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Carlita's rise as an in-demand DJ is the product of an international upbringing (from her native Turkey to America to Europe) and an unlikely musical education (involving classical instruments). The result is an eclectic discography -- from 2018’s breakthrough collaboration with Lemurian, Luz Del Sol, to her 2024 effort Sentimental -- and her own traveling club show, Senza Fine.

Carla Frayman was born in Istanbul to a Turkish father and an Italian mother whose affinity for Brazilian culture and music fueled her earliest sonic memories. Having already learned to play the piano, at the age of eight she attended a local music conservatory, where she studied cello. She moved to Boston to attend Northwestern University, where she studied marketing, computer science, and music industry classes; her proximity to the Berklee College of Music and a thriving music scene helped deepen her passion for dance music as well as even more instrumental study, including guitar, bass, and drums.

After cutting her teeth as a DJ at the Boston club Bijou -- where she made a deep connection with the owner thanks to their shared Turkish heritage -- Carlita briefly worked in event planning and booking in New York before embracing DJ'ing and producing full-time. Early original works like 2017’s Naranya EP reflected her multicultural heritage and wide-ranging musicianship, though it was a team-up with Peruvian producer Lemurian, 2018’s Luz Del Sol, that put her on the map among house and dance connoisseurs. One such fan was the Italian beatmaker DJ Tennis, whom Carlita met while living in Lisbon, Portugal, during COVID lockdown. With his encouragement, she released the head-turning single “Bon Trip” on his Life and Death imprint; the duo also started performing together under the name Astra Club.

Astra Club became a testing ground for Carlita's own roving live experience, known as Senza Fine (“without end” in Italian). Comprising DJ sets (by her and curated collaborators), artwork, fashion, and even custom fragrances, Senza Fine has become a mainstay of New York Fashion Week and elsewhere around the globe. The exposure landed Carlita DJ sets at some of the biggest festivals in 2023, including Coachella, Burning Man, and Glastonbury. In 2024, Carlita released her debut album Sentimental on Ninja Tune, with standout tracks like “Time” and collaborations with SG Lewis (“The Moment”), Janet Planet (“Forever Baby”), and Cleo Simone (“Planet Blue”). ~ Mike Duquette