Sound & Style reflects a global shift in how music and fashion move together, shaping identity, influence, and cultural expression across cities and scenes. From London to Africa to Atlanta and beyond, DJs are at the center of that exchange, translating sound into style and presence in real time. As Sound & Style continues, we take a closer look at the DJs defining how music and style intersect across scenes and cities.
As we continue in the series, today, we spotlight CEE, a South African DJ and creative working across sound, image, and atmosphere. His sets draw from Afro Tech, Amapiano, and Afro House, building layered, rhythmic experiences that carry both movement and mood. With a clear point of view that extends beyond music, CEE treats the booth as a space to shape feeling, presence, and identity, offering a perspective on contemporary African electronic culture that is both refined and forward-facing.
A: When people experience you DJing, what do you think they learn about you before you ever speak?
C: “Before I say anything, I think people under- stand that I’m intentional. I don’t approach a set as background entertainment, I approach it as architecture. The pacing, the restraint, the way I let certain tracks breathe before transitioning, all of that communicates patience and control. I’m not trying to dominate the room; I’m trying to shape it. That usually tells people I value depth over noise and experience over spectacle.
A: What separates a technically good DJ from someone people remember?
C: “Technical skill is foundational. Beatmatching, phrasing, clean transitions, that’s the baseline. But memorability comes from emotional intelligence. It’s about understanding tension and release, knowing when to hold back, and being brave enough to not always play the expected drop. People don’t remember perfection; they remember how a night made them feel. A memorable DJ creates an arc, there’s a beginning, a build, a moment of lift, and a landing. It feels intentional rather than accidental.”
A: How intentional are you about what you wear when you DJ, if at all?
C: “I’m very intentional, but not in a performative way. What I wear needs to align with the sound I’m delivering and the space I’m in. If the music is minimal and atmospheric, my style reflects that restraint. If the energy is darker or more percussive, there’s a sharper edge visually. I see style as an extension of the sonic experience, it signals what kind of journey you’re about to enter. It’s subtle, but it matters.”
A: What’s a common expectation placed on DJs that you personally push back against?
C: “The idea that a DJ has to constantly perform for attention. There’s this expectation of exaggerated movement, nonstop hype, and visible theatrics. I push back against that. Presence doesn’t have to be loud to be powerful. Sometimes the strongest authority is calm, letting the music command the room while you guide it quietly. I believe subtlety can be just as magnetic as spectacle.”
A: Right now, what feels most important for people to understand about your work?
C: “That it’s about experience, not just songs. I’m interested in constructing an atmosphere. Every set is designed with emotional flow in mind. The goal is for people to leave feeling like they were part of something cohesive, not just entertained, but moved. If that’s understood, then my work is understood.”
Explore the full Sound & Style feature in Issue 008, now available in print and digital, and spend time with the DJs shaping culture across sound and style. Follow and support CEE as he continues to build her presence, and tap into the Spotify soundtrack to experience the artists and sounds moving through each DJ’s world.
