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fresh kicks

Akanbi crouching on a rock in a river, surrounded by lush woodland. He's wearing black trainers, shades and green speedos

Moving effortlessly through a range of tempos and flavours, the NYC-based, Lagos-raised DJ Akanbi demonstrates his party-starting sound with a live recording from New Year’s Day at Nowadays, and speaks to Michael McKinney about the evolution of his GROOVY GROOVY events, and taking the dancefloor somewhere new with his anything-goes approach

Andrew Akanbi has been throwing parties for over a decade. His event series, GROOVY GROOVY, has a simple yet expansive ethos. Ticking each phrase off...

Photo of Aletha in a metallic blue-grey Jersey standing next to a wooden wall

With a mix of minimal thumpers, trippy techno and deep, driving acid, Manchester’s Aletha steps up for the Fresh Kicks series, and speaks to Claire Francis about the formative influence of multi-genre festivals like Dimensions, her CITRIC party, and more

There’s something thrillingly addictive about Aletha’s sets. It’s partly due to the Manchester DJ’s propensity for zingy acid and electro cuts, but it’s also the...

Photo of Toribio in a soft, orange focused light. His right pinky has a black and gold ring on it and he is holding it against his eyebrow

Dominican-American DJ, producer and multi-instrumentalist Toribio records a freewheeling mix of jazzy house, soulful edits and percussive heaters from New York’s Public Records for the Fresh Kicks series, and speaks to Nisa Khan about illuminating Latin music’s legacy, and channelling his church upbringing's communal energy in his sets

Most people who meet Cesar Toribio say he should pursue stand-up comedy. His vivacious personality, cutting delivery and dark humour could undoubtedly pack a room...

Photo of Mincy under red light

Sydney’s Mincy records a high-voltage mix of garage, techno, breaks and footwork for the Fresh Kicks series, and chats to Niamh O'Connor about her make-it-up-as-you-go-along approach to production

“I always really wanted to make something different,” says Australian DJ and producer Mincy from her home in Sydney. “I wanted to make my own...

Analogue photo of Suze Ijó posing in front of a shelf filled with synthesisers

Rotterdam’s Suze Ijó is part of a new generation of house DJs who play with deep, funky and spiritual intention. Alongside a “sweet mix with a hopeful message”, she speaks to Ria Hylton about her musical journey so far

If you’re on the look out for a DJ rooted in the foundations of house music, look no further than Suze Ijó. In an era...

Fafi Abdel Nour sitting in a white sweater and white trousers with one arm resting on a wooden block and one hand resting on his forehead

Syria-born, Groningen-raised Fafi Abdel Nour channels the melody, warmth and drama of '90s house music into his radiant Fresh Kicks mix, and chats to Olivia Stock about family, embracing his queerness through dance music, and nurturing safe spaces for young ravers

“Sometimes I feel like I’m an archeologist on Discogs trying to find the bones of a dinosaur,” laughs Fafi Abdel Nour, the Amsterdam-based artist whose...

Ohmydais

East London’s ohmydais records a mix of “cool, fast, sexy breaks and high energy bangers” for the Fresh Kicks series, and speaks to Olivia Stock about cutting her teeth in the Nottingham scene, finding her sound, uplifting friends, and her brand new collective party series

It’s noon at Waterworks 2023 and Team Woibey (‘vibey’ with a ‘w’, before you ask) are shelling percussive club bangers on the Pressure stage. Aided...

Grainy analogue photo of myst milano wearing a large white puffer jacket. They are posing in front of a faded pink curtain and their face is illuminated with a soft red light

Toronto’s myst milano. records a dazzlingly high-energy club mix for the Fresh Kicks series, and speaks to Megan Venzin about activism, AI, chronicling the conversation between Black music genres, and their new album, ‘Beyond The Uncanny Valley’

Run a Google search for myst milano., and the image results are a sight to behold. Adorned in flamboyant hats, beehive-spun braids, and soaring platforms...

Rosie Ama and Nadia of Kiara Scuro sitting side by side in a field of tall grass and ferns

Kiara Scuro record a mix of acid-soaked house, trippy techno and gnarly trance for the Fresh Kicks series, and chat to Olivia Stock about finding their identity on the radio, the genre-defying influence of Optimo (Espacio), and their forthcoming debut EP

London-based DJ and production duo Kiara Scuro are all about contrast. From the lavish breadth of their club sets, which flow through low-slung UK techno...

Sabrina standing in a dark blue dress with a black denim jacket off her shoulders

London’s Sabrina channels classic rave NRG in her high-speed, peak-time mix for the Fresh Kicks series, and chats to Becca Inglis about growing up in the squat party scene, developing an expansive sound, and her dreams of supporting The Prodigy

For Sabrina, dance music is a family affair. Reluctant to be apart from his young daughter, her dad — who raised her after her parents...

Photo of AK Sports posing in an industrial-looking hallway. They're wearing a black corset top and a flowing pink skirt. Their hair is cropped short and blonde and their hand is resting on their head with their elbow pointing out

LA-based Aussie DJ and producer AK Sports records a breakneck rave mix for the Fresh Kicks series, and chats to Ben Hindle about finding their sound in London, the joys of genre fusion, and their WARP MODE warehouse parties with Bianca Oblivion and Star Eyes

AK Sports first got involved with music booking bands at a bar in Bondi Beach, Australia. Just known as Madi Carr back then, they quickly...

Press shot of KYRUH in a white shirt with the sleeves rolled up and a black harness

Brooklyn’s KYRUH pulls no punches in her explosive techno mix for the Fresh Kicks series, and chats to Anna Wall finding her feet in New York’s club scene, and the music that gets her heart jumping

Born and raised in Brooklyn, New York, KYRUH became a techno devotee frequenting parties such as the now defunct Solarplexia, a DIY series held in...

Sam Goku standing in a beige coat and baseball cap in front of a leafy park

Munich’s Sam Goku records a mix of mind-altering rave material and fast-paced techno for the Fresh Kicks series, and chats to Ria Hylton about his new album on Permanent Vacation, his evolution as a producer, and the harmonising potential of nature

Sam Goku’s productions are full of contrasts: light and airy, with lots of space, and somehow rooted, occasionally anchored by a weighty bassline that wouldn’t...

Maral sitting in front of a glass door, her fender stratocaster at her back and her studio equipment laid out on the floor in front of her

Los Angeles-based, Iranian-American artist Maral celebrates Nowruz – Persian New Year – and the arrival of spring with her 80-minute, genre-spanning Fresh Kicks mix, and speaks to Eoin Murray about sampling, the influence of nature on her music, her unconventional DJing technique, and the inherent beauty of resistance

“Music, poetry and nature: those are the tenets of being Iranian,” says Maral, the Los Angeles-based artist whose innovative releases and DJ mixes merge elements...

Stones Taro standing in a black sweater in front of a wall

Kyoto’s Stones Taro sprints from acid-scorched techno and electro into sizzling breaks and garage for the Fresh Kicks series, and chats to Ben Murphy about his love of ‘90s UK dance music, his NC4K label with Lomax, and his local scene

The snapping snares and bass barrages of Stones Taro have become a ubiquitous presence in the sets of many DJs. Since 2017, this Kyoto-based DJ/producer...

Fresh Kicks 194: Kiernan Laveaux

Kiernan Laveaux records a mix of psychedelic rave magic for the Fresh Kicks series, and speaks to Eoin Murray about Cleveland’s queer club community, T4T LUV NRG, empowering others through music, and being a ‘house is a feeling’ DJ above all

It's Sunday night at Freerotation 2022 and, after three days of raving at the intimate festival in Wales' Baskerville Hall, energies are wavy, and starting...

Fresh Kicks 193: Lolsnake

Lolsnake records a mix of tripped-out techno and trance for the Fresh Kicks series, and chats to Niamh O’Connor about her Iraqi-American heritage, being nurtured by the Berlin rave scene, and the evolution of her Weeeirdos club events

“It’s all about playfulness in the end, and mischievousness,” says Danielle Lumma Rahal, aka Lolsnake, when describing her event, Weeeirdos. “There are no restrictions, genre-wise...

Fresh Kicks 191: Aleksandir

Istanbul-born, London-based Aleksandir glides from glossy electronica and house into tough techno and footwork for the Fresh Kicks mix series, and chats to Eoin Murray about making emotional club music, his new single ‘String Game feat. Leyla’, and his Miks party

“Conveying emotion is always the priority,” says Aleksandir, the Turkish-British DJ and producer who has spent the past few years building a catalogue of club-tuned...

Fresh Kicks 190: Monster

Poznań-based DJ and Oramics member Monster records a high-velocity mix of techno, breaks and rave NRG for the Fresh Kicks series, and chats to Niamh O’Connor about learning to mix at house parties and the @bathroomdjgreatesthits meme account

Monster’s DJ sets reflect the vibe she conveys in person: warm, engaging, playful and heaps of fun. It’s Monday afternoon, and a few days ago...

Fresh Kicks 189: SUCHI

SUCHI records a "deep, percussive, bassy and hypnotic selection with touches of euphoria” for the Fresh Kicks mix series, and chats to Tara Joshi about growing up in Norway, the Daytimers collective, and the varied cultural influences that have guided her sound

“For me, it’s about moving the dancefloor, physically and emotionally,” Suchi Ahuja explains over the phone. Anyone who has witnessed a set from the Manchester-based...