Who will be playing the Summer Dance?
Under City LightsFor our final event of the year we are heading to VENUE MOT for a full venue takeover, with performances from Frazer Ray, Jamie Unknown, SOFA, and support from a range of DJs from UCL’s very own Rare FM and Electronic Music Society.
UnCL editor Allegra sat down with two of the DJs performing at the UCL EMS x RARE FM Summer Dance at the end of the month. Allegra spoke with Nshira (NSIRAVSTHEWORLD) and Nil (N1L), talking about what they are most excited about for this event and their experiences as DJs.
Speaking with Nshira
MAY 20th 2026 - LONDONAllegra: Tell us a bit about some preparations you do before you perform live.
Nshira: I feel like for me I don’t do much but lowkey my USB and I do not get along. I have to reload it so many times and I have to format it because if this corrupts that would be pretty bad. I maybe have a RedBull, and other than that just go with the flow.
Allegra: Getting into the music mood.
Nshira: Yeah, definitely getting into the music mood. Maybe watch a set before, watching a Boiler Room or a random set and then I feel like I’ve got the flow.
Allegra: Brilliant. And I guess when you’re thinking about your sets and compiling the music that you want to play, how do different music influences or the music around you affect what music comes into your sets.
Nshira: For me I think it’s really important because I play pretty much every genre, not really limited to one genre. So, I love discovering new genres especially from outside the UK, such as from Brazil, or the Philippines, South America, North America, really anywhere. I love going on music finding missions such as scrolling on SoundCloud for 5 hours. And then I see how I can incorporate it into my set, adding in something new and different.
Allegra: Really bringing in a lot of different vibes. Do you ever feel like a pressure or expectation when you’re performing live?
Nshira: When I’m at certain venues I worry if the crowd is going to like what I’m playing right now, but you kind of just have to adapt your music to the crowd. And then at that point it’s whatever though because you’re playing music so it won’t go bad. I think at the start it was tricky but now I think ‘I’m just here to play music and that’s all I have to do’.
Allegra: Awesome. And on the flip side of that, what is your favourite part about performing sets live?
Nshira: Definitely I’m surprise the audience, when I’m playing a song and you hear the next song coming in and I see people turning to one another and [insert scream] as they recognise it. That’s the best part. Also when the crowd has a really good reaction to a song that you didn’t think was going to do that well and I feel so please that I did that one.
Allegra: When you get the whole crowd into it, that’s amazing. Now, more of a question about the behind the scenes on DJ-ing, what something that people don’t realise about DJ-ing until they start getting into it themselves?
Nshira: I would say the fact that actually playing and mixing is only 5 to 10% of DJ-ing. So much of it is finding music and formatting music, adding your hot queues, that kind of thing. Actually mixing is an important part but I don’t think it is necessarily the most important part of DJ-ing. I would say the most important part is definitely curating a music taste and a specific expression and sound. Most people might think that you’re just playing whatever, but in my opinion the music itself is much more important than the actually DJ-ing.
Allegra: Knowing what your audience is going to react to, which tracks feed in well to one another, not just sonically but from a feeling point of view as well. And I guess looking more specifically to the event we have coming up, are you excited to play?
Nshira: I’m so excited. It’s going to be so much fun.
Allegra: Have you played at MOT before? What are you particularly excited about?
Nshira: I played at MOT three months ago, playing a full jungle set. I noticed the bass there is insane, so now I want to work in more bass music, something with a really strong bass. I think that would be so fun, and the venue is so cool. Super excited to play.
Allegra: Totally. Wrapping up our interview, if you could tell us a bit about a particular memory from being a part of UCL EMS?
Nshira: The first time I ever did a live set was with EMS at XOYO and I was so scared. But the vibe was so good and I was thinking that these people were so fun. I was playing at 9pm meaning there were only five people there, but those five people were having such a fun time and I was having such a fun time. That was a great memory of being part of UCL EMS.
Speaking with Nil
MAY 20th 2026 - LONDON Allegra: Are you excited for event?
Nil: Yes, I’m really excited. It’s going to be my second EMS event. My first one was at Waiting Room.
Allegra: Talking a little bit about the process of DJ-ing, what is one pre-set ritual you’ve got or what you think about before performing?
Nil: I definitely prepare my playlists before hand, of course, and I ask about the events vibe beforehand so I can have an understanding. I go with the flow, read the crowd and arrange the next song according to that.
Allegra: That’s such an important aspect, seeing what the crowd is working with, seeing what might not be landing.
Nil: Definitely, because you can’t just go with your playlist. It can really depend on what the vibe is and how the crowd is reacting to the songs.
Allegra: Hugely, and I guess in terms of new music, where do you find new songs and sounds to incorporate into your sets?
Nil: I listen to lots of new music from radios, and a lot of new music from my friends too. It can really depend though, like once I heard a song in Chipotle, shazamed I, and added it to my set.
Allegra: That’s so brilliant. Now looking a bit more about performing live, do you ever feel expectation around it and how do you manage that?
Nil: I have to focus and be able to read the crowd, like I said before, because I think that is one of the most important aspects about DJ-ing. Everyone can do the mixing part, but if you can’t read the crowd, that’s the trickiest part. Understanding what the vibe is and choosing your next track according to that.
Allegra: On the flip side to that, what’s your favourite aspect about performing live?
Nil: The crowd’s energy. When I’m having fun with my friends, that’s the best part.
Allegra: When you can see that the crowd is having a good time, that energy is coming back to you.
Nil: Literally, and I’m such a people pleaser - maybe that’s why I’m a DJ.
Allegra: Got to keep the crowd happy. On this, what do you think is something that people don’t really know or understand about the behind the scenes of DJ-ing before they get into it.
Nil: The technical issues can often be the most overwhelming part. Sometimes my USBs won’t work and you’ll have to bring a back up. You have to check everything is working before your set.
Allegra: Looking forward to this event, have you played at MOT before?
Nil: I have not, this is my first time.
Allegra: And are you excited?
Nil: Super, super excited.
Allegra: That’s wonderful to hear. Last question is about what you are looking forward to most about this event?
Nil: I haven’t been to this venue, so I’m really looking forward to seeing it, and I’m very excited to have fun with my friends.