SONOS CLUB : PDЯ
INTERVIEW
Can you tell us about your musical journey and how your cultural background has influenced your sound?
PDЯ: I'm from Equatorial Guinea, a tiny country in West Africa. We speak Spanish, Portuguese and French. I was born on a tiny island called Malabo but when I was three years old, we moved to Spain and there’s where I grew up, but my music journey began on the stone-filled shores of Brighton when I moved to England in 2017. And then I developed my current style after relocating to London in 2021 and immersing myself in its underground club scene.
So that diversity in my culture and my upbringing, living in various countries etc has determined the way I DJ the music that I love to play and blend.
What are some early memories of music from your upbringing that shaped your taste today?
PDЯ: I am who I am music-wise because of my parents: My dad used to be the DJ at all the parties happening in his group of friends when I was growing up. I still remember being a kid and hearing my uncles singing praises to my dad's music taste and his extended collection of records. I am his junior so in a way I wanted to be like him in that sense, while he wanted me to be more academically inclined, which is ironic. My mom would play music out loud every weekend either while cleaning the house or cooking. I grew up in a loud house with loads of different diverse sounds playing in every room so that has shaped my music range and eclecticness.
How do you integrate your heritage or identity into your DJ sets or productions?
PDЯ: I champion different genres within the electronic music spectrum, such as Amapiano, Afro-House, Drum and Bass (DnB), and UK Garage (UKG), while infusing them with other musical influences from my African and Latin heritage, such as Afrobeats, Reggaeton, Dembow, Baile Funk & Batida. My sets have to reflect my diverse identity because I didn’t have a “regular” childhood.
Are there any specific artists or genres from your background that have been particularly influential to your craft?
PDЯ: Yes.
Not necessarily from my background, but: Juls, Hagan, Sango, KAYTRANADA, Karen Nyame KG and Black Coffee are hugely influential for me in my approach as a DJ & Producer.
When crafting a DJ set, do you have a particular story or vibe you aim to convey? How do you build it?
PDЯ: I never prepare my DJ sets. What I mean by that is that I never premeditated all the songs that I was going to play from top to bottom. It leaves room for improvisation, imagination and randomness, which I think is important so it doesn’t feel mechanical or robotic. I prefer to go with the feel of the moment. I tried to update my music library as much as I could but then when it's showtime, I just tryna read the energy of the room. The first song is crucial though. If you set the tone right and the audience buys into your taste, then that gives me the chance to take them on a musical journey. That’s how I approach every single set.
What’s your process for discovering and selecting new music? Any go-to sources or methods?
PDЯ: Every month I create a folder/playlist (called JAN25, for example) and throughout the month I add to that folder/playlist every single song or sound that I discover. It doesn't matter if I heard it on IG (or any social media), in the street or at the club via Shazam, etc…I’ll add it there.
Also Bandcamp.
How do you balance between your roots and staying fresh with modern trends in your sets?
PDЯ: By always digging. When you always dig for music, you discover old classics, and b-sides but also new songs and riddims from the underground. Again, you have to stay current but try not to play the obvious thing. There’s a difference between staying fresh and just playing whatever is popular and I always try to avoid that.
Can you talk about a track or mix you’ve created that holds a special meaning to you? What’s the story behind it?
PDЯ: I’d say my PHASES.MOV DJ set that I did back in September 2023 while I was in California (USA). I was there for a couple of dj gigs on the West Coast, including opening for Mr Eazi in San Francisco, and three days before my flight back to London, the promoter (and now friend) took me on a hike to Grizzly Peak. You could see above the clouds, the whole Bay Area including Oakland, SF and the rest of the surrounding areas. The views were so stunning, that I said to my friend I’d love to record a DJ set there before I go back to the UK.
And we did it. Here’s the video.
This set is so special not only because it was great, but also because there where I came up with the idea of my now infamous Cleo Sol x Eugy — Know That You Are Loved (My Touch) mashup for the first time and the rest is history.
As a DJ from a BIPOC background, what are some challenges you’ve faced in the industry, and how have you overcome them?
PDЯ: As a black electronic DJ, having visibility is difficult in a city like London. Nowadays, not many black people play electronic music; So the challenge is not being seen enough. The only way to fight it is to keep pushing. Make yourself undeniable through your work ethic and talent. In England, as soon as people know you're black, they put you in a box. I want to showcase that I can play a range of genres, from house and techno to jungle and drum and bass etc etc etc because all of that is black music from black origins.
How important is representation and visibility for you in the electronic music scene?
PDЯ: Extremely important! In England, as soon as people know you're black, they put you in a box. I love afrobeats and dancehall, but in a scene that is mostly dominated by white people, I also want to showcase that I can play a range of electronic genres, from house and techno to jungle and drum and bass etc because all of that is black music from black origins.
We need to reclaim it.
Have there been moments where you’ve felt your identity helped you stand out or connect with your audience in unexpected ways?
PDЯ: 100% Identity is important, especially when you have such a diverse background but I don’t want to be defined by it. If I am meant to stand out, I want my work ethic and my talent to be the reason.
What emerging trends in electronic or experimental music excite you right now?
PDЯ: Afrohouse being mainstream, /Afrotech/3Step becoming more and more accepted among black people and genres like Trance and Jungle making a comeback.
How do you envision your music evolving in the next few years? Are there new sounds or ideas you want to explore?
PDЯ: I want to release my debut single as a producer in 2025 and then we’ll see from there. I am planning to become a true studio rat. Put my 10.000 hours into music production and sound design. I love DJing and I’ll always gonna do that, but being a music producer, being able to play in bigger festivals, release tracks with artists and travel all over the world with my music is the ultimate goal. In terms of sounds, it’s important to keep yourself open-minded. I want to blend as much as I can within electronic genres, but use more of my Spanish and Portuguese influences into it.
If you could curate a dream lineup for an event, which artists would you include and why?
PDЯ: Easy answer lol: Juls, Hagan, Sango, KAYTRANADA, Karen Nyame KG, Black Coffee and myself of course.
Those are my heroes. There’s no better explanation than that.
What advice would you give to up-and-coming DJs and producers from underrepresented communities?
PDЯ: Start now because it’s never too late. Block out the noise and lock in into your dreams. Never let your circumstances, mistakes or naysayers define you. Word to Sango: Be patient and grow daily.
How do you stay motivated and keep your creativity flowing, especially during challenging times?
PDЯ: God, discipline and routine. Building up a strong work ethic and habits, not only keeps me grounded but motivates me because it’s proven to me that’s the best way to get the most optimal results. And who doesn’t get happy when things are going well?
What’s one message you hope people take away when they listen to your sets or mixes?
PDЯ: That music is spiritual. So my sets are a spiritual experience.
SONOS CLUB is an initiative from Sounds of Craft Records, designed to highlight the eclectic electronic music scene through the perspectives of the BIPOC diaspora and marginalized communities, while being open to all.
