Jia Sharma (she/her)
O-Week is often described as one of the cornerstones of the first-year experience. But while the money management seminars and hall bonding exercises are important, it's the parties that most people look forward to. I would call it a week to remember, but if you’re doing it right there will be at least a couple nights you have no memory of.
The O-Week lineups are designed for you to have as much fun as possible in your first weeks at university. You’ll see everything from up-and-coming local talent to international acts like Yung Gravy and Lime Cordiale, who have graced the stage in recent years. Sure, socializing and having a good time with your new cohort might be at the top of your list, but the DJs and musicians at O-Week are absolutely worth your attention. This year’s lineup was packed with talented DJs, including a few who were once in your shoes—fresh university students just a few years ago.
Seini
Seini’s journey into DJing began at Weir House, where boredom led her to buy a set of decks on Facebook Marketplace. What started as casual fun soon turned into something bigger. She began DJing at pre-drinks and hosting gigs in her twin share room in the hall. By August of last year, she was opening a gig at B-Space. Now, Seini is a fixture at clubs and bars all around the CBD, with gigs at Valhalla, Heartbreaker, and the Garden Hotel. If you’re out on a weekend, chances are you’ll catch her behind the decks.
As a full-time student by day and a DJ by night, Seini has had to adjust her sleep schedule drastically. After coming home from a club set, she’s often up while most people are starting their morning runs. In all aspects, it’s all about finding that "happy medium,” as she put it.
“DJing is the new ukulele,” Seini told me. “Everybody wants to do it.” But, she added, it’s not as easy as it looks. It’s more than playing a song on Spotify and tapping a few buttons. It took some practice to learn the art of mashing up songs and learning how to play off the vibe of the crowd while still staying true to your own personal style and tastes. What’s often overlooked in the world of DJing is the preparation. Seini shared how many late nights are spent curating sets and downloading music onto her USB stick in time for a gig.
Seini’s set at the Pop Girlies Night was the only show I was able to catch and it did not disappoint. It’s clear that she has a talent for feeding into the energy of the crowd. Her song selection was perfect for her audience, the second the opening beats of Guess by Charli XCX started playing the crowd almost doubled. You could tell that they enjoyed Seini herself as much as they enjoyed the music she played.
If you want to hear more from Seini, tune in to her radio show on Radioactive.fm every Friday, where she talks all things music.
Shaq
Shaq is an artist that has DJing in his blood, literally. “My dad was a DJ back in the day,” he recalls, reflecting on his childhood memories of attending gigs at just 10 years old. After studying at Te Auaha in Wellington, where he was mentored by DJ RAW, Shaq quickly jumped into the club scene. He credits his formal DJ education, explaining that students from DJ schools often find success more quickly, with clubs frequently scouting talent directly from these programs. This served as Shaq’s gateway into the industry.
Shaq’s style has evolved since he first started professionally in 2019. Originally focusing on hip hop, he has now pushed towards Global Club, showcasing a fusion of different genres and sounds from around the world. This is a genre that is reshaping dance floors across Aotearoa and Australia. “There’s Amapiano from South Africa, Baile Funk from Brazil… it’s pretty cool.”
Shaq’s approach to crafting his sets include a lot of preparation. “It’s 90% preparation and 10% performance” he notes. The art of reading the crowd is key, especially when performing at a club where the goal is to give people the music they want. But when he’s playing shows where people buy tickets and come just for him, he really gets to shine and showcase the music he loves.
After a few years of taking residencies in Wellington clubs, he relocated to Brisbane, seeking out bigger clubs, larger crowds, and more opportunities to grow as an artist. Shaq has since joined a crew of club residents, and since finishing school in 2019, DJing has been his full-time career. His next goal? To play at some of the biggest festivals in Australia.
Broderbeats
In just over a year, this Broderbeats has gone from playing at small house parties to performing on some of the biggest stages in Aotearoa. Despite being a new name on the scene, having only picked up DJing at the end of 2023, his musical journey began long before that. Lennox started high school as a passionate athlete, he unfortunately tore his ACL, which meant he was off the field for a while. It was his mother who pushed him to music, which he then used to fill his time in the wake of his injury. After buying a set of decks for a bit of casual fun, those around him started to see potential. "People saw I had decks and asked if I could DJ," Lennox recalled. "I was like, I guess I can play this house party... I went in with my 20 songs—that’s all I had."
Lennox was inspired by the energy of DJs at Rhythm and Vines at the end of 2023, and he set his sights on making DJing more than just a hobby. When he moved to Wellington to attend university, he dived headfirst into the city’s music scene. He began meeting local DJs in clubs who took him under their wing and started soaking up as much knowledge as possible. He joined Good Things, a Dj community that helped him build experience and also got him his first gigs.
Lennox has been heavily documenting his journey on social media, with a series of daily vlogs until he achieved his goal of performing at Rhythm and Vines. "Around day 90, I found a contact at Rhythm and Vines and texted, asking if there were still spots, he said, “We've been watching your journey for a while, and we've got some work for you.” And just like that, he achieved his goal in a full circle moment.
Broderbeat’s journey as a DJ is just getting started, and is definitely one to watch along the way. With such a fast meteoric rise, who knows what he’ll achieve next.
SwimCap
SwimCap rounds out this list of compelling DJ origin stories. After moving to Wellington to study at Massey, they fell in love with electronic music and were immersed in the electronic club community, particularly with the B-Space scene. “I just fell in love with the whole soundscape,” they said, captivated by genres like house, jungle, and other micro-genres that offered a refreshing contrast to their earlier experiences. SwimCap soon became a familiar face at B-Space, fondly recalling their time as a “club rat”, frequenting the venue so often that security no longer asked for ID. This period of exploration and community-building laid the foundation for their DJ journey.
When Covid-19 hit, SwimCap found themselves isolating with friends for 16 days due to a close contact exposure. Fortunately, one of their friends had a set of decks, and during those days, SwimCap taught themselves the craft of DJing. They started downloading music and teaching themself through exploration. After emerging from the confines of isolation, they used their course related costs to buy their own set of decks.
By 2023, they were opening their first gigs, and by 2024, their career really began to take off. They’ve since become a staple at events such as the Nelson Arts Festival and Twisted Frequencies, and are gaining recognition for their unique style.
SwimCap described their style as ‘hype music’, saying “I want people sweating, I want people jumping around”. It’s all about high energy. This is reflected in their track selection, which they see as a transfer of energy between them and the crowd. When preparing for sets, they focus on choosing the beginning and end songs, letting the middle of the set take shape naturally.
With a drive to push boundaries and create inclusive, vibrant dance spaces, SwimCap is poised to become a leading voice in New Zealand’s electronic music scene.