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[Culture](/luxegen/culture)

 /  16 January 2025  

#  A Cool DJ &amp; Presenter On The Music That Made Her  


If you’re a weekday Capital FM listener, you’ll be familiar with DJ Kemi Rodgers – or maybe you know her as a presenter on ITV’s I’m A Celeb Unpacked. We grabbed her for a quick chat about her career, the music that made her, and the songs that will always get her on the dancefloor.  


ByEleanor Magill

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[ Save To My Favourites ](/user/login?destination=/markdownify/node/44628)

 

  Image: @kemirodgers 

 

 

 



 

 

 

 

 [ ![](https://media.sheerluxe.com/Plc0NeVCrNT5FeQoOfqJt_exUn8=/800x0/smart/https%3A%2F%2Fsheerluxe.com%2Fsites%2Fsheerluxe%2Ffiles%2Farticles%2F2025%2F01%2Fmain-1.png?itok=958TxV9Q)

 

 ](https://www.instagram.com/kemirodgers/) 

 @kemirodgers 

 



 

 

 

 

 

**I grew up in a musical household.** Not instruments – I cannot play the guitar or the recorder to save my life – but music was always on. We would always put tunes on in the car or listen to the radio, so it started from there.

**There was never a plan B.** My view is, if you have one, then you’re not dedicated to plan A. I remember the moment I realised I wanted to be in radio – I was listening to Zane Lowe. He hosted the evening show on Radio 1, and he always interviewed massive bands and new artists. I remember listening to him interview someone and thinking, I want to do that.

 

 I cannot play the guitar or the recorder to save my life – but MUSIC WAS ALWAYS ON. We would always PUT TUNES ON IN THE CAR or listen to the radio.  
 

 



 

 

**The Jingle Bell Ball in 2023 was one of the scariest and most exciting moments of my career.** It was the first time I'd used an earpiece, and I had to say ‘Hello, O2!’ in front of 18,000 people. I’d never spoken to a crowd that big before – it was a real career moment. Then, a year later, I was in the jungle doing *I’m A Celebrity: Unpacked,* which felt monumental. I’d finally reached a point in my career where I was like, I can do this.

**The best part of my job might not even be the music.** We often do competitions and giveaways, and you hear from people who have gone through the worst times and really need a pick-me-up. We had someone who had lost a parent, and they won some tickets for something. I was crying along with them. It’s just so beautiful that radio still has that connection. Everyone listens to music on streamers, but moments like that prove there’s still a place for radio.

**Capital has introduced me to so many new artists.** When I first started, there was a lot of dance music but now we’re mixing things up. We are playing artists like Sam Fender and Gracie Abrams – a bit more indie-ish. I also have Capital to thank for my love of Sabrina Carpenter and Chappell Roan – they’ve championed those artists for such a long time. I saw Sabrina Carpenter at the Summertime Ball last year and she was amazing. I don’t have a very strict music preference – my taste goes everywhere and anywhere.

 

 

 

 [ ![](https://media.sheerluxe.com/Kbw9dtm4n2bZX8rLVaI6EaqhEfg=/800x0/smart/https%3A%2F%2Fsheerluxe.com%2Fsites%2Fsheerluxe%2Ffiles%2Farticles%2F2025%2F01%2Fmain-2.png?itok=fw33mFjS)

 

 ](https://www.instagram.com/kemirodgers/) 

 @kemirodgers 

 



 

 

 

 

 

 

**I've got favourite songs for everything and everyone –** relationships, past and present, holidays, different friends. An early example is ‘She Loves You’ by The Beatles. I remember being in my dad's car and he had the *Best Of The Beatles* album. I played that track over and over. I guess that has shaped my music taste and exploration. Another one is ‘Take Me Away’ by Chase &amp; Status. It was a song my first proper boyfriend and I loved. I remember getting it on vinyl. I got to see them live at a festival called Global Gathering with my best mate and him, and in that moment, we were so young, and life was all ahead of us. I love how music can transport you to a special memory like that.

**The music I listen to is all based on mood.** Each day I come home from work it can be a different vibe. I like more chill dance music, but it could even be classical or jazz to unwind. If I want to go to the gym or hype myself up, or maybe I want to feel like a bad b\*\*\*\*, then I’m sticking on ‘Gorilla’ by Little Simz, or a bit of Megan Thee Stallion or Doja Cat.

**I always get messages about how to get your song onto the radio,** **but it’s pretty hard.** In my experience, SoundCloud is a good resource for listeners who want to find new artists and for DJs and producers looking for set material. There’s also Nuke. It’s great to be able to hear work from unsigned artists and give them that platform. I think that’s the best development in music in recent years.

 

 

 

 

 ![](https://media.sheerluxe.com/177RhIbDreXD8bhvi3xPHbhLg2k=/1920x0/smart/filters:no_upscale()/https%3A%2F%2Fsheerluxe.com%2Fsites%2Fsheerluxe%2Ffiles%2Farticles%2F2025%2F01%2Fmain-3.png?itok=gy6C2PpI)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

**Alice Phoebe Lou needs more recognition.** She reminds me of Gracie Abrams, who’s getting really big now. She’s in the same genre as Maggie Rogers, very much ‘in your feels’ music. Plus, I’m excited to see what Gigi Perez has in store. She was one of the rising stars of last year. We play her track ‘Sailor Song’ a lot on Capital, and it’s one that’s blown up all over TikTok.

**If I'm doing a DJ set, I throw in absolute classic bops the crowd is going to love.** Then, for every few of those, I pop in one that I love myself, that maybe people wouldn’t have heard of. As a DJ, you must remember that you're playing for the people; it's not about you. It's about everyone else having a good time. I just think about how awful it would be if I went on a night out and the music was not my vibe, and I had no idea who it was… It wouldn’t be a success. So, you have to get good at reading the room and not being selfish with your music picks.

 

 IF WE’RE GETTING A BIT RAVEY, I'm going to put in a personal favourite of mine, it’s from Jackie Hollander, and it’s ‘ALL MY FRIENDS ARE HOT’  
 

 



 

 

**On my party playlist, you’ll always find Barry Can’t Swim’s ‘Still Riding’.** It’s just so good – it’s making me so excited for the summer festival season. I can’t wait to return to dancing in a big old field with the sun out. Then, for an absolute floor filler, it’s ‘You Don’t Know Me’ by Jax Jones. Everyone and their mum loves that song. If we’re getting a bit ravey, I'm going to put in a personal favourite of mine, it’s from Jackie Hollander, and it’s ‘All My Friends Are Hot’ – a fun, late-night techno track. Another lively one is ‘New Bottega’ by Torren Foot and Azealia Banks. My final pick would be the last song I play in a night, ‘I Feel Love’ – no explanation needed. It's just the perfect closing track for any night.

*Follow* [@KemiRodgers](https://www.instagram.com/kemirodgers/)

 

 

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 ](https://www.instagram.com/kemirodgers/) 

 @kemirodgers 

 



 

 

 

 

 

 



 

 

 

 

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