Brazilian street rhythm DJ NenaHalena heads to London for...

EMERGING from the north-west of England in the mid ’90s, NenaHalena became an influential figure in the electronic music scene under a variety of guises. With a deep passion for Brazilian street rhythms, NenaHalena - real name Neil Barber - has since evolved both as a performer and a producer over the last decade. He honed his craft and has become renowned as both a percussionist and a DJ alongside an impeccable array of music that he has produced or sprinkled his magic on as an engineer for other artists.

Image Credit: The Sun [DJ performing at a concert.]

The One Tribe resident lands in London next Friday February 14, completing a world tour where he has showcased his Afro-Brazilian electronic sound across four continents. The show, alongside One Tribe boss AMÉMÉ, at London’s Village Underground promises to bring carnival vibes to the capital. We caught up with NenaHalena this week for an in-depth chat. He also recorded an exclusive mix for The Night Bazaar Sessions which you can listen to HERE.

Image Credit: The Sun [Man in blue robe with gold pattern, hands in prayer position.]

You've worked in the industry for over two decades and masqueraded under numerous aliases before arriving in our consciousness as NenaHalena a few years ago. How did all of those experiences help you achieve the satisfaction you now have as both as a DJ and producer?. I’ve always loved making music and I've always loved performing. In the pursuit of this happiness I became really good at it. Naturally people then wanted to pay me, both for shows, but also to help produce their music.

Image Credit: The Sun [DJ performing at a nighttime outdoor concert for a large crowd.]

This became my main source of income allowing me to focus solely on a musical life. Be it learning lots of different instruments, honing my audio engineering skills, and of course DJing and collecting music. What you are seeing now is a natural culmination of all of these attributes. Music production, audio engineering, DJing, live performance. All a discipline in their own right - but together it’s a full feedback cycle, which I love riding!.

Image Credit: The Sun [DJ performing at a dark venue.]

For those who have yet to experience a DJ set from NenaHalena, can you describe what they might expect?. I DJ while I drum. You could refer to it as a Hybrid-Live show. I use an electronic drum pad (Roland HPD-20) which I can dial-up 100s of different sounds to compliment the music which I play. My music style is routed in rhythm. I have a background in Brazilian street rhythms (think Rio Carnival). When I’m performing, you'll see me burning a lot of energy into the drum which hypes up the energy in the space.

Image Credit: The Sun [DJ performing at a nighttime event.]

It’s such a simple concept, yet triggers a huge primal response on the dance floor. I think also, it’s great for people to see something actually happening in the DJ booth - as opposed to someone wearing headphones and waving their arms every so often. What have been your stand out shows as NenaHalena?. Akasha, Ibiza last year - The Sound System was the clearest and most comfortable system I’ve played on for a while, in this environment everything flows.

Image Credit: The Sun [Two people embracing.]

I’m in full creative control without thought. Just enjoying every moment. This transfers to crowd energy almost instantly too. Another highlight from last year was the One Tribe Records Showcase, on a moving train in Amsterdam run by the 50Hertz Experience. During the Amsterdam Dance Event in October a new event series was launched to take passengers on a 4-hour long tour around Holland. The train was fully installed with sound and light systems, bars and even a chill out carriage.

Image Credit: The Sun [DJ performing at a crowded outdoor nightclub.]

No one knew quite what to expect as we stepped onboard. But from the first beat until the last, the energy and vibe was outstanding. We’re excited to do it again this year. You have just returned from Mexico, one of your favourite places to play, alongside other exotic locations such as India. What do you love about playing there and why has NenaHalena been so warmly embraced in these territories?. What you find in territories such as India and Central/South Americas, Africas and the Middle East is their strong bonds to percussion in their music, it’s in their cultural heritage.

Percussion in all of its many forms is featured forefront, whereas, in western/European sounds, percussion has traditionally played more of a supportive role. So when I’m on stage working my drum, I believe it just taps right into this DNA and flicks on that primal switch. Talk us through some of the standout releases you have coming up. We are particularly looking forward to your collaboration with AMÉMÉ and your releases on Get Physical and Black Book Records.

It can be difficult to keep a consistent release pipeline together, especially when factoring in touring plus my Co-Production & Engineering work. But I’ve been working tirelessly throughout 2024 to hit 2025 with a regular flow of music. I’m excited to share it all with the world. First up on February 21 is a collaboration with South Africa’s Stones And Bones, with a track Called Abo Malume. It’s a powerful tune which is as comfortable in a tightly packed club room as it is in a massive stadium. Look out for it on Ulu Records.