Recently, I had this idea to make this compilation of sorts with a few of my DJ peers in the Zouk scene. With the immense help of DJ Sprenk and DJ Efosa, I asked a bunch of our colleagues to submit a set that was played in the last 12 months; and it could have been what they considered to be their best set, one that meant something special to them, or even their first set ever. This list is going to be a variety of moods, genres and energy levels; brought to you by artists of not only different backgrounds, but various levels of experience.
If you hear something you like, please follow the pages of these DJs and show your support. Hopefully, this article will help give a platform to artists that haven’t gotten much of a chance to reach farther than their local scene as well as give people in Zouk a central place to discover some new DJs that they may not have been aware of before. That all said, let’s get started.
(Editor’s note: Adblocker may hinder ability for sets to appear)
DJ adamame (Los Angeles, CA)
Adam Jamal Craig (@adamjcraig) • Instagram photos and videos
Fierce and Fabulous (as DJ YOU)
Mood/Genre: ½ cup of Fire + ½ cup wind
Description: This DJ YOU, an adamame Alter Ego, set was born of entirely of 5 star community contributed tracks.
DJ Adéll (Washington D.C.)
Adayl Iost (@adayl01) • Instagram photos and videos
Hannover Zouk Festival 2023 – Friday Night Closing
Mood/Genre: Closing/ Chill
Description: This is a closing set for the first night of Hannover Zouk Festival. I tried to keep the chill vibe for the end of the night, still sprinkle some R&B, traditional and even some Moombah at the end of the set.
DJ Afrodeshiak (Washington D.C.)
A F R O D E S H I A K (@djafrodeshiak) • Instagram photos and videos
Zouk Fire Sept Edition Brazilian Zouk Sunday Social Mix
DJ Amastrus (Los Angeles, CA)
Amastrus (@amastrus_music) • Instagram photos and videos
Sierra Zouk Retreat 2023 – Friday and Saturday – Chill Vibes in the Mountains
Mood/Genre: Calm vibing in nature
Description: In a lovely, secluded retreat center tucked into the Sierra Nevada mountains, we had a wonderful 4 days where we laughed, cried, and fed our hearts and bodies with deliciousness. I played two short sets here, but to capture the beautiful vibe of immersion the weekend held, I merged them into one before uploading here. Prepare for relishing rather than raucousness.
DJ Anvi (Portland, OR)
Jerry Lai (@anvious) • Instagram photos and videos
Catharsis
Mood/Genre: Shapeshifting, Dark, Emotional
Description: I’m worried I’ll never be able to top this, tbh. My most technical, dynamic, and emotional set to date.
DJ Dhroovy (San Diego, CA)
Dhruv Puri (@dhroovvy) • Instagram photos and videos
Zouksgiving
Mood/Genre: Vibes, chill
Description: Listen to this set to give thanks with Zouk.
DJ Efosa (New York, NY)
Efosa Uwa-Omede (@e.omede) • Instagram photos and videos
Soul or System | DC Zouk & Bachata Festival 2023 | Saturday Night – 4AM (NRG 3-8)
Mood: Slow/Sultry – Genre:Douceur/R&B/Neo/Ghetto Zouk/Soul
Description: BPMS are at 73/75 for the entire set. Was channeling my inner Jess Cee, Paloma, and Larissa A. so you should know the vibes.
I wanted to do a set at 4 AM where you could choose to move and groove or stay in the pocket and connect if you wanted. Or you could do both.
I was trying to play with energy while keeping it slow, sensual, and sultry while making sure it wasn’t too heavy, dark, or flat for the most part.
I learned a lot from this set and the lessons from here showed up in my future DJing.
DJ Faye (Edmonton, Alberta, CA)
Just Close Your Eyes and Zouk
Mood/Genre: Chill vibes; closing set
Description: Late night energy set played for 2-4 dancing couples in our small but mighty ZoukEd scene!
DJ Jay (New York, NY)
Jay Miller (@fakejaymiller) • Instagram photos and videos
Early December Senior Social Opening Set
Mood/Genre: Sweet and salty
Description: I start this set off with some sweet melodic stuff, 🎵 and gradually bring the energy up, peaking around the 50 minute mark. The set features R&B, Zouk & Kizomba remixes, pop, Zouk Love, Kizomba, and electronic music.
I’m *so* excited to share in here one of my favorite songs, Trading Places by Usher, remixed by DJ Dids. And I end with a Zouk remix that I was so delighted to discover recently – not just because the original is a classic, but because of how apt the song is for this dance.
DJ Ji (Oakland, CA)
Akhil Guliani (@akhil.guliani) • Instagram photos and videos
Oakland Melty Nights
Mood/Genre: Late night, Emotional, Lyrical
Description: This is a live recorded set for a late Saturday night social. The vibe for the social was warm and fuzzy and the night started with a lot of energy and exploration. The dance energy of the room took me down a spiral of emotions leading into an emotionally charged lyrical section. Enjoy melting into your dance as you dance to this mix.
DJT (Sydney, Australia)
Tayler Lesleigh (@taylerwishh) • Instagram photos and videos
Brazouky AUS Saturday Night
Mood/Genre: Good vibes, high energy, down to traditional chill
DJ K (New York, NY)
Kyelee Fitts (@kyeleefitts) • Instagram photos and videos
Frankenset
Mood/Genre: R&B and Brazilian beats 🙂 chill
Description: My first mix ever; it’s got some mistakes but Efosa told me I should submit so here goes nothing. It’s just a bunch of songs I like with R&B and Brazilian flavors.
DJ Dr. Óleo (Savannah, GA)
Pinaki Ghosh (@djdr.oleo) • Instagram photos and videos
ZoukMX Friday Night Jungle Set 2023
Mood/Genre: Upbeat/Ethnic mix
Description: Continuing from a traditional set starts with medium to high energy while bringing an ethnic flavor and keeping the upbeat energy to meet the jungle vibes on the lit dance floor – such a unique experience.
DJ Rx (Seattle, WA)
Justin Collins (@dj_rx_zouk) • Instagram photos and videos
Everzouk Opening Set
Mood/Genre: Traverses many genres
Description: Starts off traditional then goes from there 🙂
DJ Shaz (The Bay, CA)
Timeless Heaven @ Sierra Zouk Retreat
Mood/Genre: Vibe, heart-expansive, trance, instrumental
Description: Played live during the magic hours of 2-4am, this set invites you into a state of moving bliss and Zouk’d-out connection.
DJ SKR (Seattle, WA)
Shrinivas Ramanath (@shrinivaskr) • Instagram photos and videos
What’s the point of going to a congress when Seattle has a local social?
Mood/Genre: Lambada, Electronic, Hip-Hop, R&B, Neo, Variety
Description: ”This was a set from a local Friday night social. It was well attended by many highly skilled local dancers as well as some out-of-town visitors, so my intention was to provide a congress-like experience, at home.
Starts out chill, ends with bangers, with the energy going up and down in between. Moments of bliss, moments of hype. Good amount of variety which should please most people.”
DJ Sprenk (Boston, MA)
DJ Sprenk (@djsprenk) • Instagram photos and videos
Echoes & Embers
Mood/Genre: Dramatic / A lil’ bit of everything / Birthday
Description: Commissioned for Elijah & Elena’s birthday, this set was based off a custom (and VERY challenging to mix together into a single set) playlist. “Echoes & Embers” goes on a journey to everywhere and back again. With an extremely satisfying genre-bending build, an intimate and chill interlude, and a surprise Disney ending it’s got something for everyone!
DJ STEFI G (Boulder, CA)
Stefan Gomez (@stefan_al) • Instagram photos and videos
The NeoZouk Set You Dreamt of
Mood/Genre: Neozouk/Ambient
Description: Silesian Zouk Festival 2023 Sunday night in the “chill” corridor…
DJ Swift (Raleigh, NC)
Aaron Montgomery (@aaronomohh) • Instagram photos and videos
Coalesce
Mood/Genre: Smooth and Sexy Fun Kiz-Zoukables
Description: Inspired by some of the music they were playing during class I knew exactly where I wanted to start for the set so they could have a great time as well as taking into account what music the scene really enjoyed the day before. During this set I was really just having fun and I felt like I was able to really just be me and play things that I haven’t really played as of late in ways that allow not only me but the attendees to express themselves.
What is never seen though is the behind the scenes 
.. Literally from the moment I woke up Saturday until the classes I was organizing music and trying to see what I could do for the community there. I realized quickly what bpm range I had to stay in and also that they looooved tarraxinha music (so do I 
), but I couldn’t bring myself to just play that for the rest of the weekend. All of the practicing as of late in all of the dance styles as well as dj’ing for them as well has helped me tremendously… Annnd as a very special person always says “Practice makes progress” 
DJ WarHoll (Richmond, VA)
DJ WarHoll (@djwarholl) • Instagram photos and videos
Mood/Genre: Fun and Groovy, Afrobeats mixed w/ R&B and Moombahton
Description: This set was at a time in the year in which I was trying to establish a unique sound to stand out and this was one of my favorite sets just for how I enjoyed layering songs with each other, having these more complex angles and flips on songs that many people are familiar with. The genre being this interesting blend on R&B and Afrobeat just fits how I feel to a T.
DJ Wasabhi (Canada)
Abhi Khanna (@wasabhi.dj) • Instagram photos and videos
CZC Sunday Closing Set
Mood/Genre: Late night, Trance, Downtempo
DJ WinX (Netherlands)
DJ WinX (@djwinxnl) • Instagram photos and videos
IBIZA 420 COSMIC TRANCE SET (ENERGY 4-7)
Mood/Genre: Ecstatic, Cosmic, Trance
See you all in 2024!
DJ Warholl 
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