Meet Tanfa | DJ & Music Producer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Tanfa and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Tanfa, the decisions we make often shape our story in profound ways. What was one of the most difficult decisions you’ve had to make?
Honestly, moving to the States and being away from my family was one of the hardest things I’ve ever done. It really hit me when I got here, but they’ve always had my back in the best way they could. I think about them every single day — they’re the reason I keep going.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I actually got into music through breakdancing. When I was 13, I joined this B-boy club in high school — we’d practice every day after class and hit battles on the weekends. But honestly, I was never fully satisfied with just dancing or the hype of battling. Looking back, I think I was more into choosing the songs and skipping to the parts I liked every time I practiced. If you know bTunes 720, you know that was the shit back then. At one battle, I got the chance to mess around on some DJ decks, and the second I touched them, I knew this was way more exciting for me. After that, I just thought it was way more fun, so every weekend I’d go to the local shop and mix a few songs on their CDJs. I wouldn’t say I ever got into full-on turntablism until recently, but back then, mixing tracks just gave me a lot of joy.

I really started making music around 2019, just cranking out a bunch of remixes. Mostly EDM stuff — trap, jersey club, baile funk, house, techno — I was experimenting with everything. Some of those remixes started getting support from big DJs, and that opened a lot of doors — I ended up playing big clubs in Thailand and even went to Japan for a show. Honestly, I never imagined any of that could happen to me. There were definitely ups and downs, but back then, I just kept grinding, making music, and hoping for the best. Getting the ICON Collective x SLANDER scholarship was unreal — it really took me to a whole new level and gave me opportunities I never even imagined.

Right now, what really excites me is making my own original music. I’ve stepped back from doing remixes to focus fully on my originals and really figure out my own sound and style. I realized a lot of my inspiration actually comes from back in high school — I was always listening to old-school American hip hop, breakdance music, R&B, and early-2000s EDM pop. That’s kind of what I’ve been doing with my tracks dancefloor and RUSH — taking my influences and turning them into something fresh, my own thing.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
I haven’t been in LA for too long, but if my Thai friends came to visit, the first stop would definitely be In-N-Out. Can’t skip the burgers and fries. After that, we’d head up to Griffith Observatory to check out the views of the city and then wrap up the day with a chill dinner at The Green Room.

On the second day, we’d start with brunch at The Americana—grab some coffee, maybe walk around the shops a bit—and then spend the afternoon hitting up Melrose Avenue for vintage shopping. There’s always something fun to find, from retro clothes to cool accessories.

The next day, we would be all about Hollywood. We could check out the El Capitan Theatre or the Chinese Theatre, walk along the Walk of Fame, and make a stop at Amoeba Music. That place is massive, and it’s fun just to browse all the records and posters.

For day four, we’d head to Lake Hollywood Park for a closer look at the Hollywood Sign, then swing by Paramount Studios. It’s cool to see how some of the movies and shows are made, even just walking around the lot.

Day five would be beach day. Breakfast on Montana Avenue in Santa Monica, then head down to the pier for the rides and the view. After that, we’d check out Muscle Beach and then make our way to Venice Beach—walk the boardwalk, see the skatepark, and just hang out by the ocean. Ending the day watching the sunset would be perfect.

On the sixth day, we’d grab brunch at The Grove, then spend the afternoon at Universal Studios Hollywood. Plenty of rides and shows to keep it fun, even if it’s just for a few hours. For the last night, I’d take everyone to Desert 5 Spot and invite my LA friends to come through—it’d be a good way to end the trip with everyone together.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
First of all, none of this would have been possible without my parents. And honestly, huge shoutout to my mentor 22Bullets — I respect him so much, not just ‘cause he’s Thai like me, but ‘cause he’s really pushing our culture to the next level. Seeing him hit DJ Mag’s Top 100 keeps me inspired every day to rep Thailand the same way. And of course, big love to SLANDER and ICON Collective for giving me this shot out here in the States. Being here has made me grow so much as an artist and as a person, and I’m super grateful for that.

Website: https://linktr.ee/tanfa

Instagram: https://instagram.com/tanfamusic

Soundcloud: https://www.soundcloud.com/tanfa

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@tanfa

Other: https://open.spotify.com/artist/6Oi1JYcraVSnmBOnclYeNY?si=3EYG5lENRzi60MhSN2a66g

Image Credits
Thailand: Panuwat Wiriya (@actionvip)
Thailand: Chanon Lekwongderm
Japan: Shohei Kikuhara (@kkswh)