Japanese DJ and producer ¥ØU$UK€ ¥UK1MAT$U, also known as Yousuke Yukimatsu, has offered fans a personal glimpse into his musical world ahead of his upcoming European tour. During a visit to Rough Trade East in London, the artist selected records connected to several of the cities he will visit next March, highlighting a wide-ranging taste that moves freely between electronic, house, techno, and leftfield sounds.
The record-shopping session gives fans more than a simple list of recommendations. It provides an insight into the artists and tracks that continue to influence Yukimatsu’s approach to DJing, while also showing how strongly he connects music with the cities and scenes around it.
¥ØU$UK€ ¥UK1MAT$U Shares His European Tour Record Picks
Yukimatsu’s European return is already shaping up as an important moment in his touring schedule. Before heading back across the continent, he stopped at Rough Trade East in London to dig through its record selection and choose music associated with the destinations on his itinerary.
“I ❤️ €URØP€,” the Japanese artist wrote while sharing the selections, adding that he was looking forward to returning to some of his favourite cities next March.
That enthusiasm comes through in the records he chose. Rather than sticking to one sound or generation, Yukimatsu’s selections reveal a DJ with an expansive musical perspective.
His London choices, in particular, move across several different corners of contemporary electronic music.
London Selections Include Four Tet, Fred again.. And Jamie xx
Four Tet Remains A Longtime Favourite
Four Tet was among the first names Yukimatsu highlighted for London.
The Japanese DJ described Kieran Hebden as a longtime favourite, tracing his appreciation back to the period when Hebden was part of the three-piece band Fridge. He also pointed to Four Tet’s recent album Daydream Repeat as part of his current listening.
The choice is revealing because Four Tet’s work has consistently blurred the boundaries between club music, experimental electronics, folk influences, hip-hop, and sample-based production.
That openness mirrors Yukimatsu’s own approach to DJing, where unexpected combinations and stylistic contrasts can become part of the experience.
Fred again.. And The Lasting Appeal Of “Marea”
Fred again.. was another prominent selection from Yukimatsu’s London record haul.
He described the British producer as an artist he “absolutely loves” and singled out Marea (we’ve lost dancing), a track he continues to play regularly.
The song’s enduring place in his sets points to the importance of emotional connection in Yukimatsu’s selections. While his sets can move through adventurous and unpredictable territory, tracks with an immediate sense of atmosphere or feeling can still hold their place.
Jamie xx And Romy Complete The London Picture
Jamie xx also featured in the London picks, with Yukimatsu highlighting the album In Waves and specifically praising “Treat Each Other Right.”
His comments also drew attention to the song’s message, suggesting that the appeal goes beyond its production and dancefloor energy.
Romy’s “Strong” was another track he mentioned as one he plays frequently. Together, the selections create a snapshot of London’s diverse electronic landscape, linking established club experimentation with contemporary dance-pop and emotionally driven songwriting.
Charlotte de Witte Leads Yukimatsu’s Brussels Picks
For Brussels, Yukimatsu turned his attention toward techno and the Belgian underground.
Charlotte de Witte was one of his main choices, although he noted that the artist is actually from near Ghent rather than Brussels itself.
That distinction did not diminish her connection to the Belgian electronic scene. Yukimatsu specifically praised releases from her KNTXT label, explaining that he regularly plays music from the imprint.
He also recalled buying one of the label’s vinyl-only releases and ripping it himself, an anecdote that highlights the continuing importance of physical records within his DJ practice.
Peter Van Hoesen Also Gets A Nod
Yukimatsu’s Brussels selections also included producer Peter Van Hoesen.
Although he described playing Van Hoesen’s music from time to time rather than presenting him as a constant fixture in his sets, the inclusion adds another layer to his view of Belgian electronic music.
The connection between Yukimatsu and de Witte extends beyond their respective record selections. The pair also performed a back-to-back set in New York earlier this summer, adding a personal link to the musical connection highlighted by his Brussels picks.
Paris And Copenhagen Selections Complete The Tour Preview
Yukimatsu’s record-shopping feature does not stop with London and Brussels. He also shared selections connected to Paris and Copenhagen, with the full video offering a broader look at the records he associates with each destination.
That city-by-city approach makes the feature particularly interesting for electronic music fans. Instead of presenting a generic list of favourite tracks, Yukimatsu connects individual records with the cultural environments where he will perform.
It also reflects the way DJs often experience touring. Every city has its own history, clubs, labels, producers, record stores, and musical communities. For an artist who spends much of his career moving between scenes, those connections can become an important part of the creative process.
Why Yukimatsu’s Record Picks Matter
Record selections can reveal a great deal about a DJ.
A track played in a club tells listeners something about the moment, but a record chosen during a digging session can reveal the broader musical influences behind an artist’s taste. In Yukimatsu’s case, the selections point toward a deliberately open approach.
Four Tet, Fred again.., Jamie xx, Romy, Charlotte de Witte, and Peter Van Hoesen occupy different positions within contemporary electronic music. Yet they can coexist naturally within the same record bag.
That variety is part of what makes Yukimatsu’s approach compelling. Rather than treating genres as fixed boundaries, his selections suggest that atmosphere, rhythm, emotion, texture, and context can matter just as much as genre labels.
A European Tour Built Around Musical Discovery
Yukimatsu’s European tour will give fans the opportunity to hear those influences translated into live DJ sets.
His record-store visit also creates an appealing preview of what audiences can expect. The selections demonstrate that his musical world is broad, with references stretching from experimental electronic music to modern club sounds and more accessible dance records.
For listeners, the record picks provide an easy way into that world. A fan discovering Yukimatsu through one of his tour dates can work backward through the artists he admires, while longtime followers can use the selections as a window into what has been catching his attention.
As he prepares to return to Europe next March, ¥ØU$UK€ ¥UK1MAT$U is effectively letting the records speak first. His selections for London, Brussels, Paris, and Copenhagen offer a personal soundtrack to the tour and reinforce the idea that great DJ sets begin long before the first record reaches the turntable.
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