In Conversation with Shenin Amara
- Valentina Reynolds
- 6 days ago
- 3 min read
For over a decade, Shenin Amara has been part of the machinery driving London’s underground house scene. Hackney, East London, his work stretches beyond the booth, shaping dance floors through both the records he plays and the events he builds.
As the mind behind House Passion, The Asylum, One Dance Festival, Spiritual and Back To 2012 Deep House Classics, Shenin has consistently drawn crowds to some of London’s most respected venues. His sets carry a recognisable rhythm. Groovy, tech-driven beats, rolling basslines and vocal-led house that keeps the energy moving from the first track to the last.
Alongside his work behind the decks, Shenin has also been steadily building a catalogue of releases, with support from major DJs and radio platforms, including his remix of Azari & III’s Reckless With Your Love on Virgin EMI.
In this conversation, Shenin Amara reflects on his role in London’s house ecosystem, the evolution of the underground scene, and the mindset required to keep dance floors moving year after year.
You’ve been involved in London’s underground house scene for over a decade. What first pulled you into house music, and what kept you committed to it over the years?
Before playing house music I was a fan of the genre but it wasn’t my lane for audience at the time. So when my crowd started flocking to house (around 2010/2011 times) it was an ideal for me to pursue. Music has always been the centre of my life from an early age and because I’ve been lucky enough to make a career from it, I’ve always been naturally driven.
Your sound often mixes groovy basslines, tech-driven rhythms and strong vocals. How would you describe the musical identity you’ve built as a DJ and producer?
My genre of house has often been described energetic. The use of vocal samples or acapellas on a third deck whilst mixing allows me to introduce deeper grooves to my audience.
You’re not just playing shows, you’re also building events through platforms like House Passion and The Asylum. What inspired you to start creating your own spaces for the music?
I started DJing on pirate radio where you didn’t get paid, so the main way to monetise your following would be to organise events. In the early days it would only be DJs on radio who would put on events, very different to today’s market.
London has always had a strong club culture, but it’s constantly evolving. From your perspective, how has the underground house scene changed over the last decade?
The two things that have impacted the London Underground house scene over the last decade have been gentrification and social media:
Gentrification has led to a huge increase in expensive residential developments in inner London. The huge influx of more affluent residents in places that were huge hubs for night life have resulted in many night clubs closing.
Social media platforms like tiktok have become big platforms where music is broken, DJs / producers are discovered. This can be a positive as upcoming producers can release on DSPs without big labels but also, agents snap up new talent and they move onto big shows without going through the underground club scene first.
Your remix of Azari & III’s Reckless With Your Love received support from major DJs and radio platforms. How important is that type of recognition when building momentum as a producer?
Remixing such a legendary track was a big moment. These sorts of achievements assist with industry recognition, which always helps when trying to get through the next door you’re trying to open.
What are you focused on next. Is it more releases, expanding your events, or pushing the Shenin Amara sound into new territories?
Producing and releasing more music is my main priority this year, balancing that with events and a busy DJ schedule can be hard, especially as I’m getting older.
In the last year, I’ve expanded some of my events into new territories, with successful events in Manchester, Birmingham, Norwich, and Amsterdam, Holland. The aim is to continue to more UK cities, maintaining my London events which is and will always be my core.
For Shenin Amara, house music isn’t just about individual sets or releases. It’s about building environments where the music can live properly. Through his productions, his events and the communities that gather around them, he’s spent the last decade helping shape the rhythm of London’s underground dance culture.
And if the packed dance floors and growing catalogue are anything to go by, Shenin Amara is still very much in the middle of that story.