Sexy Spaniard Borja Peña came to London in the noughties to work in the fashion industry. A friend randomly asked him if he’d like to DJ at a party a few years ago and he hasn’t looked back since. Now playing at some of the coolest parties in London’s East End (DISH, B(e)ast, BONER), Borja is bring sexy beats back to the dance floor wherever he goes. Danny Hilton found out more…
What makes you stand out from the DJ crowd?
I don’t take myself seriously! I tend to fuck up but I make it work… Oh and I clap and smile a lot. Fuck, I sound like Paris Hilton.
Is she someone you look up to?
I always wanted to be tall, blonde and rich…
Tell us about your best gig and your biggest disaster…
The best gig was recently in Adams in Helsinki. Super-good energy and I ended up with a room full of Vikings screaming “we want more!” I was so happy! Biggest disaster! Well it was at Pork in Berlin. It was so hot the sound system was overheating and the music was going off every three tracks… But at the same time it was so much fun I can’t say it was a disaster. I love Pork, it’s a hipster sex club, go check it out.
Let’s talk tech – what equipment do you use?
CDs. I drink when I play, so with the laptop… I kinda can’t see the text of the tracks, so it’s better for me to write them big on a CD…
When do you know that you’ve drunk too much? When you can’t see the CD text?
I get creative and improvise… It’s usually great and I tend to play tracks forgotten in time or from my playlist and I surprise myself.
What’s your favorite track of all time?
That’s impossible, there are so many… But I tell you one of my favourites is ‘Bizarre Love Triangle’ by New Order. I’ve always been a big fan of the band and it’s a track that always makes the crowd go wild and engage with me. Love the beats!
Should you play to the crowd or for yourself?
I play for that guy standing in front of the DJ booth with a big smile.
That’s usually me then!
I know! I remember you climbing up to the stage in Barcelona…
Yeah, I remember… Kind of… Moving on! What do you do when you’re not playing music?
Making music or organizing parties to play music. DISH is my baby with Tom Stephan. We produce music together using the name “the Cucarachas” and we showcase our love for dirty house music on the night with the help of some fun DJs and the sexiest hosts in London. The crowd is pretty hot and raunchy too and they keep coming back for more. We’ve actually just had our first birthday (January 13th), I was so excited!
Then there’s B(e)ast, which is all about encapsulating the essence of East London, East Berlin and the Lower East Side of NY so we usually invite guests that play in those places and the party happens in Dalston Superstore. It’s so much fun and we get a crazy mixed crowd that’s really up for it! I also have a new little project with my friend Josh Caffe called BONER where we play bitch house, Chicago, Detroit and a bit of techno… It is filthy and I feel like I need a shower after playing such dirty tracks!
Tell us something boring about yourself…
I don’t eat meat, not since watching Fast Food Nation. Avril Lavrige’s performance is not the worst thing in the movie, I swear.
Tell us a secret…
I’m into underwear. When I see a hot guy wearing hot underwear the devil inside of me comes to life!
What are the most important elements for a great party?
Sexy music, sexy crowd and a fucking great sound system. The third one is rare to find.
Who’s your DJ idol?
I’ve got many, Dave Kendrick, Boris Dolinski, Dixon, Ryan Elliott, Tom Stephan, Kim Ann Foxman, MK, Murk – the list is endless. Dave Kendrick always plays tracks that I’ve never heard of and stays on my sets for ages, Tom Stephan is an inspiration and a legend and has been doing it for a while – he always surprises me. Dixon is just an alien on Earth… where he get his music I don’t know, but it’s magical. Ryan Elliott makes me shake it like someone put a duracell battery up my bum and Kim Ann Foxman is LOVE behind the decks… loving, nurturing, inspiring sounds with a dash of Acid.
What kind of guys do you like?
A freak like me.
What makes you a freak?
My mind is usually up there on another planet…
Anything else you want to tell us?
Yeah! I should also mention that I’m a resident at Familia at Egg (London). It feels like a proper Spanish rave in the hills of Ibiza, with good music and crazy people.
What’s next?
This year you will find me playing in Prague, Bratislava, New York, Berlin and Madrid to name a few… Keep up with me by adding me on facebook!
The next BONER is on the 25th of Jan and at Vogue Fabrics, London.
Borja’s facebook: http://www.facebook.com/djborjapena
Borja’s SoundCloud: http://soundcloud.com/Borja-32
The Cucarachas SoundCloud: http://soundcloud.com/the-cucarachas












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