What’s inspiring DJ Python?

It’s usually considered a bit of a journalism faux pas to ask an artist about their name, but DJ Python’s admittedly arouses a lot of curiosity. ​“There was this guy in Mexico called DJ Cobra, an older gentleman who put these reggaeton mixes out on YouTube. I really liked it and when I did DJ Python, I wanted to do reggaeton,” says the musician born Brian Piñeyro, Zooming in from his New York apartment. ​“It was silly, I was really young and I didn’t think anything was gonna happen.”

“Anything” did happen. Releasing his first EP in 2016, Piñeyro struck a chord with his deep reggaeton sound, a hypnotic blend of Latin rhythms with tender textures, and he’s now renowned for the experimentation in his DJ sets. His seventh EP i was put on this earth, released last month via XL Recordings, features five tracks that merge clicking ambient electronics with expansive synths – the type of stuff you’d want in your ears during a long layover at an airport terminal, when your bones are tired.

Opening with Marry Me Maia, an IDM-tinged wash of barely-there production and ghostly vocals, the EP also features shadowy South London rapper Jawnino and producer Organ Tapes on Dai Buki, as well as reggaeton singer Isabella Lovestory on the seductive, trip-hop inspired track Besos Robados.

In order to get to know the serpentine producer a little more, we asked him some questions about his life outside of making music.

What are you reading right now?

The Topeka School by Ben Lerner, I’ve been reading that more at night. In the morning I like to read philosophy or theology. I’ll read biblical phrases in the morning.

What do you wear when you don’t know what to wear?

I like to wear clothes where people can’t tell what I do. I don’t want them to know I’m into music or if I’m, like, a stockbroker – I want to look like a normal guy.

What do you use to make your house smell nice?

I have this tea leaf burner as well as candles, incense and room spray.

What do you listen to at 10 in the morning?

[Frédéric] Chopin.

Can you recommend us a film to watch?

The Devil Probably by Robert Bresson.

One instrument you’d love to learn to play?

The accordion, so I can busk.

Who do you go to when you need a good recipe?

The New York Times Cooking.

If you could have anyone’s record collection, whose would it be?

Dead – Andrew Weatherall. Alive – probably my friend, Tom Campbell.

What do you do when you can’t fall asleep?

Lie in bed thinking of things, or I take Unisom to go to sleep.

Who’s your dream collab?

Arvo Pärt.

DJ Python plays Colour Factory, London, on 4^th May. I was put on earth is out now via XL Recordings