BERLINCIAGAY #6 – STEELE

Interview

How have you been, and what’s been keeping you inspired lately?
Whether it’s sets, productions, remixes, creative projects, or your own well-being.

I’m feeling in a really good place creatively and in my personal life. Very grateful for the opportunities that came in 2025 and all the amazing people I met along the way. I’m a fairly new DJ to the scene and only started gigging around two years ago, so last year’s focus was on getting myself out there as much as possible. This year is about mastering vinyl DJing, as I learned digitally. I’m already hooked on buying vinyl — it’s VERY addictive, ha!

How and where did you record your BERLINCIAGAY mix?
Was there a specific idea, mood, or emotion you wanted to explore?

For this mix, I wanted to show the genres of music that I really resonate with. The mix is a blend of tribal rhythms, c*nty and Latin-infused house.

Was there a standout moment for you in 2025?
Could be personal, professional, or just something that stuck with you.

Honestly, 2025 was such a ride, but the standout moment was getting to play at Fabric, not once but twice. I closed on both sets and as it’s such a mixed crowd I was so nervous how they would respond to my music, but they loved it, I honestly had the biggest smile all night.

At the heart of BERLINCIAGAY is a vision of gay community.
What does the idea of a “safe space” mean to you?

A safe space, to me, is where you don’t have to edit yourself. Where you’re free to exist without performance, fear, or explanation. It’s built on respect, care, and shared energy — a place where community comes first and everyone is allowed to be exactly who they are.

You and Jamie just celebrated one year of your party series, SERVE — congrats!
What have you learned from building and running your own night?

Thank you! It’s been such a fun year getting to do this with my best friend. I work in a nightclub full time and Jamie works in events, so we’ve actually had a pretty smooth ride. I think working with friends or family can be the hardest thing, and we’ve both learned to adapt to each other’s working styles – and to make sure we leave the work chat on WhatsApp and don’t let it spill over into our sis time.

You’ve played at quite a few sex-positive parties.
How have those spaces influenced you — musically, creatively, or personally?

For me, musically, I learned a lot about building tension on the dancefloor and not giving too much away too quickly (basically edging them, ha!).

Who are some of your biggest musical inspirations?
Any artists, records, or scenes that helped shape your sound?

There are a lot of DJs I look up to and love for the energy they put out when they’re playing. Ones I can’t get enough of are Roi Perez, Julie Desire, and S-candalo. I’ve seen them all a few times at festivals and gigs and I’m always blown away by their sets.

What excites you about life in London?
Are there places, people, or moments that have shaped your artistic journey?

There are so many new nights popping up in London, and I made it a goal to get to as many as I could last year — and plan to do the same this year. Don’t get me wrong, I love a big nightclub with lots of rooms, but supporting new nights and meeting new people on the dancefloor is what really excites me.

How do you build meaningful connections within London’s queer nightlife scene?
And what does that community mean to you?

I think a meaningful connection can come in many forms – you don’t necessarily need to know someone’s name to fully connect with them on the dancefloor. I’ve met so many people dancing, not even spoken a word to them, but still shared such queer joy with them. So for me, it’s more about talking less and being in the moment with someone.

Looking ahead to 2026 — what are you excited about?
Any creative goals, upcoming gigs, or dreams you’re working toward?

Jamie and I will be taking SERVE monthly from February, which I can’t wait for. It means we get to book even more amazing queer London talent and continue building our community. Creatively, my goal is to nail vinyl as much as I can and hopefully play a full vinyl set at our second birthday.