Mochakk Doesn’t Want To Be Famous

You’d never know Mochakk was a globally renowned DJ. The Brazilian DJ brings an admirable nonchalance and childlike wonder to the bustling chaos of New York City, walking the streets like he’s lived here his whole life. But really, he’s just in town for just 72 hours, for his sold-out three-night Brooklyn residency at Knockdown Center’s The Ruins and Under the K Bridge.

“I never want to not be a regular person,” he says, his initial goal never being to hit a certain number or nab a coveted accolade, but to buy his own place and help his family out. “That’s what fueled me, and that hasn’t changed. I want to be like that forever.” The 27-year-old made it big a few years back by happenstance, when a TikTok of him dancing while spinning PAWSA’s “Roll Play” went viral. That same palpable energy remains a defining pillar of Mochakk’s sets, but his time off takes on a more chill energy.

It’s the day before what he’s dubbed “MochakkTakesOverNYC,” and he has a couple of things to check off his list before he takes the stage, including a local dim sum lunch, some vinyl shopping, and, most importantly, outfit sourcing for the tour.

How do you curate an outfit for a set?

For this tour, [laughs] that will be the question. I was rushing when packing my bags for this tour, and I realized when I got to New York that I brought literally no gig outfits. I just brought daily clothes and very plain stuff. But now I have an excuse to go shopping.

What style trends have defined your current wardrobe?

I’m really digging shorter cuts on tees. I’m not so much into long, boxy stuff. I prefer my shirts to be thin and short, and I like shirts that look worn and sort of old already. I love vintage graphic T-shirts. I only buy band tees for bands that I know, though. One time I wore a Grateful Dead shirt, and I didn’t even know until someone asked me if I was a Deadhead while I was wearing it.

How would you sum up your approach to fashion?

Always check everything out, because you never know where you’ll find something cool. A lot of the time, it’s where you’re not looking. Serendipitous, you know? It happens by chance.

What brands or designers have you been into lately?

Acne Studios. They have a lot of pieces with that vintage, worn-in feel. I’ve been digging Paloma Wool. This bag I’m wearing is from there. They have really nice unisex stuff. I went to Gimaguas in Barcelona, and they have some cool stuff.

You’ve been travelling so much as of late. Are you an adventurous eater or a picky eater when it comes to trying new things on tour?

I’m not the most adventurous guy in the kitchen, but I’m trying to experiment more — especially while I’m on tour. I just had geoduck sashimi while I was in Turkey. In Peru, I had guinea pig. You can’t be scared of trying, right?

In your opinion, what is the best Brazilian delicacy?

Coxinha. My city has the best coxinha in the whole world, and I’m saying it here, putting it on the record. Search on YouTube for “Melhor coxinha do Brasil” — “Best coxinha in Brazil” — and the first result will be a coxinha from Padaria Real, a bakery in my hometown. It’s perfect. It’s a deep-fried, super-thin, soft dough pastry with shredded chicken, a special cream cheese called Catupiry, and some greens inside. It’s absolutely delicious. That would be our version of a New York pizza or bagel.

Have you always had this much energy?

Ever since I was little, I’ve been energetic about showing people things, like, “Yo, look at this that I found.” With music, it’s the same thing. I think DJs are people who are just excited to show music to other people. I try to show visually what’s happening in the music through my body language.

Speaking of which, your dance moves when behind the decks are anything but amateur. Is it true that you have formal dance training?

I danced when I was younger in Brazil — hip hop, freestyle dancing, and breakdancing. Dance instilled in me a desire to show sounds with my body. Freestyle dancing is all about that: catching what’s happening in the beat and moving to mimic that.

What did you grow up listening to?

I grew up listening to a lot of punk and rock music. I was at the age where I wanted music that was gritty and in your face, and angry towards the world.

Your music is also heavily inspired by Brazilian music. What local artists had the biggest impact on you?

My appreciation for Brazilian music arrived kind of late, actually. Now, I consider it one of the most beautiful things, musically — Tom Jobim, Milton Nascimento, Djavan, Elis Regina, Simone. There are so many great Brazilian artists whom I was too young to appreciate. That era of Brazilian music wasn’t as edgy or gritty as what I was listening to at the time. It was more chill, elegant, and composed, so it took some time to grow on me.

I studied music in college, and that’s when I really learned more about the history and intricacies of Brazilian music and what makes it good. What makes Bossa Nova music Bossa Nova? What makes Samba music Samba? Learning about it fueled my interest in it, which is how I get into literally anything in my life, by trying to find out how it works and how it came together. My love of Brazilian music came a little late for me, but I got there eventually. Thankfully.

Is there music playing often in your home?

All the time. I’m a big record guy. I have a big collection at home. They’re displayed on a shelf and organized by genre.

What’s an album you’re hunting for on vinyl?

That’s a tough one. I’m always searching for something new, but right now it’s King Tubbys Meets Rockers Uptown by Augustus Pablo and King Tubby, and The Roots Radics’ Junjo Presents: Wins The World Cup.

What’s an album that makes you nostalgic?

My dad had Stars by The Cranberries on CD, and every time we’d go to the supermarket, we’d listen to it. If we got to the supermarket before we finished the CD, we’d sit in the parking lot until it was over. I had a copy of Depeche Mode’s Songs of Faith and Devotion that belonged to my friend’s dad. He was a DJ, and he gave me a lot of his records, and that’s how my record collection started.

Which musicians would people be surprised to know that you listen to?

A lot of punk and rock stuff. Sepultura, a metal band from Brazil. I grew up very into Slipknot. I’m always pulling references from grunge. Tool came to Brazil for Lollapalooza last year, and it was one of the best shows I’ve seen in my life.

What’s the wildest thing that’s happened during one of your sets?

One time in Las Vegas, we bought all of the BuzzBalls from the hotel convenience store. We were just like, “What if we buy them all, and take them all to the gig, just throw them at people during the show?”

What’s been your favorite set you’ve played?

I played the Brunch Electronik Barcelona festival for the first time while my videos were just starting to blow up. I had just released a remix for The Martinez Brothers and Gordo and Rema, “Rizzla.” Right as I was about to play the song, it started to rain. I thought the energy would die down, but it went crazy. The whole crowd was going insane. It was pouring. It was such a wild moment.

What’s been your favorite afters set?

One of the best afterparties I’ve ever played was the afters at Circoloco Thailand. The place is so beautiful, and everybody there just wants to dance and have fun. Nobody’s judging anyone. It’s just organic, good vibes.

You’re coming back to NYC for CircoLoco on Halloween. Do you have a costume yet?

Not yet. I have to find something. The last time I did Halloween here, I played back-to-back with Bonobo, and he went dressed up as me. He put on a mustache, and I drew my tattoos on his neck. It was funny. I want to go trick-or-treating this year.

When did you feel like you “made it”?

It all happened so fast. I was playing decent-sized shows in Brazil for five years at that point, and one day, I started experimenting on Reels and TikTok. My videos instantly went viral. I suddenly got flooded with international requests — people around the world asking me to come to their country, to play in Italy, to play in Greece, to play in cities all over the world. But it doesn’t work like that; I can’t just buy a plane ticket, knock on a club’s door, and ask to play. Right as my performance videos were peaking, I posted another video explaining how artist bookings actually work. I told my viewers, ‘If you want an artist in your city, tag local promoters, comment on festival pages, and ask for them,’ thinking that maybe if enough people talk about me, then event organizers will look into this guy everyone’s talking about. And it actually worked! Within a couple of months, international bookings started rolling in. We put together a six-month tour, and by the second half of the year, I was traveling across multiple countries.

Do you think fame changed you, or are you still the same?

I don’t think fame changed me, no. I’m still the same guy — still very curious. My true dreams from the beginning were to have my own house, my own studio, my car, and be able to help my family out. I’ve done all of those things, so playing this big festival or releasing a massive hit was never the motivating factor behind it. And that hasn’t changed. I want to be able to continue doing stuff that I like. That’s what fuels me, and that hasn’t changed. I want to be like that forever. I never want to not be a regular person.