The decks arrived just before the first lockdown: a pair of CDJ 1000 mk3s and a Behringer mixer. R3jal practised on them every day for six months, and by the end he had his sound, forest psytrance, and his first set, outdoors in the woods of north Wales. He had found the music itself four years earlier, on YouTube, on his own.
“Although ten years ago I would have never thought I’d still be chasing and exploring the same genre of music which I found on my own, let alone be a forest psytrance DJ.”
The first track he found was Astrix, “Deep Jungle Walk”.
“It was different to other electronic music I was listening to, and I enjoyed it a lot.”
The name is his own, with a 3 in it.
“The DJ name is my real name with a 3 replacing the E, as I still haven’t been able to find a suitable DJ name.”
It took him three years to reach a dancefloor.
“It was the first few parties and festivals I went to that inspired me, or gave me the motivation, to be a psytrance DJ and learn mixing. Bear in mind I stumbled across my first psytrance track on YouTube in 2016 and hadn’t gone to my first party until March 2019, in the UK. Experiencing the party and the people, it eventually led to the next step, which was to learn how to mix the tracks together and play a nice set.”
“It was at Gandaky festival 2019 where Archaic and Atriohm were playing, and I got a fully immersive experience in this music style.”
“I learnt to mix from my good friend Anastazja after we met at Gandaky festival 2019 and saw her perform at a few parties later on. A few friends and I went to visit Anastazja, where I spent the day learning to mix on CDJ-1000s.”
Two months later he had decks of his own.
“I got my first pair of decks, CDJ 1000 mk3, and a Behringer mixer shortly before the covid pandemic started in the UK, and the lockdown gave me all the time to practise mixing and eventually select my preferred style of psy, which is forest psytrance. The next six months involved practising every day and eventually playing my first set at BlackPearl 2020 by FaeriePirates.”
“After having a few jamming sessions with friends and honing my skills over lockdown, we had a very low-key birthday event … where Champa got to see me DJ for a few hours and offered to take me on his label, Enterrec. This was just a few months after I had learnt to mix for the first time.”
“It was in an outdoor setting in the woods of beautiful north Wales. The moment was surreal, and to see the dancefloor enjoying the opening track and the whole set filled me with lots of happiness, and further made me play out more and share my selection of forest tracks.”
“It was many friends from the scenes who supported me through the journey.”
“Existance festival didn’t happen this year sadly, but I’ve played at their previous edition in 2024, which was the peak moment of my DJ experience: to play before one of the artists that inspired me, Arjuna from Parvati Records.”
“Nervous and excited, which also helped me to play a top set which I enjoyed, and it was even more fulfilling to see a packed dancefloor enjoying my selection of tracks.”
“Another moment where I got to play after Daksinamurti, founder of Sangoma Records, at the second stage of Psymera festival in 2022, hosted by Champa.”
Did he get to speak with Arjuna afterwards?
“Yes, we exchanged a short conversation, and have played at another party on the same lineup, also meeting at festivals abroad.”
Asked which moment he would show his 2016 self:
“…the whole journey, which shaped me as a person and helped me gain so much knowledge.”
“Modem festival, and it’s a dream to be able to play there.”
“I’ve heard and seen footage online about the festival, and going there for the first time in 2024, and the year after, to experience it in person.”
“I already had the dream of playing there since I first heard of it. Being there in person just made it firmer.”
“Catering to underground psytrance in the perfect forest settings.”
“Beautiful location and vibez.”
“After a year of playing around England and putting mixes on SoundCloud, the label manager of Visionary Shamanics approached me in 2022 to do a guest mix for their radio channel, also giving me the opportunity to join the label.”
His first London gig was Gypsy Drop, in 2022. He also holds a residency with Atmik Connection, whose first party, in 2023, was his first London club night.
“Their first party was in 2023 and it was a great success. It was mainly a twilight psytrance night, where I also played that style for a change, since it was for my friends.”
“I had fun playing the tunes I enjoy. Nothing much special about it, only that it was my first gig at a club in London.”
“I played in Brighton last month, which was a nice experience to spread forest tunes in yet another city, and I’m super excited to play at Holy Pendragon very soon!”
“Sharpening my DJ sets is an ongoing process, but I’d like to create my own music in the future, eventually.”
He met Champa at a party in 2020. At Holy Pendragon he represents Enterrec with a forest set.
“We met in 2020 at a party, and playing at the event is an awesome experience representing the label I’m on, but only presenting a subgenre of psytrance that’s not so common in the UK.”
“There aren’t many events in the UK that have forest psytrance; rarely do we get a full night dedicated to it. But I hope this changes in the future, and at some point I’d like to host my own forest night.”
For The Hairy Dog, he is choosing forest tracks with an indoor room in mind.
“A journey through the forest woodland with atmospheric and natural sounds. A very psychedelic trip.”
“By playing a selection of tracks which will not be too deep or atmospheric for an indoor setting, but can also be enjoyed.”
“Mainly tracks that are on the darker side of forest psytrance, but it changes according to the time of day I play.”
“Will see how it goes on the day and decide the opening.”
How he knows it is working:
“When I see them enjoying and dance away to the deep forest sounds.”
What should the Derby crowd take home?
“Experience gained from a new style of music.”
“Expect serious tunage and mind bending sounds through the set, each track will have its own playfulness and dark edge to it.”
R3jal plays Holy Pendragon, Friday 9 October 2026, at The Hairy Dog in Derby. Tickets are on TicketTailor at tickettailor.com/events/psycentral/2228802.
