Tomoki Tamura has quietly become one of our favourite DJs right now. Always refined, a little unpredictable, and sharp without being stiff, his mixes glide effortlessly between house, breakbeat, hip house, and acid. 

Osaka-born, with formative years in London and now based in Berlin, and shaped by years spent in long rooms rather than fast cycles, Tomoki’s approach to music has always favored continuity over moments. 

We sat down with Tomoki to talk about patience, movement, clothing choices that mirror sound, and why letting things breathe still matters.

You’ve spent years moving between Tokyo, Berlin, and different European scenes. How has that shaped the way you play?

For me, experience is one of the most important things for a DJ. I’ve been lucky to play in many great clubs across different countries, in front of very different kinds of people. Every place teaches you something new, and over time that shapes how you read a room and how patient you can be throughout a night.

Your sets often move across House, Breakbeat, Hip House, and Acid without ever feeling disjointed. How do you decide when a style shift feels right rather than disruptive?

It’s probably one of the hardest things to explain in words, but for me it’s all about the groove. I try to find a groove or vibe that feels comfortable and that I can control. Even if the tracks are very different, as long as the groove fits, the mix will feel smooth and the opposite is also true.
 

There’s something playful in the way you play, not jokey, but light on its feet. How important is humour or fun in your relationship with music?

It’s really important. Not about making people laugh, more like just letting things feel easy.
Music is serious, but it doesn’t have to be too heavy. I love those little surprises or moments that make the floor feel relaxed.

You’ve played very different rooms around the world. When you walk into a club for the first time, what do you pay attention to?

I pay attention to the sound system, the distance between the DJ booth and the crowd, and how comfortable the dance floor feels.

Your laidback, playful dungarees style has become part of your presence. Does how you feel in your clothes affect how you play?

I think the best thing is just to wear what you like and feel good in. And luckily, there are even people who look forward to seeing me in this style, so I can’t let them down!

Are there records you love playing that always surprise you with how differently they land from night to night?

Yeah, of course. How a track lands can really change depending on the sound system, the size of the floor, and the people who are there. But there are some tracks that always stay in my record bag, because no matter when or where I play them, they just manage to create a really great vibe.

What keeps you excited about DJing after all these years?

Even if I dig through records all the time, I’ll never be able to discover everything. New music keeps coming out, and there’s a tonne of older stuff waiting to be explored too. What really keeps me excited is finding something new and feeling that thrill when I get to share it with everyone on the floor.

What do you hope people take away from your night at Guesthouse?

A great party can leave you feeling refreshed and full of positive energy. I hope people can take that vibe with them and enjoy the days ahead until the next weekend’s party.