping coffee, and there’s Kristina, lost in the music, not giving a single care. That spark hit her hard; she decided right then she wanted to be a DJ, to share that kind of energy and her killer taste in tunes with the world.

Adel ended up teaching Kristina the ropes of mixing, and her DJ adventure kicked off. I showed up to her very first gig at that same spot, got totally hooked on the vibe she created, and thought, “Why not me too?” So I dove in headfirst. And it was love — just me and the music. 

Later, I floated the idea of teaming up as a duo, but Kristina was all about going solo at first—fair enough, she’s got that independent streak! Things shifted when a friend invited us to play a back-to-back set at his birthday bash in a Zaporizhzhia club. Prepping for that, we felt this insane magic click into place. Music wasn’t just a hobby; it was the glue that bonded us on a deeper level.

The name MASOUL? It hit us while strolling along a sunny beach in Odesa, brainstorming what to call our project. We kept calling each other “my soul” because our connection has always felt otherworldly—like we made a cosmic pact up in heaven before we were even born to team up and spread light, joy, and pure energy to people through our sounds. So, MASOUL is straight from “my soul,” capturing that spiritual, unbreakable link.

As we launched, our guiding values were all about authenticity, that soul-deep friendship, and using music as a force for good—especially coming from Ukraine, where resilience and unity mean everything. We wanted to create something real that lifts people up, no pretenses, just heart and hustle. And hey, a little humor along the way keeps it all fun—who knew dancing alone in a café could launch a whole career?

AWL : How would you define the strong bond between the two of you? How do trust, communication, and creative synergy operate on a day-to-day basis?

MASOUL : Our bond? It’s that rare, no-BS connection where we just get each other—total trust, identical tastes in music, and we’re always looking in the same direction. By default, we’ve got each other’s backs, no questions asked; it’s like an unspoken pact that keeps the vibes strong.

Day-to-day, trust lets us handle things independently when needed—if one’s prepping a set solo, we can still crush it together because our sounds mesh perfectly. Communication is simple and direct: a quick text or call to hash out ideas, no ego trips. For creative synergy, it’s effortless—one drops a phrase or beat idea, the other runs with it, maybe turning it into a full verse or hook, and bam, it’s fire. But we never crowd each other; giving space is key, so everything stays fresh and inspired without any pushy vibes. That’s the formula that keeps us rolling smooth.

AWL :  In the production process, what aspects do you draw strength from each other? For example, is one of you more dominant in rhythm and groove while the other focuses on atmosphere and harmony, or is the process different? 

MASOUL : We’re constantly feeding off each other’s energy.

If Kristina is running at 20%, Asia gives her the other 80% — and it works the same way in reverse. That balance keeps us grounded and powerful at the same time.

Nature is also our main source of inspiration — quiet places where birds sing, the forest whispers, or the ocean breathes. Those moments of silence recharge us more than any city ever could. Traveling, discovering new landscapes, and capturing that feeling of freedom always flow back into our music.

In the studio, we do everything together. Kristina brings her strength in vocals, while Asia creates melodies on the handpan — an instrument that adds soul and texture to our sound. We love experimenting with plug-ins, layering harmonies and rhythms until the track starts to breathe on its own.

Even when one of us works alone, the other trusts her completely — because MASOUL is about unity. We can literally play with our eyes closed and still move in perfect sync.

AWL : Could you share a memory from your first big live moment or milestone (festival, shared set, collaborative release)? What did that experience teach you?

MASOUL : Our first major milestone was this epic New Year’s Eve gig in Egypt at the Taj Mahal club—talk about ringing in the year with a bang! We were up there spinning for a massive crowd of four to five thousand people, and the vibe was off the charts.  we were in total euphoria, covered in goosebumps from head to toe, like we’d been plugged into the grid.

Once the set wrapped, fans flooded backstage, buzzing with excitement and telling us how much our music moved them. But honestly, we were so overwhelmed that we snuck off to the restroom for a quick reality check. We just hugged it out, looked at each other, and whispered, “What just happened?” It was one of those surreal moments you can’t script.

That night is etched in our souls forever—the first time we truly felt that deep connection with thousands of people through our sounds. And hey, around that time, our track “Breath” hit #1 on Beatport in the electronics genre and held it for a whole year, which was this insane boost of inspiration and validation. It taught us that real magic comes from those raw, shared experiences; no matter how big we get, we’ll always chase that initial spark of unity. It’s a reminder to stay humble, stay connected, and never take the crowd’s energy for granted.

5 How is the role distribution between you in content creation? Do you intentionally divide tasks, or do you read each other well and move with the flow?

MASOUL : Haha, okay, let’s keep it real—content creation isn’t our favorite part of the gig. Asia rolls her eyes big time at the whole “marketing” thing; she thinks anyone can look cool these days with enough ads and algorithms pushing them. She’s all about the music, not the promo hustle.

Thankfully, Kristina steps up and handles most of it, so Asia can stay in her creative zone without losing her mind. Our vibe is simple: we don’t flash skin or chase trends for likes—we’re just real DJs sharing our tunes, personality, and energy. If people connect with that, awesome.

But honestly, it’s tough for us. We try our best, haha, but every shoot or post feels like a mini battle—it’s not easy or fun all the time. We don’t love this side of things, but hey, that’s the reality now; you gotta do it to get seen. It makes us a bit sad sometimes, because so many talented musicians without the time or resources for marketing end up stuck in the shadows. It’s unfair, but that’s the world we’re in—we have to adapt, even though we’d rather just focus on making music and getting it out there to be heard.

AWL : What are your future goals? What milestones do you see for a global presence, and what kinds F collaborations are you open to?

MASOUL : Right now, our main goal is to finish our first full album—a body of work made entirely from our own tracks—and to perform on the world’s biggest stages, one day headlining Tomorrowland, Coachella, Zamna, and more, playing only our music to share it with the masses, making every listener feel connected and understood.

We believe true global success comes from creating original work with your own vision, not chasing trends or pleasing industry insiders. We’re not into club-hopping or flattering art directors—that’s not us. We’re DJs who avoid drugs and love sleep… sometimes even before a show. 

We’re always open to collaborations with vocalists, musicians, and creative souls. Ready to create something new together.

AWL : What would you advise young talents at what stage to start a duo like this? In your view, what are the three most critical elements for success?

MASOUL : We’d advise young talents to start a duo when you’ve found someone whose energy matches yours and you’ve both built some individual skills. For us, everything starts with shared taste, a mutual love for music, and a unified vision — that’s the true foundation of any great DJ duo. Experiment with styles, play around with sounds, and most importantly, trust your partner — even when it feels like they’re doing something completely unexpected (and yes, that happens a lot, haha).

1. Invest in your image and marketing.

It’s absolutely essential today. Be active on social media — post regularly on Instagram, share your journey, your sets, and your sound. Create a YouTube channel or a SoundCloud page to showcase your music. The more you put yourself out there, the stronger your connection with your audience becomes.

2. Love the music and believe in yourself.

The industry is tough and competitive, but passion and faith will always set you apart. If you truly love what you do and believe in your path, success will come — maybe not overnight, but it will. Keep experimenting, keep creating, stay fearless, and never lose your fire. Unshakable confidence and self-belief are what eventually make dreams a reality.

3. Never underestimate the power of connection.

Networking and communication are everything. Step outside your comfort zone — go to events, meet people, surround yourself with creative energy, and support other artists. Collaborate, share ideas, and stay curious. Sometimes one unexpected encounter can completely change your career.

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