Max HeyraudWe sat down with Cian Bolger, the winner of last year’s On The Pulse DJ Competition, presented by CUPRA.
Cian, a burgeoning Dublin-based DJ, shared his thought process behind curating his mix for the competition, his experience playing in front of a crowd for the first time, his debut festival set at Beyond The Pale, and much more.
A DJ, photographer, and director, Cian Bolger’s sets are genre-defying, blending heavy bass, tasteful rhythm, and hip-hop influences. His style is a mix of modern-day club music from the local Irish scene, keeping the dance floor alive and entertained. Cian takes dancers on a slippery journey through aquatic textures and subterranean atmospheres, perfectly blurring the lines between contemporary cuts and classic sounds.
You can apply for this year’s On The Pulse DJ Competition, presented by CUPRA, here.
Thanks for chatting with us today! How’s everything going on the music front lately?
Things have been going great! I had the chance to play down in Cork for the first time at the end of last year, and I also played at Sleepover Club for their end-of-year ball, which was a great buzz.
Let’s rewind a bit to last year when you submitted your mix for the On The Pulse DJ Competition. How did you approach recording a 30-minute mix for the submission?
When I was recording the mix, I tried to include tracks from all the different genres I love to play live. I like moving through genres within a set to keep it interesting for both myself and the audience. I laid the tracks out in an order that felt right and just went with it.
When selecting tracks for that mix, did you carefully curate them, or did you go for a more free-flowing approach?
I wouldn’t say they were carefully curated, but I definitely made sure to order them in a way that would feel cohesive and fun. I just wanted to make sure it flowed in a way that made sense.
After submitting the mix, you made it to the final, where you had to perform another 30-minute set—this time in front of judges and a live audience. How did that experience compare to the initial recording?
The live performance was definitely more daunting. When you’re recording a mix, you’re by yourself, but having a live audience reacting in real-time is a whole different ball game. It was probably the most nervous I’ve been for a set, aside from maybe my first time playing, but it was also super fun.
Tell us a bit about your preparation for the final. What was your approach, and how did you plan your set?
My preparation for the final was pretty similar to the original mix. I tried to keep the set in the same style because I thought it would be silly to switch things up when the original mix is what got me selected in the first place. I just wanted to stick with what worked.
Following your success in the competition, you made your festival debut at Beyond The Pale. How was that experience for you?
It was really cool to play my first festival. The sound and stage setup were amazing, and it was incredible to see people dancing along. Even though it was pouring rain, the energy was still so high—it was such a fun experience.
On top of that, you received a €2,500 artist fund. What did you put that towards?
I put the money towards a new set of decks. I’d been practicing on a pair of old Numarks I’d bought years ago off Adverts, which were fine, but the upgrade was definitely needed!
Looking back at the whole journey, how do you think it’s helped you push your music career forward?
More than anything, it gave me a reinforced sense of confidence. To know that there were people who thought the set I played was good, and to see others enjoying the music as much as I do, was a huge boost for me. It really helped me believe in myself and my music even more.
