Whether you love or hate to see it, there’s no denying that 2022 marked a period of significant commercial interest in house music.



The genre has had its fair share of moments in the mainstream spotlight since it coalesced in the gay, Black, and Latino nightlife communities of Chicago in the ‘80s, to be sure. Crystal Waters’ 1994 classic “100% Pure Love” hit #11 on the “Billboard Hot 100,” and #1 on the publication's “Dance Club Songs” chart. More recently, FISHER’s 2018 tech house track “Losing It” topped the latter.



2022 saw notable pop superstars join the party. Within weeks of one another, Drake and Beyoncé each dropped albums that included numerous house-inspired songs. The former artist tapped producers like Black Coffee, &ME, and Klahr for his effort. The latter enlisted dance music acts like Honey Dijon and Nile Rodgers for hers.



Some argue that these influences will only dilute house, which has already arguably suffered from recurring identity crises as each new generation of talent offers its own interpretation of the genre. Others are more optimistic, projecting that the increased attention will trickle down into opportunities for artists at every level.



We here at Gray Area decided to gather the opinions of house artists themselves. Some are elder statesmen who helped guide the course of the style early on. Others are up-and-coming acts who represent the future of the genre. Read on what they have to say about the matter and arrive at your own conclusions.



1. Todd Terry







Todd Terry’s career extends back to house music’s genesis in the 1980s. He’s in favor of mainstream house music hits as long as artists bring original ideas to the table.



“We need a Robin S. We need a Crystal Waters. We need a Snap! - ‘I Got The Power,'” he told Gray Area during our Spotlight interview. “We need something that helps us a little bit here, makes us come to the dance floor. We need to get something out there to mix it up a little bit.”



"Break some new records,” he went on. “Stop catering to the same piano sound all the time. We got enough piano records. Okay, you guys found the piano in the last three years. Good job. There's other shit.”



2. East End Dubs





East End Dubs is a name that has grown more and more ubiquitous among London house fans over the past decade. In his Gray Area Spotlight interview, the “bRave” producer expressed optimism that house-inspired tracks in the mainstream could offer new fans a point of entry leading to the underground.



“Recently, people have said, ‘Oh, this is going to bring uneducated people into the scene.’ For me, I think people can start with Beyoncé or Drake and then fall in love with house music,” speculates East End Dubs, who also praised the tracks by the aforementioned artists. “It's a beautiful thing. Why not? House is something that we share together, so I don't mind people getting to know our music that way and then going a little more underground to discover us.”



3. SYREETA





SYREETA stands out as a more recent house music artist who still represents the queer, Black, underground roots of the genre well. She nonetheless believes that her world can coexist with the mainstream.



“There's no judgment on this,” she said during Gray Area’s Spotlight interview. “House music started underground, and it will always be to me. It hits everybody’s souls differently and is inspired in different ways, so each artist will have their own stamp on what they have taken away from it, whether it be more on the commercial side or more underground. Not everybody has to like it. People will move with what they prefer.”



4. Iglesias





Fast-rising UK house DJ and producer Iglesias also posits that commercial interest in house has little bearing on what he does. In his Gray Area Spotlight interview, he pointed out that most consumers of those releases likely don’t even associate it with house music.



“I don't really care, to be fair," he said. "What they're doing is not what we're doing, let's put it that way. They're making commercial stuff. Who they're appealing to, I don't even think that person would even know that that's a house beat or whatever. They would just be like, 'Oh, it's another Drake track.' Do you see what I mean? So it never really fascinates me that much because I don't feel like they're stepping on our toes. What we're doing is way cooler than what they're doing."



5. Harry Romero





During his Gray Area Spotlight interview, longtime NYC DJ and producer Harry Romero expressed optimism about house music’s popularity in the past few years. He did, however, have choice words about how the EDM movement impacted the culture over a decade ago.



“I hate to say it, but that EDM thing really threw us all through a curveball. We were like, ‘What the hell is this?’ he said. “The mechanisms changed. The way of doing business changed. The EDM thing really commercialized the industry, and for them to claim that they were house music was just strange."


"The reality is that it became a business," Harry went on. "It was pop music all of a sudden. A lot of people steered away from what they loved, which was the roots of house music. I understand evolution. I’m not mad at technology or the times. What I at least try to do is scratch my head and figure out how to put my own twist on it.”



6. ACRAZE





ACRAZE is enjoying an enviable breakthrough as an artist thanks to recent covers like “Do It To It” and “Believe.” With his recent good fortune, it perhaps comes as little surprise that he sees the genre’s recent popularity as a good thing.



“I think it's cool, man. I think seeing new faces in the industry is just special,” he said during Gray Area’s Spotlight interview. “Massive artists like Beyoncé and Drake getting into house music only helps the genre explode even more. I guess it becomes more commercialized, but now there’s also a bigger goal for artists. Drake’s in house music—it's my dream to even collab with him. Now I know, there's a chance. I didn't even know he was into that shit. Beyoncé too, like, that's so sick.”



“Some people will think differently and say, ‘They don't know anything about the music, the culture,’ he went on. “I think people read way too deeply into those kinds of things. If people are putting out good music and pushing the genre, I think that's what matters, you know?”



7. Shermanology





Dutch-Caribbean outfit Shermanology are also enticed by the prospect of working with more commercially successful acts. In their Gray Area Spotlight interview, the brother-sister duo named one hip-hop artist in particular.



“What we wanna do in the near future is collaborate with artists you wouldn’t expect us to collaborate with,” said Dorothy. “For example, if I could dream big I’d say Anderson .Paak. That would be someone who would excite me.”



Andy added, “I wanna work with people who may have said, ‘I will never do a house record,’ and get them to do a house record. Just mix and blend different genres.”



8. Tim Green:





Count longtime DJ and producer Tim Green among the artists who feel Beyoncé and Drake’s interest in house music has no bearing on the underground. Why? Because he doesn’t consider it house.



“I literally couldn't care,” he said in his Gray Area Spotlight interview. “You can call a car a tree if you want, and that's your prerogative, but each to their own opinion. When you start to get down to the finer details of what something is, who knows—and really, who cares? It doesn't matter.”



“I understand, of course, the negative connotations that it kind of has, and it's not right,” Tim continued. "But for the people that know the kind of music that they're into and want to listen to, I think that's enough.”



9. Kyle Walker





Breakthrough tech house artist Kyle Walker, on the other hand, does think mainstream artists dabbling in house will affect the underground—but in a good way.



“[House music is] definitely headed to the top 40 chart, I would say, like Billboard and such,” he said during Gray Area’s Spotlight interview. “I could see more dance records being in the top 10, even. It's definitely a good thing for everyone—even the underground. It's a good thing that more ears and eyes are gonna be on the scene. I just think everyone's gonna start with this wave of just having house music producers come onto their albums, which in turn is just going to create more house music fans.”



10. LOVRA





Rounding out this list is the perspective of LOVRA. The German DJ and producer agrees that the increase in attention to house music has created new opportunities for artists.



“It's super interesting, but it also shows that the people understand this music right now,” she said during Gray Area’s Spotlight interview. “They're more open to it. Back in the day, sometimes you couldn’t play in a club because it was too commercial or you were too underground. But now, I feel like the people and the club promoters are way more open to trying it out a little bit more, and this is a good thing.”





10 House Artists Weigh in on the Genre's Recent Mainstream Popularity

SYREETA, a UK-based DJ and producer, is at the vanguard of diversity and inclusion in the music scene. Her 2017 come-up is thanks in part to her friendship with Jaguar, who vouches for her technique—an expansive blend of soul, groove, flavorful house and techno blended perfectly and styled with flair in high-energy performances.



SYREETA's influences are rooted in a youth characterized by a love of reggae and rave music, and her taste has evolved with time. Her present-day style connects these underlying influences into a mosaic of classic house, techno, and garage. Each set showcases a rich repertoire that will take you on an exciting journey on the dancefloor.



She is a resident of HE.SHE.THEY, a creative collective promoting diversity and safe spaces free of judgment for people of all races, genders, and sexualities. One of its main objectives is to provide a podium for marginalized communities and artists, and it’s driving a powerful message about equality. She helps amplify their voice to encourage and challenge promoters to diversify their lineups and increase the representation of marginalized demographics. SYREETA works hard to raise awareness of the marginalization among dance music artists and what can be done to improve it.



It was inevitable that she would eventually connect with Jaguar, a prominent DJ and radio personality. Jaguar takes pride in giving first plays to many up-and-coming producers from around the United Kingdom, shining a spotlight and creating opportunities for POC, LGBTQIA+, women, and non-binary people in the dance music arena. SYREETA is arguably one of Jaguar's most celebrated discoveries.



The blossoming friendship between Jaguar and SYREETA started when they shared a mutual gig, changing the trajectory of SYREETA's career and sending it into hyperdrive. Taking pride in utilizing her platform to connect people, Jaguar pushed the mark further by fostering the relationship between SYREETA and HE.SHE.THEY's founders, Steven Braines and Sophia Kearney, paving the way for her celebrated residency with the collaborative. The genuinely inspiring relationship between Jaguar and SYREETA is an example of how tastemakers can encourage and connect artists in the electronic industry while moving the mark on diversity and equality.

How Jaguar Used Her Platform to Help Put SYREETA on the Map

SYREETA is a DJ who’s truly dedicated to inclusivity, both musically and personally. Based in London, she’s all about the music—especially house music—and she has the unique talent of drawing in the crowds with her extensive library of grooves. Since debuting on the scene, she’s made her presence known with her track selection, technical skill, and high energy.




That combination has made her a force with which to be reckoned, both on the dancefloor and off. SYREETA’s played among such artists as Octo Octa and Eris Drew at iconic parties like elrow. She has also become a resident of the fashion label, event series, and record label HE.SHE.THEY, a crew that epitomizes inclusivity.




When we tell you that SYREETA is making her rise, believe us. Playing both in actual clubs and online, she’s developed a well-deserved and hard-earned following. If you’re still not familiar with who she is, check out these nine must-hear sets by the one and only SYREETA.



1. Recherché




We thought we’d start this list going back into the SYREETA SoundCloud archives. Eight years ago, she released a mix called “Recherché,” a delicious blend of tech house and deep house beats perfect for afternoon listening. A clean mix that really showcased her skills, "Recherché" is full of bangers and danceable tracks.



2. Reading Festival Saturday - Smirnoff House 





Back in 2018, SYREETA threw down on Saturday of the Reading Festival on the Smirnoff House stage—and when we say she threw down, we mean she threw down. Her bright, housey set began with a tribal-leaning sound perfect for a Saturday stage at a festie. Each track kept revelers up and moving.



3. Sagrada Familia SYREETA 04 





Remember when I said SYREETA was all about inclusivity? Well back in 2018, she started her own party in London, Sagrada Familia, to be one family, under one roof, listening to good music. Mixmag even dubbed this event "one of the best alternative pride parties in 2018,” so you know she was doing something right. We simply had to feature a set from her night and this is a good one, full of incredible buildups and banging house beats.



4. SYREETA in The Lab: Paris





This time, SYREETA appeared in Paris, throwing down for BUDX and Mixmag in The Lab. As per usual, she radiated welcoming vibes with fresh beats to match. Her sound is straightforward. No frills—just good tracks that’ll have you dancing nonstop. Vibrant and full of soul, this set is peak SYREETA.



5. Club Muriel Soho House NYE 





Next up we have SYREETA’s set from Club Muriel Soho House NYE 2019. SYREETA managed to make this set energetic while also keeping things a bit on the deeper side. You can definitely feel SYREETA’s love for music through each carefully selected tune that’s blended into this perfect mix celebrating the beginning of a new year.



6. Mixmag The Lab: Home Sessions





In 2020, when the world was shut down, SYREETA threw down a Mixmag Home Session live stream from the comfort of her own home. And though she was broadcasting from home, she still brought the good vibes and her bouncy, techy sound. She was moving and grooving while mixing, showing viewers how much she loves the music she plays, and how much fun she has doing it.



7. Pride 2020: HE.SHE.THEY x Beatport Live







Here we have another at-home sesh, this time celebrating Pride 2020 with a HE.SHE.THEY fundraiser in partnership with Beatport. SYREETA is totally in her element, jamming out to her carefully curated setlist. She’s got some backup dancers also clearly enjoying what they hear, adding a little flair to the already banging set. You can feel SYREETA’s beautiful energy emanating through the video, and that just speaks to her ability to connect with the crowd.



8. Tobacco Dock Virtual Opening with SYREETA 





Back in 2021, SYREETA played the opening night of the Tobacco Dock Virtual, an online "partyverse" that’s a hybrid live event series created by promoters LWE. Taking real life and fusing it with the online world, SYREETA played The Great Gallery and helped usher partygoers into a new era of music events through her signature style. Her feel-good vibes and high energy translate just as well online as they do in real life.



9. SYREETA The Lab LDN: HE.SHE.THEY Takeover Pt. 1 





Ahead of the inclusive party crew’s Amnesia Ibiza residency, HE.SHE.THEY took over Mixmag’s and Coors’ weekly live event, The Lab LDN. SYREETA brought her A game and all the basslines she loves so much. She went from house to techno and everything in between, creating a mix that is carefree and fun. SYREETA exudes such freedom as she plays records, and it’s a beautiful sight to see.

9 Must-Hear DJ Sets by Rising Talent SYREETA

The music industry has always been one with a disproportionate representation of women, minorities, and marginalized communities. Women of color and those identifying as queer, non-binary or trans all seem to be less present on mainstream lineups, so much so that those who fall into those categories are no longer staying quiet. They’re making their presence known, and demanding their rightful place on lineups.



It’s almost as if people forget that techno and disco music originated in safe spaces. Queer folks, especially those of color, have a history intertwined with the roots of dance culture. Yet with the current climate of the music scene and festivals, those same people have to fight just to be included.



One person who’s taken notice is house and techno DJ SYREETA. She’s a Black, queer woman who has worked hard to get to where she is today, all the while pushing for inclusivity. Even with all that work, she says she still usually finds herself to be the only queer, Black or female artist on most lineups.





“I like to think that people now look a bit more closely at their lineups to ensure that they're balanced, they learn the history, and they create more diverse lineups,” she told Gray Area during our Spotlight interview. “Personally, every lineup that I'm on at the moment, I'm still probably the only female, the only black person, the only queer person, or all three. So yeah…there is still a lot of work to be done. But I'd like to think that better things are been being done at the moment.”



In some areas, better things are being done. Back in 2015, Vanessa Reed, former CEO of the PRS Foundation, started the Keychange Initiative, an international program geared toward investing in underrepresented talent. Expanding further on that idea is The Keychange Pledge, which was an opportunity for any festival, promoter or music organization to join in the commitment to gender equality and reduce male-dominated lineups by 2022.



Over 500 festivals and music organizations in the UK and Canada have signed this pledge, with MUTEK and SoundCloud among its supporters. Large-scale festivals such as Glastonbury and Barcelona’s Primavera, as well as some smaller events, have all succeeded in creating more balanced lineups, according to an article published in the British Music Collection as part of the BMC Future Views series.



All this is a step in the right direction, but like SYREETA says, it is by no means the finish line.



SYREETA is a current resident of HE.SHE.THEY, a crew who lives and breathes inclusivity. The event series, record label, and fashion label is as open minded as they come, and they strive to be as diverse as possible in anything they do. HE.SHE.THEY provides non-judgemental and non-prejudicial spaces for everyone, proving that they are one prime example showcasing why diversity matters.



SYREETA also has close ties to Jaguar, a Black, queer radio host and DJ who’s done her due diligence in researching this exact topic. She’s long recognized that the music industry has historically been a boy’s club and she’s here to change that. Along with FutureDJs, she created Future1000, an initiative focused on highlighting gender inequality in music. They set out to offer 1,000 women, trans and non-binary people career opportunities by offering DJing and production courses, in addition to teaching the ins and outs of the music industry. Jaguar then launched The Jaguar Foundation to dig deep and compile data to really show how large of a gender disparity there actually is in music.



These aren’t the only folks taking notice and making moves in the name of inclusivity. In the Key of She is a union of 250 LGBTQIA+ female producers and DJs created so that promoters, crews, and labels can add diversity to their lineups. Another crew hard at work at promoting the importance of inclusivity by offering opportunities to non-gender-conforming individuals and people of color is Femme House. Helmed by LP Giobbi and Hermixalot, Femme House is geared towards creating more opportunities for women and gender-expansive people in music, both behind the scenes and in the forefront through workshops, specialized coursework, a weekly radio show, and a bi-yearly scholarship program for BIPOC and LGBTQIA+ creators.



But they are only a handful of the crews making an effort to do the work. In the overall scheme of things, more can still be done. More should be done.

SYREETA Says She's Still the Only Black, Female, or Queer DJ on Lineups

Syreeta wants to use music to express her love for life. Over the past few years, the house and techno DJ has been tearing up the decks across the underground house scene. With her chunky basslines and melodic, old-school groove, it’s no wonder the blooming artist is finding an emphatic rise to fame.

Growing up in Birmingham, England, Syreeta spent her youth training for the Olympics. She hoped to one day represent her country on the track field as a talented sprinter. One day, a tragic injury swiftly ended her athletic career. With her dreams swept out from under her, Syreeta began to find her salvation through music. Eventually she moved to London, her current stomping grounds for live music and dancing.

Syreeta’s musical stylings are just like her, authentic, joyous and inclusive. Pulling from a rich palette of house and techno, her sets are high energy, but call back to the “old school” days of disco and house parties. As a proud queer black woman, Syreeta says she wants to inspire a new generation of performers while also bringing back “the vibe of years gone by.” The HE.SHE.THEY. resident also works to amplify queer, black voices in the modern music scene. Here Pride 2020 set for Beatport also acted as a fundraiser to support organizations serving the LGBTQIA+ community.

Her infectious sets have taken over dancefloors in Ibiza, Amsterdam, London and beyond. And during lockdown, she offered some groovy sets to MixMag, DJ Mag and BBC Radio 1. In a pre and post-pandemic world, Syreeta is tearing up festival stages at Lost Village, Creamfields, Reading Festival, and tons more.

Her growing fanbase cites her uncanny ability to ready the energy of her crowd, and for Syreeta, direct interaction with her dancefloor companions is the most important.

United States

Syreeta 

One More DANTS

Spain

Ushuaïa

Do Not Sleep

Cova Santa

Music On

Pachá Ibiza

ANTS Opening Party

Pyramid Special 2022

Amnesia

The word “authentic” comes up often in a conversation about music with SYREETA. It is by being her most expressive and uninhibited self that so many doors have begun to open for her, after all. Far be it from her to abandon an approach that’s clearly working.

“It really has treated me well,” SYREETA says of the time since lockdowns lifted and nightlife resumed across the globe. “I've mainly been playing in Ibiza, Italy, and Croatia, but I've literally been back and forth every other week.” She’s become a familiar face at event brands like Pyramid, Paradise, elrow, and Circoloco. It’s a far cry from where she stood only a few short years ago.

SYREETA at Zurich Street Parade 2022

Authentique, intrépide, inclusive, cette DJane résidente du label HE.SHE.THEY. connaît une ascension fulgurante. SYREETA a l’étonnante capacité de lire la foule et de s’adapter à son énergie. Elle mise sur des lignes de basse bien rythmées et sur des grooves mélodiques issus d'une palette de house et de techno. Ses sets ont agité les pistes de danse à Londres, Amsterdam, Ibiza.


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SYREETA - Zurich Street Parade 2022 - @ARTE Concert

“Music has always been a huge part of my life,” she says of her upbringing. “I've always associated it with fun times.” She and her mother used to dance around the house on the weekends while doing chores. Her father used to run blues dances in Birmingham that weren’t all that different from underground raves.

SYREETA initially dreamed of becoming an athlete, running the 400-meter race for England. That all changed when she was sidelined by injuries. She underwent three operations on her knees and then suffered an Achilles tendon injury on top of that.

“I realized it was not going to go down well unless I quit while I was ahead. It was devastating because that was all I wanted to do,” she says. “So the fact that I found my career in music—because that's where I went to for my happy times, to feel better—I feel like it was just meant to be.”

She first learned to play records at a house party and soon afterward bought DJ gear so she could practice on her own time. A month later, she was invited to open the room at the grand opening of 512 London in the Dalston area of the city. More and more gigs would follow as time went by.

A major turning point came when SYREETA met BBC Radio 1 presenter 

 after they were both tapped to perform for 

 and Smirnoff’s Equalising Music initiative. "Jaguar is an absolute babe," SYREETA says. "I love her to bits."

United Kingdom

Jaguar

At the time, Jaguar was hosting a show on Reprezent Radio and brought SYREETA on to deliver a guest mix. "After she invited me onto her Reprezent show, I invited her to play at a party that I was putting on, and our relationship just blossomed," SYREETA says. "We've just become closer and closer—I think I can say we are really good friends."

Two years later, Jaguar invited her to International Music Summit in Ibiza, where she attended a panel by Steven Braines and Sophia Kearney of the queer party event brand, record label, and fashion label HE.SHE.THEY. SYREETA spoke to Steven and Sophia after the talk and they hit it off immediately. 

SYREETA in The Lab LDN's HE.SHE.THEY Takeover Pt. 1

Pioneer DJ Takeover of The Lab LDN. Ahead of their Amnesia Ibiza residency, inclusive party starters HE.SHE.THEY take over The Lab LDN with rising stars SYREETA and Wax Wings. Expect house and techno with a weird and wonderful edge 😈 
The Lab LDN is Mixmag and Coors’ weekly live event, powered by Pioneer PRO AUDIO.  

Built on the values of inclusivity, HE.SHE.THEY. has become a household name in electronic music. Welcoming people of all races, genders, sexualities and backgrounds - the queer-led record label harnesses some of the best talent in the underground, showcasing that diversity matters. As well as having three upcoming shows in Amnesia Ibiza this summer, the label also has residencies at fabric (London), Shelter (Amsterdam) and Watergate (Berlin). Taking its roster of talent around the world, the label has nurtured and grown some of the best artists and releases currently in the scene, including Eris Drew, Rebekah, Cakes Da Killa and Maya Jane Coles.

SYREETA knows a good record when she hears one and has a love for deep basslines, and potent drums and blends all her favourite sounds seamlessly in her sets. Mixing a broad range of electronic tracks - from house to techno - she knows how to read a dance floor and ensure everyone is having a good time. With a long list of gigs under her belt, SYREETA has played at the likes of Amnesia, Parklife, The Warehouse Project, and Lost Village. She’s played alongside some of the biggest names in the scene including Shanti Celeste, Carl Cox and Octo Octa.

SYREETA rollin' tech set in The Lab LDN | HE.SHE.THEY x Pioneer DJ Takeover

“We were chatting for about 45 minutes and Braines invited me to HE.SHE.THEY’s party that same weekend, their first birthday at fabric,” she says. “And yeah, I got the memo and I came all HE.SHE.THEYed out—I came in chaps—and I think that that was the start of a blossoming relationship!”

HE.SHE.THEY actively champion artists from marginalized communities, taking great pride in creating safe spaces for clubbers from all walks of life. As a queer, female musician of color, this struck a deep chord with SYREETA. Before long she became a resident of the collective, performing at HE.SHE.THEY events at superclubs like Watergate in Berlin and fabric in London.

SYREETA's DJ set direct from London, UK for PRIDE 2020: HE.SHE.THEY x Beatport Live.

SYREETA DJ set - PRIDE 2020: HE.SHE.THEY x @Beatport

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Check out SYREETA direct from London, UK for PRIDE 2020: HE.SHE.THEY x Beatport Live. 
_______________

All artists playing our Pride Event are from the LGBTQIA+ [**] community. If you enjoyed the music by these artists please DONATE NOW and share the music with friends here:
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All proceeds will be split equally between the following four charities:

Black Lives Matter global: https://blacklivesmatter.com/ 
Stonewall: https://www.stonewall.org.uk/ 
Mermaids: https://mermaidsuk.org.uk 
Sylvia Rivera Law Project - https://srlp.org/
_______________

Artists Coming Up: 

TOM STEPHAN / SUPERCHUMBO
Jaguar
PAGANO
Sippin' T
Kiddy Smile
Catz ‘N Dogz
DJ PAULETTE
Maya Jane Coles
Wax Wings
J. Worra
Karsten Sollors
Nina Flowers
Lauren Flax
CALAGNA
_________________

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#SYREETA #Pride2020 #Beatport

SYREETA DJ set -  PRIDE 2020: HE.SHE.THEY x @beatport Live

"These are clubs where I wouldn't have played at that stage in my career," SYREETA says. "So I am truly grateful to have had the opportunity."

Truly, though, SYREETA’s skills as a selector speak for themselves. She digs deep to only play records with which she connects strongly, carving out a niche defined by high-energy cuts packed to the brim with danceable grooves. As house music sees a period of renewed mainstream interest, it is this authentic and decidedly underground attitude that makes her stand out among the rest of the DJs.

SYREETA Gray Area Spotlight Interview

The word “authentic” comes up often in a conversation about music with SYREETA. It is by being her most expressive and uninhibited self that so many doors have begun to open for her, after all. Far be it from her to abandon an approach that’s clearly working.

Read the full Spotlight: https://grayarea.co/artists/syreeta/spotlight

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Timestamps:
00:00 - Intro
01:00 - Early musical journey
02:58 - Describing her niche
05:09 - Jaguar/BBC Radio
06:19 - HE.SHE.THEY
07:28 - Dream b2bs/Collaborations
08:30 - Up and coming artist shoutouts
09:25 - Inclusivity in the industry
11:00 - Favorite gigs
12:04 - Mainstream interest in house music
13:17 - Music production
14:44 - Final thoughts

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Gray Area Interview: Syreeta

The word “authentic” comes up often in a conversation about music with SYREETA. It is by being her most expressive and uninhibited self that so many doors have begun to open for her, after all. Far be it from her to abandon an approach that’s clearly working.



“It really has treated me well,” SYREETA says of the time since lockdowns lifted and nightlife resumed across the globe. “I've mainly been playing in Ibiza, Italy, and Croatia, but I've literally been back and forth every other week.” She’s become a familiar face at event brands like Pyramid, Paradise, elrow, and Circoloco. It’s a far cry from where she stood only a few short years ago.





“Music has always been a huge part of my life,” she says of her upbringing. “I've always associated it with fun times.” She and her mother used to dance around the house on the weekends while doing chores. Her father used to run blues dances in Birmingham that weren’t all that different from underground raves.



SYREETA initially dreamed of becoming an athlete, running the 400-meter race for England. That all changed when she was sidelined by injuries. She underwent three operations on her knees and then suffered an Achilles tendon injury on top of that.



“I realized it was not going to go down well unless I quit while I was ahead. It was devastating because that was all I wanted to do,” she says. “So the fact that I found my career in music—because that's where I went to for my happy times, to feel better—I feel like it was just meant to be.”





She first learned to play records at a house party and soon afterward bought DJ gear so she could practice on her own time. A month later, she was invited to open the room at the grand opening of 512 London in the Dalston area of the city. More and more gigs would follow as time went by.



A major turning point came when SYREETA met BBC Radio 1 presenter Jaguar after they were both tapped to perform for Mixmag and Smirnoff’s Equalising Music initiative. "Jaguar is an absolute babe," SYREETA says. "I love her to bits."



At the time, Jaguar was hosting a show on Reprezent Radio and brought SYREETA on to deliver a guest mix. "After she invited me onto her Reprezent show, I invited her to play at a party that I was putting on, and our relationship just blossomed," SYREETA says. "We've just become closer and closer—I think I can say we are really good friends."



Two years later, Jaguar invited her to International Music Summit in Ibiza, where she attended a panel by Steven Braines and Sophia Kearney of the queer party event brand, record label, and fashion label HE.SHE.THEY. SYREETA spoke to Steven and Sophia after the talk and they hit it off immediately. 





“We were chatting for about 45 minutes and Braines invited me to HE.SHE.THEY’s party that same weekend, their first birthday at fabric,” she says. “And yeah, I got the memo and I came all HE.SHE.THEYed out—I came in chaps—and I think that that was the start of a blossoming relationship!”



HE.SHE.THEY actively champion artists from marginalized communities, taking great pride in creating safe spaces for clubbers from all walks of life. As a queer, female musician of color, this struck a deep chord with SYREETA. Before long she became a resident of the collective, performing at HE.SHE.THEY events at superclubs like Watergate in Berlin and fabric in London.





"These are clubs where I wouldn't have played at that stage in my career," SYREETA says. "So I am truly grateful to have had the opportunity."



Truly, though, SYREETA’s skills as a selector speak for themselves. She digs deep to only play records with which she connects strongly, carving out a niche defined by high-energy cuts packed to the brim with danceable grooves. As house music sees a period of renewed mainstream interest, it is this authentic and decidedly underground attitude that makes her stand out among the rest of the DJs.

