interview by MAREK BARTEK

A dynamic and vibrant selector from house mecca South Africa, DESIREE has a natural propensity for blending a range of styles into her sets, with the unique and infectious rhythm of her nation pulsating throughout. She never skips the opportunity to play for crowds who are unfamiliar with South Africa’s soul-nourishing rhythms, using her DJ prowess to educate them and leave them hyped for more. And similarly, she uses her voice to raise awareness around diversity.

full look PRADA

You grew up surrounded by South Africa’s vibrant house music scene for sure influenced your evolution as an artist. Do you feel like you carry this heritage into your performances today?

The influence of South African music runs deep in everything I do—it’s just there, like a heartbeat. Every time I play, whether it's fabric or a small basement somewhere, those songs naturally find their way into the mix. It's beautiful watching crowds connect with South African music for the first time, and seeing them discover what we've known back home forever.

Your musical journey began with curiosity about the sounds in fashion shows. How did your love for both fashion and music evolve together, and how do they influence each other in your life today?

I actually fell in love with music through fashion shows! I was obsessed with how the perfect track could completely transform a runway moment. Now both worlds feed into each other constantly. When I play, what I'm wearing is as crucial as what I'm playing—feeding the energy I want to create. Music and fashion overlap in the most natural way. It's all an expression. Both are different ways of telling stories.

dress MARTAN
shoes JIMMY CHOO

From listening to Metronomy and Nick Cave to embracing dance music, you’ve had quite a wide range of influences. How have these seemingly unrelated styles shaped your sound as a DJ and artist?

People sometimes raise an eyebrow when I mention Metronomy or Nick Cave, but those early obsessions taught me so much about creating atmosphere. Sure, I'm playing house and techno now, but that appreciation for texture, for building tension, it all comes from those days of getting lost in completely different sounds. It makes me approach dance music with fresh ears.

Johannesburg’s Braamfontein district was a pivotal place in your development as an artist. What was it about that scene that made you think, “I want to be in the DJ booth”?

Something magical was happening in Braamfontein for me back then. The minute I stepped into those clubs, felt that bass, saw how free everyone was, I knew I had to be part of it. Not just dancing anymore, but creating those moments. The energy was raw, real. Pure magic.

This dream of yours to become a DJ brought you into a DJ workshop in Soweto. What were the most valuable lessons or skills you took from that experience, both musically and personally?

Learning to DJ changed everything. Beyond the basics of beat matching, it showed me how personal this art form could be. My first uploads to Soundcloud were rough but the support from that community kept me going. The technical skills came with time, but the real lessons were about building confidence and finding my voice through music. Those early days of practicing for hours, getting lost in the process of discovering my sound... that's what really shaped me. Taking lessons might have taught me how to mix, but it showed me why I wanted to do this in the first place.

You’ve been a regular presence at iconic venues like fabric, panorama bar, DC-10 and performed at high-profile festivals like Glastonbury and Lost Village. What have been some of the most memorable or transformative performances for you?

Each big show has its own special memory, but Lost Village hit different. That crowd was ready for anything—following every switch-up, every mood change. fabric's Room One was another moment I'll never forget, standing where so many of my heroes had played, feeling all that history. But honestly, sometimes it's the intimate parties that leave the deepest mark. One of my favourite countries to play in is Kenya. The people have an infectious energy and the scene is burgeoning.

South Africa has such a rich and unique musical pulse. How do you go about weaving its rhythms and energy into your sets, especially when performing for international audiences?

I love that moment when a crowd first catches onto a South African song they've never heard before. You see it click, that instant when they get why these grooves move differently. I don't force it though, just let those elements build naturally with what I'm playing. The best sets flow between familiar and fresh.

Your MMINO party is an exciting project, bringing South African talent to both local and international audiences. Can you tell us more about it? What was your vision for MMINO, and what have you learned from curating this experience?

MMINO grew from wanting to create the kind of parties I dreamed of playing at. It's about bringing together sounds and people who might never normally connect, watching what happens when different energies collide. Every party teaches me something new about building community through music. Seeing how it's grown from an idea to this living, breathing thing... that's special.

full look TOM FORD

As an intersex woman, you’ve used your platform to raise awareness and advocate for diversity. How do you balance your personal identity with your public persona, and what message do you hope to communicate through your music and visibility?

Being visible as an intersex woman wasn't really a choice—it’s who I am. But seeing how it resonates with people who know little about intersex people, that makes every moment of visibility worth it. The dance floor should be a space for everyone to feel free, to feel seen.

top and underwear HAN KJØBENHAVN
boots AGL
tights Stylist’s own

With the success of your latest EP ‘Intersexy’, how do you approach your creative process in the studio compared to your work as a DJ, and what do you hope to bring to listeners?

Making my own music is completely different from DJing. For me, it's like comparing poetry to storytelling. In the booth, everything's immediate, raw, driven by the energy exchange with the crowd. The studio is where I get to explore deeper ideas, pull apart the sounds that move me and rebuild them in my own way. ‘Intersexy’ came from those quiet moments of experimentation, trying to capture certain feelings I've experienced on dance floors around the world and elucidating my personal taste. When I'm remixing, it's about finding that perfect balance, bringing my signature to a track while keeping what made it special in the first place. I hope the music takes listeners somewhere unexpected.

dress 032C
underwear CHISENGA
shoes JIMMY CHOO

You’ve collaborated with well-known artists and appeared on platforms like Boiler Room and BBC Radio 1. How have these opportunities shaped you as an artist, and what do they mean to you in terms of reaching a global audience?

Those big platform moments are affirming—like doing the Essential Mix! But what matters most is using them to showcase our scene, our sounds. Every Boiler Room set or radio show is a chance to push the music I believe in to new ears. It's not about me. It’s about opening doors for what's coming next.

full look PRADA

As you look to the future, what drives you most? Are there any personal goals or creative directions you’re excited to explore further as you continue to build your legacy in or outside of electronic music?

Right now, I'm excited about everything—pushing MMINO further, getting deeper into production, finding new ways to combine fashion and music. But mostly, I want to keep building spaces where people feel free to be themselves, whether that's through parties, music, or just showing up as I am. The rest will flow from there. Oh…and I’m playing Coachella in 2025 which I’m incredibly excited about!

TEAM CREDITS:
talent DESIREE
photography DANIEL SARS
styling & interview MAREK BARTEK
hair & makeup ANH NGUYAEN
editor TIMOTEJ LETONJA
cover design ARTHUR ROELOFFZEN
locaction PARQ STUDIOS

IN CONVERSATION WITH DESIREE

IN CONVERSATION WITH SHANTY VIDAL

IN CONVERSATION WITH JOHN KIM