3 DJs Share Their Party Playlists

London-born singer-songwriter, model and DJ Leah Weller has been involved in music and fashion from day one. Her sound draws on her rich heritage – inspired by her father Paul Weller and mother, DC Lee – blending West Coast hip-hop, old-school R&B and deep soul. While crafting her own music, Leah has also DJ’d for fashion heavyweights like Vivienne Westwood, Vogue’s Fashion Night Out and Selfridges, bringing her genre-blurring style to the world’s most stylish crowds.

I usually play 90s West Coast hip hop and 80s disco funk. I throw in some reggaeton, Latin and African gems, maybe a little UK garage and dancehall. I usually go for the classics, but there’s a lot of good current stuff out at the moment – it all depends on the vibe and the crowd. But if I could only play one genre all night, I’d stick to 70s/80s funk – Chaka and MJ. 

The three songs you need on your party playlist are ‘Get Ur Freak On’ by Missy Elliott, ‘Still D.R.E.’ by Dr Dre ft Snoop Dogg and ‘Give It To Me Baby’ by Rick James. For a song that’s guaranteed to get people to dance, it has to be ‘Jump Around’ by House Of Pain. 

If I need to wind down a set I usually shift to some MJ or Prince, like ‘I Wanna Be Your Lover’ or ‘Off the Wall’. For a closing song, I like to play a classic like ‘Funkin’ for Jamaica’ by Tom Browne. 

The guilty pleasure song I love sneaking into a set is Britney Spears’ ‘I’m A Slave 4 U’ or ‘Let’s Get Loud’ by J.Lo.

DJ’ing for a Tom Ford event was one of the most memorable moments of my career. I also did a really big event in Japan, and there was a huge crowd. Two girls danced on either side of me – it was a real performance. The whole crowd was really vibing with the music, and it was such a great night. It’s hard to say which city has the best energy; every place has its own unique vibe, but Japan was incredible. 

Next year I think we’ll see soul music making a comeback. I just got switched onto Doechii and she is fire – I would love to see her live. I’m a big fan of Thee Sacred Souls, too. As for me, I’m working on new material for a new album and some upcoming DJ gigs too. I can’t wait to get behind the decks again.

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Josh Parkinson is a DJ, MC and producer making waves with support from BBC Radio 1, 1Xtra and KISS. His breakout track, crowned Mistajam’s 'Future Anthem' for four weeks, became the most ID’d track of the year and shot him to number 11 on the Shazam Dance Chart. With releases on Ministry of Sound, DVine Sounds and Spacedisco – plus, support from industry heavyweights Calvin Harris, Jamie Jones, Roger Sanchez and David Guetta – Josh has amassed more than 20 million streams. Live, he’s lit up Hï Ibiza, Glastonbury and Radio 1, while brand gigs for Ferrari, Versace and PlayStation prove his crowd-control skills. Also a model for GQ, Vogue, and Prada, Josh is a multi-hyphenate force both on and off the decks.

Chaka Khan’s ‘Like Sugar’ is a good tune to get the party started – sped up a bit, it’s always good. Then, you’ve got to have ‘I Feel Love (Kevin McKay Remix)’ by Start The Party, ‘Little L (Dave Lee Disco Re-Blend)’ by Jamiroquai, ‘Don't Stop 'Till You Get Enough’ by Michael Jackson and ‘Sing It Back (Mousse T.'s Feel Love Mix)’ by Moloko.

My passion is underground house and disco, but I love a classic track that’s been beefed up a bit. If there’s one song that blows the roof every time, it’s ‘Gimme! Gimme! Gimme!’ – I love Sgt Slick's Melbourne Recut. Then, my ultimate closing song has to be ‘We Are Family’ by Sista Sledge.

I love festival crowds. This year, I made my Glastonbury debut. I was one of the first sets on the Thursday, so I thought it wouldn’t be very busy, but more people just kept pouring in. At Glastonbury, everyone has a good vibe and is up for a good party. Otherwise, the energy in Ibiza is next level. I played open until close at Hï Ibiza earlier this year. It’s rare to play for six hours in a row at such an incredible club. But if I could relive it, I wouldn’t have to go directly to the airport after my set at 6am.

Garage and speed garage are set to explode in 2025. The genre isn’t new, but this fresh wave is unstoppable. I got to play with the legendary Todd Edwards this year, which was unreal, and I’m buzzing to do it again at Margate Lido on 15th February. If you’re up for a proper dance, get yourselves down there.

Next year is looking big for projects, too. I’m launching an online DJ’ing for Beginners course, which I’m so excited about. It all started in 2020 as a way to stay afloat while the world was in chaos, but it’s been so rewarding. Seeing people I taught go on to play clubs and radio shows has been incredible. On top of that, I’m slowly unveiling my MC/Lyricist alias, JDP, and hoping to drop more of that side of things. It’s a nice change to make music that isn’t just for the club but for proper listening, too.

If I could play at any event next year, it would be one of the Defected parties – the vibe is unmatched. I’d love to get on one of their line-ups, but I need to sign a track to them first… So, it’s time to lock myself in the studio!

The Menendez Brothers are ones to keep your eye on. They’ve been grafting for years, but their sets keep getting bigger and bigger, and they’re finally getting the recognition they deserve. They are two of the nicest, most supportive people in the game, and it’s so good to see them smashing it.

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