Let’s Be Friends celebrates the people who shape the dance music community. Each month, Pretty Gay Friendly brings a mix of music and conversation, highlighting DJs, promoters, and organizers who create spaces for connection and belonging.

The show focuses on sharing stories, building friendships, and recognising the people who make the dancefloor feel like home. Guided by the same warmth and floor-driven sensibility that defines his DJ sets, the aim is to foster inclusion, connection, and the joy of bringing people together.

This month on Let’s Be Friends, I’m joined by Maxim ESL, a selector whose connection to the dancefloor is felt in every record he plays.

With a deep love for dance music and a commitment to the craft of vinyl DJing, Maxim approaches his sets with care, patience, and an ear for rhythm that keeps bodies moving and the room locked in together. I’m excited to spend some time talking about the role of movement, listening, and community in shaping his sound.

Moscow born, LA-based Maxim ESL delivers a vinyl set of classic house with a dancer’s sensibility – warm, rhythmic and made for the movement.