A DJ that is billed on event line ups like any other live act and a producer whose names comes at the front of a track title (sacrilege!), new era wave maker Changing Currents is flipping the script. Ahead of his performance at the Goodboyz x OG Kicks event, we caught a glimpse of the man behind the enigmatic artist.
Solomon: So earlier I called you a producer/DJ but I feel like you’re a lot more than that, how would you describe yourself?
Changing Currents: I like ‘artist’, I feel like I say that quite a lot. [DJing and producing] is art at the end of the day, y’know, like I’m involved with the cover art and when I DJ I like it to feel like an experience. I like to call myself an artist more than anything.
S: You’re a fashionista as well, sickest swag in Brighton! Do you put a lot of thought into your outfits?
C: Basically, Depop, right, you just like a bunch of shit and then it like makes this moodboard for you. I love it. I love fashion. If I go to a show I need to look fly- I can’t look bummy, I need to have a good outfit.
S: Well as a DJ you’re performing as well so I feel like you need to have a bit of presence, right?
C: Yeah, that’s it. Clothes talk loud. When you walk into a room your clothes speak for you. You can judge someone just by what they’re wearing and I think that’s sick. I love that.
S: So what are your clothes telling me right now?
C: Naw, right now I’m just back from work. I’m looking real comfortable, I dunno, tired boy. That’s me today. Tired boy. Real tired!
S: Well, I remember when I first came across you, you were immediately cemented into the Brighton scene. How was the come up for you?
C: It’s funny, it was really Rossi Bar when I became Changing Currents. Being a DJ on an underground hip hop scene wasn’t really done for a while. Y’know the DJ was just there to fill the gaps. But Toby, who runs Goodboyz, put me on as an artist and I love him for that. Nobody knew who I was at the time, people were outside in the smoking area saying “Changing Currents is on let’s get inside” thinking that it was gonna be an but and then they come in and see this DJ and they’re like “what?!”. One people were there, though, they really got into it and I think that was the start of things for me. It felt like all the pieces were coming together.
I started producing soon afterwards and then, yeah, since lockdown DJing has just been going nuts. It’s been blessed, Brighton has really helped me out a lot. I love it here.
S: That’s interesting, so where did the name Changing Currents come from?
C: I’m obsessed with the beach. I’m there, you’ve probably seen me, every single day drinking prosecco, mixing cocktails. You know the vibe! But also my personality, my music it’s always changing. It all just ties together so well, I could be a completely different person next month than I am this month and I kind of embrace that. Even my sexuality, it just changes, it fluctuates, so I thought the name worked well.
Changing Current’s ‘Exertion’ EP was released in 2020 and featured Bawo, Nelson Dialect and Bina
S: It’s funny, I do this with every artist, I hear their name and just make up my own story behind it. So I saw it in a musical sense, you’re quite different to a lot of other DJs in Brighton and the sounds coming out of the city. Remember the ‘Exertion’ EP? That’s so different to what everyone else was doing in Brighton at the time, that sort of Afrobeat/Afroswing style. What influenced you to start making that?
C: So there’s this label- well it’s sorta more of a community- out in LA called Soulection. I’ve always just been obsessed with beats that transcend me. I was listening to Afrobeats throughout high school and I never really heard it happening in Brighton. It felt so good being able to do that and push it on to people.
S: So, were you a DJ first or a producer?
C: I was a DJ first but I was literally just DJing in my granpa’s crib. It was actually a friend’s dad who put me onto producing, he showed me FL Studio. *chuckles* I was so bad, but I knew I had a passion for it because I was doing it every single day. It became an obsession.
S: Are you doing much producing at the moment?
C: Yeah, I haven’t released anything since last summer! I’m definitely still on producing, but since I’ve been DJing I feel like I’ve really been seeing something brewing. Not in a cocky way but just seeing people having a good time and people really starting to get into the music. I’m starting to figure out what makes people get lit and seeing what they enjoy, so I’ve just been taking the time to perfect my craft. When I release music I want it ready, I want bangers.
S: Are there any producer/DJs that really inspired you?
C: I say this all the time but, Kaytranada. I feel like he saved my life in a way. Other influences… Soulection, of course, Jarreau Vandal my guy Elroy. Which is great because he’s helping me out with my music now. To have someone there who I’ve been looking up to since young, it’s lit.
S: You mentioned Kaytranada saved your life, how so?
C: Just my whole personality changed when I found Kaytranada, it’s mad. Before Kaytranada, I’m not even joking, I listened to EDM and dubstep. I’ve never admitted to that and I don’t even wanna talk about it *laughts*.
S: You also mentioned a bit earlier about the name Changing Currents and your sexuality, do you want to elaborate on that more?
C: As a queer- I use the word queer because I don’t want to label myself too much- I’ve been through a lot. Came out bi, then didn’t know if I was bi, didn’t know if I was gay, didn’t know if I was straight. The older I got the more I became comfortable with this queer label. I like to be vocal about it because when I was coming out I had no one to talk to. There was no one in the industry I could look at and go “I can relate to you”. It’s super important to be speaking out because I know there’s people out that I’m helping, even if they’re silent and even if they haven’t come out. For me to be able to be so open about it, I hope it helps them.
S: How did you find the response when you came out?
C: Ah man it was great. If there’s anyone struggling to come out just do it. I’m Changing Currents on Instagram, if you need help just message me. It feels like a massive weight off your shoulders. Coming out bi also made me a better artist and producer, I’d say, just having that freedom. Music reflects your life so you need to feel as free as possible.
S: So mentioned your social media earlier and you’ve definitely got a ‘vibrant’ presence on there [borrowing a word CC used to describe himself earlier].
C: *Chuckles* It’s actually funny, my social media’s been growing but it’s not even really been through music, it’s been through just chatting absolute nothing on my story. People come up to me on nights out and they’re like “Are you Changing Currents?”, “Yeah”, “Oh my God! I love your stories!”. But I love it. In this day and age being able to just laugh at someone, relate to someone or get angry at someone, like Kanye, it’s important. I like to make people laugh but I also like to be myself. Social media’s also so fake, I like to keep it real.
S: But you are real though. I remember a Q&A you did on Instagram a while ago and every answer was just so impactful. Ranging from your sexuality to your influences, it’s moments like that I think are really important. You’re using it for the right reasons.
C: Yeah, I dunno, I guess there’s just always people that look up to you, no matter who you are, even if you don’t see it. *Shrugs*
S: Well, on that note, what would you say to any upcoming DJs who maybe not from London or the major cities?
C: Be true to yourself. Live a good life because your music is a reflection of your surroundings. Never shy down, always stand up tall. Everything will work out, you got this!
Coming from anyone else I might have taken that closing pep talk with a grain of salt, but I really felt that Changing Currents was speaking from the heart. Having clearly grappled with issues himself, his presence is unmistakably genuine and is all the more captivating because of it.
Changing Currents DJs at Patterns’ legendary Donuts event every Tuesday but, while you’re here, you might as well check out the ‘Exertion’ EP he released back in 2020.
