Peggy Gou

DJ Wiki: Peggy Gou

Wikipedia

Kim Min-ji (Korean: 김민지; born 3 July 1991), known as Peggy Gou ( PEG-ee GOO; 페기 구), is a South Korean DJ, singer, songwriter, fashion designer, and record producer based in Berlin, Germany. She has released seven EPs on record labels including Ninja Tune and Phonica. In 2019, she launched her own independent record label named Gudu Records, and released a DJ-Kicks compilation titled DJ-Kicks: Peggy Gou, through !k7 Records. Her debut album, I Hear You, was released on 7 June 2024 through XL Recordings.

Early life and education

Peggy Gou was born Kim Min-ji in Incheon, South Korea, on 3 July 1991. Her father, Kim Chang-yong, a former journalist, is a professor of mass communication at Inje University and standing commissioner of the Korea Communications Commission. Gou began classical piano lessons at age eight. At age 14, her parents sent her to London to study English in the UK. She moved back to Korea when she was 18 years old, but six months later she returned to London to study fashion at the London College of Fashion. After graduating, she worked as the London correspondent editor for Harper's Bazaar Korea, and then moved to Berlin, Germany.

Career

Gou was taught to DJ in 2009 by a friend from Korea. She had her first gig in Cirque Le Soir, Soho, and later performed weekly at The Book Club, East London. In 2013, she learned to use Ableton Live and began to create her own tracks. Her first track, "Hungboo", was completed in 2014. "Hungboo" was named for the hero of a Korean fairy tale. She played the track in Korea for the first time at the 2016 Style Icon Awards opening show, featuring award-winning actor Yoo Ah-in in a visual art video. Gou made her recording debut in January 2016 on Radio Slave's Rekids label with The Art of War Part 1, featuring a remix from Galcher Lustwerk. She next released four EPs including Seek for Maktoop, with hit track "It Makes You Forget (Itgehane)". Maktoop was named after the Arabic word "maktoob", the equivalent to "written" or "destiny". This was followed by the EPs Once in 2018, and Moment in April 2019. Once is the first time she has sung on a record. In 2017, Gou embarked on her first North American tour and made her Boiler Room debut in New York City.