ーCould you share the thoughts and ideas behind this mix?
I usually play at clubs and DJ bars, adapting to the atmosphere of each place and playing a wide range of music, from disco to deep house. For this session, I put the mix together hoping I could develop that style naturally over the course of an hour.
— Were there any tracks you especially wanted to play or introduce to everyone today?
One of them is a 10th-anniversary compilation from a venue in Korea called Glass Haus.
I actually visited recently, and it reminded me of OPPA-LA in Japan. It’s a really nice outdoor venue right by the beach, with a great atmosphere. The compilation comes in two different sleeve colors, orange and blue, and features minimal house. It includes tracks by several local artists and producers, and it’s really good. I played it today partly because I wanted more people to discover Glass Haus, and I hope they’ll get a chance to visit and experience it for themselves.
The other record is When The Dawn Breaks, a recent release by Remmy, who’s someone I really look up to and also consider a good friend.I work as a hairstylist, and I actually do Remmy’s hair, too. All of his tracks are really cool, but this one blends disco with elements of Detroit and Chicago sounds. It’s a great record for peak time, but it also works really well when you’re building up the energy at a party. I chose it because I wanted to let Remmy know that I played his track today.
— Could you tell us a little about what you do with Nektar?
Nektar is a crew of five people around the same age. You could call it a collective, or a party, or something in between. We started about a year ago with the idea of creating a space that could serve as a platform for our community.
We currently host our own party at RED BAR every Tuesday. We also get invited to various parties, including events at ENTER, and continue to develop our activities through those opportunities.
— What inspired you to start Nektar?
We were all active as DJs individually, but we happened to keep running into each other, and we gradually started hanging out more often.
I’d been organizing parties on my own for a long time, but I also wanted to start creating something together with other people. By then, we were all around 28, and we started thinking, “If we’re going to do something, maybe now’s the time.” It felt like we still had time to make it happen, and I wanted us to work together and build something substantial.
Then, one day, the five of us happened to be in the same place, and I was the first one to suggest that we should do it. That’s how it all started.
— Could you introduce the members?
First, there’s Andy, a DJ from Okayama. He organizes parties in Okayama while also being involved in Nektar here in Tokyo. Then there’s Sota, who’s a photographer as well as a DJ. He takes photos at our parties and shoots the visuals when we release new T-shirts, for example. Hayato used to work in audio engineering, and he helps us with things like mastering when we upload our mixes. And then there’s Yoshitaka, who works on our visuals and graphics, putting them together and editing them. Those four, plus me, make up the five members.
— So you’re the hairstylist for the crew, too? (laughs)
I can take care of that whenever they need me to. (laughs) But they all come to me to get their hair cut anyway.
— So each of the five of you has your own role.
Yeah, we work well as a team, and I think we have a good balance. We all get along and enjoy working together.
ーDo you have any advice for people looking to organize parties or events in Tokyo?
We’re still growing ourselves, so we’re not really in a position to give advice. But we don’t think throwing a party is all that difficult. Anyone can do it if they really want to. It just takes putting your mind to it. So don’t overthink it too much, and just give it a try. Above all, never forget to be grateful for the community around you!
We believe that with the courage to take that first step and a sense of gratitude, you can leave your own mark on the scene you’re part of.
ーBesides DJing, what stimulates your creativity?
Being a hairdresser, the shoots and creative work I do in that field are obviously a huge part of what I do. But whether it’s DJing or anything else, I’m often inspired creatively by the friends around me. I never want to lose that feeling of seeing the people around me creating experiences, spaces, and expressions that move people, and thinking, “They’re all doing their thing, so I’ve got to keep pushing myself too.”
— How do you usually dig for records?
I check the latest arrivals at various record shops online. I also go to record stores in person and spend time looking through lots of used records. I play digital tracks quite a bit, too, so I do a lot of digging on Bandcamp and SoundCloud as well.
- What do you think is the appeal of DJing with vinyl?
I feel like you end up owning fewer records than you would with digital music, which allows you to focus more on pursuing your own tastes and the sound you really love. Also, the way he looks working the lathe is seriously cool. lol
ーWhat plans do you have for 2026?
For Nektar, bringing international DJs to Japan and successfully completing the Japan tour was one of the goals we set out to achieve, and we’re glad we made it happen. We already have several big parties lined up from the end of this year into next year, so we want to keep creating spaces where everyone can come together and have a good time. Next year, we’d also like to explore new things beyond parties.
ーLast question, how was your experience DJing at Ella Records today?
I don’t often get to play in a place this bright, where I can really focus on myself and what I’m playing, so I was pretty nervous. But everyone was having a good time and getting into it, which helped me relax and enjoy myself, too. It was a really great experience.
