You may have seen us mention this previously but just to bring you up to speed, the Back 2 Back Battle is a one-of-a-kind DJ competition that puts skill, creativity, and adaptability to the ultimate test. Run by Cat AKA Faded Society and Matter Of Time Studio, the event brings together some of the most exciting emerging DJs, pushing them to showcase their talent in high-energy head-to-head battles.
As proud supporters of the competition, and appreciators of the fine art of DJ culture, 1 More Thing sits down with the winners to share their stories. Last year, we caught up with The Cooke, who took home the title in 2024 (read the interview here). Now, with the latest battle wrapped up, we spoke to Shinzee, the newly crowned champion, about his rapid rise as a DJ, his inspirations, and what’s next.
We bagged a 1 More Mix from him, too. Get to know…
How did you find the Back 2 Back Battle? How was the experience for you?
It was an amazing experience. The concept itself is so unique—there’s nothing else quite like it. It brings that competitive edge, but at the same time, everyone’s there to have fun and showcase their skills.
Winning the battle was a real full-circle moment for me. I actually got into DJing by watching a YouTube series called Beats and Liquor, which had a similar back-to-back format. Two DJs would go head-to-head, and if their mix wasn’t great, they had to take a shot. I was hooked on that all summer in 2022, and it made me want to try DJing myself. So I bought a controller, started experimenting, and never looked back.
To go from watching DJ battles online to actually winning one in real life it’s a surreal feeling.
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The battle really showcases a mix of competition and collaboration, doesn’t it?
Yeah, exactly. Especially in the final round, where it’s tune for tune, you’ve got to hit hard with every selection, but it still needs to make sense musically. If you throw in something completely different, it can lose impact. You’re having a musical conversation with the other DJ, not just trying to overpower them.
The acapella round was another big moment for me. A lot of what I did wasn’t even planned—it just happened live. That’s one of the best things about DJing in front of an audience. No matter how much you practice, there are things you only learn by being in that moment, reading the crowd, and making quick decisions.
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You’ve only been DJing for a few years, right? How did you get started?
Yeah, it’s been just over two years since my first gig in January 2023. Before that, I was just learning on my own by watching YouTube videos. I actually only recently found out there are academies that teach DJing, I had no idea! But I’ve always been self-motivated, so I just kept practicing and figuring things out as I went.
I’ve also always been into music from different parts of the world—Moroccan, French, Brazilian mixed with genres such as old-school grime, so that influences my sets a lot. I love blending unexpected sounds, and I think that came through in the battle, especially when I used a Sean Paul acapella over grime instrumentals.
You’ve also been producing music. How did that start?
I started producing about six to eight months ago. I figured if I paid for software, I’d force myself to learn it properly! My first track was a blend of an old Desi sample and Brazilian funk. I didn’t know anything about mastering or mixing at the time—I just put it out and kept learning from there.
Since then, I’ve made around 12 or 13 tracks, and one of them is close to 10k plays on SoundCloud, which is wild. It doesn’t feel like it’s my best work, but it taught me that sometimes, you just have to put things out and let the audience decide what they connect with.
What’s next for you? Any gigs coming up?
I’ve got a gig with Bullies, a collective run by DJ Billy Beef, for an event called IpMovez in Stratford’s Orange Room. But apart from that, I’m taking things a bit more chill right now—I want to focus more on production. I haven’t really made anything since the new year, so I’m looking forward to sitting down, experimenting, and seeing where my sound goes next.
You’re also balancing all of this with a day job, right?
Yeah, I work as a data engineer for a tech company. It’s interesting, but I’d love to create something of my own one day—maybe an app or website, maybe even something DJ-related. But for now, DJing is how I unwind.
Looking ahead to the Back 2 Back finals in November, how are you preparing?
Good question—I haven’t fully thought about it yet! They might change the rounds, but if the acapella round comes back, I have a few ideas on how to take things a step further.
I’d love to incorporate more scratching since no one’s really done that in the battles yet. Also, as I keep developing my sound, I think my style will evolve naturally, so I’m excited to see where I’ll be in six to eight months.
Amazing! Thanks so much for chatting, and best of luck for the finals.
Thanks! Really appreciate it.
