It’s the last weekend of August. It’s bank holiday weekend. It’s carnival time! This year, we called on DJ, producer, and core BBZ member Shy One to make a warm-up mix for the impending fun. Born and raised in London, Shy One (Mali to her friends) has shows on NTS, Radar Radio and Balamii… so, you’ve likely heard of her before. When she’s not presenting, selecting and/or mixing her genre-fluid sets, Mali makes electronic music infused with feelings and recently put out her Waterfalls EP.
The Londoner has been attending Notting Hill Carnival for as long as she can remember — as evidenced here in this completely amazing photo of her aged three on a mad one with her mum. “Carnival was the two days I looked forward to more than anything each year,” she told us. “My family used to have food stalls, mum used to make costumes, and dad used to DJ or host some years.” She loves it because “it feels a little like being in the Caribbean; the smells, the sounds, being around so many other people with a similar background to me.”
Though “it’s not the same since they moved Panorama and made it lock-off earlier” she still appreciates the celebration of her culture and always ends up on All Saints Road, where she inevitably runs into relatives and old school friends. Mali reckons that Monday is the best day for carnival, and recommends you you join her for a carnival party at East London’s The Victoria tomorrow night. Have fun!