DJ Peggy Gou Pressures Herself on the Heels of Her First Album
South Korean–born, Berlin-based DJ Peggy Gou prepares for the release of her debut album, I Hear You, after her club single went global last summer.
Photography Axle Jozeph
Styled by Giorgia Cantarini
If only you knew Peggy Gou. The 32-year-old DJ and queen of the charts is a bonafide It girl in the buzzy Berlin club scene. Gou began her DJing career as a teen in London during the peak of indie sleaze and slowly built a loyal following within the underground house scene throughout the 2010s, releasing seven EPs since 2016. Last year, Gou’s single “(It Goes Like) Nanana”—an emphatic earworm that could inspire even the stiffest people from the town in Footloose to dance like their life depends on it—became a global hit seemingly overnight. The bop quickly cemented its status as a song of summer, heard everywhere from clubs to brick-and-mortar stores to Instagram feeds. Gou enjoys searching for nuance in techno, an art in itself. But she doesn’t limit herself to specific genres. Gou spoke to L’OFFICIEL about her debut album, I Hear You, out June 7 via XL Recordings, working with Lenny Kravitz, fashion, her love for Italy, and the simple things in life, like the comfort of her own bed.
L’OFFICIEL: What is your first memory related to music?
PEGGY GOU: Well, it depends on what kind of music you're talking about. If you're talking about classical, I learned how to play piano when I was 8 years old. Before that, when I was 6 and in a choir, I also was playing this, I don't know what it's called in English… it's called zing, like a gong. But the first time for electronic music I would say was when I was 16.
L’O: You're from [South] Korea. Do your heritage and culture influence your music?
PG: I have a Korean idol, who I'm lucky to be friends with. Her name is Junghwa. I've been listening to her K-pop since I was a kid. I think that's my first memory.
L’O: What does being a DJ mean to you?
PG: I don't only see myself as a DJ. I feel like I'm more than that. But a DJ is someone who is educating people about music and is responsible for creating really good memories.
L’O: You’re one of the most powerful women in your industry. How do you feel about that?
PG: Thank you so much for saying that. I appreciate that people see it that way. I worked quite hard to get to my position, and I’ve earned it by not taking shit from other people, but [I] keep doing me. The bigger I get, I feel like I have more responsibility for passing along a positive message and being a good example. That type of compliment only inspires me to do better.
"It actually almost feels like giving birth to a baby. "
L’O: How did you conceive your debut album [I Hear You], coming out in June?
PG: For any musician, an album is a very important step for their career, and I have only done EPs with three or four songs. Now it's my first album in my music career, which is a very, very important moment for me. I have been working on this for a long time, so I'm kind of nervous and excited at the same time. What can I say? I will have to let other people hear it and let them judge. It’s personal. I've been working a lot on this, and I was influenced by a lot of ‘90s music. I feel very excited about that. It actually almost feels like giving birth to a baby.
L’O: Do you feel under pressure, considering it’s your first album?
PG: Yeah, but pressure is never a bad thing for me. I pressure myself, because I know I can do better. After one album, I'm probably going to think to myself, I could have done that better. But no, no bad pressures.
L’O: Yeah, just to do better.
PG: The reaction to “(It Goes Like) Nanana” was crazy, and I did not expect that. So when you get a song like that, I do feel pressure sometimes, thinking, Oh my god; I need to make bangers like this all the time. But this album is not really about making bangers only; it also shows people my taste, the different genres of the music that I love.
L’O: Did you realize at some point that you created a global hit with “Nanana?”
PG: Yes, I did because, for example, in Italy, it was on top of Spotify. Italy has been supporting my music since my first show in Italy in 2016, maybe 2015. Actually, even before I had absolutely any music out, I DJ’ed in Italy in 2011 at this fashion party. But anyway, going back to “Nanana,” I remember my song was on the Italian top 10, and every other song was an Italian song; that meant so much to me. In general, Italy is one of my favorite places to play. And the crowd is always giving me good energy.
L’O: In November 2023, you did a really great single with Lenny Kravitz. How was your first professional meeting?
PG: When I first met Lenny, I was super-nervous. I think he's the hottest and coolest person in the world. I went to see him in the Bahamas in his studio, where we were jamming together. I actually went to his studio again in Paris, an amazing studio. He's such a perfectionist. He knows what he wants and he knows exactly how he wants things to be done. I'm also like that. In the beginning, we were like, OK, you want to do like this? What about like this? There was a lot of compromising. But in the end, he was super-happy, and I'm very grateful that he gave me this chance.
L’O: How do you describe your music style?
PG: To be honest, I don't like to describe my style. I would [rather] let other people describe it. When it comes to fashion, I like to wear everything. When it comes to music I like, I listen to every genre; I select things, the sounds that I like, and I put it all together and it becomes my thing. I don't want to put a label on it. I remember the first time I started DJing, I told myself, I'm going to be a house DJ. But most of the DJs that I love, they don't only play house music; they play everything.
L’O: Speaking of fashion, what about your clothing brand, Peggy Goods?
PG: Peggy Goods is fashion, but it is more merch. I have many creative fans who like to illustrate or draw, so Peggy Goods is something that I am doing to connect with my fans. Of course, I love fashion and the brand that I'm into these days is Bottega Veneta. Matthieu [Blazy, the brand’s creative director] is doing a really, really, really great job. I was in Milan for that show.
L’O: And I read that you also had a brand in the past, Kirin, and Virgin Abloh helped you with it.
PG: Yes, Virgil suggested me to the company that he was working with. He basically went up to them saying, You have to work with her. That was my little greediness trying to catch two rabbits at the same time, so I decided to do my merch on the side. My love for fashion is always there. But when it was time for me to focus on the music, I should be focused on that full-time.
"I pressure myself, because I know I can do better."
L’O: What do you value most in your life? What makes you happy?
PG: Simple things. You know, this question reminds me of when someone asked me What is luxury to you? A lot of people think luxury is the bougie, the expensive car, and this and that. Not for me. Sleeping in my own bed is luxury, just because I travel so much. I work out a lot. Every time I go to a hotel, if I see a good gym, that makes me happy. Good food. And I try to appreciate a lot of things in my life. But I would say good sleep, good food, good gym.
L’O: You travel a lot. Is there a city or place that inspires you?
PG: It changes all the time, but one place that I really love is Italy. Any season, but especially in summer. I would get any shows in Italy just so I can eat the food. Italians are so good at making simple things good. So that's where I love to go in the summer for good vibes and good energy.
HAIR: Shon Ju THE WALL GROUP
MAKEUP: Patrick Glatthaar TOTAL WORLD
PHOTO AND LIGHTS ASSISTANT: Eric Sakai
STYLIST ASSISTANTS: Federica Mele and Isabel Cristina Koch
