Alison Wonderland at Groovin The Moo 2016

Filling dead air, keeping the vibe flowing.

As Wonderland puts it she was a “filler DJ”, playing other people’s tracks instead of her own.

Fast forward three years and the Sydney-raised electronic producer and trained cellist is headlining the main stage of every show on the Groovin the Moo tour.

From filler to killer.

“I didn’t have any music out under [the name] ‘Alison Wonderland’,” says the songwriter of her last Groovin experience. 

“I was still finding myself as an artist, if that makes any sense. 

“I still have the same shoes though, I still wear them, so there’s that.”

Wonderland’s life accelerated when her debut album, Run, was released 13 months ago.

The constant demand to tour and play the world’s biggest festivals, from Coachella, Splendour in the Grass and Electric Daisy Carnival, has meant living half her year in Los Angeles.

Wonderland has no fixed address.

“I’ve literally gone where life’s taken me,” Wonderland says, on the phone from LA.

“I didn’t plan to move here, there was no reason for me at the beginning. 

“I came to LA the first time because I wanted to get away from my life for about 10 days. 

“I didn’t really know anyone here, except for a few people. 

“Then I met a couple of people, came back for Coachella two years ago, fell in love, got food poisoning, didn’t go to Coachella, did my Diplo and Friends mix because I was sick, then wrote an album [Run] and the album went unexpectedly good. 

“I ended up having to be somewhere central worldwide, rather than Australia. 

“It just made more sense travel-wise - because I was doing a lot more shows in the States and Europe, it made sense for me to have some sort of base in the States as well as Australia.”

The past year has been a series of “pinch yourself” moments for Wonderland, starting with Run’s debut at number one on the Billboard dance music charts in the US.

Its wide success was spurned by first single U Don’t Know, which features enigmatic Flaming Lips frontman Wayne Coyne on vocals.

“Run’s different to an EP, this is a journey – it’s a real vivid snapshot of when I wrote it, so every time I play those songs I know exactly where I was and how I was feeling when I wrote it,” she says. 

“You know when you smell something and it brings back nostalgia? 

“It’s like that with the songs for me.”

The emotions laced into her music have bubbled over into her performances.

Some moments behind the decks have proved overwhelming.

 “There’s been a few times when I’ve been up on stage and started crying,” Wonderland admits.

“Not to sound like a loser or anything.

“There’s a photo of me somewhere from EDC [Electronic Daisy Carnival], Orlando.

“I’d just finished a Justin Bieber remix and I hadn’t really heard it out at a club yet, it had only been heard in my headphones, the final thing. 

“I dropped it at Orlando for the first time and I was so nervous, I’d never spun it. 

“The crowd reaction was so crazy and there was so many people up there that I turned around and burst into tears and started shaking.”

Groovin the Moo’s crowd has a lot to live up to.

And don’t think Wonderland won’t be paying attention.

“It’s not a self-indulgent thing for me, I want to try to create a vibe and still choose songs that I’m head over heels for, and that’s really important to me,” the DJ explains of her performances.

“I think if I’m not loving what I’m playing up there then how is anyone else supposed to? 

“So I think keeping it real and not being a dick is a good thing (laughs). 

“You should be able to feel the vibe of a crowd and understand that we’re in this together, and it’s not just about you, it’s not just about them, it’s about us. 

“It’s like a very quick marriage.”

Offstage, Wonderland is busily working on new material and will soon drop a collaboration with acclaimed Aussie producer M-Phazes.

And her other plans for 2016?

“Honestly, just not to ever become a dickhead and just keep it moving and keep writing and playing and stay sane - that’s my move.”

Alison Wonderland headlines Groovin the Moo on Saturday at Maitland Showground.

Run is out now.