Hailing from Sweden, Philippa’s musical journey began in 2012 when she secured a residency at renowned Stockholm based club ‘Under Bron‘. Starting as a DJ, she has evolved into a captivating force in the techno scene, blending various techno strains that ignite diverse emotions on the dance floor. Through her story commenced in the Swedish capital, it gracefully trascends to Berlin – where she currently resides. Her presence extends across Europe, gracing esteemed venues like De School, Bassiani and Berghain (to name a few). Philippa’s performances are a master class in precision, attracting audiences with a finely curated blend from her extensive collection, a skill honed through the years of dedicated craftmanship. Beyond her DJ career, Philippa is the co-founder of positivesource imprint alongside UK born Blue Hour. Launched in 2021, the duo curates and releases a rich spectrum of techno, trance and more featuring international talents. Having navigated the techno landscape for over a decade she has laid a solid foundation for a promising future with many more years to come. Philippa’s trajectory is undeniably one to watch.

Can you share some early memories or influences that sparked your interest in techno?

From a very early age, I was listening to electronic music. My best friend back in high school had an older sister who was into mix cds, so we would borrow them from her and listen together on our way to school. That was the initial spark that started my love for electronic music. My brother also had turntables, so I would sneakily use them when he would leave the house. My dad (who’s into jazz) also greatly influenced me as he encouraged and expressed the importance of discovering music beneath the surface or ‘digging’ as we know it. Another important factor was experiencing different types of music from all over the world and not only from one particular genre/country, which I’ve adopted in my approach to electronic music but also taking inspiration from broader influences.

There are many possibilities with what you can create together, and often, I try to feel my way through my sets as if I were dancing on the other side. This was ultimately where it started for me, so I feel it’s really important to keep this in focus. 

How did growing up in Sweden shape your musical taste and approach as a DJ?

When I started going out in Stockholm, a healthy range of club nights and illegal parties were well-curated and accommodated my interest in music. I spent a lot of time in these spaces, experiencing different artists and styles, where my interests grew more specific to taste. Many of these nights felt like long journeys, so I tried to adopt a similar attitude with my approach to DJing and think of it more like storytelling. There are many possibilities with what you can create together, and often, I try to feel my way through my sets as if I were dancing on the other side. This was ultimately where it started for me, so I feel it’s really important to keep this in focus. 

How has your style evolved since your residency days, and what elements do you think have remained constant?

Having access to a club as a resident was an excellent opportunity to gain a broader understanding of playing at different set times and situations during club nights. It was essential for me to have a platform where I could experiment with sound, and it also gave me a chance to network with people in the industry and build my name locally. These experiences gave me the confidence to play international shows and build my career.

I’m no longer a resident at Under Bron since they stopped their in-house curation and now work with outside promoters, but I’m still close to the team, recently we hosted a positivesource event with Ryan James Ford and Blue Hour. 

Moving from Stockholm to Berlin is a big move. How has the change in location influenced your music and your experiences as a DJ?

I moved when I was 23 (approximately 10 years ago), it was a very easy and natural decision, to be honest, which I was excited about. I spent a lot of time in Berlin already before, so I felt comfortable, there was a strong music community, and I made some friends, so I felt very welcome, which I’m grateful for. Like many who come here, I spent a lot of time in nightclubs and at the surrounding festivals, so doing all of that “research” significantly impacted me musically and in my personal life. 

You launched the positivesource imprint with Blue Hour in 2021. What motivated you to start this venture, and how do you curate and select artists for the label?

When we launched the label, our intention was to showcase different genres from known and less-known producers, breaking down the music tribes and bringing people together. It was also a chance to bring our profiles closer and share something. Since the launch, we’ve constantly strived to find music on the edge of genres. Each track has to stand on its own but complement each other, even if pulling styles and people from different areas. We’ve made new friends along the way and had the pleasure of bringing the label to different cities with curated nights featuring artists released on the label. The artwork is another aspect we like to take pride in and have fun with, each release uses a licensed image from a contemporary artist and adopts imagery loosely connected to the ‘smiley’. We’re at a point now with the label where we are considering our next steps, and whether to continue with VAs or switch things up and do something different, so we’ll see what the future brings. 

Looking ahead, what are some of your goals and aspirations for the coming years, both as a DJ and as a label co-runner?

In terms of DJing, I’d love to continue playing at some of my favorite venues and highlight gigs throughout the year with some new additions, including more festivals. It’s also important for me to know my limits in touring, as 2023 was quite busy, and I didn’t organize enough time off and came close to burnout after playing 8 gigs in 10 days and getting sick in the middle of the tour. I’d love to visit some destinations and different parts of the world I’ve not yet visited, for example, South America. As for the label side of things, we’d love to do more showcases at key venues and figure out our next steps with the general direction. We’re keen to share experiences, build new connections, release interesting, cutting-edge music, and form new friendships.

Check out her live recording at FUSE:

Talent: Philippa Pacho

Music editor: Joiah Luminosa

Photography: Sam Clarke