by Sasha
I first encountered François K during his legendary Deep Space Party at Club Cielo, where I witnessed something truly unique. Growing up, I was accustomed to beatmatched sets that stayed within the same tempo and musical style. François K’s approach was entirely different—starting with his signature blend of house, dub, funk, disco, and techno, he would slowly and seamlessly move into other genres like rock, hip-hop, drum and bass, and nu-jazz, depending on the dancefloor’s mood. His mixes weren’t always flawless, but the passion and precision in his music selection more than compensated. It took me some time to fully understand what he was doing, but I soon realized I was witnessing something truly special.
François K is also one of the three DJs behind the iconic Body and Soul parties, where he, alongside Danny Krivit and Joe Claussell, created an environment that celebrated musical diversity and fostered a community spirit. These events became a cornerstone of the New York club scene and further solidified François K’s reputation as a DJ who could connect with his audience on a deep level.
François K has had a profound influence on my DJ journey. He taught me to pay significant attention to the importance of sound and how music is experienced, emphasizing that one of the main components is what comes out of the speakers and how it comes out. He showed me that a DJ set could be a journey through sound, with a clear beginning, middle, and end, while keeping the dancefloor fully engaged. He demonstrated that energy could be maintained not just through flawless mixing but also through a deep understanding of the crowd and a willingness to experiment. François K also encouraged me to explore not only music-wise but also technically, pushing the boundaries of what I could do as a DJ. His innovative style, in both genre selection and equipment, has been a cornerstone of my own DJing philosophy. He encouraged me to allow my sets to be free-flowing and not premeditated—a freedom that has deeply influenced how I approach DJing today.
In many ways, François K is the DJ who showed me what was possible, and for that, I will always be grateful.
MixCloud link where you can listen to one of François K’s mixes. I encourage you to explore his many other mixes available on MixCloud; they’re a true testament to his mastery and versatility as a DJ.