Selectors Series: Stargazer w/Waqar & Kawun

Copenhagen’s electronic scene has long thrived on community and curiosity for dance music’s roots—and Waqar & Kawun are two names steadily contributing to that landscape. Moving between intimate club spaces and larger festival platforms, both selectors have carved out distinct yet complementary paths within Denmark’s capital, grounded in a shared love for house and forward-leaning club sounds.

Waqar, a seasoned Copenhagen-based DJ, radio host, and music programmer, brings a depth of musical knowledge and global influence to every set. With roots in underground party culture and ties to iconic events like Distortion Ø and Karrusel Festival, he has become a recurring figure in the Danish capital’s club circuit. Kawun, part of a new generation of Copenhagen DJs, brings a thoughtful, patient energy to the booth; his eclectic blend of house, acid, and retro-infused beats is marking him out as one of the city’s exciting young talents. Together, they craft journeys that weave house, disco, and grooves into energetic moments under club lights.

For our first Selectors Series episode of 2026, they’ve come together behind the decks to offer a glimpse into the sound that connects them—deeply rooted, carefully crafted, and built for dancers who appreciate tension, atmosphere, and the art of letting the groove breathe—all while sharing in a interview with Revibed their parcours and current music projects.

What was the starting point for each of you as DJs?

Waqar: For me, it all began in my teenage years, when my main passion was collecting records and CDs. I explored a wide range of genres, from rock music to various styles of dance music. Occasionally, I would bring some of my records to a local youth club, and it was there that my interest in DJing gradually began to grow.

Kawun: Just like Waqar, I picked up DJing in my early teenage years. It was the culmination of years of musical exposure, especially through my uncle, who introduced me at a young age to a wide spectrum of oriental music culture and practices. After drifting in and out of different musical pursuits, DJing captured my long-term attention by bringing together all of my experiences. I started out playing at my high school parties, which hosted around 800 guests, building my confidence and skills and pushing me to fully pursue what I truly wanted.

How do you know each other? Do you still play together often, and how do you build a narrative when you do?

We met at Karrusel Festival in Odense in 2017 and ended up playing together at a restaurant where there were only one or two guests. Since then, we’ve played together just three times, along with a radio show where Kawun was the guest and Waqar the host. The only thing we plan in advance is the genre we’re playing—everything else happens spontaneously.

Kawun, as part of Copenhagen’s new wave of DJs, you’ve shared stages with names like DJ Seinfeld, Skatebård, and Call Super. What did those nights teach you?

Patience, above all. I’ve mostly had the privilege of opening and handing over the night when sharing stages with household names, which I take a lot of pride in. I see it as the most important slot of the night. Resisting the temptation to chase sudden energy spikes, but instead valuing patience and trusting your curation—carefully building tension that can be harvested later in the night, keeping the crowd grounded, energized, and curious on the dance floor throughout the whole night.

What surprises does Distortion Ø have in store for us this summer?

Waqar: Personally, the biggest surprise for me has been our focus on bringing legendary legacy house artists to a small, intimate stage in the woods at Refshaleøen called Oasis. Having Kevin Saunderson and Moodymann headline the stage alongside newer house artists like ISAbella and Moxie feels both special and intentional.

You seem to share a sweet spot for time-traveling dance music (’90s house/techno energy). Which era do you each keep returning to when digging, and why?

We both share a deep love for the vibrant music scene of the ’90s, which has also been a recurring bonding point in our friendship.

Waqar started attending rave parties in the 1990s, and therefore it feels natural to keep digging for tracks from that era. To this day, he is still discovering songs from that decade he’s never heard before.

Having an older sister immersed in ’90s culture, Kawun was exposed to the era’s trends and music from a very early age. Later, when he was introduced to mobile phones, he would beg older kids at school to Bluetooth him the explosive tracks he saw them listening to, marking his first real introduction to electronic music. Ever since, it has been a place of familiarity that continues to surprise us to this day.

What’s cooking in this Stargazer mix?

Stargazer is an ode to our love for the dynamic electronic scene of the ’90s. Drifting in and out of hypnotic house, trance, and progressive rhythms, the mix reflects both our fluid approach to DJing and our idea of the perfect soundtrack for the slow transition from day to night. Grooves that gradually loosen movement, ascending ecstatically into the night’s unknown and mystical territory, as the sky opens and the stars reveal themselves. A dreamy getaway into warmer times.

Kawun, we noticed your “Operator” party with Prom Night. Can you tell us more about it?

Celebrating music from all over the world, Operator finds inspiration in ’80s and ’90s dance culture, where disco and house took over the globe. Operator has been running for over 3 years, mostly at the small and intimate Jolene Bar, where we have had the joy of presenting Bell Towers, Lauer, CC:Disco, Stella Zekri, among many others. For the upcoming edition, we have a Valentine’s Day Special in store when the powers of Operator and Entrance Traxx unite to present a true club operator of the night, Skatebård. Happening Feb. 14th at Jolene Bar.

Any big projects on the horizon for the two of you? Where can we find you playing this year?

Waqar is planning a series of events at an intimate venue in the Meatpacking District starting in early summer. He previously hosted club nights there featuring artists such as Octave One, Marshall Jefferson, Move D, etc. Kawun will be hosting several more Operator nights and continuing to roam across the clubs of Copenhagen.

 💎 Discover Waqar & Kawun's pre-orders. Follow them on Revibed:

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Tracklist:

• Pireneo - Dont You Want You More (Trance Version)
• Backdraft - Erotic Sky (Cyrus & The Joker Mix)
• Nima Gorji -  Sound Judgment
• Lenny Lopez - Get Wild
• B-Siderz - Gunshots
• Digital Justice - Can't U See
• Fantastic Man - Spiritual Guidance
• Aquatherium - Bonny Doon
• Joy Circuit - Redway To Heaven
• Club Illusions - Overdrive
• Dylan Rhymes - On The Dance Floor (Phil Kieran Mix)
• Area - Area-1 (R. Sound)
• The Floorfillers - Angellic (Rainwater Mix)