Mochakk tells us about becoming one of the world’s most in-demand DJs

“Really, really fast – and really, really accidental,” is how Mochakk describes his stratospheric rise from being a working club DJ in his native Brazil, to a globally touring, multi-hyphenate dance music A-lister in just three short years. The happy accident in question? A humble post on TikTok, of course.

In what’s fast beginning to feel like a tale as old as time, in 2022, Mochakk (real name Pedro Maia) was entirely unassuming when, under the advice of a fellow DJ, made an account on TikTok and shared a clip of him on decks, spinning (and enthusiastically rapping and dancing along to) London producer PAWSA’s 2019 underground hit ‘Roll Play’. The internet was instantly taken with the then- 23-year-old’s boundless energy and enthusiasm for his craft, resulting in, quite literally, overnight fame. The post generated over 1 million views in its first 24 hours and before long Mochakk was fielding messages and offers from countries all over the world. It was zero to one hundred for the burgeoning producer who had, up until then, never played anywhere outside of Brazil and, so he says, never intended to be an internationally touring DJ.

Fast forward three years, he is sitting with me in the lounge of a five-star hotel in Ibiza, having just played the closing party for CircoLoco, going back to back with Chris Stussy in DC-10, one of the hedonistic island’s most storied super clubs. It’s the early-afternoon after the night before when I had the chance to witness the DJ in all his glory. What I observed from the wedged VIP area behind his decks was an artist at the peak of his powers, with a crowd that was truly eating out of his hand. On the menu that evening was his signature blend of fast-paced techno and jubilant house, expertly infused with a distinctly Brazilian groove. 

It’s a proud moment for the artist, who has seldom had a chance to pause and reflect on his catapulted journey to the top. “I was nervous, because I know what it represents to the scene and to Ibiza,” he tells me. “It’s a big stamp of approval to play DC-10. Being very young and having stuff happen to me very fast in the beginning, like being thrown into the shoes of playing CircoLoco, was scary at first but I can now say that it has a place of pleasure.” He’s become so comfortable at the legendary Balearic club that he says it now provides to him a feeling of homeliness. “It’s the club that I played the most outside of Brazil – wait no, it’s probably the club that I’ve played the most in my life,” he says, somewhat incredulously. 

There is a moment in an artist’s career when it is essential to simply ride the wave and seize every opportunity offered, which is certainly how Mochakk has been living the last three years. He is already beginning to pare back his relentless touring schedule, from playing 180 shows in 2023 down to 130 this year (including up to eight appearances at DC-10 a season). Frankly, he needs to claw back some time to devote to his many other ventures, which include a clothing line, a record label and a nightclub he opened in his home. 

“I’m pretty lucky that all members of my team are addicted to having more problems to solve,” he says with a chuckle. The artist, who only three years ago had to borrow money to cover just him and a videographer to tour the world, now employs a team of 20 people. “It’s very demanding, to keep everything working at the pace it demands,” he admits. “But everybody’s happy in the team, and harvesting the fruits that are coming from it.”

Not least to say anything of Mochakk Calling, his very own festival and event series which has so far popped up in locations including Malta, Sydney, Chicago and Sao Paolo. Through Mochakk Calling, he has been able to connect with industry titans like Honey Dijon, Seth Troxler and Todd Terje, whilst simultaneously providing a platform to emerging DJs. “We always try to bring someone local to the lineups and someone from Brazil,” he explains. “The idea is to call in everybody that’s present in that location to see new stuff, to discover something, and to platform other people.”

One thing that permeates every corner of our conversation is Mochakk’s passion for his home country. As we chat about his recent collaboration with PinkPantheress (the rising dance princess tapped him to remix ‘Noises’ on her recent remix album, which also featured dance heavyweights like Kylie Minogue, Basement Jaxx and Kaytranada), his first response is to note how happy he was to see he was in the company of three other Brazilian artists – DJ Caio Prince, Adame DJ, and Anitta. “It’s kind of like a little invasion of us,” he laughs. 

Previously a fan of PinkPantheress’s work, the opportunity to work with her thrilled him and, due to a tight deadline, led to him going three days without sleep in order to perfect his submission. Mochakk is evidently a scholar of all types of music, well beyond the genres he plays himself. The night before, he engaged with me in a spirited conversation about the greatest pop diva in music history, in which he, quite correctly, cited Madonna as his ultimate.

Aside from his collaboration with the British pop starlet, he is also readying the release of his next solo single, ‘Hypersilent’, which samples the 80s female rap group J.J. Fad. “It’s a bit more stripped down and minimalistic,” he says, before adding: “More sexy, but not dark because it’s cute, and has some beautiful synths.” He played the track, which drops today, for the crowd at DC-10 the previous night, who appeared to revel in its intimate sonic landscape.

‘Hypesilent’ serves as the Side B to his last single ‘Legumes’ which, he explains, is “a celebration about actually, finally enjoying vegetables and being able to eat healthier.” (For those wondering, kabocha, a type of green squash, is his favourite vegetable – at least so far.) The single, “an uplifting banger” as per the man himself, features London drill rapper Kwengface and offers some contrast to the more subtle ‘Hypersilent’.

I’m exhausted just hearing about the amount of plates the man is spinning, but Mochakk, who radiates an affable and relaxed charm, seems endlessly excited by his various endeavours. He acknowledges however, the necessity to carve out some time for him to simply have a life. “I’m 26 years old, I still want to, like, go to the beach with my friends, spend a month maybe away,” he admits. “I have a little brother who’s nine. He wants to see his brother all the time and play video games with me. So I’m trying to, not slow it down, but just strip it until it’s a perfect amount of everything in my life.” 

For now though, it’s onto the next thing – this evening the artist will get a few hours of respite before jetting off again in the morning, this time to London for what he tells me is a very special recording session in none other than the iconic Abbey Road Studios…