Who better to know about London nightlife than someone who’s really in the thick of it?
MDZA is an emerging electronic music artist and nightlife promoter whose recent work has been gaining attention in the underground and digital music scenes.
In 2025, MDZA released the three-track single Clubrat, showcasing an experimental electronic sound that blends dance energy with atmospheric textures.
A graduate of London Metropolitan University, she has been working the club circuit for years, behind bars, on the doors and running her own collaborative nights. “Parties are always about people,” she said.
“I think there is less involvement with the London nightlife scene now. I think people are starting to feel an economic pressure, not only because of the economic crisis but also the pressure and drive of capitalism […] People feel the responsibility to prioritise work and career advancement over pleasure and connection.”
Speaking at the London Met Journalism panel event London Nights: Don’t Turn Out the Lights, MDZA talked about the culture of sanitisation and commercialisation that, paired with gentrification, plagues nightlife in London. As wealthier people and families move into areas with a rich nightlife history, like Dalston or Hackney Wick, they start to complain about the noise from venues that have been at their locations for years.
Drawing on her time working at Dalston Superstore, she spoke about the friction that has emerged as new residents move into the area and object to the noise from the East London queer club, which has been part of the neighbourhood for 15 years. “Why would you move into the busiest area of Hackney and complain about noise?” she asked.
Behind the bar, MDZA knows what safety really looks like. She says that she started working at the clubs right after the period called the ‘Hackney spiking crisis’. Bartenders are key to prevent it.
“We’re trained to spot the signs of spiking, to know exactly how to react, and what to do next,” she says, drawing on years of experience. For her, it all comes down to education – there need to be more honest conversations about consent and boundaries, so everyone can enjoy a night out without fear.
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