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 Sonhdon, a Richmond, VA–based DJ whose approach to sound is defined by patience, intention, and emotional pacing. Known for building sets that evolve gradually, they prioritize energy, flow, and presence over immediacy, allowing both themselves and the audience to settle into the experience together. Drawing from a background in visual art, their work balances sound and style as extensions of the same instinct, where texture, movement, and environment shape both what is heard and what is seen:
A: When people experience you DJing, what do you think they learn about you before you ever speak?
S: “People probably come to realize that I like to take it slow and steady in the beginning, if the set allows… It’s important to me to not stifle that flow of energy at the beginning of the set. So as I get my bearings and settle into the sound, everyone just get comfortable for the ride, you know? I want people to understand that yes I am wielding the energy of the music, but I have to work myself into the groove alongside the crowd because my energetic pacing is equally important. I also have been told on multiple occasions that I have an extremely focused DJ face– squinted eyes, furrowed brows, bouncing in the same spot up and down in that flow state so zoned in that people always hesitate to interrupt me, even to tell me hello or goodbye! Despite my nerves, I always hope people can see my dedication not solely to music, but in a holistic sense.”
A: How do you think sound and style work together in shaping your presence?
S: “I think that the two naturally flow within each other like yin and yang to me, so any statement that I make when I’m styling myself is just a natural reflection of my daily life and influences including the sound I curate. For example, spring and summer are my favorite times to DJ because of all the flowy scarves I can layer, all that. It helps me feel more like myself in front of people and less like a court jester you know? I feel like my sound will always come first, and the style will follow. I love to dig in my 70’s bring-the-house-down crate, I won’t always be swishing around in bell-bottoms or rocking the classic orange brown and green colors of that time, but I feel the attitude and energy that shapes the music will bring me right back to where I need to be”
A: What outside of music currently influences how you present yourself creatively?
S: “My apartment has been the best source of inspiration for me! It’s like an external mirror of my inner state. You know how people say if your place is messy and unorganized it’s a reflection of you? I try to take that and apply it to my daily life. What plants am I the most attracted to? What colors seem to fill my space? What candles or incense do I reach for, what books do I keep on my main table when no one is around? That has been the quickest information to know what has been going on with me and where I subconsciously lean. Learning about how I respond to the world when I’m alone is the most important influence.”
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 Sonhdon as she continues to build her presence, and tap into the Spotify soundtrack to experience the artists and sounds moving through each DJ’s world.
