Arielle Free is a woman with a passion for music, partying, and good conversation, no doubt all influenced by her Scottish roots. Kicking off 2026 with a bang, her latest single, Piratas, drops on 27th February, and the EP it stems from, The Road to Miami, is set to follow on March 27th.
As a DJ her previous single, U Get Me High, was released in October 2025, following a summer of playing at Ibiza’s hottest venues, as well as Belgium’s Tomorrowland and the UK’s Creamfield festivals.
Arielle also hosts a podcast, Party Starters, where she welcomes celebrity guests to chat about their best and worst party experiences, before sharing their ultimate party vision. Season two also launched at the end of last year, and features well-known names from RuPaul’s Drag Race and Love Island, the Morning After podcast for which she also used to host. Elsewhere on the airwaves, Arielle can be heard presenting and playing dance and electronic music on BBC Radio 1.
Through the years of expanding in this industry, Arielle has learned more about herself, what she needs to work best, and has also reflected on what it means to be a woman in these spaces. In this interview we dive into all these themes and more, and consider the balance between slowing down and speeding up, especially as plans settle in for another year.
Arielle, you had a super busy 2025! From launching season 2 of your podcast, Party Starters, to dropping a new single, and all after a summer of DJing on some of Europe’s hottest stages – and planning an Australian tour!
How are you feeling looking back on all of this, and now that things are ramping up again for another exciting year?
2025 was definitely a memorable year! I’m really grateful for all the new adventures and milestones I reached.
There were intentions and goals that I set out at the start of 2025 and I’m happy to say most of them have been achieved.
Getting to wrap up the year on the road touring internationally is exactly what I want to be doing. Getting to travel and taking my sound to new places is my favourite part of my work.
It sounds like your latest EP, The Road to Miami, has been influenced by your travels too?
This four track collection is a melting pot of all the flavours Miami has offered me everytime I’ve gone to play there. Cuban infused grooves sit alongside straight up club cuts and my most requested ID Piratas. These tracks feel like most authentic tunes I’ve made for my club sets.
Sounds like a fun mix, we can’t wait to listen!
How has this career evolved for you – did you always want to be in the world of music and performance?
Yeah! I always wanted to be in music, it’s just something I’ve always obsessed about since I was really young. I unfortunately couldn’t sing and struggled to pick up learning any instruments when I was young, but I turned out to be a good dancer. So I went to a full time dance school in Scotland and then performers university which brought me to London, and managed to find a way to be a part of music through DJing and broadcasting.
How has your experience been as a woman, both as a performer/presenter but also a producer? Are there nuances across the industry in how you’re seen in these roles?
I used to get really wound up about the things that were lacking for ladies in the electronic music world. Now I try to focus on the positives.
There is a real lack of support for female produced records in the clubs and I’d love to see that change. But on the other hand, I’m now working with more and more females across the board. Female sound techs, stage managers, producers, musicians, managers, bookers, videographers; it’s great to see!
I don’t get to choose the crew I’m working with when I get booked to play, so I wouldn’t know exactly where the increase in females being more present in these roles has come from, but it’s great to have more representation across the board.
Does partying come with the territory if you want to work in music in this way?
I was listening to your podcast episode with Jodie Harsh recently and you mentioned you no longer drink alcohol while DJing. Could you share more about how your approach to work and play has evolved over the years?
Does having perhaps a more “chill” approach to partying allow for more downtime, or is there a sense of needing to make up for some of the opportunities and connections that might emerge in those spaces?
I think it comes down to personal preference. Most people get into the clubbing world because they love music and being on the dance floor. That doesn’t mean you need to party constantly but it is an industry where you get to have a lot of fun whilst working.
People now respect whether you want to plug in, play, and head back to bed, or whether you want to plug in, play, and stay out raving all night.
I definitely have a better understanding of what works best for me whilst I’m on the road and hopping between gigs and destinations.
You obviously love what you do for work, but what about when you’re not working? How do you fill your cup when you’re off the clock?
Spending time with my faves. I’m often on the road on my own so I always crave lengthy catch ups and social time with my closest friends and family. Also finding reformer Pilates studios in places I’m visiting is my jam.
What does being a lazy woman mean to you, in the context of how things are in work / life / the world today?
Whenever someone tells me ‘no’ it spurs me on.
I love proving people wrong and exceeding expectations.
I think that is the height of a lazy woman!
Thank you for sharing your experiences with us Arielle, and we look forward to adding mixes from The Road to Miami to our spring playlist!
Written by Lauren Powell.
Images courtesy of Arielle Free.
