Magic, Martinis, & Music: Q&A with DJ Martelo

Kicking off his career at the tender age of 15 through selling mixtapes in high school, south London based Martelo’s unparalleled musical knowledge, selection and technical ability has thrilled crowds across the globe.

From major music festivals Coachella, Glastonbury, Wireless and Sonar to super clubs Fabric, Ministry of Sound and The Cause, by way of the most intimate club settings from Leeds to Lisbon, Bali to Bristol,
Martelo’s sound and talent has reached global audiences and music lovers.

A name synonymous with the sound systems of Notting Hill Carnival, Martelo is a regular highlight for
many at Europes biggest street party. Regarded as “your favourite DJ’s favourite DJ” his ability to connect worlds and people through sound is second to none.

Ahead of our fourth round of Magic & Martinis with Troy the Magician at The Standard, London, we caught up with DJ Martelo to discuss the magic in his music. 

Your NTS show feels like a sonic spell—how does living in South London influence the "magic" of your musical selections?


It’s probably the vast space we have here to explore, wandering through the boroughs and noticing the subtle differences—yet, in the end, it’s all still South. It’s much like my approach to the sounds I play: though they may vary, they’re all interconnected. No matter how different things seem, my aim is to show you what binds it all together.


Most magical DJ set and location you’ve ever played?


Maybe it’s playing deep in the woods at Leeds Festival with EZ and Oneman, or playing the Big Burn at SGP—where you DJ from an island, get ferried back on a rowboat, and then watch them burn the island down. Or even spinning in an igloo at Glastonbury. Each moment is different, but they all share that same bonkers connection.


Many DJs and producers describe collaboration as a kind of alchemy—how do you create that "golden" connection with your collaborators?


It’s simple, really. Most DJs are just music nerds at heart—we live for the music. So when you meet a kindred spirit, it’s an instant click. The more you share what makes you, you, the deeper that connection becomes.


If you had to create a “musical spell” to enchant a crowd, what three elements would you include, and why?


That’s pretty much the plan every time—get them in the palm of my hand, then I can take it wherever I want. I like to give them something they know, something they don’t, and something they might’ve forgotten—or maybe never heard in a DJ or dancefloor context before.


Have you ever worked with an artist or DJ whose music felt almost supernatural in its impact or creation?


Yeah, DJ Mehdi. The way he crafted music and found rhythms and pockets was just next level. Being in the booth or on the dancefloor when he played was an out-of-body experience and an education. 


If your NTS show were a magical journey through South London, which stops or sounds would be essential along the way?


Some essentials would be E+C and Old Kent Road for those Latin sounds (Dembow, Cumbia, etc.), Stockwell for the Portuguese and Brazilian selections (Baile Funk, Batida, Kuduro, etc.), Peckham and New Cross for the roads (Giggs, Novelist), and Croydon for my UKG and Dubstep crew. But ultimately, we’ve gotta rep the whole city to show the full spectrum of magic London has to offer!

Feel the magic in the music with Martelo's playlist. 

Join us & Martelo for a magical night on January 30th. Magic by Troy the Magician and beats with MarteloAbigurl

BOOK HERE 

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