The long standing NTS resident steps up for the latest Off The Record mix.
London-based DJ and NTS regular Babyschön a.k.a Safi Bugel brings her deep, left-of-centre sensibilities to Phonica’s Off The Record series with a mix that bridges the afterglow of summer and the shadows of winter. Known for weaving post-punk, Italo, EBM and oddball house through her radio shows and club sets, Safi has built a reputation for finding warmth in the darker corners of the dancefloor. This mix, recorded at home on a quiet autumn afternoon but inspired by her set at DIY festival Three Wheel Drive back in August, channels that same energy — hazy, melodic and a little nostalgic while still maintaining a solid dance ready beat throughout.
We had a quick chat with Safi about her mix and what she has coming up for the rest of the year:
Hey Safi, thanks for joining us! Can you tell us about your mix, where and how it was recorded and what the idea behind it was?
At this time of year, I feel like I veer towards playing darker, heavier music — something about the cold weather, shorter days and Halloween. I love that stuff (and it’s sort of the backbone of what I play), but when I thought about putting together this mix, I realised I’d been missing the dreamier, more housey sounds I associate with summer. I decided to look back to my set at the amazing DIY festival Three Wheel Drive in August, where I played to a crowd of friends and strangers on a sunny late afternoon. This mix is heavily inspired by that set but was, in fact, recorded on an autumn afternoon at home.
What are your preferred methods for finding new music—do you still enjoy digging around in dusty crates, or do you prefer to buy online?
Unless I’m in a new city, I almost exclusively buy music online. Bandcamp mostly, but sometimes even iTunes – funnily enough, that’s where I tend to find the tracks that otherwise seem untraceable.
You are well known for your weekly NTS show that covers a vast taste of music – would you approach a guest mix or a club/festival set in a different way?
There’s similarities in terms of sound, but the approaches are very different. For radio, I play around with different moods and BPMs more – it’s fun to pair songs thematically and step away from beat matching here and there. My mixes and club sets are more oriented around maintaining a steady, danceable groove, which might increase in heaviness or tempo, depending on the place and time. I see my radio show and ‘DJing’ as pretty separate things, but I’m starting to enjoy connecting some dots between them, like winding down the BPM and switching up the vibe at the end of the night or throwing in a curveball. .
What has been one of your most memorable sets over your career?
One that springs to mind is a sat-down set in a park in Belgrade earlier this year. I can’t even remember what music I played, but it was a really sweet family affair and the organiser had to keep grabbing the mic to call for lost dogs.
What do you have up your sleeve for 2026?
Keeping up the radio and gigs, mostly, but maybe working on some new projects if I find the time …
Thanks Safi! 🙂
Thank you!
