Chloe MooreChloe Moore speaks to Cork-based DJ Forrest about finding his sound, navigating the dancefloor and taking his creative practice from architecture to the booth.
Hailing from Cork’s Rebel County, Forrest is a high-energy selector bringing his distinctive blend of techno, hardgroove and infectious dance rhythms to floors across Ireland and beyond. In a scene often shaped by passing trends and increasingly polished aesthetics, Forrest has carved out a sound rooted in movement, soul and a genuine connection with the dancefloor. Combining driving techno with soulful hardgroove and vibrant, rhythm-led selections, his sets balance intensity with an instinctive sense of groove.
After establishing himself as a rising talent in Cork’s electronic music community, Forrest has steadily taken his sound further afield. Years behind the decks have brought him to venues across Ireland, Europe and Asia, marking his progression from a promising local selector to an artist with an increasingly international presence.
Fresh from a transformative stint in Austria, Forrest now returns home with sharpened technical skills, a more refined sonic palette and a renewed creative direction. As he begins this next chapter, he brings with him a broader perspective while remaining firmly connected to the energy and character of the Rebel County.
For readers discovering you for the first time, how would you introduce yourself?
I am a Cork-based DJ bringing you a blend of driving techno, soulful hardgroove and dance rhythms sure to get you moving. With a background in architecture and barbering, my sets are centred around composition and quality while remaining open and accessible for all to enjoy.
What first drew you to DJing, and was there a particular set, track or night that made you want to take it seriously?
For me, it was a culmination of a couple of key gigs in my teens. Mostly, however, I remember leaving Longitude after seeing BLK in 22’. I was keen to get to experience shows from the perspective of the stage. And that was either by knowing the DJ or, more importantly, being the DJ.
How would you describe your sound to someone who has never experienced one of your sets?
They can take you off the beaten track. My sets are structured around infectious dance with blends of soulful hard groove. Bringing you in with songs you may know and making you stay with songs you want to know.
When you step behind the decks, how do you balance reading the room with staying true to your own musical identity?
For me, it’s all about finding a happy medium. By playing tracks I enjoy that get a foot in the door and then incrementally introducing some lesser-known pieces from my library, I please myself while bringing the listener along for the journey
What does your preparation look like before a show, and how much of the final set is instinctive once you are in front of a crowd?
Though I’m not a huge “house head,” I take some inspiration from Josh Baker when it comes to set prep. I usually work with three playlists: A, B and C. Playlist A would, in theory, be a perfect start-to-finish set. But things are never quite that simple, so Playlist B is there as a set of tools to pull the energy back if needed, while Playlist C is there to ramp things up. I’ll always throw in other tracks as I go, too, if I feel like a certain song would work well in the moment.
Is there a track that has become a signature moment in your sets, or one that consistently transforms the energy in the room?
For me, it has got to be Leon Vera’s – Dancin. The Original was a song I had on repeat in my early years of secondary school. As this remix bridges the gap in time between now and then, I can’t not share it. A truly infectious tune!
Your rooftop mix series gives each set a strong sense of place as well as sound. What inspired the concept, and how do you choose the locations, music and atmosphere for each instalment?
Realising I had access to the roof of my student accommodation while on Erasmus meant I could make something more out of my stint away. I wanted each set to be reflective of the weather and how I was feeling at the time. A simple sunset called for some of my favourite hard house, a sky-pink sunrise felt like trance at a rave in the early hours of the morning, and the set in the snow outside a train station felt cold, dark and heavy.
Alongside DJing, you run projects spanning barbering and architectural design. What connects those different creative disciplines for you?
DJing has served as an outlet for me. Once a 12-hour day of design for architecture is done and I’ve cut a few heads, I can keep that creative part of my mind switched on and exercised, but it doesn’t feel labouring. I have identified many patterns behind the design of a building, shaping of a haircut and structuring a set. Though all different at a glance, they are all connected for me.
How do you manage the practical demands of running multiple projects while continuing to develop your identity as a DJ?
Time management is key, and with college taking priority, my outlook is that the more I do in here, the more I can do outside of here. So I use my time effectively while in the design studio so that I can free up my evenings and weekends to cut friends’ hair and practice mixing in my home studio. I leverage currently being a student and having a presence in the college scene to benefit my name as a DJ.
Do you see these projects remaining independent, or is the long-term ambition to bring music, design and personal style together under one larger creative vision?
Though I think architecture might be the foundation for me, I see it paving the way for my interests in DJing and barbering to be more fully expressed. Renovating and designing a barbershop and nightclub is something I hope to do down the line. Using my background in design and interest in these subjects, I aim to amalgamate them all.
Looking ahead, what would an ideal next chapter involve for you – new projects, original music, bigger stages or something people would not expect?
Though I don’t want to say too much, event curation and promotion is something I’m looking keenly toward and want to be at the forefront of it here down south. A bold claim I know. As well as that, when time opens up for me after my studies, production and the long road to my own original music is certainly on the hit list.
