In light of our limited collection in collaboration with Operator, we’ve approached DJs representing different aspects of Rotterdam nightlife and talked to them about what brings colour to their lives. For this edition, we spoke to Suze Ijó. Suze Ijó’s love for music was present from an early age and manifested as a dancer and record collector and later as a DJ and broadcaster. As a lover of all genres and rhythms, she doesn’t discriminate between electronic and analogue sounds. She aims to make you dance hard and fill the room with warm sounds.
Describe yourself in three words.
Grounded, introverted and curious.
Where are you now?
In my living room in Rotterdam-west
What’s always in your bag when you go to a gig?
Incense, records and USB sticks!
What ecological measures would you take if you ruled the world?
I think ending the exploitation of animals and abolishing single-use plastic would be on top of my list.
How do you brighten up your existence?
Creating moments of peace and tranquillity. Dancing, listening to music, cooking and hanging out with friends is what brightens my spirit.
Describe your perfect night out.
I think my perfect night out is doing something unexpected. I love discovering new artists and new places to go.
What is your biggest loss?
I lost a lot of confidence and trust in my choice to live as an artist because of the pandemic. I wonder if things will ever be ‘normal’ again.
What is your guilty pleasure?
My guilty pleasure is that I love TikTok. I recently downloaded the app ironically just to check it out. After some time, I found the algorithm to suit my interests very well. I found amazing recipes, life hacks and motivating content. So from time to time, I will just scroll through the timeline to see if something interesting will pop up. I do not post any content, though.
Which music have you been listening to recently?
As a DJ, I listen to music all the time. I play very eclectic sets, so what I listen to can go from Free Jazz, R&B and Soul to Techno. Lately, I’ve been listening to a lot of R&B – one of my favourite artists at the moment is Erika de Casier. Her voice is super sweet, and her lyrics can be kinda cheesy, but her music feels very nostalgic. Like the stuff I listened to growing up!
What is your ultimate destination?
My ultimate destination in life is not a physical place. It’s to find that place within myself where I experience peace of mind and tranquillity.
Suze is wearing The New Operator Bag at BIT.
Photo by Jan Bijl.