I STARTED OUT AT SEPTIME

WHO ARE YOU, AND WHAT DO YOU DO IN ONE SENTENCE?

Hi, I’m Flo. I’m a young entrepreneur based in Paris. You might catch me producing an event with Phamily First, running a Root.s party, or behind the decks as DJ FTA.

HOW DID YOU START IN THIS INDUSTRY?

I work across two different but deeply connected worlds: food & beverage and music. On the food side, I started at Septime, where I learned about the restaurant scene and the natural wine industry. Not long after, I met Julien Pham, through whom I discovered the world of pop-ups and private dinners. On the music side, I co-founded Root.s with childhood friends, born from the desire to create events that reflected who we are and our vision of musical and cultural diversity.

WHAT DOES A TYPICAL WEEK LOOK LIKE FOR YOU?

Honestly, there’s no such thing as a “typical week” for me, but it usually includes a mix of side-job shifts on Mondays and Tuesdays, Zoom calls with my Phamily First or Root.s teams, and time with friends. Whether that’s PlayStation sessions, meals with my mom and little sister, or a glass of natural wine with my brother Derrick. In between, I’m planning upcoming events, working on music and mixes, and eating out at my favourite spots in Paris.

WHAT’S THE BEST ADVICE YOU’VE EVER RECEIVED?

To believe in myself and in my people. To do things for us, because no one else will do it in our place. Shout out to my big brother Thomas Ruiz and Parifornie, who really inspire me.

WHO DO YOU LOOK UP TO CAREER-WISE?

It’s a tie between Julien Pham and Thomas Ruiz. Both are people who succeed not only professionally but also in their personal lives, and that’s something I find super inspiring.

HOW WAS YOUR JOURNEY OF FINDING YOUR CREATIVE SOUND? WHAT INFLUENCED THE SHAPING OF IT THE MOST?

I was naturally influenced by the music I grew up around and by my cultural roots. US rap and Afro-Caribbean music were my foundation, though I’ve always listened to a bit of everything. By the time I started DJing, I was getting deeper into electronic music. One of my biggest influences will always be Daft Punk. I remember being 11 years old, begging my mom to let me go see them at their Alive 2007 show in Bercy. It didn’t happen, but it left a mark.

WHEN YOU STARTED ROOT.S, WHAT GAP IN THE CULTURAL OR NIGHTLIFE LANDSCAPE DID YOU FEEL NEEDED TO BE FILLED?

Back in 2021, with my friends, we felt the scene was too segmented. RnB here, rap there, techno somewhere else. We wanted to create more plural nights, bringing real musical diversity together in the same event.

WERE THERE ANY CHALLENGES OR LESSONS EARLY ON THAT SHAPED HOW YOU RUN ROOT.S TODAY?

Definitely. The hardest part was working with very close friends, who I still consider like brothers. We went through disagreements and different visions, but always with respect and loyalty. Now the challenges are different: the team has grown, and the hardest part is building cohesion so we can move forward together.

WHAT MISCONCEPTIONS DO YOU FREQUENTLY ENCOUNTER REGARDING BEING A DJ AND A CREATOR WITHIN THE UNDERGROUND MUSIC SCENE?

I’d say a lot of people think it’s an easy job. It instantly brings visibility, social media fame, and money. But in reality, the path is full of obstacles, setbacks, and struggles. Many also think they can just “sell out” an event easily, but the truth is, standing out in this game is really tough.

WHAT LESSONS HAVE YOU LEARNED ABOUT SELF-PROMOTION AND VISIBILITY AS A DJ AND ENTREPRENEUR?

I’m still learning, but one thing is clear: image is everything today. You’ve got to build on it to attract and inspire people. I’ve also realised things move super fast, you need to stay consistent to keep up. And that’s not always easy.

WHAT’S BEEN THE TOUGHEST BARRIER IN GETTING RECOGNITION OR BOOKINGS IN SUCH A COMPETITIVE INDUSTRY?

I’m not actively chasing bookings yet, but I’m lucky to have a network that gives me visibility, which has helped me land a good number of gigs already. That said, the biggest barrier for me is still the image. Sometimes it feels like your follower count matters more than your actual artistic vision or authenticity.

HAVE YOU DONE ANY COMPROMISES TO GROW IN THE INDUSTRY, AND HOW DO YOU DECIDE WHERE TO DRAW THE LINE?

Honestly, none so far. I’ve been lucky enough to work only with people who inspire me or who I genuinely like. The human factor is my main filter. My limit is clear: if I don’t vibe with someone, or if I know their behaviour goes against my values, then I’m out.

FOR EMERGING ARTISTS AND DJS NAVIGATING THE SCENE NOW, WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE?

Believe in yourself. Invest in yourself. Work on your image. And most importantly, stay humble.

If you want to know more about Flo, give him a follow on Instagram