When dance music icon Peggy Gou took the stage last night at the Bahrain International Circuit to close out the second day of racing and entertainment action, she knew she was responsible not just to get everyone grooving and moving to her tunes.
The role of a DJ is sometimes oversimplified to ‘just’ play their greatest hits, but it’s often much more – it’s to be a sonic shaman, guiding partiers through a journey and ensuring that everyone has an unforgettable time.
And Ms Gou took this very seriously, with a fun twist. Yes, one of the world’s most recognisable names in dance music played some of her best hits including (It Goes Like) Nanana, Gou Talk, It Makes You Forget, Starry Night, Jigoo, Nabi and I Go.
But beyond that, she conducted a spectacle with stunning digital visuals projected on the large screens at the main stage of the BIC vending area, completed with fiery flares and strobe lights.
And to accompany the dance numbers, Ms Gou also mellowed out the set with more ‘vibe music’ – gentle hip-swaying beats so that everyone could find something to enjoy with their friends and family.
Beyond that, what really impressed me was her eagle eye and fine-tuned intuition as she fed off the energy of the crowd.
At one point last night, a scuffle broke out amongst some over-eager fans aching to get to the front lines of the dense crowd, and as soon as she spotted it, she called it out, instructing with a firm yet friendly voice – ‘Just stop it.’
Shining through was her experience at world’s leading clubs and festivals, from Glastonbury to Dekmantel, De School to Printworks, alongside her own personally curated ‘Pleasure Gardens’ – an annual sell-out one-day festival in London’s Finsbury Park, now in its fourth year.
And that’s the hallmark of a great sonic shaman – someone who not just takes their audience on a journey, but someone who makes sure everyone is having a great time.
– Naman Arora
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