“This mix would fit perfectly at the Johannesburg Pride celebration,” South African DJ-producer DESIREE tells Apple Music of her jubilant Pride DJ mix, inspired in part by freedoms enjoyed in her home country. “Although there’s still a lot of work to be done, South Africa has one of the best constitutions in the world, which affords the LGBTQI+ community freedoms unheard of in many parts of the world. That is something which can be celebrated with this joyous and percussively intricate mix that aligns with our intrinsic sense of rhythm as Africans.” The mix is stacked with local talent like Problem Child Ten83, Dlala Thukzin, Chronical Deep, Atmos Blaq and Nastee Nev, along with DESIREE’s own “Femme”, a pulsing example of the Afro-house sound that originated in South Africa. The mix also showcases house and deep house from Italy, France, Sweden and Zimbabwe. Reflecting on Pride as a whole, DESIREE celebrates the community but would love to see the intersex designation included more often. “Most times, the ‘I’ for Intersex is omitted from the community abbreviation,” she says. “As an intersex woman, I find this to be sad, as myself and other intersex people feel left out of a community which resonates with us and shares similar struggles.” Still, she remains hopeful, and points to the mix’s closing track as a particularly triumphant note. “My remix of ‘Pussy Power’ by Keinemusik features the amazing vocalist Nomi Ruiz, who is a proud transgender woman,” she says. “So basically the song is crafted by a transgender woman and myself, an intersex woman.”