Deep House’s Nature-Bound Queen Takes Her Throne.
Born Daniela Di Lillo in Johannesburg, South Africa in 1990, Nora En Pure has become one of the most recognizable forces in deep house and melodic electronic music. Raised between the vast wilderness of South Africa and the serene landscapes of Switzerland, she carries both worlds in her veins—wild, primal rhythm meeting pure Alpine clarity.
Moving to Switzerland as a child, she immersed herself in music early, learning piano, flute, and drums before discovering her singular voice in electronic production. In 2013, her breakout single “Come With Me” held a spot on Beatport’s Top 100 for over seven months, catapulting her onto the global stage. Since then, her signature sound—a fusion of classical instrumentation, organic textures, and hypnotic deep house grooves—has placed her on the world’s most prestigious stages, from Coachella to Tomorrowland.
Now ranked among the Top 100 DJs in the world, with her own label Purified Records expanding into conservation projects, Nora has become more than a DJ: she’s a beacon of light. Through her music, she reminds us that serenity, nature, and pure emotion are not luxuries, but essentials.
THE INTERVIEW | With EIC, Rebecca Inès Perez
The Observer’s Eye
“I’m definitely an observer rather than an active role. I first look, listen, and then I pounce.”
This quiet strength defines Nora both on stage and off. A cheetah is the spirit animal she most identifies with: agile, fast, but fragile—wearing emotions openly while learning to navigate the demands of performance. “From all the cats, they’re the most vulnerable ones. I can relate to that. My expressions tell everything, and stage presence needs you to be in the moment there for the people. Sometimes you don’t feel like that, but you have to create that space—‘now I’m here for them.’ Later, you can feel what you were really feeling.”
Silence as Sanctuary
Silence, for Nora, is not empty—it’s sacred.
“Silence is my most favorite, to be honest… Many people ask me, ‘What do you listen to when you’re not working?’ Honestly, nothing. Because I can’t wait for silence. Silence is my comfort zone.”
Amidst the Strip lights of Las Vegas or the chaos of airports, she reaches quickly for balance. “When I get back to a place that is calm, peaceful, and silent, I’m so much more at peace.”
Staying Grounded in the Industry
In a world that thrives on hype and spectacle, Nora stays rooted in her truth.
“It has to do with boundaries and what is really you. It’s easy to fall into building who you think society wants you to be. But I know very well where my roots are. I grew up in nature, Africa, outdoors. That’s my identity. I always know that’s where I belong.”
Her perfectionism is both a gift and a challenge. “I’m very, very critical. I always think, ‘That could have been better.’ Even if a show was good, I always think, ‘Ugh.’ There’s only a handful of shows that I think were really great.”
Over time, she’s learned that tiredness and lack of sleep magnify insecurity. “Some hours pass, I see people’s feedback—‘wow, this was amazing’—and I realize, okay, it wasn’t as bad as I thought.”
The Inner Child Returns
Music reawakened her inner child.
“In life we have so many worries and fears. I want my music to reach through all the layers we build as adults—to touch that childlike happiness, that unbotheredness.”
This timeless sound means her audience spans generations, from teenagers to older listeners, all connecting to the serenity she brings. “It’s not about making club bangers—it’s about something emotionally deep, meaningful, and universal.”
Her first love for sound was in South Africa, hearing lions roaring at night while camping with her family. “That’s one hundred percent what I would think of—just the sounds of the wilderness.”
Rituals & Real Life
On the road, rituals are hard to sustain. “I wish I had routines. In reality, depending on the time zone, I wake up stressed, opening all my technology to see what’s happened. If I could, I’d swim in the ocean every morning, do yoga, eat fresh.”
Her pleasures remain simple—salads, avocado toast, Thai food. “I don’t like packaged food. I got very obsessed with eating fresh and healthy stuff.” She eats small amounts of meat, “mainly for respect of life and animals.”
Boundaries & Privacy
Success for Nora isn’t about charts—it’s about time. “The more time you have to yourself and with your family, the more you succeed in life.”
That extends to protecting her private life. Though she’s married, she rarely speaks about it. “He doesn’t like to appear anywhere. He hates social media. Privacy is key. Time and privacy are such a luxury.”
Her husband has seen the lifestyle up close. “He joined me sometimes in the beginning, and saw that I play, then go back to sleep. I’m not partying or drinking. Life quickly got too busy for that.”
The Role of Women in Music
Nora is outspoken about how female empowerment is represented in the scene. “For years, women fought to be acknowledged in the right way. Now, some are using platforms in a way that damages that fight. You are a role model—make it about your craft, about talent, not just your looks.”
For her, empowerment is about hard work, artistry, and legacy.
Music as Medicine
If music is medicine, what does she hope her listeners heal from? “So much trauma, anxiety. People suffer way more than they portray. Everything’s fast-paced, relationships feel disposable. Commitment is lacking in today’s society. I want my music to heal that—make people feel safe, hopeful.”
When she plays Tinlicker’s “I Love You and Always Will,” she connects to that long-lasting love and commitment.
Legacy & Vision
“I want to be remembered for something serene, pure. A beacon of light, of hopefulness.”
Her Purified label extends that mission, tying each release to ocean conservation or ecological projects. Music with meaning.
Looking ahead, she imagines building a sanctuary for animals, maybe a business rooted in purpose. “I could never do nothing. I always need to create, to build. I want to keep going as long as I feel I’m a positive influence.”
🌊✨ Nora en Pure is not just a DJ. She’s a force of nature. A woman whose soundscape reminds us that music isn’t just entertainment—it’s a return to ourselves, to silence, to the wild. She is, quite simply, pure light.
Photography by Lindy Lin
