DJ PEACEBOII is a DJ and event curator based in Minneapolis. He first started DJing because he felt a need to explore more diverse sounds he thought were missing from the Minneapolis scene. This solo endeavor soon became one built with other community members and creatives, leading to events like Battle for the Belt and various club appearances. 

In his mix for Carbon Sound, DJ PEACEBOII celebrates 5 years in the game with Afrobeats, R&B, and more. 

We chatted with DJ PEACEBOII about his background and intentions for the mix. Read a transcript of the interview edited for length and clarity below:

I'm DJ PEACEBOII, I feel like I DJ for the people. I like to read the rooms, see the vibes, see what's going on. I don't like to be put in a certain box. I feel like I could do Hip-Hop, R&B, Dancehall, even EDM, like, whatever the vibes is, I'm able to do it.

 I started DJing five years ago. I just came up on five years.

I just felt the need for it. It wasn't a lot of diversity as far as music in the Minneapolis scene, and that was something that I felt like I brought to the table. Just playing different stuff, not the same set, not the same music all the time, and giving people actual vibes.

Over the course of these five years, have you had favorite spots to DJ at?

I really don't have a favorite spot, because I pretty much DJ everywhere. As long as they got a good sound system, it works for me.

Do you have any highs and lows when it comes to DJing over that time?

Yeah, I mean it was one point where I was doing my own shows, I was killing it, doing my own thing, and then the venue that I was doing my stuff at had shut down for like a year. So that kind of messed me up, because I was known for having my own stuff. So it kind of switched my mindset to not just doing my own thing, but tapping in with other people, building relationships with other people. So if I do ever get in that type of situation, I won't just be stagnant, and not moving around and DJing.

You were mentioning how certain sounds in Minneapolis weren't being covered. Do you feel like that's changed?

Yeah, for sure. It's just right now we have a shortage on clubs, because a lot of clubs have shut down, but I feel like it's a lot of dope DJs out there that bring a lot of diversity now to the scene.

What can you tell us about Battle for the Belt?

That was something I came up with, I think it was last year, because I wanted to bring like, that competition to the Minneapolis scene. And I felt like we got a lot of dope artists, and everybody feel like they the best. So I'm like, "Shoot, let's see who gonna be the best." And then my boy 

, he reached out to me for the last one we just did, and me and him collabed on it, and it was a great turnout.

What observations did you make about putting competition on display like that?

If I'm being honest, you actually see who take it serious and who don't. You actually see who's just taking it as a hobby and who's actually trying to make it. It's like a big difference.

Knowing you take it seriously, what can we expect from this set today?

I'm energy, man. So it's just a lot of energy, a lot of dope vibes, I'm gonna try to get into some like transition, I'm gonna try to take it around and then bring it back, we just gonna travel everywhere, man.

Afrobeats and R&B from a Minneapolis club-favorite.


DJ PEACEBOII (4/22/26)

John Kueppers | MPR

DJ PEACEBOII DJing in the Carbon Sound studio

Carbon Sound

 stopped by to talk to Carbon Sound’s host Sanni about starting his own business, his upcoming events, and more.

This interview has been edited for length and clarity.

In studio, I've been talking about it all week, organizer of 

, a rolling paper company that hosts community events based around business education, fashion shows, and artist showcases — and honestly, I just met you last year, and you was hustling, Carbon Sound family, 

Thank you for the introduction, Sanni, and it's a pleasure.

So first and foremost, what is Diesel J and how did that come to be?

So there was a time where my nickname was Diesel. I have, like especially in college, I was just known to have good bud. I'm a connoisseur. I'm just very connoisseur minded.

Yeah, cannabis. I don't know, what terminology should we be using?

Yeah, exactly, right? That's what we trying to preach. But that's where the name Diesel J's came from. So we're an organic, all-natural rolling paper brand, and we host community events, mainly cannabis inspired, but we also do a few other ones too.

How do you put on community events? Because I feel like marijuana is legalized now, but I just grew up most of my life it was illegal. I don't know, I feel like I'm still in the dark ages of it being illegal, and I'm even still scared to say it on air.

Honestly, it was like right after COVID, I just stopped drinking. So I just went California sober. So it's been about, really, five years.

California sober just means that I don't drink alcohol, or if it's just a special occasion, I'll have a glass of champagne. But for the most part, I just consume cannabis.

What was the thing that made you decide to do that?

Honestly, I had a drinking problem. It was college, but just for a small town and things like that, I just saw what it really did to me and did to like, friends and family. And it was just one of those situations I saw how I was doing without it, and I'm like, "I can't go back." And so that's why I've been California sober for so long. And I just felt like cannabis has helped me be more creative, be more disciplined, and really just kind of figure out what I want to do, and I'm just going at it.

You just said that was what you was doing as a part of college life. And then you pivot into Diesel J's, into this company, what was the moment in COVID that made you be like, you want to go from consuming it, to "I want the community to be able to consume, as well as the culture" and coming together and creating this whole experience around it?

Honestly, it was for representation. In 2020 when COVID happened, I lost my job. So I was figuring out a lot of different things, I started doing reselling of electronics, and I wanted to get into business for sure, 100%. And by 2022, I wasn't drinking, I stopped smoking backwoods, I got the tobacco out of my system, and I just went through all the rolling papers that's out there, all the major brands, and I just didn't really like the experience with them. And I'm like, "Okay, let me just start my own." But what really made me go full out on it was, I have a best friend, he passed away in 2020, and it was kind of due to alcohol. I stopped drinking before that, but after that, I'm like, "Okay, I'm just gonna launch it." I can't really think on it. I'm a person who likes to plan so I had everything written out. It's like, "Okay, I just have to do it, and I'm gonna figure it out. I'm just gonna really apply what I know in business and really figure this out." Because that's the only thing I could do.

What does ownership and Black entrepreneurship mean to you, and how did that tie into you creating this business?

Ownership is huge to me. Have you heard of Earn Your Leisure?

So 2020, 2021 is when they launched, I watched one of their first three episodes on YouTube, and so I literally have been following their story since then. From what they were doing and who they were bringing on, and watching them literally start off a podcast just like this, using their phones just like this to kind of get where they're at now, I took that as inspiration and really watched them and took that into consideration with what I'm doing.

Okay, so when does the fashion show come in? How did you tie this in to that? Because I feel like a fashion show is so formal and everybody's got to be on they point, and this seems more like laid back and relaxed. How do you merge them two vibes?

I guess I'm kind of both. I'm from the military background, I've been doing sports since like sixth grade, so I'm very disciplined, detailed-oriented. I also like to smoke weed and kick back. Before I started even doing our own fashion show, I was a photographer for Black Fashion Week, so I was doing fashion shows, helping them put it together. We'd do seven shows a season, so I did that for a full year. One thing I always recommend to people, if you're really trying to get into a space, and if you're really trying to grow your skills, I just gave my photography for free. Like, this is a great way for me to step in, I was able to do that, they loved the work, I was able to meet a lot of people from there, really able to connect with a lot of different models, different artists. And they called me back the next season. Like, "Hey, we want you to do photography again, and this time we'll pay you. We really loved what you did last time." And plus, I was setting up, still kind of getting my name out there, and so I appreciate Black Fashion Week and Natalie Morrow for that. It was her, Shamika and Ambers Foundation. So that's kind of how I got started into fashion, like, actually working there. But my cousin, she's actually a designer, she was involved in New York Fashion Week. She was the very first fashion show I went to back in like, 2017. I just went out there with my cousins, one of my homies from high school, he was a model. So I'm like, "Okay, cool, this is pretty dope." I just came back from the military, so I was just chilling. Like, I'm about to go to college, it wasn't really anything I was in tune with, but that was my first experience with that. I came back to it once I started my business, because I'm like, "Let me do photography, because it'll save me money, I'll learn the skill, and I could use that as well." And that's kind of where it took me from there, and kind of seeing the lack of it, because I was going to fashion shows and I was going to cannabis events, a lot of them were still underground feel, even though it's kind of legal. And so what came to be was Smokin on the Runway, which was the fact that I have a cannabis brand, mainly rolling papers, but we have some apparel. People didn't really look at cannabis apparel, except for drug rugs, or Cookies, that was like the only major brand people know.

I'm telling you, I'm trying to figure out, where does the fashion come in? I have never thought of the cannabis community being known for fashion.

But there is designers, because guess what? All these same designers, artists, and models love cannabis. They never actually got to experience the actual events because —

They just, "I'm trying to just smoke weed. I'm not trying to get locked up." And so that's still that same stigma. So we're just trying to change that by bringing those two things together, and really showcasing these designers and these people who are cannabis advocates, and some of these designers, they don't have to be a cannabis brand. They're just incorporating cannabis themes into their designs, if that's symbolism, if that's materials like hemp and sustainability. So we do upcycle, so sustainability is a huge part of that. And then we also add a lot of color.

. Is the hemp folks gonna be in the building?

You know it's going to be, you're gonna see some great designs. And additionally, from the fashion show, we're gonna have a limited-edition collaboration with 

. It's going to be his album release as well. Keep that on the hush. I'm just kidding, tell everybody! We trying to have you guys come out. So it's gonna be a limited-edition release of the cones, they're going to be available there. We're gonna have some preorders, so I'm excited for that. This has been one of our goals, and there was just so much synergy coming up for it, and it just felt great.

I know you got your show on May 3, but do you have anything else that you could give us like a Carbon Sound exclusive about?

 afterparty May 14. And so NECANN, they are the Northeastern Cannabis Association. They do conferences like CHAMPS Trade Show, they do that all across the country, and they came to emerging markets. What I love about NECANN is they're very socially focused, so they work with the community to put this together. They have a percentage of their booth space set aside for social equity applicants. And then additionally, they try to make sure to highlight a lot of the different artists that are coming through. They have like an art basil. So we're doing the official afterparty for them. And it's just another way for us to really kind of grow, connect with different professionals across the country, and also kind of just introduce them to what Minnesota is about. So we're gonna do what we do already, and kind of do that for the conference afterparty, and show them what to expect of our Minnesota cannabis. And the teaser right here is we're trying to put together a free community event at the end of May and early June, and have it become a running series. Because one thing that we've talked about is during all this time and isolation with the cold, with Metro Surge and everything going on, there's a lot of trauma. Psychologically speaking, you need at least four to six positive experiences to kind of get over that negative experience in all relationships. And when I say relationships, I mean community as well. We're trying to put together these free community events, and these events in general, it's just kind of bringing back joy, like you need that so much, especially during this time. And the best way people feel that is through the arts. So we're definitely trying to bring that together.

How can we follow you? How can we keep up with you and support what you're doing, so that you can further continue to support the community with your projects.

 for our rolling papers. You can also find us at 

, which is abbreviations for smokinontherunwaymn.org.

Thank you so much Duol, thank you for coming out. What makes your rolling papers different than other people's rolling papers?

I'm glad you asked. So what makes our papers different from most of the papers that you see, is ours is not made out of hemp, it's not made out of rice paper, which is predominantly what's used. We use wood pulp. So ours are called brown paper, so they have a browner tint to them, so it's still all organic, all natural, wood pulp is. But it has like, thicker fibers, so it just burns slower, less likely to canoe. And I enjoy that texture and that consistency better, because if it's dry, or if it's kind of a little bit more moist, it still burns well, and it doesn't just flame out or burn unevenly.

Well, thank you. I really appreciate you coming into Carbon Sound fasho.

Duol Chut of Diesel J's and Smokin on the Runway stopped by to talk to Carbon Sound’s host Sanni about starting his own business, his upcoming events, and more.


The Message - Duol Chut

Interview: Duol Chut

 stopped by to talk Carbon Sound’s host Sanni about his new album, 

It's The Message, Carbon Sound Music for Life. An independent hip-hop artist, curator, community builder rooted in the Twin Cities, and just recently came out with one of the dopest hip-hop albums I've heard in 2026 so far. The name of the album is called 

Thank you for having me. I'm so excited to be here.

So just straight out the gate, this album, 

. Where did that come from? It dropped February 23, 2026, we ain't too far removed.

So initially, I started recording another album. I started recording that, maybe, like, two years ago. And the producer of that album, he had a baby. So he was like, "Yo, I ain't gonna be able to really move around and do a lot of things." So, you know, I kind of took that opportunity just to create something new. And I started making songs, and literally, it just start forming itself, and it turned into 

. And as independent artists, a lot of times, we don't look at our journeys as careers, right? We tend to think it's just something that we do, and we love it or whatever, but no, this is a career. And you put a lot of time and effort and energy and money into this craft. It's a career. So I had to take a step back and kind of look at all of the things that I've done, and really just give myself a round of applause. We don't tend to do that so often. A lot of times, we just so stuck in like, survival mode, and I just gotta get it, I gotta get it. But sometimes it's cool to celebrate the wins, and look back at all of the things that you've gone through and say, "Wow, look where I'm at." I think about all of the times when I was a kid, and I would stand on the front porch of my mama's house in Chicago and pretend like I was on a stage and be rapping and doing all the things. And to look at my life now, I've touched all the stages that you can probably touch in this city. So yeah, that's a beautiful thing. I look at 

 as me looking at it from the standpoint of like, "Wow, I've done a lot," but also, "I got more to do."

What would you say are the top three things, real things, that make up Righteous Emcee that you poured into this album?

I would say vulnerability is probably the number one thing that I put into it, just being okay with saying certain things, right? Being ok with talking about what you've been through, being ok with telling your best friends that you love them. Just being ok with certain things because we live in a society where, especially for Black men, we're taught, "Hey, all that crying, check that at the door." But it's like, nah, it's okay to deal with things and go through emotions and feel certain things. So vulnerability was definitely one of them, I would say just knowing who you are. And I know for me personally, I won't speak for anybody else, but for me, I've always kind of been ok with playing the background, because I look at it as everybody has a role to play, right? Everybody has a position. And I've always just said, "Hey, y'all go to the front. I'm cool with playing it back. I'll work on this, and y'all be the stars." But it's like, I'm a star; I can shine bright too. So a lot of it is really about just me saying, "You know what, I know who I am."

I'm really glad you said that, because we have a lot of young people listening, and I need them to hear that. They have that star quality as well. Okay, what's the third thing you put in?

I would say just love. Love for the craft, love for the people in my life, love for my kids. It's kind of like how they talk about when your grandma or somebody would make a dish. They would say they put the love in it, measured everything and everything was delicious. And that's how I looked at this album, like, "I'm not gonna rush it." It took a while, it took a year and a half to complete, but it's like, "I'm gonna take my time, I'm gonna put my all into it, and I'm gonna really give everybody just all of me."

You can tell. There was a lot of rawness on the album. What does legendary mean to you?

I think that's for whoever is dealing with that, that's for them to decide. I don't think legendary comes with boxes to check off. I think it's however you look at it. Maybe you've overcome an addiction, "I'm legendary," right? Because I did something that so many people couldn't do or still struggling with, right? It could be anything, really. It could be anything that makes you feel like you're legendary. And I know for me personally, what makes me feel like I'm legendary is that when I look back in my life and look back at all of the things that I've been through and where I've come, I never knew that I would be married with children. I never thought that I would be on these stages, like I couldn't see past a year for a long time. But it's like now I'm here, I'm sitting with y'all, and I'm talking about this album, that's legendary to me. So it's whatever you want it to be.

How else are you gonna show us Righteous Emcee? What other events you got going on to show us the culture?

. It's for a show for a brother of mine who's out of New Orleans, he's coming here. So that's like the first performance that I'm having post the album. I'm kind of still in that creative mode right now, so I recently just dropped a three-piece special. And basically what that is, is for anybody who actually went to EVEN to purchase the album, I gave them access to three songs, three original songs that I created just for them to have. So I sent that to them, and everybody really enjoyed it. They really loved it. Somebody even said, "Hey, man, I'm loving this with the album, this is crazy." So I'm kind of in this space where I like giving out these small EPs that really pack a punch, so to speak. So I'm putting out another one very soon, but I'm gonna make that available to everybody, and that's gonna be coming soon. So yeah, I'm just really in creative mode right now. Got another album coming out, my brother 

 who's one of the dopest emcees, producers in the city, he's producing my next album that's gonna be coming out sometime in May, and that's gonna be called Subs No Dubs. Hope everybody appreciate that when it come out, and we gonna do it again.

We missed this question, but please tell us more about 

 is basically a platform where you can sell your music direct to consumer. And I've been kind of on that for a while and just trying to navigate, like, what's the best way to do that? Because sometimes you put something out and you put a price tag on it, some people feel a way about that, because things are so readily available now. I tell people all the time, streaming to me ain't nothing but a utility at this point. You pay your bill, you get it for the month, and you just pay it again. So you lose a sense of value when it comes to the music, right? It's just like it's always there. But when you actually have to go somewhere, pay for it, do the whole process, download it, all these type of things, you kind of appreciate it just a little bit more through that process. So I wanted people to really appreciate the music and sit with the music. You pay $10 for it, so, "Hey, I'm gonna actually sit with this and listen to it." And then also, you put a lot into the music. Studio time and mixing and mastering and all of these type of things, that ain't free, that costs money. So you want to see some type of return. But for me, it's really not about making the money off of the album. It's just about creating the space where the album can live and breathe. And it's just not something that you can just, "Oh, here it go right here, and I can skip through the songs," and "Oh, it got a little dot by the song, I guess that means that's the best song, let me listen to it." So it eliminates that, and you can just love and sit with the album.

Is there a handle we're supposed to follow you on?

, and then type in Righteous Emcee, and you'll find me.

How can we just keep up with you? What if we're new to town and we just happen to pull into the Twin Cities and we heard this interview, how do we keep up with Righteous Emcee?

Just follow me on Instagram. That's where I'm at, that's the hub for everything. Go to Instagram, 

 on Instagram. Anything new is happening with me, that's where you will probably see it.

 by Righteous Emcee. If you like lyricism, you like people talking that spit, okay, this is the album for you. In my opinion, no skips. Thank you for doing what you're doing. Thank you for being who you are, and thank you for coming in to Carbon Sound studios.

I appreciate you so much. I cannot wait to get that song in here. I already made somebody cry. What is it called?

“'95 Regal,” I knew it was a Buick! That Regal baby, that Regal done got me through some things. Thank you Righteous Emcee, thank you so much.

Righteous Emcee stopped by to talk Carbon Sound’s host Sanni about his new album, A Legendary Run.


Righteous Emcee stopped by to talk Carbon Sound’s host Sanni about his new album ‘A Legendary Run,’ creating community through Gladiator school, and more.

The Message - Righteous Emcee

righteous emcee posing in a polaroid photo

righteous emcee and sanni brown posing for a photo

A LEGENDARY RUN | ALBUM ANNOUNCEMENT 

'95 Regal

Interview: Righteous Emcee

Effy Kawira, also known as Effygasm, is a DJ, director, writer, producer, and more. A masterful curator and worldbuilder, Effygasm uses her filmmaking experience to create sets from beginning to end that tell a story. One of her favorite parts about DJing is discovering new sounds, and she noted the importance of opening up audiences to fresh sonic experiences as a DJ.

In her mix for Carbon Sound, Effygasm was looking to party. She mentioned craving the experience of truly turning up with no thoughts and no worries. So, under the guidance of Effygasm, turn up to this set in your house, your car, or really anywhere, and dance away. 

We chatted with Effygasm about her background and intentions for the mix. Read a transcript of the interview edited for length and clarity below:

Are there any artistic practices you come from?

 Yeah, I do a lot of things. I guess I'd say I'm kind of multidisciplinary. I'm not only a DJ — I'm a director, I'm a writer, I'm a producer. What else do I do? I'm also on a journey of starting something very new that's coming out soon, which basically kind of ties in every single thing that I've learned from all of the various creative practices that I've invested my time and my energy into. And it's truly a culmination of all of it, which I'm really, really excited for it to come out, but I don't want to see too much...But you'll see it in like a month.

In the things you mentioned, I think of visual art. Has DJing helped you as a visual artist, or do you see them as separate practices?

I see them together. When I started creating more visual work, for example, like working in music videos, music would inspire visuals for me. I have a very visual brain, and I can think of what I see and describe it and express it. And I think that without music, I don't think my visual eye would be as refined. I think that there's an importance to my understanding of music and developing that practice, too. It goes into the whole process of building a world and trying to convey a message, and I think for me, comes a lot from what I hear and what things make me feel in that way. So I don't think that they're separate; I think more so they're intertwined for me. I think everything I do, in a way, feels like it's super intertwined.

Is that why you wanted to become a DJ? What's the origin story?

When I first started wanting to become a DJ, I was like, 18, 19 — no, actually, I was younger. This was like, SoundCloud, Majestic Casual, Tumblr, that era of music, and I wanted to be a DJ, because I felt like I was being introduced to all these different sounds. And my mind wasn't even thinking, like, "Oh yeah, I'm gonna produce." I was like, "I want to DJ." I think music became so much more interesting to me, and I felt like there was so much discovery that I wanted to be part of it. And so that's why I wanted to become a DJ, because I was just like, "Wow, I want to explore this. I want to share this as well." I think that was a big part for me, and then eventually I became a DJ.

Has that music discovery element been your favorite part about being a DJ? Or what would you say your favorite part is?

Yeah, I think the music discovery is really, really fun. I enjoy listening to something being like, "Oh my god, I love this. I can't wait to play this for other people, to hear how fire this song is." Or just to see people's reactions, I guess. And I think that DJs are important for introducing people to new sounds. I think a lot of people don't really take that time, like, it's really a study of its own. I don't think people take the time to discover new music or discover new genres. They just kind of stay in the lane of what they typically listen to, but as a DJ, you can open up people to new sonic experiences that they might have otherwise never heard of or ever experienced outside of you, and spark that curiosity for them to then go ahead and deepen that exploration for themselves, which I think is cool.

What are some notable highs and lows throughout your time as a DJ?

The highs of DJing are when you have a really great set, and you're excited about it, and then you play it, and everybody really, really loves it. And also, when you can truly build a set. I don't necessarily know how to explain it, but I'm sure y'all know what I'm talking about. When you build a set from beginning to end, and it feels like it's telling a story. I love those sets where I feel like I'm taking elements of my experience when it comes to filmmaking and telling a story through a set. That feels really satisfying to me. And lows — I hate playing for a crowd that wants to just hear the same shit. I don't want to play for a crowd who's not open to exploration, because then you're literally playing the same shit all the time. And I don't think that's a fun experience as someone who curates energy for any environment, and so I don't really enjoy those types of things. And I think sometimes clubs can be that way. But I also think it's particularly mainly in America, where it's like, people just want to hear what they want to hear, and people aren't open to new sounds or new sonic experiences. They want to hear the same shit that they listen to. And also TikTok. TikTok to me, I think ruins the experience of listening, because people only want to hear that sound bite that they heard on TikTok. But then once you're done with that, you have to transition because they don't want to hear it. They're now disengaged.

So I'm hearing exploration, discovery, storytelling. What kind of story are you hoping to tell for the Carbon Sound audience today?

Honestly, I've been in this energy where I'm craving, truly, to just freely party and turn up. I don't know, it sounds crazy, but I feel like I've just been desiring the experience of truly just turning up with no thoughts. And I feel like we don't have experiences like that anymore, where you could just go and turn up and be free and not worry about people being on their phone and people making videos of you, and you being in the video. And it's like, you have to be so aware of your experiences nowadays when you're out, even when you're just trying to enjoy yourself. I think for me, the set is that. I want people to just feel free, turn up in your house, turn up in your car, dance your ass off. That was the point of this. It's not going to be chill whatsoever. It's not a chill set at all.

Club, House, Amapiano, and so much more from a Minneapolis multidisciplinary star.


Effygasm (3/25/26)

Club, House, Amapiano, and more from Effygasm | Carbon Sound

Click here for more information. This initiative runs until Feb. 27, 2027.


Carbon Sound Community Listening Collective

Students from High School for Recording Arts (HSRA) sat down with Carbon Sound’s host Sanni and talked about the impact HSRA has had on their personal, educational, and creative growth.


The Message - HSRA Pt. 1

The Message - HSRA Pt. 2

3 people posing for a photo with posters in the background

Let Me Reintroduce the High School for Recording Arts short video

Philly (Our City Is Your City) Official Music Video

Tune in Speak Out

And We're Back on the Ground

Interview: Jahai and I'yani from HSRA

Funk and Soul mix from Tarik Thornton | Carbon Sound

Tarik Thornton is a veteran crate digger and radio host. Originally from New Orleans, Tarik has laid a foundation for himself in South Minneapolis through community efforts, including (but not limited to) his esteemed show 

 on KRSM Radio. Tarik credits Minneapolis’ vibrant community and robust music scene with his growth as a DJ. In his mix for Carbon Sound, Tarik reminds listeners that music is resistance and honors the resiliency of Minnesotans. 

We chatted with Tarik about his background and his intentions for the mix. Read a transcript of the interview edited for length and clarity below:

My name is Tarik Thornton. I am a Twin Cities transplant; I'm originally from New Orleans, born and raised there. I lived in New York for quite a while, traveled quite a bit for work, but I'm known for record digging and DJing and so forth. I've been in the game a long time, just doing radio and so forth, and some production as well.

Knowing that you've spent time in New Orleans, New York and Minneapolis, how would you compare and contrast those scenes?

So growing up in New Orleans, I always knew jazz and funk music, like that was always a thing. And then through that, I got introduced to hip-hop, and that kind of led me on this pilgrimage, for better words, to New York, where I kind of got to see hip-hop firsthand, like in the late 90s and early 2000s. So it all kind of was in sync, and then when I moved to the Midwest, I really got into — well, I always was a record digger — but when I got into the Midwest, I started discovering more soul music and 45s which actually, brought me here to DJ, and that's how I ended up in Minneapolis. And since I've been in Minneapolis, the moment I landed here, I was like, "Yo, this is a dope city." And I just love — you know, besides what we see going on now — I just knew the community here was way more vibrant and amazing than anything that I've ever experienced, like people were together in community. When I first landed here, I landed in South Minneapolis, and so that's been my foundation since I've been here. And actually, I will say being here has allowed me to grow as a DJ in ways that I never thought.

You've been around music your whole life. What made you want to start DJing?

Honestly, I just always had it. I learned about records on accident, like one Christmas morning, my mom or someone had bought my dad a record cleaner, and I opened the presents, and I thought it was a toy. So I started playing with it, and once my dad got up, he's like, "Oh, this is a record cleaner." And I was able to make the connection. Then before you know it, I had my own portable turntable and I was playing records. But I didn't really touch my first set of 1200s until college, because my parents couldn't afford it. They were super expensive way back then, and so I met a good friend and that's kind of how I really started learning the Technic 1200 which is like the staple of DJing.

How did location impact you as a DJ? You were saying how Minneapolis impacted you in ways you couldn't even think of. How does it do that?

Well, one of the things that's impacted me the most about Minneapolis is — there's always an undercurrent of the 70s scene here, and then you go into Prince and so forth. Especially in South Side, there's that lineage of artists that have always been around South Minneapolis since the 70s. And for me, being where I came from, and then I landed here, it just added more recipes to my cookbook. I was like, "Okay, I'm hearing this," the way my brain works, like, "How can I integrate this with this?" But also, I will say the diversity of the Twin Cities, but also the South Side, because there's so many different people that live in South Minneapolis. So when I go out and I play, I'm always thinking about the people in my community and what they would enjoy, then I add my taste to it.

Speaking of community, you've been a part of community radio at KRSM. When did you start there and what has that experience been like?

 in the very beginning, actually, like in the grant stages. And I kind of just held my ground until it was the right opportunity. And then the studio went up, and I got the call. So I was probably one of the first shows on KRSM when they first came around, and it's been an amazing experience to kind of tie in radio and then actually create my own sound from that. I feel like nowadays, people, when they listen to my show, say like, "Oh, when I listen to your show, when I hear you DJ, it's like medicine" or "I just really love the way you curate the show." But it's really about having people disconnect from whatever is going on out here in the world, and just kind of challenging themselves to listen to things differently. Being a product of hip-hop, I can play a rock song, a funk song, a hip-hop song, and then play a folk song in the same set. So it challenges the listener, right? It's like, "What is this? Why is this dude playing this way? Why is he not just playing one genre?" I feel like you gotta give people food for thought, especially nowadays. You gotta challenge the listener to think differently.

The challenge, is that the most gratifying part of DJing for you or what would you say is the most gratifying part of DJing?

The most gratifying part for me is actually when I'm just kind of zoned out and doing my thing and doing my set, and someone will just thank me. You know, it's very simple, because I know if that person was kind enough or thoughtful enough to thank me, that means that they heard something that they were able to connect to. And for me, that's what DJing is about, whether it's playing that record that somebody never heard, or playing a record that actually connects with your audience. That's what it's about.

How are you planning to connect with the Carbon Sound audience today? What do you have in store for us?

I was thinking about this — one thing I will say out of this experience that we're experiencing right now with the occupation and ICE and so forth, is Minnesotans are Minnesotans, you know? I love the way the city looks out and takes care of each other, like it kind of moves as one. And so I just brought music to kind of reflect on that, but then reflect on how music is resistance. When everything first started happening, it was just weird, because it's like just do what you can, do what you can, do what you can, and I was like, "Okay, this is what I'm gonna do to be a part of what's resistance, however you feel it." And it doesn't mean you have to be on the street, but resistance, what's going on, we feel it in our bodies. And so for me, resistance is self-care, taking care of your body, making sure that you're feeling good, no matter how chaotic things are around you. Or making sure you're kind of centered in your own self, no matter what's going on around you, so you can be your best person and do your best work. The set's more about — I can't describe it, really. I guess you’ll hear it.

Tarik Thornton (2/18/26)

Hip-Hop and R&B mix from The Mayor | Carbon Sound

The Mayor, also known as Awa Mally, is a community-forward DJ and creative. Although she’s relatively new to the world of DJing, she has made a name for herself in the Twin Cities, performing at high-energy parties like Samambo, inMotion, and more. She recommends the same process for new or aspiring DJs — get out there and perform, learn, and listen to as much diverse music as possible. If you're not familiar with Awa as a DJ, her all-time favorites mix for Carbon Sound is a perfect introduction.

We chatted with The Mayor about her background and her mix. Read a transcript of the interview edited for length and clarity below:

Who are you and where did your DJ name come from?

I'm Awa Mally, also known as The Mayor. My DJ name came from just being out and about in the city, community events, art events, and then also just repping Minneapolis. People just randomly started calling me The Mayor, and I ran with it. And then when I became a DJ, I was like, "I need a name." And it just kind of made sense.

You've had your hands in different art spaces. What made you want to become a DJ? How'd that start?

Proximity and access, I would say. I've been around DJing my whole life because my dad is a DJ, and then in high school we had a DJ group, and then I also took some DJ classes. And with 

, we also hosted a DJ workshop. So I've always just been around DJs and DJing, but I've never had interest until, I think it was two years ago, when I just had the free time and the interest to pick up a hobby and learn a new skill. It just made sense.

How's it been going so far? What have the learning experiences looked like?

It's been really great. I mean, I'm here now. It's one of those things where I think of it as, always just do your hobby. I had no intentions to do a lot of things I've been able to do with DJing, at all. I just really wanted to give my brain some exercise. And I've been able to do some really cool things, and it just makes me happy to fulfill something that I had on my list, but also just to see how many avenues and outlets you're able to access just by trying something out.

Do you have any specific moments or memories that have stood out?

Okay, this is gonna be one — after I do this, this will be one. And in November, I DJed outside in the Red Bull Jeep for their event, so that was really cool. DJing Samambo was really cool, because that was my first public DJing event, and so just having to kind of beg Kwey and set up a date, because I started DJing, and I was like, "Kwey, we need to set a date so I have something to work towards." So that was really cool, because I feel like that was my DJ introduction.

How does this differ from your other artistic practices?

There's no breaks when you're DJing. You're performing in front of people, like there is no break. Usually with photography, maybe I could catch like a little 5 minute, 10 minute break, but it's really ongoing. And obviously people are attentive the whole time. That's kind of the thing — with everything else, there's so many different ways where it's about you, but it's not about you at the same time, whereas DJing, I feel like you and the crowd or whatever you're doing, it's a constant interaction the whole time. But also, I've realized there's a lot of connection between DJing and so many art forms. You learn buttons, you learn how things work together, and you kind of just bring in your own taste to it.

Is that relationship with the audience exciting or daunting?

Okay, as someone who is a big audience advocate, I am pro-audience over the DJ. Being on the other side of, I guess the stage or the DJ booth, I love it. I feel like parties need to be an interaction and conversation between the dance floor, the DJs, everybody involved. So I like it because I'm playing music and you're responding to it, but you're also dancing or not dancing, and I'm also responding to that. And I feel like it needs to be an active engagement. So I like the friction, but also I like the fun when we're all singing songs together and we're all dancing together, when we're all noticing. I played a gig for the design camp, and I was playing some Mk.gee and some other stuff. And obviously people were at a conference, so they couldn't respond, but when they had breaks, they'd come up to me and be like, "Oh my God, were you playing Mk.gee? Oh my God, I think I heard that song. Oh my God, I know this song." I love things like that. I feel like it's a conversation, versus we're all just kind of being forced to be here with each other. I think more interaction is necessary.

What kind of conversation are you planning to have with the Carbon Sound audience today?

Today, the music I've decided to pick are songs that I feel like, throughout my whole lifetime, these are my favorite songs. I can't fit everything in there, so I'm probably not gonna be able to play everything. But these are songs that no matter what day it is, no matter the weather, I want to hear this song. So I hope maybe other people can relate.

So we're getting The Mayor's all-time favorites in a set.

In a sense, but I will say the set is kind of influenced by the world currently, but it's still my favorite songs. And it's because I usually DJ high-energy parties. And for someone who likes melancholy music, sometimes there's really no place for some of the music I listen to, so I feel like this is also my way of being able to play music that I really, really want to listen, that I just feel like I can't play at midnight.

 A lot of people say they want to DJ, and they don't know how. I always tell people just do it. It's way more intimidating visually than it actually is. If you type on a keyboard, if you scroll on TikTok, if you have a Nintendo, if you can order from the McDonald's menu, I don't know, you can literally DJ. So I think just go for it. Do it, either get a board or just learn how to DJ on your computer. And then, I think it's important for people to listen to more music, listen to diverse music. Use your freedom, and listen to all the music in the world.

Hand-picked favorites from our true Mayor of Minneapolis.


The Mayor (2/4/26)

Sara Fish for MPR

Tish Jones stopped by to talk to Carbon Sound’s host Sanni about all things TruArtSpeaks: from their origin story to all the ways they’re celebrating 20 years of their service in 2026.


The Message - Tish Jones

The Children Are Watching x Tish Jones

29:11 International Exchange: Angiwanaki - YourClassical MPR sessions

Interview: Tish Jones

Every 1st of the month, we’re creating a roundup of our favorite tracks, projects, and music videos that were released by Minnesota artists from that previous month. 

Keep our favorite tracks in one place with “Carbon Sound’s 1st of the Month” Spotify playlist. Expect an updated 1st of the Month Playlist on……every 1st of the Month.  Mark your calendars accordingly.

k3ko - stay with me (Official Music Video)

Juice Lord - MA FORGIVE ME (Official Video)

14HunnitVon -EUPHORI (Official Visualizer)

MMYYKK - Craft Synth Bass That Makes Faces Scrunch & Cheeks Jump | Sound Alchemy Vol. 2

Craft Synth Bass That Makes Faces Scrunch & Cheeks Jump | Sound Alchemy Vol. 2

Melly Mike’s Young Black & Rich in Fortnite

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Author

John Kueppers

Natalia Toledo

Highlighting Carbon Sound’s Favorite Minnesota made tracks, projects, and music videos released over the month of November, 2025.


Stories

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Get the Carbon Sound app

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Interview: Jahai and I'yani from HSRA

Tarik Thornton (2/18/26)

Connect with Carbon Sound

The Mayor (2/4/26)

Interview: Tish Jones

Minnesota Music Releases to check out from November 2025

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