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HYSTA MAKES HISTORY WITH THE FIRST HARDCORE DJ SET FROM THE EIFFEL TOWER
"If this project can inspire any woman, then I’ve done something right." Hysta makes history with the first Hardcore set from the Eiffel Tower
This iconic performance celebrates the fusion of French cultural heritage and hard electronic music, showing how far passion and persistence can take an artist.
Yesterday, Hysta delivered an emotional 60-minute set recorded at sunrise from the second floor of the Eiffel Tower — a moment that redefines what’s possible for the Hardcore scene. The performance embodies the contrast that defines her sound: melody and power, elegance and intensity.
She opens the set with “Little Things”, a reinterpretation of “Comptine d’un autre été” from the classic French film Le Fabuleux Destin d’Amélie Poulain. The track blends nostalgia and raw energy, connecting France’s cinematic beauty with the spirit of Hardcore.
Composed especially for this occasion, the project is a tribute to her roots and to the message that drives her career: Hardcore can rise anywhere — even from the world’s most iconic monument. To learn more about this extraordinary moment, we talked with her about what it means to bring Hardcore to the Eiffel Tower.
You’ve just made history as the first French artist to bring Hardcore to the Eiffel Tower. What emotions came right after the set ended?
Right after the set, I felt both relief and disbelief. The pressure was insane — we only had two hours to set everything up, record, and clear the floor. We had no big production behind this project, only a few friends and myself. That made it even more challenging, but everyone gave 200%. When it was done, we were so happy and proud we made it happen. It created memories for life.
In a scene still dominated by men, your achievement feels symbolic beyond music. Do you see this as a victory for women too?
It’s a victory for everyone who has ever been underestimated. I never paid attention to comments trying to put me down because of my gender. I just stayed focused on my goals and worked harder. In the end, it gave me even more strength. If this project can inspire any woman to rise above stereotypes and believe that nothing is impossible, then I’ve done something right.
You’ve said, “My heart belongs to Hardcore.” What does that mean to you now?
I have sacrificed a lot, if not everything, for this music — living far from my friends and family, leaving behind my previous career, spending countless hours with almost no free time outside of gigs. Hardcore has always been where I put most of my time and passion. It’s what drives me.
The track “Little Things” reinterprets a classic from Amélie Poulain. How did that idea come about?
Just two weeks before the Eiffel Tower set, I was still looking for an opening track. I wanted something that would represent this project — something that reflects France and the soul of Paris — and “Comptine d’un autre été” immediately came to mind. I always loved the movie Amélie Poulain. I used to listen to Yann Tiersen’s original song a lot in my daily life. It gives me a nostalgic feeling. The idea came quite late, so I didn’t have much time to finish it. I was with my family and not at home to work properly. When I talked about it with Korsakoff during my Wolf City event in Nantes, she loved the idea and helped me finish it just in time. We managed to get a playable version right before the big day.
Your journey — from illegal raves to the Eiffel Tower — is cinematic. What’s the hardest challenge people don’t see on social media?
Most people see the highlights, not the years of sacrifice behind them. Being far from my family, watching them grow from a distance, barely having free time to hang out with people... On a regular week at home, I work from the moment I wake up until I go to bed. It’s been like that for years. But seeing the results and sharing them with everyone makes me happy.
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You’re also the mind behind Welcome to Wolf City, empowering new talent. How do you balance being a performer and a mentor?
In the past, I used to organize a lot of events under different collectives across Europe — in France, Switzerland, the Czech Republic, Bulgaria, and more. At some point, I started to miss that side of things. I always dreamed of creating events mixing oldschool and new Hardcore artists, so I created the Welcome to Wolf City concept. Seeing new artists grow reminds me of when I started. If I can give back the same way people supported me, that’s everything. Wolf City is about community, not competition.
You’ve played massive festivals like Tomorrowland and Defqon.1, but this project feels more personal. How different was the emotional connection?
It was one of the most stressful moments of my life. I really wanted this project to have a great impact on the Hard Music scene. The tracklist was different from what I usually play at festivals — it included a lot of my own productions and some of my favorite classics like “Hardcore Vibes” by Dune and “Drop It” by 3 Steps Ahead. I also added more melodic tracks, knowing that people outside the scene might watch this set. The whole selection truly reflects my personal Hardcore taste.
Hardcore has evolved globally — from its underground roots to main stages. What’s your vision for the future of the genre?
There’s a lot of talk about hard techno becoming more mainstream, but I see it as something positive for Hardcore. People are getting more open to harder sounds. The more they discover hard techno, the more they’ll get curious about Hardcore. I’m happy about this evolution; it helps our scene be better understood. No matter how electronic music changes, the Hysta project will always be about Hardcore, like it started years ago.
Finally, what message would you like to send to young female DJs and producers who dream of breaking boundaries like you just did?
Most of the time, the limit is ourselves. We tend to find a million reasons why something won’t work, but once you change your mindset, you realize that 90% of the problems are in your head, and the remaining 10% can be solved with work. Surround yourself with passionate people, especially those you admire. You’ll learn from them, grow with them, and become the artist you want to be.
Watch Hysta’s full Eiffel Tower set
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