SONOS CLUB : TRYB
TrYb is a heavyweight selector whose infectious energy has been lighting up dance floors. A true champion of diasporic sounds, she brings together rhythms from across the globe, weaving them into sets that are as unpredictable as they are unforgettable. Beyond the booth, TrYb curates sonic journeys through her acclaimed radio residencies Highlife and Sunshine on NTS, Enter the Party on Oroko Radio, and TrYb and Friends on Voices Radio each platform amplifying her signature style and boundary-pushing selections. Whether it’s Afro-diasporic grooves, club heaters, or left-field gems, TrYb doesn’t just play tracks she sets the pace, raising the bar every time she steps up.
INTERVIEW
What first drew you to DJing, and how has your sound evolved over time?
TRYB: I was first drawn to DJing as a way to channel my deep love for music and to share the sounds I’m constantly discovering. What excites me most is witnessing the power of music to bring people together to spark joy, movement, and connection within a community. Over time, my sound has evolved into something more intentional: curating selections that respond to the setting, the energy, and the story I want to tell in the moment. At the heart of it all, though, I’ve remained committed to a political and cultural mission to elevate and celebrate the music of BIPOC artists, ensuring their voices and legacies are centered on the dancefloor and beyond.
How would you describe the emotions or energy you try to bring to your sets?
TRYB: The emotions I try to exude are about letting loose, letting go, and surrendering to the moment creating a space where joy, release, and connection can rise to the surface. I want my sets to feel like a journey that lifts the weight off your shoulders, inviting you to celebrate, to move without inhibition, and to lose yourself in something bigger than yourself.
Are there any particular artists, cultures, or experiences that have shaped your musical identity?
TRYB: Everything, its a generic answer but it will be hard to not say so. Even the music you don’t like, although rare has an influence on how I understand, relate and connect to music. I feel part of the human experience is to be musical. Hearing expressions of sound of cultures around the world inspires me constantly. I grew up in the UK, I am Nigerian and grew up on media from the USA so my basis for understanding and perspective is rooted from those three but travelling.
What’s your approach to curating a mix do you follow a structure, or is it more instinctive?
TRYB: For me I always start with what I like and build from there. I love sharing new songs I have discovered, from there I compile and curate it to the event. Then on the night I curate it further to the audience and how they are responding to what I am playing. So no two sets will ever be the same.
How do you balance playing what you love versus what the crowd expects?
TRYB: I Its a fine line. It really depends on the audience and how open they are to hearing new music that they may not be familiar with. DJing is reciprocal activity and its important to read and learn from the crowd. See what direction they are also going in.
Is there a particular genre or sound you’re currently exploring or excited about?
TRYB: I am enjoying the different ways Soca is expanding for example Bouyon music and Dennerys segment. I also like Hard Drum music which always sounds large in a way that hits the dancefloor in the chest. I also like what DJ Swisha, AceMo, Kush Jones, OSSX are doing and the way they are approaching club music.
The music industry can be intense. How do you take care of your mental and emotional well-being?
TRYB: Reminding myself what I love about what I do and why I do it. Everyone’s trajectory is different, so what looks right to me now might not look right for me tomorrow and what looks right for me tomorrow might not look right for anybody else. If I am not happy with it what can I do to change it and what can I make peace with it. And if anything taking a break, speaking to others may give me a new creative perspective.
What keeps you inspired and motivated when you hit creative or personal challenges?
TRYB: What keeps me inspired is doing different things that all feed into each other. Working in the community and meeting people from all walks of life constantly opens my perspective. Radio, on the other hand, gives me the freedom to be playful and to experiment in ways I can’t always do in a live set. Together, these experiences keep my creativity flowing and remind me that inspiration often comes from connection, curiosity, and embracing new possibilities.
Beyond music, how do you see yourself in the world? What drives you and your purpose?
TRYB: Big question! Maybe I don’t have a goal or a purpose, maybe I am only allowing myself to be led by what I enjoy and if I find that fulfilling right here and now, that is good enough for me.
Have you faced any challenges in the industry that shaped the way you approach your craft?
TRYB: Many, I think my question is what do I want to communicate to an audience that is engaging the craft in ever changing ways? I think there is systemic barriers embedded into how the industry, community and audiences engages with people who look and exist like me. Art reflects society and vice versa, maybe what all DJs who like me do is expand people’s perspective as to what is and can be in spaces where sometimes preconceptions can meet less resistance but that is a battle inside and outside of the DJ booth. First and foremost I prioritise Mi TrYb
Do you think electronic music is becoming more inclusive? What progress do you hope to see?
TRYB: No, I still think BIPOC electronic producers and DJs are still marginalised to a separate section or time slot at the festivals, not promoted the same way or seen in the same light. Despite this I think BIPOC electronic music is thriving and pushing the needle forward in ways that is becoming increasingly difficult to ignore by the mainstream.
How do you navigate spaces where you might feel underrepresented or overlooked?
TRYB: Question why I am playing there, what do I hope to gain, is this space right for me, and if so how can I make the most of it, what change can I make in it.
If you could create your dream lineup for an event, who would be on it?
TRYB: Maybe all the DJs and producers I’ve mentioned above.
What’s a festival, venue, or city you dream of performing at, and why?
TRYB: I think doing a tour and travelling around South Africa, Kenya, Phillipines, Colombia and Brazil would be amazing. So much great music is coming out of these countries, I am sure it would blow my mind all the sounds I’d here.
Outside of DJing, do you have any creative or personal projects you’re passionate about?
TRYB: Becoming a therapist - soon come!
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.
