Pioneers: Arthi Nachiappan

What does your work involve? 

I am a DJ, dancer and journalist. As a performer, I host a club night called ‘We're gonna Arthi Hard’, which brings together DJing and dance and has seen performances from Katy B, Donae’o, Lil C, Roska, Matty Chiabi and AB Dollars and dancers from the Homefam Afro-fusion collective.

I am a multi-genre DJ, who fuses sounds from London and across the world – from dancehall, reggaeton and Afrobeats to UK funky, garage and bass. Expect to hear high-energy mixes of your favourite artists blended with underground club sounds and old-school throwbacks.

As a dancer, I have appeared in music videos for Beyoncé, Dave, Charli XCX, Saweetie, Amaarae, Kali Uchis and George Ezra and performed live with Tiwa Savage in front of 20,000 people at the O2 Arena.

What inspires you? 

My main sources of inspiration are the music artists I play in my sets and the communities that support their music. Building a connection with others who love the sounds I do is what keeps me going. I don’t believe there is a place for pretension in clubbing and dance music, so I feel inspired by those who are working to create open, joyful and inclusive spaces for people to explore music and be free.  
 
Some of my favourite artists at the moment are Burna Boy, Bad Gyal, Shenseea, Popcaan and Busy Signal.

What message would you give to the next generation?

The most valuable advice I can give is to take learning from anything you can and try to enjoy that process. I am learning all the time – it keeps me energised and stops things ever feeling boring or stagnant. 

To do this, I find it helpful to constantly evaluate and assess what I am doing and whether it is working. Try not to get caught up in social media and what looks good over what feels good to you. I appreciate this is a lot easier said than done.

I have also really benefited from the help and guidance of those I look up to, who are further on in their careers than I am. If you admire someone, there is no harm in reaching out politely and with due respect for their time (and the fact that they are not required to help you).