STORE MIX 109: ANGEL D'LITE

Immersed in the vibrant rave culture, South London’s Angel D’lite captures every facet of the scene. From sensual organ melodies to flamboyant vocals, all driven by powerful breaks and pulsating basslines, their genre-defying sets transcend tempo and era. Having honed their craft within London’s underground party network, Angel D’lite has swiftly evolved from a staple trance dancer to a leading figure in the global queer resistance against the corporate homogenisation of electronic music. Releases on Radiant Records, Ritual Poison, and Planet Euphorique (with many more on the horizon) blend femme sensuality with roughneck rave euphoria.

As LN-CC dives deeper into Angel D'lite’s creative world, it’s only fitting to experience their sound firsthand. Check out their exclusive Store Mix, offering a glimpse into their dynamic approach to music, and get to know them better as they discuss London’s rave scene, their creative process, vision for the future, and more.

Could you introduce us to you and your world? Who is Angel D'lite, why do you do what you do, and for the uninitiated, what does an Angel D'lite set sound like?

Hmmm, Angel D’lite is an exaggerated version of myself, I guess—nostalgic, positive, high-energy, colourful, and sweet(?)

Why do I do what I do? I kinda fell into it, as I had another job up until recently doing set dressing and props styling, which I do miss. But I’ve been DJing for quite a few years (8 maybe?!) and only recently learnt (and learnt to believe in my ‘craft’) that what I do is appreciated, and that an Angel D’lite set can take someone out of the real world for a few hours, which, right now, I guess we need more than ever... A moment for cheekiness, freakiness, letting loose, and having some serious (very serious) fun. I love a sexy surprise and outrageously naughty vocals.

An Angel D’lite set is either cute or sexy... or both... Pumpin’ or thumping... Well, that’s what I’m hoping, anyway. It depends on the time I’m playing, but my favourite time to play is a 4-7 am closing set: sexy and pumping, slinking and sliding into sunshine and euphoria.

Lots of femme vocals, lots of pianos and lots of breakbeats.

Growing up in London’s rave scene, how has this environment shaped your musical identity and approach to DJing?

I’ve been to a lot of raves and illegal parties in my time—some I can’t mention, but others were truly iconic, like World Unknown, Puwaba, Section 6, and Childsplay. I also have to mention Field Maneuvers; although it’s a festival, it’s felt like a big, phat rave many times. I’ve been obsessed with ’90s rave culture since I discovered The Prodigy at age 16, and this led me down lots of interesting paths: post-punk, new beat, synth-pop, hardcore, jungle, etc.

For years, I was very satisfied not playing big parties, big clubs, or for higher fees, as I never wanted DJing to be a job. Now, it’s slightly different, as I don’t have my set design job on the side, BUT I have a rule that I wouldn’t play a party I wouldn’t go to myself, which makes a lot of decisions for me!

I adore the UK sound—garage, breaks, bass—and there are SO many incredible producers making banging tunes in London and the UK. I’ve had the pleasure of clubbing to these sounds for so many years, so it’s definitely influenced my sound.

What does your creative process look like when preparing a mix? How do you balance spontaneity with structure in your performances?

In this set, for instance, I had a strong concept of wanting to create a mix that was purposefully for getting ready, getting changed five times—a cute and c*nty mix to get you in the mood for a fab night out. 99% of the time, when I’m preparing a mix, I only have vinyl turntables at home. So, I prepare a pile in some rough order, have a quick practice of the mixes, then probably reorder them a bit before hitting record for the second go. It doesn’t always flow, and sometimes the energy dips in places I didn’t expect, so I might have to do it again... which is very different from the way I DJ in a club. I never plan my sets; I pack a vibe (or two possible routes) and go from there. Every mix is spontaneous, and I never play the same last or first tune. Every set is special, even if just a few people are listening!

How do you conceptualise your sets to create a unique experience for your audience? Can you describe the emotions you aim to evoke during your performances?

It depends on the club, the party, and the crowd, the time of day or night. But something that’s a running theme of emotions is euphoria, whether it’s hard and pumping or soft and slow(er)... Elation, ecstasy, freedom, euphoria.

Your commitment to vinyl is evident in your performances. What does the tactile experience of vinyl bring to your artistry that digital formats cannot replicate?

I’m digging hard most days of the week, online or physically in shops, and every city I travel to, I make sure that my first stop is a record shop. It’s possible I’m addicted, haha.

I love the old skool sound, and a lot of it just isn’t available digitally. Even if it is, it probably doesn’t sound as good as the original record. But apart from that, I just love to hold them, discover them, and hold them in my hand and drag them all across the world. It means that the tracks are more carefully selected, less disposable.

How has your journey as a DJ and artist influenced your personal growth, and what lessons have you learned along the way?

I’m very grateful for the amount I’ve been able to travel with DJing over the past few years. It’s something that, I dunno, 10 years ago, I never imagined I could be able to do. I meet incredible people, am immersed in different cultures and scenes, experience different sounds, food, and architecture. I’ve definitely grown as a person as a result, being able to empathise with people more and being more grateful for my everyday privileges…

In your opinion, how does your music reflect the current state of underground dance culture, and what role do you think DJs play in shaping societal conversations through music?

This is a hard one... I think my music is not reflective of the current underground scene because there are so many incredible artists with very distinctive sounds. I think, less and less, decade by decade, big trends aren’t such a thing...? Also, I could never put my sound into a box—one day I could be playing 150bpm hardcore, and the next, I could be playing 125 breakbeat house. I’m very fortunate to be able to play different clubs, settings, festivals, raves, and a lot of queer parties, where people are very open-minded musically, and I can take more risks with it. I love finding the thin line between a diamond and absolute trash.

I think, whatever your profession, creative outlet, art, or craft, we all have a responsibility to make a difference in the world, big or small, stand up for what you believe in, recognise your privilege, and the influence and power that your voice can have.

You recently performed at our LN-CC UGG x Collina Strada event. Could you walk us through your creative process for preparing for an environment like that, and the direction of sound you chose to explore?

This was actually really challenging, to be honest, as I’ve never played a ‘fashion’ party before. I trusted that it would be cute, as I knew the space was really interesting. I had no idea what the crowd would be like, so I prepared a slower background housey set, a more poppy garage flavas set, and a few classics.

Looking ahead, what is your vision for the future of your music career, and what milestones are you excited to achieve in the coming years?

I haven’t thought that far ahead DJ-wise. The music industry is fickle and unpredictable, and I have no expectations for my career. I want to focus more on production and create other kinds of art outside of music.

My long-term goal is that when bookings dry up, or DJing isn’t fulfilling anymore, I want to train as an early years teacher. It’s always been a dream of mine, and I feel strongly about giving back all the knowledge and kindness I’ve been shown and learnt. I feel like the more life I live, the more mistakes I make, the more I can learn about life and how to share that and be able to answer curious kids’ questions better!

POV: You've just been handed the AUX cable. What would be the first song you'd play?

Mason X Princess superstar - Perfect (exceeder)