In Session: Hito

From Ibiza to Israel, Mexico to Mixmag’s very own Lab LDN, Hito has been absolutely tearing up soundsystems in 2016. Armed with an extensive record collection full of deep techno cuts and a knack for knowing when to play them, Berlin’s favourite ex-pat has had a breakout year.

Born in Himeji, Japan, Hito moved to Berlin in 1999, buying her first turntables in the German capital. The move sparked a flame for travel in the budding DJ, but it wasn’t until the beginning of the decade that she hit the world circuit thanks to fellow Berlin resident Richie Hawtin. The British-born, Canada-raised DJ was well established by the time he met Hito, and asked her to play at his ENTER. night at Ibiza’s Space. The move was the jumping off point for Hito’s career as she became a resident, and launched ENTER.Sake in the area of the club remodeled to look like a sake bar, helping build the brand with the rice wine-loving Hawtin.

Even when ENTER. left the white island, Hito continued her momentum, taking the brand to Tokyo. Nowadays you’re just as likely to see her throw down at Circoloco as Awakenings and as an ambassador for Hawtin’s MODEL1 mixer she’s regularly mentioned in the same breath as Nicole Moudaber, Loco Dice and Dubfire.