He’s known for creating club bangers but for producer Djemba Djemba, this past year has been about evolution, experimentation and working with pretty much all the big names in pop music right now. He’ll be hitting our shores again this month, having been hand-picked by Nina Las Vegas for the NLV presents International Edition tour and we caught up with him to get the low-down on his current and upcoming projects.

It’s been a little while since we last caught up with you, what have you been up to this past year?

This has been the most random, stressful, exciting, and ultimately fulfilling year of my life. I produced songs with Maribelle, Alison Wonderland, Kimbra, Empire of The Sun, What So Not, RL Grime, and wrote crazy pop music with Madonna, Major Lazer, Elijah Blake, and Kiesza. I just got back from Beijing working with Chinese Megastar Lu Han. Although things are really starting to pick up in that world, I’m still focused on putting out more Djemba music, playing shows and festivals and at the same time making time to just fade out on my couch playing video games and hang with my friends. It’s fun.

How do you think your music has evolved in the past year?

I’m still making things my way, but obviously I try to make more than just club bangers. I think my sound is evolving into something really nostalgic but of the moment, which is what I think timeless music is. Honestly, I don’t know what I’m saying, but I still experiment with new styles every time I start a new song. Since I’m writing pop music for food, I feel like I can do whatever the fuck I want with my Djemba project.

How are you feeling about being included in Nina Las Vegas’s tour line-up?

I feel like this is the best way for me to present my new music in Australia. She has a very musically literate audience and I think they understand that there’s something more going on with the artists she’s selected. I’m really excited to tour with this group of artists!

You’ve been Down Under before, what’s the one thing you’re looking forward to the most about Australia?

Definitely the food!!! And hanging with some friends :D

You’ve been travelling and performing a lot recently. What’s been your most memorable show this year?

I just played Hard Summer on the Main Stage to like 8000 people. I’ve been going to Hard events as a fan since I was in college and it’s nice when your dreams come true. Luckily Gary and Danny at Hard understand what I do and believe in me and I just want to keep working Hard’er for them!

What have you been listening to lately?

Tame Impala, of course. D’Angelo. It Follows by Disasterpeace. Anything Bok Bok plays on his Night Slugs radio shows.

Who are your ‘artists to watch’ at the moment?

Team Supreme, especially JNTHN STEIN, Two Fresh, and Dot—they’ve been crushing it. My roommate TK just dropped a heater with Angel Haze. I think this kid Hi Tom is pretty dope. Swick, of course. Trekkie Trax from Japan. Lido and Santell working on an EP that’s probably gonna be the best release of the year.

Can you give us a little hint as to what we might see and hear during your set during the NLV tour?

I have a bunch of new music I want to play. Special guests for sure. :D

I hear there might be a new mixtape coming? Can you tell us any more about what you’ve been working on?

I’ve been working with Australian up-and-comer Maribelle—she has a new EP with songs by Obey City, Carmack, and myself that is probably gonna blow your mind. I’ll be dropping a bunch of remixes for free soon, but my main focus is getting this Djemba EP/album done.

You can catch Djemba performing live as part of the NLV presents International Edition later this month.

More Djemba Djemba

Event: NLV Presents International Edition featuring: Djemba Djemba, Monki and Mssingno
Team Player Feature: Djemba Djemba
Event recap: Melbourne – Djemba Djemba, DJ Hoodboi and Trippy Turtle