BECCA / DJ Valks
Age:
33
Star Sign:
Capricorn (stellium hello)
Guide card:
Queen of Pentacles
Weapon of choice:
Decks
Talanoa Over the Tanoa
A Conversation with DJ Valks, Capricorn and Crowd Whisperer
One thing I can always count on with Becs is a spontaneous plan. From the day we connected online via Instagram DM, I knew she was an enigma. When we first met in person at the 2nd Your Shot meeting, I immediately felt we were going to be good friends, and I knew she’d be the first person I wanted on my project. Humble, funny, and a force of nature on the decks, Becca, or DJ Valks, embodies pure Capricorn energy.
On a sunny afternoon in her lush garden over the shore, surrounded by greenery and the subtle hum of nature, we settled over the tanoa for a talanoa. I mixed the yaqona and started a conversation over a shared space that felt equal parts reflective and celebratory. My concept is simple. Bless the bowls, mix the kava, open up the ceremony, shuffle the cards, and let the conversation flow.
I always ask my tarot recipients to choose which deck they are most drawn to. I do this because I want them to feel connected energetically to the reading. They are both spectator and active participant.
Today's chosen deck:
The Essential Tarot by Chloe Zarka Grinsnir
Stunningly captivating, mysterious, and dark. This deck holds a lot of energy, and to me, it is a perfect choice for a hardcore Capricorn.
Today's chosen tune:
1. Queen of Pentacles Takes the Stage
I choose her guide card and start shuffling while tuning into the energy I already know about Becca.
Queen of Pentacles: She is in her grounded era. She does not build from scratch; she refines her foundations and expands what she has already created. Boss shit.
PRSM: Because you are a Capricorn, I would say, when I watch you leading up to the actual set, there is a lot of preparation involved. And you are able to really hone in on your creative skills.
DJ Valks nodded, laughing softly.
DJ Valks: Yeah, I do not know why I freeze when anytime someone asks me a question. I am like, which way do I answer it?
At this point, our friend Ayla sings about somatic movement and shaking out energy. I assured her it was all good and continued, summing up Capricorn energy as it showed up in her DJing.
PRSM: I think of a Capricorn as someone super grounded. Big Daddy energy, ruled by Saturn, almost like Divine Masculine. Not saying you are masculine, but the energy is powerful. And when you DJ, I feel like it shows up that way. You are a force.
Her eyes lit up.
PRSM: I guess it could be why some guys are intimidated by you.
She laughed, and I continued shuffling the deck.
2. Growing Through Competitions: Reading the Crowd
The cards felt sticky...like there was energy sitting there, waiting to be worked through. Every pull resisted me a little, so I just kept shuffling, trying to find the moment where they’d finally work with me.
We shifted gears to her journey from competitions to playing as one of New Zealand’s top DJs with George FM.
DJ Valks: It is about knowing what the people are on that night. You could play a banger, number one or two hit, but you need to see how the crowd is feeling. Switch it up real quick. Play songs people know alongside ones no one knows. The key is finding the fine line between people asking for the track ID and also singing along.
She reflected on her early days at Pointers and how she has consistently pushed herself to get to where she is.
DJ Valks: I gotta show support to the places I played at earlier in my DJ days. Those venues believed in me when I was starting out, and giving back that energy has always been important.
I noted Becca’s social media presence (@DJ VALKS) and the intention behind her posts and stories, connecting with her growing fan base on a deeper, more personal level.
3. Tracks to Make People Feel Powerful
When asked about tracks that make people feel powerful, DJ Valks leaned in.
DJ Valks: It is the heavy basslines, tracks that are like 130–135 BPM. Punchy ones. It is about speed, getting people feeling top shit.
Her approach is both technical and intuitive.
DJ Valks: Tempo for me isn’t fixed. Even tech house can sit at a higher BPM depending on the moment and the crowd.
I drew a card at this point, the Knight of Swords, noting how it spoke to intellect and strategy. Her approach to music, like the card, blends professional savvy with instinct.
PRSM: You play a lot of 90s house hits too. That brings back some vibes, man.
DJ Valks: I like to ignite some nostalgia for people as well.
PRSM: Those are some core memories you have tapped into on the dance floor. And suddenly I am that seven-year-old in my childhood home kitchen helping mum make roti while watching her do TAE BO tapes. Those songs, they hit different, haha.
4. The Queen of Protecting Her Taste
As her audience grows, she is careful about sharing her exact playlists.
DJ Valks: I just want everyone to hear it, but I also have to be careful. I do not want people adopting my style. I spend hours finding tracks no one else would ever find. I can still be true to my style where I am not, like, selling out or playing too commercial.
She continued.
DJ Valks: I want to stay true to myself, but I also do not want the crowd to get bored if it is just all straight underground. Most crowds, they are not interested in that.
5. DJs as Emotional Translators
PRSM: Do you believe DJs are emotional translators?
DJ Valks: Yep, 100 percent. But only a few can actually do that. That is what sets some DJs apart.
She explained how freestyling and reading the dancefloor mattered more than just following a set.
DJ Valks: Sometimes you grab a friend’s USB last minute, you mix on the fly, trial and error, then you see people like it, you keep it going.
When keeping the crowd’s energy in mind, she followed up.
DJ Valks: You want to keep their energy for all the other DJs that are playing later too.
By this time, we were a few cups of kava in, and the Ace of Cups popped out of the deck.
PRSM: The key is balancing your power and emotion. You can read a crowd intellectually, but you must also be in charge of the emotional aspect. Give them joy, give them renewal. That is the overflowing cup. That is you on a night out.
6. Spaces for Nightlife
Valks has always been a keen advocate for more underground house spaces in Aotearoa.
DJ Valks: I would love a space where I can actually play what I want, not cater to the crowd.
She noted that open-deck events at places like Il Bruto are empowering for DJs as they create spaces for experimenting with new tracks and styles. This is great for testing edits on big sound systems to see how they translate live.
7. A Different Kind of Power
She reflected candidly on her journey.
DJ Valks: I spent a lot of time in my 20s working on my mental health. I did not have confidence, and I did not have the skills to cope. I had to do that work, and I feel like it's paying off. I now find myself speaking openly about mental health with my peers. I am finding that my confidence and emotional intelligence are now coming out through DJing.
As her profile continues to grow, so does the noise that comes with it. Becca is learning that having your name in people's mouths is part of the territory, but rather than feeding into drama, she chooses positivity, protects her peace, and lets her work speak for itself.
8. The Feeling She Hopes to Leave Behind
Finally, we talked about the legacy of her sets.
DJ Valks: I want them, the audience, to be like, Damn, I want to see her again. I want them addicted to the feeling I give them. Even if they do not see me, they know it is me from my signature style and my track selection. The DJ Valks sound.
I found that to be true from the most recent gig I attended. I was sitting at the bar and heard a set that sounded familiar. I immediately clicked that she had already begun her set and b-lined straight to the dance floor.
I pulled the last two cards, The Star and Seven of Wands.
PRSM: Haha, what a perfect ending duo to pop out.
Cards reflecting her trajectory and her position as a rising force in New Zealand’s music scene. DJ Valks uses her understanding of pain to translate grooves on the dancefloor. She commands the crowd with full boss babe energy.
And with that, I concluded the ceremony.
Vinaka to the team for following out. Vinaka to the land for blessing us abundantly. Thank you Becca for your time. Vinaka Nathan for capturing the gorgeous photos.
Stay tuned for our next interview coming out in the following Quarter.
Logging out. Moce.
