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DJ Mag Top100 DJs
38
Florian Picasso
| NEW ENTRY

Yes, you’re reading that name correctly, and yes, Florian is related to the Picasso you’re thinking of. Adopted from Vietnam by Marina Picasso when he was three months old, Florian is the great-grandson of famed Spanish artist Pablo Picasso. Though that’s a tremendous name to live up to (Florian says he recognises the “challenge about writing my own legacy”), being part of a creative legacy has its perks. Not only did he also become interested in the creative arts at a young age (Pablo began at the age of 7, Florian at 13), but his family has always understood and supported his endeavours. 

In recent years, his stature has skyrocketed, with official remixes for some of the community’s most iconic pillars — from Benny Benassi to Flux Pavilion. It’s his originals, though, that have caught the ears of prestigious labels like Doorn, Dim Mak and Protocol in 2016. His work often references his heritage (the music video for ‘Final Call,’ for example, powerfully speaks on Vietnam’s tragic history with minefields), but also connects the dots to his current global passport, crafting a fresh brand of electro-tinged house that doesn’t belong to any nationality; it belongs to Florian. DANI DEAHL

What have been the new frontiers for you this year?

“Travelling, and being able to showcase my music to a new audience.”

Is electronic music taken seriously enough as an art-form?

“I still think we can push it further. For some people we are still lunatics, but I've seen a lot of progress in 2016.”

What’s the best new bit of DJ/production technology, and why?

“The Pioneer Tour1 system, it has so many screens — I can mix and be on Facebook, Snapchat and Netflix at the same time!”

If you had to switch your style to another genre, what would it be?

“I’m constantly switching styles and trying something different, so it's a tough one…”

As a fan, what is the top price you would pay to see yourself DJ?

“Art has no price.”

What can be done to prevent drug-related deaths at dance music events?

“Reinforce the searches at the door and increase the number of detection dogs at the gates. And also, keep giving free water to the crowd.”

How can we increase diversity in dance music?

“It's already pretty diverse, it's a lot of genres and sub-genres. In my opinion we can diversify it by democratising it, so props to DJ Snake and The Chainsmokers who managed to do that this year.”