This weeks interview & mix comes from PIXI.
Introduce yourself and tell us about the part of the UK you’re from?
I’m PIXI and I discovered my love for DJing when I became immersed in the incredibly diverse underground music scene in Leeds at University, and I currently live in Hertfordshire North of London.
Tell us about some of your British DJ heroes?
DJ Oneman has definitely got to be one of my heroes because of the way he doesn’t hold back with blending completely different genres and musical eras together in his unpredictable mixes. Flava D is also a huge inspiration to me, particularly because of how she has intricately carved her own distinctive forward-thinking sound which has become indispensable to the Bass and Grime scene.
What have you been working on recently?
I am mainly focusing on music production which is really exciting as it’s something I have always been really determined to get stuck into since I started DJing last year. I’m letting the creative juices flow and experimenting at the moment, drawing influences across the spectrum of experimental electronic music to curate a sound that really undercuts genre boundaries.
Tell us about the mix, how did you put it together, what did you want to represent?
Ultimately the mix hones in on the erratic and constantly shifting state of the electronic scene, with a focus on artists who are moulding genre-defying sounds infused with elements of bass, grime, dubstep, funk, house & more.
Talk us through the British music featured in this mix? Which British artists are you most excited about?
One of the British MCs I have featured in this mix is Trim who with his poetic, non-conformist style is redefining what it means to be in the grime scene. Among the British producers included in the mix are Bristol based Kahn & Neek, who are really setting the bar at the moment in bass-heavy music with the dark and obscure sound they have crafted. I’ve also included the DJ Q Remix of ‘Connecta’ by multi-instrumentalist producer Swindle from his EP of the same name which blends the energy of jazz with dubstep, funk and hip hop; his creativity captures the essence of where British electronic music is heading.
Where is the best place in the world you have DJ’d and why?
The best placed I have DJ’d has got to be Tramlines in Sheffield where I made my festival debut this year. I loved how the festival completely took over the whole city at countless different venues showcasing every genre across the spectrum, there was such a contagious energy and open-minded feel to the festival and I’d love to play there again next year.