DJ Dextro marks a new chapter in his career with the release of Ground Level, his debut EP on Nicole Moudaber’s MOOD imprint. The four-track package leans into tightly wound percussion, industrial tension, and functional techno built for late hours. Already supported by Chris Liebing, Francois X, and Chlär, the EP adds weight to a catalog that has stretched across Planet Rhythm, CLR, and decades of residencies throughout Portugal and beyond.
What makes this release relevant is not only the music but the mindset behind it. In this interview, Dextro speaks candidly about how DJ culture has shifted since the early nineties — from carrying crates and earning respect in empty rooms to a world where visibility, agency backing, and fast attention can replace slow growth. He reflects on lost rituals, fading values, and the pressure to treat DJing as a business rather than a craft. For him, longevity has always come from consistency, principles, and a direct connection with the dancefloor, not from shortcuts or image.
Ground Level fits that philosophy. It is built for function, endurance, and physical response. No gimmicks, no trend-chasing, no quick-hit hooks. Just straight momentum from someone still committed to opening a room, raising the tempo with intention, and trusting that the music is enough. Below is the full conversation.
You’ve been in this game a long time — what’s one change in DJ culture that still surprises you when you think about it?
Hello and thanks again for this interview.
Well, DJ culture practically ceased to exist when the pandemic came, where much has changed and for the worse. I believe I do not need to say more about it; it is explicit these days.
What feels totally different about the way new DJs come up now compared to when you were starting out?
This question is pertinent, not wanting to make comparisons, but has nothing to do with 8 to 80. The difference of wanting to be Dj and fighting for it, and doing things, so today in months, if you have an agency and some marketing, you are playing everywhere with everyone, and in 2 years, you’re practically a newborn pseudo “star.”
Are there any rituals, values, or small things from the early days that you think have totally disappeared?
Ahahah so good this question, effectively ceased to be the same, I know that times have advanced and we have to follow them, or play the same game, because some play to be in the limelight.
But deep down they hate to do this. Still, the money speaks louder for many, but not for me; I play my game as I have since 91. There is no respect for anything anymore. They all do what they wanna do, no limits to reach the goals. Of course, there are many DJs who respect others and have the old school values. Still, in general not really, practically all vanished.
On the flip side — what’s something about DJing or the scene that’s stayed surprisingly the same?
I start by saying that the scene does not remain the same from afar, because it was challenging to be a DJ in the past; it was difficult to buy the track you heard at a party, the records arrived late, and only some had access to them.
Still, it was always something that was not available to everyone at the time without so much technology you needed to know how to play music, work to achieve, to achieve today it’s all against the little music matters and the marketing and image and promoters are above the music of the artists, they choose who they want to be Dj, look at the difference of the old for the current, of course many good new artists did not do this and have much value, that is very explicit and I respect that.
Has your relationship to the crowd changed over the years — or do you still approach that connection the same way?
I have been a resident for 15 years, I like to open the dance floor and go doing up the bpm and the groove, lasting 4 to 6 hours was normal at the time, so my behavior remains the same and with the same passion as if I had to play for 10 or 1000 people.
Do you think the role of the DJ has changed in a deeper way — not just the tools, but the purpose?
Well, I do not know which of the new artists I can speak for, because I have been doing this with passion since I was 15 years old. I have never changed my ideas and principles now I know that most have no respect and principles because they want is to get as fast as possible up there.
To contribute to this, many promoters and agencies are to blame because it has become more of a business than a passion, as it is clear that everyone has to be paid for what they do, but fairly and impartially, not in a mercenary way.
If you could sit down with your younger self behind the decks, what would you say — if anything?
What I would say is good that you do what you do and never lose sight of wanting to be Dj and make music, and maintain the same posture to this day.
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