Ernsthaft (also known as Ernst Lilja or DJ Speakeasy) is a Swedish DJ, designer, and selector with a deep-rooted passion for sound in all its forms. Based in Stockholm, with formative years spent in Berlin between 2017 and 2021, he has been shaping dance floors and underground spaces for over a decade. A true devotee to vinyl culture, Ernsthaft’s sets unfold as journeys through sound and texture, weaving together house, techno, breakbeat, progressive, and leftfield in unexpected ways. His hybrid approach, blending vinyl with digital tools, allows him to shift seamlessly between eras and energies, crafting narratives that surprise and captivate. As a resident DJ and design lead for the Stockholm-based label Crowd Control, Ernsthaft brings the same sensitivity for rhythm and flow to both sound and visuals. He is also the driving force behind Big Party Small Price, a beloved Stockholm club night known for its energy and adventurous programming, as well as booker & design lead for the festival PLX Tjärö, one of Sweden’s most distinctive creative gatherings. With an ear finely tuned to emotional depth and dance floor tension, Ernsthaft’s sets are less about genre boundaries and more about exploration, moments where hypnotic grooves, euphoric peaks, and strange beauty coexist. Constantly digging for records and new sonic pathways, he continues to evolve his craft, seeking connection through sound that moves both body and mind.