There are DJs who build a reputation through big releases, and then there are those who earn it one dancefloor at a time.
Harri Pepper falls firmly into the latter. Equally at home behind the counter at Jelly Records as he is behind a pair of turntables, he’s spent the past few years becoming a familiar name across the UK’s most discerning parties, with appearances at fabric, Phonox, Houghton, Gottwood, Glastonbury and The Love Inn to the growing list showcasing the depth of his record bag. It’s that side of Harri that comes through on his Phonica Mix, taken from the closing stretch of an all-night set at Om in Dalston, London earlier this year. As dancers dug in for the final hours, he settled into a raw, high-energy journey that captures exactly what makes his sets so compelling. We had a brief chat with Harri about the mix and what he has on the way:
Hey Harri, thanks so much for joining us! Can you tell us about your mix and what the idea behind it was?
Hello 🙂 Ahh, it’s a pleasure – many thanks for the invite. For this mix, I’ve chosen a live recording from my all-night session at Om earlier this year. Om is one of London’s newest clubs, it’s one dark dance floor with an excellent sound system. I plaid there all night on the evening of 10 April 2026, and this is the closing 2-hour, 19-minute segment. It’s raw and full of energy. I had such good fun and really loved the evening, so I’m very happy to share a piece of it. I hope you enjoy and get stuck into it!
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’m a record shop digger for sure, having worked in quite a few shops over the years (currently at Jelly Records), so come and say hi! 🙂 I love the feeling of discovery that a record shop offers. You meet all sorts of lovely characters and learn such unexpected stories behind the records and where they came from. I have met some of my best friends at record shops and have so many special memories from record shops all around the world.
What would be a memorable set you played that sticks out in your mind?
Well, that’s a lovely trip down memory lane, you know… honestly, there are so many for so many special and different reasons. It’s a tricky one to choose… but picking one that sticks out at the moment would be making my Fabric debut last year, performing all night long in Room 3. Letting rip in that cosy room, playing all my favourite sounds with dancers young and old, whilst catching my dear friends jumping up and down, was really lovely.
What are five records you couldn’t live without?
Again, this is a tricky one… Here are the ones that come to mind for personal reasons…
Ian Carr – Belladonna
This is one of my dad’s records that he gave to me. It really opened me up to some wild and twisted sounds. As it’s my dad’s record, I have always wondered what the parties were like when he played this.
DJ Shadow – Diminishing Returns Party Pak
This was the first record I ever bought. I bought it at Andy’s Record Shop in Aberystwyth one day when passing through. It’s a live mashup hip-hop mix in true DJ Shadow style. I used to play it over and over and over!
Nala Sinephro – Space 1.8
This is such a beautiful album. It’s one of my go-to safe space records. It really calms me, and I always feel at ease after tuning into it.
Aretha Franklin – Aretha
Arrives This is one of the many records I found in Detroit during my digging trip around the city and its outskirts. It reminds me of the special times I had out there, making friends, walking around, dancing, and eating ridiculously naughty Detroit pizza. It’s a real music city, with such lovely people and being there was such a fantastic and inspiring experience.
Peking Man – Scared Of A Sound
I love this record. I found it at The Little Record Shop — it’s so sleazy, and the vocalist has so much power! I have played this many times at many different moments, Maceo’s Glastonbury at 8am was a mega twisted one!
What do you have up your sleeve for 2026/2027?
Summer is bubbling at the moment, with festivals and parties rolling into one another, and I really am so happy and grateful for this 🙂 Looking to the future, I have more on the horizon. I’ll be spreading the sounds I play across the world… so I’m going to keep playing and playing and playing… Hope you all enjoy and come dance soon. Thanks again for the invite! Nice one x 🙂
Thanks Harri!
