London-based DJ and producer Steven Julien has built his career on contrasts. Over a decade of releases on labels like Eglo and his own Apron Records, as well as global club sets, he’s explored the balance between light and dark, soft and heavy, blending rough-edged house and techno with laid-back soul and boogie. His 2018 Bloodline LP reflected on his familial and musical heritage, further showcasing his ability to shift between moods, styles, and emotions.
Julien’s eclecticism shines in his upcoming addition to !K7’s iconic DJ-Kicks series. Featuring artists like Ryuichi Sakamoto, DāM-FunK, and Todd Edwards alongside his exclusive productions, the mix journeys from a serene afternoon to the euphoria of the dancefloor. This progression mirrors Julien’s reserved yet passionate personality and pays homage to his upbringing steeped in UK dance music history.
As the DJ-Kicks mix unfolds, Julien’s club DJ experiences come into focus, balancing lightness with intensity. Guided by energy and intuition, his seamless mixing reflects a decade in global DJ booths, from Ormside Projects in London to De School in Amsterdam.
Julien describes the feeling he’s tried to capture on tape as an out-of-body energy: just letting loose, and being yourself. “When you get in that position of doing what’s true to you, playing what’s true to you” he says, “people just resonate with that.”
