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Andrew Makadsi, a visionary artist and creative director for Beyoncé’s Parkwood Entertainment, is celebrated for his bold visual storytelling and innovative approach to art and fashion. Born in Lebanon, Makadsi blends multicultural influences with provocative themes. In this podcast for Pornceptual, we prepare for his first set in Berlin at PRNCPTL @ ELSE this weekend.
The series is presented by Rakans: Beirut-born and Berlin-based, Rakans, founder of the Queer collective Rawmantique. He is also a Pornceptual resident. Rakans not only curates the podcast series but also conducts interviews with participating artists.
RAKANS: Bonjour sibling!! This is a very special interview with you that I’ve been waiting for forever. First and foremost, please share with us your pronouns? & your favorite record?
MAKADSI: Bonjourayn! My pronouns are he/him. My favorite record constantly changes but Elissa’s Ayshalak lives forever in my soul.
RAKANS: Addressing the elephant in the room, How does it feel to be the Creative Director of Beyonce’s latest works such as Renaissance & Cowboy Carter? Give us an insight into that side of your world!
MAKADSI: It’s an honour of a lifetime. The NDeeeAyyyy is thique hun, I can’t say nothing.
RAKANS: Makadsi!!, You’ve been making waves in the electronic scene since 2021 (and probably before), since the start of BK based Function. Your first edition was with Dee Diggs & Davie Jones. How did things lead up to the birth of function? And what inspired you into DJing?
MAKADSI: I grew up around a musical family. My grandfather would always sing during our Sunday family lunches, he had such a strong beautiful voice. My dad got his father’s vocal cords and also had a natural musical ear. He would play any instrument without knowing how to read any notes. He would spend every other day playing on his keyboards for hours. Growing up around that made me understand the power of music.
I had to learn how to express myself through music. DJing helped me make sense of so much music theory that felt abstract. I could go on and on talking about what inspired me to DJ. Another moment I remember that triggered my appetite for this craft was in Paris. I went to a rave and heard the most beautiful Zammour in a techno set. I realised then the beauty of constructing your identity through blending music.
Pre-lockdown, my friends and I would throw our own intimate house / rooftop parties in NY. With the freedom to play whatever we wanted, it allowed us to break out of the genre jail. We kept the asses shaking on the dance floor and the runways pumping through. During the pandemic we missed that aspect of living in NY and couldn’t wait to get back on the dance floors. When the world started to open in summer 2021, our friends started asking us to throw our rooftop party again, at that point we didn’t want to be home, we wanted to be OUTSIDE. My Function founding partner George and I followed our intuition and threw the first Function on NY Pride 2021. It’s been 3 years since then. We’ve cultivated a special dance floor and created our musical identity with our special lineups.
RAKANS: You’re a proud Lebanese, and I was born & lived there most of my life, we could agree that Lebanon is a piece of heaven on earth! Do you think having an “identity” is important in the music industry? And how do you affirm your “unique qualities” being perceived as middle eastern?
MAKADSI: I’m actually answering your questions from Beirut’s airport right now! How special. Some people value authenticity over aesthetics and some care purely and mostly about the latter. With the rise of the streaming and digital platforms authenticity is key to differentiate you from the infinite pool of artists. Synthetic identity and trend driven aesthetics are not sustainable. Intention and honesty are key to constructing one’s musical and artistic identity. As a DJ, tapping into my Middle Eastern culture and blending it with my NY upbringing brought these 2 worlds together. The intersection helped me as a person to puzzle my complex identity and affirm my musical direction to make it what it is.
RAKANS: Your family name is MAKADSI, which is also your DJ name. What does Makadsi mean (also on a personal level)?
MAKADSI: For work, my great grandparents organized pilgrimage trips to Jesus’ grave in القدس (Jerusalem) on horse carriages. They were given the Makadsi last name as a result. It’s very important in our culture to carry the legacy of our family name, by passing it to our children. As of now I don’t have any plans to do that because I don’t want to have my own children. I chose to carry the legacy in a new way so it’s not forgotten. I chose to use my last name as my DJ name to do my part (it’s my way of telling my parents to leave me alone). If you’re not familiar with the story of Beyoncé’s name I’d recommend looking into it, it’s a beautiful story.
RAKANS: There’s a lot to say, but what would your advice to the younger generation that’s thirsty for difference and change be?
MAKADSI: Be the change you want to see in the world. Don’t be afraid to make mistakes and experiment on your own terms. Take time to find your intention, it will be the fuel to power your brain and soul. Focus on your emotional growth as much as you focus on your career growth. Do your research and learn from your herstory, the more you know the more power you’ll have to break barriers and bring change. Decolonize your mind and unlearn the bs and all the propaganda the west have been shoving down our throats. You’re the hope we got, keep on dancing.
RAKANS: Our PRNCPTL team loves you and can’t wait to dance with you in Berlin’s at Else this weekend!
MAKADSI: I can’t wait to be with you! By the way, PRNCPTL was one of the first underground parties i went to in Brooklyn (I believe in 2016?) this is beautiful full circle moment for me.
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