Gabrielle Kwarteng FAULT Magazine Issue 32 Photoshoot and Interview Preview
Set and Shoes: Iden
Gabrielle Kwarteng x FAULT Magazine
Photography: Cris Cerdeira
Styling + Creative Direction: Esteban Pomar
Makeup + Hair: Olivia Nwachukwu
Retouch: Macarena Ibsen
Video: Victor Almendra
Assistant: Cristobal Weber
Location: CIC Berlin
For Gabrielle Kwarteng, the art of DJing transcends simply picking the next track. At 33 years old, the New York native has garnered global acclaim for her masterful ability to navigate the vast music spectrum. From house to techno, Gabrielle Kwarteng crafts sets that are as much about storytelling and emotion as they are about sound—a signature style that continues to captivate audiences across the globe.
As 2025 approaches, she’s preparing to return to her roots with a residency on NTS Radio, bringing her journey full circle and back to her first love: the radio.
We caught up with Gabrielle Kwarteng to explore her creative journey, her unique ethos, and, of course, her FAULTs.
Sunglasses: Mugler x Gentle
Monster
Shoes: Studio Majere
FAULT MAGAZINE ISSUE 32 – Ft GABRIELLE KWARTENG IS AVAILABLE TO PRE-ORDER NOW
What motivated you to become a DJ in the first place?
It happened quite organically. Since adolescence, I loved sharing music. In grade school, I would gift CDs to friends; by high school, I was consuming music much more deeply. Being part of the campus radio station was pivotal when I attended college in upstate New York. I began sharing music more intentionally and learned the basics of DJing in a structured way, rather than just playing songs off my iPod.
I started getting positive feedback from locals and my professors – that encouragement made me want to keep doing it, but just as a hobby. Coming from a West African immigrant background, becoming a DJ didn’t seem like an acceptable career path. It wasn’t until around 2015, a few years after graduating and returning to New York City, that I reconsidered. One day, a friend asked me to play at a fashion event. I was so nervous and said, “I’m not a DJ,” but she replied, “You are to me.” That encouragement pushed me to go for it, even though I hadn’t considered myself to be a professional DJ at the time
That event was a turning point. It helped me shake off the nerves of performing for strangers, as up until then, I had only played for friends or on the radio, where I was somewhat hidden from my audience.
Do you have plans to release non-live projects or EPs in 2025?
I used to feel like if I wasn’t releasing original music I wasn’t fulfilling a side of my artistry, but I don’t feel that pressure anymore. I haven’t closed the door on it—it’s more about timing. Right now, for 2025 I just landed an NTS Radio residency starting in January. I’ve taken a backseat when it comes to radio in recent years, but it played a foundational role in my career, so I’m excited to return to it in a big way next year.
Does your return to radio feel like a full-circle moment?
It absolutely does. Whenever I return to New York, and have time to, I swing by The Lot Radio and record guest shows there because it brings me back to that feeling of having no audience pressure and it’s just you and the decks and a microphone.
What is your FAULT?
I am working on it but I’d say being a perfectionist. I think it’s because I care so much when I’m sharing something with another person. Perfectionism truly shouldn’t exist, because there’s so much beauty in imperfection