Despite its constant battles with club closures, government funding, and an ongoing cost of living crisis, London’s nightlife scene is like a weed which refuses to die, constantly forcing its way upward through whatever cracks it can find throughout the vast concrete landscape it calls home.
As the epidemic of nightclub closures around the city continues (London has lost around 57 venues from 2020 to 2024, which equates to around a 29% decline according to the NTIA), the few institutions that still exist have unsurprisingly become hotbeds for the city’s creative community. One of the spaces that still has that gravatational pull is East London’s FOLD. Located in Canning Town, the nightclub/arts space/community venue has seen thousands pass through its doors since its opening in 2018, many of which have been inspired in its hallowed halls, further exemplifying the importance of the club as a cultural space for community, idea sharing, and inspiration.
One of the newer artists to enter the fray as a result of this club’s influence is Italian-born, London-based DJ Desireé. Her sci-fi-inspired sound encompasses transcendental and hypnotic rhythms which guide her listeners on a spiritual journey through physical means.
Though she began her foray into electronic music just under three years ago, Desireé has quickly developed her craft by connecting deeply with the sounds of the dancefloor and practising empathic listening, tuning in to what other DJs are orchestrating in the moment. Her approach has already landed her gigs at some of the UK’s most respected underground venues, including FOLD and Corsica Studios, as well as featuring on Tresor’s launchpad program New Faces back in 2023.
Alongside her rising DJ career, Desireé is also a part of Polyritmica, a cross-country collective with roots in both London and Rome (the former being its home base for parties, and the latter serving as a base for its bi-monthly residency on independent station Rough Radio). In addition to this, she also helms her own project, extraterrestrial.desire, which was born and created for exploration of her ambient, sci-fi, hypnotic, and experimental influences.
In her mix, Desireé shares 69 minutes of pulsing, tribal, and hypnotic techno inspired by the dance floors that shaped her.
What are some of your early musical influences?
I listened to a wide range of different genres from an early age. From reggae, old school rap, punk rock, and minimal techno to classical music and jazz. My journey with techno developed over the years while I listened to everything from house to hardcore and went to all sorts of parties. I eventually ended up building and shaping my taste in the last three years, delving into, appreciating, and connecting deeply with classic 4×4 techno with hypnotic influences.
When did you decide to take DJing seriously?
It was during Covid when I finally started practicing seriously, as I had lots of time, of course. In September ‘22 I had my first gig (it was a b2b). From there, I started to have more opportunities, so I thought to give it a try and eventually had my first solo gig.
How did you develop your sound?
I mainly developed my sound on the dance floor where I was able to connect with sounds and frequencies in an intimate way. Getting to “know” the DJs in a different way, listening to their emotions put into music. All of this happened in safe spaces like Fold and Berghain. At the beginning, I had the luck of having friends guiding me in a direction I might have liked.
What artists, labels, scenes are responsible for Desireé?
Some of the artists are definitely Carrier (previously Shifted), Dasha Rush, Luke Slater, Pulso, Translate, and Efdemin. Labels definitely Ostgut Ton, ANGLS, Planet Rhythm, KSR, Hypnus Records, and Non Series to name a few.
UNFOLD plays a huge part in the London scene and has definitely shaped me. You are able to listen to your friends debuting, and the next thing you know, you’re experiencing Marcel Dettmann playing an intimate set.
Tell us about your event Polyritmica. Why did you decide to launch a party and how have you navigated the challenges of the grassroots music scene?
Polyritmica is a collective of friends first, and then music lovers. We wanted to bring something underground to the scene and something musically educative. High prices of clubs, artist fees, and also competition are the daily challenges. Being patient and focused on our ideas and path is important.
You have another ongoing project, extraterrestrial.desire. Can you share the story behind the platform and its aims?
This project is literally my baby. It’s the desire of the extra-terrestrial. It’s a growing project and platform born and created for ambient, sci-fi, hypnotic, experimental music, self-expression and exploration. Everything that is the opposite of dance floor oriented. You can use it for meditation, relaxation, and spiritual reflection. I felt like there was a need for it in the scene, as I saw a lack of platforms like this one. So I thought to combine my obsession with the extra-terrestrial and techno.
Tell us about your mix for //SNCMAG.
This set includes most of everything that I like. Unlike the other podcasts I have online, which are just about having a great hypnosis, this one is a mix of what I like to play and what I like to hear as a dancer. Hypnotic, tribal & break stuff, old & new, engaging deep voices, and peak-time techno.
What’s next for Desiree’?
I live by the day, and I try to express my creativity with music and art, I am grateful for every opportunity, and I take everything as a lesson. I have a background in photography, and I like to create artworks mainly of textures of things that surround me. I would love to mix this and music in the future. I have a few dreams, and I’m sure they’ll become reality.
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Tracklist:
Sola – Kangding Ray
Swirl – Cio D’Or
There Will Be Singing (DJ Koze Remix) – Efdemin
Hypnotica Scale – CH-Signal Laboratories (8003 Lucerne), Sandwell District
Swamps – DJ Deep
The Path They Followed – Solma
Unfold – Newa
Stockholm Syndrome – Obscur
Volcanus – John Plaza
Stressed – DJ Deep
2015 – Franz Jager
Beaten – Cirkle
Estructura – Adriana Lopez
Abatis – Ryan Elliott
Extraction Force – DJ Deep, Roman Poncet, Adventice
b99 – Judy
Lupe – John Plaza
Centipede – Shifted
Euterpe – Dino Sabatini & Edit Select
Somebody – BLANKA
Submit Yourself (Rene Wise Remix) – Dustin Zahn
Crashing Rhythms – ARKVS
Nexus – Subsequence, Agata
The Motivation (Efdemin Remix) – Tadeo
Poplar Docks – Pulso
Magnit Express – Collabs ft. Chris Liebing & Speedy J
Undici – P4PS
Solar Limb – Mike Parker
Березовый ветер Угасание – Пустоты / Voids
Ocean’s Outro – Marcelo Antonio
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