The Mix 075: Didi Han

For Didi Han, it's less about wearing her emotions on her sleeve, and more about pressing them firmly into her drum machine. Released via Roche Musique earlier this month, the Korean-born artist has delved firmly into her feelings on 'I Dream' — a flowing five-tracker that leads us on a journey through glittering, cinematic synths, silky pop and oscillating breaks. Inspired, and primarily created through her last three years in Paris, the record explores themes of emotional angst, growth, love, and hope.

Originally from Seoul, Didi Han (real name Danbee Han) started toying with music at just five years old, playing the piano before learning the flute and later the guitar. While her music is clearly inspired by a diet of '00s pop - likely spurred on by her childhood adoration of Christina Aguilera and Britney Spears - there are also nods to the '80s, which she credits to her ABBA-loving dad. After discovering Nicholas Jaar's BBC Radio 1 Essential Mix, Didi Han made her first steps as a DJ, finding her way within Seoul's burgeoning underground scene as a regular fixture at Medeci, Cakeshop and The Henz Club, and as a member of the Deluxe Seoul collective.

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Though it was thousands of miles away, Didi Han found a home in the French capital, where the inspirations behind 'I Dream' began to take hold. Simultaneously overwhelmed at the differences and similarities between her home and her life in Paris, she details juxtapositions in witnessing riots and watching people peacefully go about their day in cafés on lead single, 'Paper Planes', while 'Youth' explores the feeling of sitting alongside the River Seine, and 'I Sing' touches on her discovery of amapiano.

For her edition of The Mix, Didi Han takes us through a dreamscape of breaks, '00s house and UK cuts, and talks to Megan Townsend about creating an accidental sonic diary, her life-changing experience at Fête de la Musique, and trying to embrace past emotions.

Your new EP was written over the course of three years, can you tell us a bit about the process of creating the record? 

I didn’t expect it would take three years when I first started working on the EP. 'Paper Plane' was the very first track I made, and it helped me find the direction for the whole project. I wrote a lot of music after that, but only five tracks truly felt like they belonged together — they became 'I Dream'. Also, we spent a lot of time finding a music video director and handling all the communication took even longer. But in the end, I’m happy with the entire process — you can watch the music video here.

How do you feel the transition from Seoul to Paris influenced the record?

It was my first time living outside of the country I grew up in. Things I used to think were normal turned out not to be, and I started to see the world, and myself, from a different perspective. I wrote 'Paper Plane' not long after moving to Paris. I was feeling quite confused, so writing this track was a way to express a longing for peace and hope. Around that time, I also started using more hardware instruments like synths and drum machines instead of just VSTs on my iMac. In Paris, it felt easier to access these machines than it was in Korea, so naturally, I began exploring new tools and sounds in my process.

How does it feel to create music that is so personal in this context? Both addressing a deep-rooted emotion but also something quite universal?

At the beginning, I was actually scared to start writing lyrics. I didn’t know what I was supposed to say. But now, I really enjoy the process. I look forward to what stories I’ll tell next, and I’m excited about how my growth as a person will shape the music I make in the future.

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Each track is influenced by a different day/moment — was this a purposeful decision? To have the record act as a sort of sonic diary?

It wasn’t something I planned intentionally, it’s actually quite hard to get inspiration for multiple tracks from just one moment. For me, it happened naturally. I make music many days, and my emotions change each time — so each track ended up capturing a different feeling or moment without me really trying.

Is it strange to reflect on this record now? Do you feel like you have moved away emotionally from the subject matter? Or is it as relevant now as the time when you wrote it?

Some tracks now feel like parts of my past that I want to hide, they feel distant — even a bit embarrassing. But at the same time, I know they’re still a part of me, so I try to love them. It’s not always easy though [laughs]. 

You described your sound as "crying in the club but you're happy" — is this what has drawn you to dance music? That it can be both euphoric/melancholy? 

Actually, I don’t think that’s the reason I was drawn to dance music. I also enjoy dance tracks that are purely joyful. When I said “crying in the club but you're happy,” it wasn’t something I was trying to express on purpose. I think it’s just the kind of music that naturally came out because of who I am. I’m a complex person, maybe that’s why I’d love to also try making music that’s just happy, or just sad.

How do you feel the French/Parisian scene compares to home? 

France has a long history in the electronic music scene, so it feels like there’s a well-established system to support artists. Korea’s scene is still relatively new, which makes it more experimental and full of exciting things.

Do you have any favourite shows/sets you've played since you moved to Europe?

2022 was my very first experience of Fête de la Musique, and also the first edition after the COVID era — you can imagine how excited everyone was. My friend and I decided to throw a party in front of his shop on the street — it got wild, people were dancing, someone even sprayed graffiti on an abandoned car and the walls around us. It was insane, and I had never felt that kind of freedom before. This is how my party Dance Therapy started. I had many editions after this, but it’s still my favourite.

How do you prepare for a set?

When I prepare for a club set, I usually start by gathering all the tracks I feel like playing into a folder. But after the soundcheck, things often change, depending on the sound system, DJ booth, and lighting — my direction can shift. So I go back to my hotel and reorganise. I usually plan out the first few tracks to be safe, it helps me feel grounded even if I end up changing my mind on stage. After that, I mostly read the energy of the crowd and select tracks. I also keep a separate folder with a few tracks I definitely want to play that night.

How do you feel about collaboration? Is that something you feel comfortable with — particularly when bringing quite emotional context to writing?

I haven't really collaborated on something that’s emotionally deep yet, so I’m not sure how it would feel. But I think it could be exciting. If I ever wanted to collaborate with someone, it probably means I felt a strong pull toward them.

What's coming up next for you? 

I want to make an album finally. So I started working on the project. I’m really excited already for the next. 

Can you tell us about your mix?

This set blends some of my recent digs from funky '90s old skool breaks and rave-inspired house, through to the deep house textures that shaped the '00s, to fresh UK cuts. Just like the title of my EP 'I Dream', I wanted this mix to feel like stepping into my dreamscape, where past and present meet on the dancefloor.

Didi Han's 'I Dream' is out now via Roche Musique, buy it here.

Megan Townsend is Mixmag's Deputy Editor, follow her on Twitter

Tracklist: 
⁠
1. Farao – Voice Continues
2.⁠ ⁠Tom Trago – Life Of Plants & Flowers
3.⁠ ⁠Virgo Four – It’s A Crime (Caribou Mix)
4.⁠ ⁠X-Press 2 – Smoke Machine (James Talk Remix)
5.⁠ ⁠The Freestylers, Fast Eddie – The Sound (Blapps Posse Remix)
6.⁠ ⁠DJ Love – All the Way
7.⁠ ⁠Aldonna – Talk Bad
8.⁠ Didi Han ft. Jade - Paper Plane (IN2STELLAR Remix)
9.⁠ ⁠Baby Rollén, Ollie Rant – Worthless
10.⁠ ⁠Jon Buccieri (2’s Co) - Im Gonna Luv U
11.⁠ ⁠Julie Desire ft. Emahaa – This is for the Queers
12.⁠ ⁠Spiritual South – Green Gold
13.⁠ ⁠Rennie Pilgrem, Uberzone – Black Widow
14.⁠ ⁠DJ Babatr – In the Groove
15.⁠ ⁠Didi Han – Youth