PDR and Reon Vanger's Electrifying B2B Session Following Shoreditch House Triumph

Welcome to the electrifying second B2B session of Future Wave featuring the dynamic duo, PDR and Reon Vanger! After the tremendous success of our recent event at Shoreditch House on November 9th, where we hosted an enlightening panel discussion with music industry luminaries Jamz Supernova, Hannah Shogbola, and Star One, expertly hosted by So Future founder K2rah, we are thrilled to present this Future Wave B2B session.

Both DJs discuss the challenges they face as black electronic artists in London. PDR notes the difficulty of breaking out of the boxes imposed by the industry, which tends to pigeonhole black DJs into specific genres based on their heritage. Despite these challenges, the rise of Amapiano, a sub-genre of Afro house, has opened doors for black electronic DJs to explore new avenues and styles.

The conversation also touches on the diverse musical backgrounds of the DJs, highlighting how their roots influence their unique styles. PDR, originally from Equatorial Guinea, shares his journey from growing up in Spain with a mix of rock, Latin, and African influences. REON VANGER, on the other hand, grew up in Birmingham, exploring genres like house, garage, ballet, and funk.

The event at Shoreditch House was a pivotal moment for Future Wave, bringing together an exceptional panel of creatives from various corners of the music industry. Representing a diverse range of vocations, the panel convened to discuss and celebrate Black Electronic music, shedding light on its rich tapestry and the talents behind it and we bring the conversation to you through our latest discussion.

Photography by Guled Hassan

PDR and Reon Vagner Overcoming Challenges and Building a Community As Black Electronic Musicians

PDR: Influences when it comes to black electronic DJs in London, for me, I think it will be Hagan. Hagan is a huge influence for me because he kind of represents what I'm about musically. I feel like he's very fearless with his style, always at the forefront of pushing the kind of sound that blends electronic and African influences, which is what I'm about. So, I think Hagen is a huge influence for me. What about you?

REON VANGER: Myself? I would say it was No Sir. I think he did earlier here. What I like about him is he's an electronic DJ like myself. I don't think he's afraid to step outside his comfort zone, which makes a big difference. Unlike others who take no breaks. That inspires me to branch out and try different things in my sets.

PDR: When it comes to my sets, it's funny because I feel like only now I'm able to play what I really want to play. As much as this might sound a bit confusing, in London, they tend to put us in a box—Are you African or Caribbean? Do you play Afrobeats, Dancehall, or reggae? If you love house, techno, or Afro house, it's difficult to get into that scene. When I started DJing in London, it was challenging to get into the house and techno sector that I love because it's predominantly white. So, I decided to start with my roots, playing Afrobeats and Dancehall. However, with the rise of Amapiano, it has opened doors for us black electronic DJs. Amapiano, a sub-genre of Afro house, has become popular worldwide and has allowed black electronic DJs to do cool stuff. Now, I can incorporate Amapiano into my sets, blending it with house, funky, techno, and incorporating vocals from Afrobeats and Dancehall, making it feel like one cohesive style.

PDR Wears: Emmanuelle Khanh, Diesel, Criminal Damage, Stooki

REON VANGER: My styles include a lot of hip hop and R&B. I'm inspired by various genres, such as house, garage, and funk. There's a lot of stuff that people don't normally listen to.

PDR: Did you grow up in the UK?

REON VANGER: I grew up in Birmingham. It was quite different because there wasn't as big of a scene as there is in London. I was in my own bubble, loving and exploring different genres like house, garage, ballet, and funk.

PDR: I'm from Equatorial Guinea, a tiny country in West Africa. Many people don't know about my country; We speak Spanish, Portuguese and French. I was born in a tiny island called Malabo but when I was three we moved to Spain and there’s where I grew up, as you can tell from my accent. I use to listen to a lot of different music, from Blink 182 to Linkin Park & Daft Punk. I had these two worlds with my mom and dad; my dad was into hip hop and Congolese African music, while my mom loved Latin music like salsa, bachata, and merengue. Coming to England, I had to figure out how to incorporate all these influences into my DJing, dealing with the language barrier. Your background can dictate your style.

REON VANGER: Some of the challenges I've found as a black electronic DJ include not having much visibility. Nowadays, not many black people play electronic music; it's mostly focused on hip hop. So, the challenge is not being seen enough.

Ron Vagner Wears: Timberland, Criminal Damage, Conscious_lltw, Bonnie Clyde, Stooki

PDR: I face similar challenges. Having to play genres I love, but that don't fully represent who I am as a DJ and producer. In England, as soon as people know you're black, they put you in a box. I want to showcase that I can play a range of genres, from house and techno to jungle and drum and bass.

REON VANGER: All those genres were made by black people. House was made in Chicago and New York. It's funny, mad.

PDR: The good thing is that we need to reclaim that. Going back to back with you, creating a space for us to be unapologetically us and play whatever we want. This is the beginning of something. We need to reclaim that.

REON VANGER: Creating a spotlight for black electronic DJs is probably about creating a platform for ourselves. Starting events, though it's hard, puts a spotlight on us and gives us a space to express ourselves and introduce people to new sounds.

PDR: In London, there are a lot of egos and gatekeeping. If you didn't grow up here or attend the right schools, it's challenging to insert yourself into the scene. More love, less ego—create opportunities for everyone, regardless of popularity. Let's collaborate and support each other, whether you have 100k followers or just five. Let's hang out, go to the studio, work on tracks together. That's the way forward.

Stay tuned for more Future Wave B2Bs, exclusive interviews, and behind-the-scenes content as we continue to make waves and carve out space, both online and in real life, for Black DJs to flourish and thrive in the world of electronic music. Get ready for a sonic journey that resonates with diversity, creativity, and the future of Black excellence in the electronic music scene.