Frequently touted as ‘the world’s hippest DJ,’ Peggy Gou’s stratospheric rise has seen her go from underground sensation to the A-list artist that everyone wants a piece of. Her music is dream-like and demanding, her fashion choices bold and brilliant, and, while she’s seemingly on top of the world, the South Korean DJ, producer, and vocalist is clearly just getting started.
Over the past six months, it seems everywhere you turn, there she is. Peggy Gou, the trailblazing DJ and music artist, has quickly shot into cultural consciousness and mainstream media. From Coachella performances to private fashion shows, big-time brand partnerships to Cannes red carpets, Gou has gone from underground sensation to global icon — seemingly overnight.
Peggy Gou was born in Incheon, Korea, growing up in a traditional Korean household before relocating to London in her teens for schooling. Moving around three different sets of guardians during those early years (she wasn’t exactly a stickler for the rules), Gou’s parents eventually moved her back to South Korea, but the return was short-lived. Desperate to return to London (and regain the freedom she’d found while there), Gou begged her mum for a second chance, applying for a foundation course at the London College of Fashion (LCF). She was accepted and found her way back to the city, and while it wasn’t all smooth sailing, Gou found her way, and herself, in music. The rest, you can probably piece together.
Having been taught to beat match by a friend back in Korea, Gou taught herself to produce and started DJing, landing a few gigs in London before eventually relocating to Berlin in 2013, where she now ostensibly lives (world-straddling DJs such as Gou don’t really live anywhere, spending every other weekend playing at a different stop on her constant world loop). And it was here, in the world’s epicentre of electronica, where she earned her mantle as one of dance music’s biggest names. Ever-ambitious, Gou pushed hard for opportunities, becoming the first Asian female DJ to play at the iconic Berghain in 2016 — a feat she takes great pride in.
Since her first official release in 2016 — a debut EP titled Art of War, Gou has quickly and impressively gone from strength to strength, now boasting her own record label (Gudu Records), a mini festival in London, more than four million followers on Instagram, and an impressive standing in the fashion world — previously running her own fashion label, Kirin, supported by the late Virgil Abloh, and landing a steady stream of high profile partnerships. She’s played everywhere from Coachella to Glastonbury, but despite all that she’s achieved at an impressively young age (Gou turned 33 in July), she’s far from ready to rest on her laurels. In fact, it seems as if she’s just getting started, “I’ve far from achieved everything I want to,” she said in a recent interview, “I’m ambitious and haven’t done half of what I’ve got planned.”
Gou’s first EPs in 2016 were met with fervour, but it was her 2018 releases that put her on the map and solidified her standing as one of the world’s most highly regarded and sought-after DJs. Gou has playfully described her music as ‘K-house’ (the star sings in Korean), but a specific genre can’t define her music. In fact, the only word that would accurately sum it up is unpredictable. And that’s exactly how she likes it, “I want to release my own music to have freedom of genre, and I wanted to have control over when I release, artwork, everything,” she told The Guardian in an interview in 2019 after stepping away from her label to self-manage. Punchy, dreamy, and one-of-a-kind, Gou’s sound is nothing if not unique. “Music is my passion. It’s a feeling,” she was quoted saying recently, “If you ask what music means to me, it’s like you asking what love means to me. It’s not a rational thing.”
Her debut album, I Hear You, was released only a few months ago but has quickly solidified Gou’s standing as the multi-talented and world-straddling artist she has fast become. The long-awaited LP sees Gou stepping into the next level of her artistry and boldly claiming her voice through the kaleidoscopic lens of ‘90s house music, embodying the spirit of connection and the timeless artistry she is now renowned for.
Gou’s authenticity and artistry shine through in everything she does, all of which seemingly turns to gold. And, given her track record across the past decade, it is clear we are yet to see the extent of Gou’s power — both within the music world and beyond.
