Otra 2nd Birthday w/ Lakuti, Dharma Collective & RoBaSca

Otra is back for their first party of the year and we’re delighted to invite esteemed selector Lakuti to celebrate our 2nd birthday with us. 

An experienced music curator, producer, Label head, and sought-after educator on dance music’s history and a critical voice of the scene, Lakuti takes on many roles. A DJ and musician first and foremost, the Panorama Bar resident draws from a deep understanding of music in its technicolour glory.

Born and raised in Soweto, South Africa, and brought up on a soundtrack of soul, funk, disco, some home-brewed South African pop, bubblegum, and Jazz; Her own musical taste soon expanded and chartered territories beyond her family’s influence. The biggest impact was to discover Johannesburg’s best nightclubs at the time, as well as hearing the phenomenal records coming out of New York City, Chicago and later Detroit which completely captured her imagination and would prove to be transformative.

Making London her home from 1997 to 2012 was a catalyst for fully pursuing work as an independent entrepreneur within the music scene. She founded the Sud Y Electronic label, then went on to throw some the cult Sud Y Electronic parties for 11 years, booking an international list of legendary DJs and live acts as well as new artists, many of them playing for the first time in the country. 

In 2007 she established her own independently run label Uzuri Recordings, a year later extending it to an artist bookings and management agency. 

Lakuti has established herself internationally as a respected and beloved DJ, playing both rising and renowned clubs, festivals and arts events on all continents, as well as becoming a resident at Berlin’s Panorama Bar/Berghain, hosting countless nights there, where she and Tama Sumo launched the events series Bring Down the Walls and Your Love, celebrating guests from the Black and LGBTIQ+ communities both in and outside of the DJ booth.

Lakuti’s longstanding career can best be described with versatility and continuity, a never-ending curiosity and profound wisdom, and a deep love for music and the people that shape and strengthen its foundations.

Lakuti will be supported on the night by Otra resident’s Dharma Collective & RoBaSca