Peggy Gou discusses sexism and career milestones

South Korean-born DJ and producer Peggy Gou has spoken about challenges she faced within the music industry, including sexism. She told The Standard that some individuals "wanted me to look pretty. They didn't want to talk to me about music."

Gou, who has achieved global recognition for her house and techno music, claims several significant career firsts. She stated she was the first Korean DJ to play at the renowned Berlin club Berghain. Additionally, she said she was the first female DJ to headline the Park Stage at Glastonbury Festival.

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Her journey to international fame began after moving from South Korea. Gou spent her teenage years in Croydon, London, a period she described as formative. "I had to toughen up to live there, you know," she told The Standard. "I came from Korea, I couldn’t speak any English. I could’ve easily been bullied or not accepted."

Discovering London's Music Scene

After a brief return to South Korea, where she learned basic beat-matching, Gou returned to London to study at the London College of Fashion. It was during this time that she discovered London's clubbing scene and developed a strong interest in house music. She frequented venues such as Cirque Le Soir, Fabric, Corsica Studios, and Plastic People.

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She began collecting records from Phonica Records in Soho and started DJing at The Book Club in Shoreditch. Gou reflected on these early experiences, telling The Standard, "All of these experiences in London made me who I am today."

Gou's track (It Goes Like) Nanana achieved UK top five success, bringing her music to a wider audience. She noted the surreal experience of hearing both young and older people singing her song, stating, "I’ve never had a hit like that before."

Career Ambitions and Family Support

At the age of 21, Gou left a graduate job to pursue music in Berlin. This decision was met with some resistance from her family, particularly her father. She recounted promising her parents that if she could not succeed in Berlin, she would abandon her music career and repay any financial support they had provided.

She told The Standard, "I make jokes to him now: ‘Dad, if I was still listening to you, I would never have been Peggy Gou. I would be a doctor somewhere in Korea.’" Gou has since built a significant international career, with nearly nine million monthly listeners on Spotify and collaborations with artists like Kylie Minogue.