Desiree

A dynamic and vibrant selector from house mecca South Africa, DESIREE is living proof that unwavering passion for collecting and sharing music can be the catalyst behind a high level of success. Born and raised in one of the world’s most exciting electronic music epicentres, she emerged on the world stage thanks to her infallible reputation for expertly blending a myriad styles into her exhilarating DJ sets. A connoisseur, who is driven by a deep yearning to dig for electronica in its many forms, DESIREE channels her broad knowledge and passion into unforgettable performances.

Constantly driving forwards, DESIREE has graced the cover of DJ Mag North America, with the influential publication also naming her as their Future Star. She has also appeared on BBC Radio 1’s iconic Essential Mix series, Boiler Room and picked up a residency with leading online radio broadcaster, Rinse FM. Her distinct sound has led to bookings at some of the world’s most influential clubs and festivals; DC-10, fabric, Hï Ibiza, Glastonbury, Cercle, DGTL, Lost Village, and many more. A formidable force, whose spirit embodies the soul and energy of her home nation, DESIREE is primed to keep soaring to the highest heights.

DESIREE’s youth was spent in Ivory Park, a township in Johannesburg. There she formed the nucleus of her diverse sound. Naturally inquisitive and inspired by her love of fashion, she began to explore the music and sounds that accompanied the catwalk shows she watched avidly. An inherent love for alternative styles led her to Radiohead, Nick Cave and Thom Yorke’s side project, Atoms For Peace. She soon found that her passion for music eclipsed that of her peers, introducing friends to new sounds and artists, while also digging relentlessly for fresh material. This was the catalyst behind her eventual transition to the DJ booth…

A self-confessed late bloomer, DESIREE’s induction into the world of clubs came when she started university. Johannesburg’s Braamfontein district became her playground, where she discovered the transcendent power of the dance floor. The desire to research and collect music fed into her club experiences and, eventually, she found herself envisioning playing the music she was accumulating, driven by an inner confidence that it would ignite dance floors. She took a course at a DJ school in Soweto, and put together a rudimentary mix using Virtual DJ. Uploading the mix to Soundcloud marked a pivotal moment of transition, where DESIREE went from being a collector and dancer, to a selector-in-training. Posting more mixes, and refining her craft, along with being a familiar female face in the male-dominated party scene, brought DESIREE to the attention of Jackie Queens and Punk Mbedzi who booked her for residencies at their Surreal Electronica and The Rhythm parties respectively.

A few years after these early milestones, DESIREE is travelling around the world to spin at the world’s most prestigious venues. In May 2024 she had her first headline show at Elsewhere in New York. She has played back-to-back with Black Coffee (at Hi Ibiza), also appearing at DC-10 in Ibiza several times, commanded Room One at the mighty fabric in 2022 and curated her own lineup in Room Two in 2023. Other touring highlights include performances at Art Basel in Miami and festivals such as Time Warp, Exit, Audioriver, Day Zero, Caprices, Cercle and Lost Village, where her show stopping debut in 2021 led to an instant rebooking for 2022 – and again in 2023. Being able to showcase her abilities on the global stage has put DESIREE in front of many of the world’s most influential tastemakers and platforms. The result is appearances on BBC Radio 1’s legendary Essential Mix series, a Boiler Room performance that amassed over two million views in just four months and a residency with the UK’s premier electronic music broadcaster, Rinse FM.

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. Though she champions the rich rhythmic SA sound, she is not limited to that style alone and prides herself on her eclectic tastes. As anyone who has experienced her in action will attest, she’s a nimble dancer with impeccable selecting skills. From deep house to techno and more soulful cuts, it’s all in there.

A socially conscious and engaged artist, DESIREE is keen to utilise her platform to introduce the sound of her nation into spaces where it’s not typically found. She relishes the opportunity to play to crowds who are unfamiliar with SA’s soul-nourishing rhythms, using her DJ prowess to educate them and leave them hyped for more. Similarly, she is using her voice to raise awareness around diversity. In particular, DESIREE is an intersex woman, born with chromosomal patterns that are male. The term intersex represents a broad spectrum of non-binary biological characteristics and DESIREE is using her success to speak proudly about the condition.

In April 2023, DESIREE launched her own party MMINO (which means music in her native language, Sepedi). The party featured fellow SA selectors, Sanetran and Dormantyouth. The second edition took place in January 2024, bringing in Kampire, one of the core members of Uganda’s widely respected Nyege Nyege collective, alongside Sanetran and herself. Now the party is branching out internationally, and all proceeds from the event will be donated to Intersex South Africa.

On the production tip, DESIREE has been taking a considered approach, making time for the studio when the feeling is right. Her debut EP, Femme Tech, landed on Jackie Queens’ Bae Electronica in June 2022. The two-track release marked her first steps into the world of making music, something she is approaching with patience. This was followed by reworks of ‘Pussy Power’ by Keinemusik (feat. Nomi Ruiz) and ‘All I Need’ by LP Giobbi released on Counter Records. In the pipeline are a special remix of a much loved South African Jazz classic and her second EP.

It’s been a rapid rise for DESIREE, but her ambition, passion and commitment to her craft form the core pillars of a burgeoning career that is sure to flourish and endure for many years to come. Keeping her feet on the ground, with a thoughtful and considered approach to her activity has allowed DESIREE to nurture her artistry in her own way, which is key to longevity and maintaining true authenticity. A rare and shimmering star, DESIREE is already laying down the foundations of an extraordinary legacy…