PINNACLE'S ITAEWON DJ D.YANA breaks beats, boundaries

DJ D.YANA / Courtesy of DJ D.YANA

In Seoul's electrifying Itaewon neighborhood, a rising DJ, known as DJ D.YANA, has been making waves.

Dhyana Rao-Middleton of London, United Kingdom, aka DJ D.YANA, has an active presence in the Seoul music scene. "I've been DJing for exactly one year now," she told The Korea Times. "I started learning during COVID as I wanted to pick up music again. I was a classical musician since age 3 but quit when I moved to Korea. I felt lost without music and wanted to return to it in a way that allowed me to express my current self. After watching a group of turntablist DJs, I was blown away by the skill and sounds they created, and realized that spinning vinyl was similar to playing instruments. Intrigued, I started to learn."

For DJ D.YANA, DJing has become more than just a hobby; it has been a transformational experience. "DJing has opened me up to a whole new world of music and people," she said. "Music has always been a big part of my life and my emotional development, so being able to listen, experience and experiment with new music alongside other DJs and a bustling audience has opened my mind and heart and guided me through new and different emotions."

Having started her musical journey as a classical musician, she notes the stark contrast between the strict rule-following of classical music, and DJing, where experimentation is applauded. Breaking free from the restraints of classical music has allowed her to connect deeply with new audiences, and feel more alive and satisfied with her life's journey than ever before.

Self-expression is one of DJ D.YANA’s favorite aspects of being a DJ. She finds immense joy in sharing such a personal experience with audiences. “Music is a window into an individual's heart, and seeing people smile and cheer while looking into my heart's window drives me to produce, live and DJ harder than I have before," DJ D.YANA said.

However, the journey hasn't been without its challenges. Being a woman in an industry that puts emphasis on appearance as a selling point can be quite cumbersome for female DJs.

Often female DJs are encouraged to supply audiences with eye candy in addition to or sometimes paramount to providing them with a well-structured, carefully curated DJ set. The fact that there are times when people put more emphasis on appearance than art is an aspect of DJing that is less than favorable to DJ D.YANA.

However, this doesn’t downplay the importance of being presentable on a professional stage. While she embraces dressing up for performances, DJ D.YANA emphasizes that her main focus is on her music and skills.

"I've been asked to dress sexy, to straighten my hair or to wear something tighter, as this seems to take higher importance when performing," she explained. "While I dress appropriately for the environment I play in ― be it a wedding, club or art exhibition ― having people care more about appearance means that the music we love and the skills DJs work so hard to develop are second to that."

Although her DJ career only spans one year, DJ D.YANA is an embodiment of the ever-evolving entertainment industry of Seoul. Her constant musical transformation, expression and breaking-down-barriers attitude is key to the progression of Seoul’s international music scene.

Follow @dj.d.yana on Instagram to connect with her and for updates on her upcoming performances and musical adventures.

Pinnacle TheHustler is the owner of Itaewon hip-hop hookah bar Lit Lounge. He is a DJ, emcee and former radio host and recording artist. Visit @lit_itaewon on Instagram or planethustle.com for more information.