Originally from Sabah, Borneo, and now rooted in Tāmaki Makaurau’s underground, Cellphii is THE emerging DJ and producer carving out a sound that feels natural, curious and steadily evolving. She’s someone to keep a close eye on.

We met her during the Women About Sound music production course, a programme focused on building a strong, diverse music community for women and gender-diverse artists in Aotearoa. Run by Jess, Scarlett Lashes alongside mentoring from Miloux, it’s a space grounded in sharing knowledge and backing new voices. When it came time for everyone to present what they’d been working on, she played her music and completely shifted the room. It stopped us in our tracks. In that moment, it was clear she was onto something special, and we knew we had to get to know her.

Her sound moves through dub-leaning rhythms, textured low-end and leftfield electronics, sitting comfortably in those in-between spaces that don’t need strict definition. There’s a softness in how she shapes a set, guided more by feeling than formula, letting moments stretch, settle and gently reveal themselves as they go.

She’s brought that approach to dancefloors across Aotearoa, including Shipwrecked Festival, a uniquely intimate gathering often compared to a smaller, more easygoing version of Waking Life Festival or Houghton Festival, with its own relaxed but buzzing energy. Along the way, she’s released on Turquoise Records and featured across platforms like Mouthfull Radio, TBC Radio and Stereophonic, as well as playing events such as Central Alt Sound.

About this mix from Cellphii

“Tumodo noh (Kadazan Dusun: “Have a safe journey”). Here is a 3.5-hour mix filled with atmos, textured rhythms, and my growing love for dubstep. This set features sounds from SE Asia, East Asia, Europe, and of course, our local Aotearoa artists. I’ve been wanting to explore a longer format, and this felt like the perfect opportunity. Lately, I’ve been inspired by longer mixes, I love the way they allow you to slow down, let a track run, and really settle into the vibe. I also wanted to create something you could listen to in the background whether you’re stuck doing long mahi or having an art session. Feel free to play it at your next wonky house party, too! Hope you enjoy the journey as much as I enjoyed digging these gems”

Next up, you can catch Cellphii at Whammy Bar for Club Epoch at the Tāmaki Makaurau’s institute on May 16.

If you’re in Aotearoa, make the effort to get there. It won’t take long to understand why she’s one of the more exciting names coming through right now.

Don’t say we don’t ever put you on.