Few DJs are riding the line between heads-down oddball groove science and hands-in-the-air serotonin release quite like Papa Nugs. Whether he’s shelling down rooms like Phonox, Corsica Studios, the Glastonbury Festival fields at Silver Hayes and Shangri-La, or spinning at the iconic red-box BRET Bar in Amsterdam, the London selector has built a reputation on blends that feel simultaneously loose, euphoric and meticulously dialled-in. As co-founder of Suckerpunch, his output has become synonymous with a particularly UK strain of playful club pressure: plinky-plonky tech house, sleazy breakbeat mutations, trance-laced curveballs and the kind of late-session heaters that sound best when the afters should’ve ended three hours ago. His contribution to the Phonica mix series captures that energy in full — moving from wiggy, weird tackle into full emotional depletion territory, stitched together with unreleased cuts, razor-sharp digging instincts and the same restless dancefloor sensibility that’s made him one of the most exciting names currently orbiting the UK underground.
We had a brief chat with the man himself about his mix and what he has coming up in 2026:
Hey Joseph, thanks so much for joining us! Can you tell us about your mix and what the idea behind it was?
Yo thanks so much for having me! have absolutely rinsed some of the mixes in this series so i’m chuffed to be able to contribute one. Since it’s for you guys at Phonica, I wanted to focus on the sounds that i’m usually drawn to when i’m digging for records, which coincidentally is also what i love playing/listening to at after parties. My ear is usually either caught by wiggy, weird & fun stuff, or pure end of the night/start of the next day euphoria bizniss. You’ll hear this mix progress from that plinky plonky tech house, to the kinda tunes that wring your brain for every last drop of serotonin they have left at the end of a 3 day festival. Also even managed to squeeze a couple of my own unreleased ones in there. Bliss!
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?
I go through proper phases with this! 3 years ago I did nothing but crate dig 3/4 days a week. But I think once my collection got to a size I was happy with, and things got busier touring wise, I felt less of a need to constantly be darting around tryna find bangers in the bargain bin. These days my algorithm on youtube is so finely tweaked that the bangers have been finding me more often than not – so i’m still spending a fortune on records but just finding them without leaving the house which is suiting me at the moment – but i can deffo see myself getting back into it. I also just love the efficiency of youtube digging, speedily going through a million tabs makes much faster work than an in person dig. I also try to have a healthy search through some labels on discogs once every couple weeks to try and find more obscure bits. Plus, there are some absolutely ridiculous pages on Instagram/TikTok that are always posting goodies – namely Strange Sightings (who actually hooked me up with a vinyl rip used in this mix), & Spuds Eggs & Hand Grenades.
What are five records you couldn’t live without?
Talking Heads – Girlfriend Is Better
Peppermint Candy – Chocolate Girl (Julian Jabre Remix)
Sonic Sound – The Hungarian Thing
Sasha – Mongoose
The Silents – Never Say Die
What do you have up your sleeve for 2026?
Churning out as many bangers as humanly possible is the aim – got some collabs & solo stuff i’m crazy excited to get out, including a long awaited tune with DJ ADHD & a brand new one with the home slice Duncan Thomas (both are in this mix). Also got a crazy busy/exciting touring schedule coming up that i’m feeling mega grateful for! Right now i’m feeling super fre$h and ready for summer. Enjoy the mix and thanks again for having me!
Thanks Papa 🙂 !
