Interview with XUJA
XUJA is the artistic evolution of Jordan Deck, shaped by decades of dancefloor experience and a deep reverence for global music traditions. Through world rhythms, house music lineage, and long-form storytelling, XUJA’s sets unfold as emotional journeys rather than genre exercises.
XUJA is the evolution of over a decade behind the decks as Jordan Deck. What shift made you realise it was time for a new artistic identity?
There wasn’t a single moment, it was a quiet shift. I stepped away from DJing and spent time writing poetry and making visual art, reconnecting with creativity outside of the club.
When Mahico was born, I realised my old name didn’t reflect the music or the world I was stepping into. The sound had evolved. XUJA emerged naturally, shaped by world music influences and a more personal way of sharing sound.
Your sound bridges Chicago and Detroit house with global electronic textures. How do you blend those worlds while keeping the dancefloor central?
Sometimes they blend, and sometimes they stay separate.
At outdoor festivals and Mahico, I lean into global rhythms and organic textures. In club spaces, I often return to Chicago and Detroit house grooves. In longer sets, these worlds merge organically over time. The storytelling happens slowly, letting the music breathe rather than forcing it.
How did Mahico and touring with world music artists influence your creative direction?
I’ve loved world music since I was a kid. Living in Latin America deepened my connection to these sounds and cultures.
Touring and curating alongside artists like Chancha, Rodrigo, and Martha showed me the power of sharing music with intention and respect. It motivated me to keep digging, not to imitate, but to find my own language within that world.
Your sets often move between distinct musical worlds. How do you decide when to merge influences?
I let the moment guide me. The space, the crowd, the energy. Some sounds need room to stand alone, others invite transition. When influences merge, it happens naturally rather than by force.
What do you hope people feel after experiencing a XUJA set for the first time?
I hope they glimpse my internal world. The sounds that move me.
More than anything, I want people to feel the diversity and beauty of the world, and understand that I see myself as a vessel to share that beauty through music.
XUJA’s approach reminds us that music is a language of memory, culture, and feeling. By allowing sounds to stand alone or merge organically, his work honours diversity without dilution. It’s an invitation to listen with curiosity, to feel beyond expectation, and to recognise music as a vessel for connection – between people, places, and inner worlds.
