Selections: Philou Louzolo
One of DJ Mag’s Artists To Watch in 2023, today Philou Louzolo is one of Amsterdam’s hottest tickets. Regularly selling out his own shows in the city and elsewhere, between his DJing, productions, label and events there’s a surge of excitement for his creative output that feels impossible to ignore. But when we ask what’s changed since he last appeared in DJ Mag, he doesn’t get lost in the hype: that time has been about learning to balance the music career he’s been building for 15 years with the responsibilities of being a father. “Most days I’m a full-time dad, and I’m proud to dedicate that time to my daughter,” he says. “Naturally my priorities shifted, I tour more on weekends, and the time I used to spend producing is limited. It’s a bit of a paradox: when you become a parent, work feels more important because you want to invest in your child’s future, but at the same time it takes away precious moments with them.”
Louzolo’s solution has been to “focus on community building”, launching two events, Symfora at Lofi and Philou Louzolo & Friends at Thuishaven, “as a platform for both new talent and established artists”. The success of both has inspired him in other ways. “What I’ve been creating with my events, diverse line-ups and unexpected connections, is something I also want to carry into the creative process of making music, building a network with Dutch artists and developing my label(s),” he says. “The Netherlands has so much talent, yet too often everyone stays in their own lane. I want to disrupt that by bringing together artists and sounds from different scenes, creating collaborations and line-ups that connect communities in new ways.”
With house music at its core, Louzolo’s sound connects the dots between melodic house and techno, prog drama, roof-raising Afro-house, and more. “The challenge for me has always been not to fit into one box,” he says. “I love moving through multiple genres in a set, but I also adapt to the brand or venue I’m performing for. Some book me for my house and techno sound, others for my African electronic side. That can feel limiting at times, because for me those spectrums have always been one and aligned.”
To showcase his approach fully, he’s been playing more extended sets — often all night long, or in the case of one event at Thuishaven this summer, for 15 hours straight. Allowing him “to showcase the full spectrum of my sound without restrictions and to tell a long story”, they’ve also been a resounding success.
Currently, he’s gearing up for this year’s Amsterdam Dance Event, where he’ll be a speaker, play multiple sets — including at his Philou Louzolo & Friends stage at Thuishaven with Samm & Ajna, AMÉMÉ and JAMIIE, and back-to-back with Cincity at Black Coffee’s Ziggo Dome show — and screen African Gold, a documentary about him made by his filmmaker cousin, that explores “the contrast between the cousin she grew up with and the artist who performs in front of thousands of people”. He’ll also perform at ADE’s CLUB Lab, presented in association with DJ Mag, which gives four up-and-coming DJs the chance to play at Melkweg.
His advice for those just getting started in the industry? “Prioritise having fun, and always put your health first, physically, mentally, spiritually, and socially. When you’re starting out, it’s easy to get caught up in chasing success or recognition, but without a foundation of wellbeing, none of it lasts. This industry is full of dopamine shots: success can feel incredibly rewarding, but it also brings pressure and challenges. Looking back, I realise the only way to handle the ups and downs is to stay grounded.”
For his contribution to DJ Mag’s Selections series, he’s decided to spotlight some recent favourites, from peak-time bangers to deep, rolling house. Dive in below.
