Extreme Barcelona is not just a display of impossible tricks, giant ramps, and pure urban adrenaline; it is also a street culture festival where music plays a crucial role. To understand how the soundtrack of the city’s most important action sports event is built, we talked to two of its most iconic DJs: DJ Kisa, a true festival legend with twelve years at the decks, and Druman Selektor, who has been setting the rhythm of the competitions for six editions.
DJ Kisa: “Every year I think, ‘Oh my god, I can’t believe what I just saw'”
How many years have you been DJing at Extreme Barcelona?
This will be my twelfth year playing at Extreme Barcelona, and honestly, it is my absolute favorite festival in the whole wide world. I am super grateful to be part of this family, surrounded by the best athletes on the planet and such a highly professional organization.
After so many years of being part of the event’s soundtrack, what keeps it special for you?
It’s located right next to the beach with sea views in my favorite city. I love being able to witness every year the incredible level of the young warriors: talented, daring, and putting everything they have into making this festival an unimaginable, dangerous, and incredible combination of art, sport, bravery, music, professionalism, motivation, deep friendships, and good vibes from athletes and visitors worldwide.
Plus, you get to see the best action sports athletes live, and it’s totally free! There are areas for dance, singers, and urban art; it’s accessible and fun for both kids and adults. For me, it’s truly the most complete festival out there, and it fills my heart to reconnect with friends from the music, dance, art, and extreme sports scene during these days that, for me, are sacred.
How does the rhythm of the competitions influence the musical selection you make throughout the day?
I always want to go hard. I follow many of the riders on Instagram to see what vibe they are into. I also try to adapt depending on their nationalities, but above all, my goal is to make them go even wilder and more extreme thanks to the music, haha!
If you had to define the spirit of Extreme Barcelona in three songs, which ones would you choose and why?
-
Win by Jay Rock: Because anyone who steps out there has already won just by daring to enter the course and practice their skills to compete alongside world champions. It takes a lot of talent, ambition, and hard work. Extreme is a healthy, open, and fun festival for the whole family without being cheesy, and I love that. I’ve been there so many times, but I’m always blown away by what I see!
-
Sicko Mode by Travis Scott: Because to jump out there, you need to have real guts.
-
We Dem Boyz by Wiz Khalifa: “Holla, holla, holla, we making noise!”. The best in the world make noise just by showing what they can do; they are tough as nails. By the way, all these songs are obviously dedicated to the women as well. Nobody can stop them, they are pure fire!
You’ve seen different generations of riders pass by from the booth. How have you experienced the evolution of both the sport and the urban culture?
Every year gets crazier. I always stand there with my mouth wide open thinking, “Oh my god, I can’t believe what I just saw.” And sometimes I joke to myself, “I hope my daughter doesn’t want to do this!” (though she already loves skateboarding and scooters too). That’s another thing I love about the festival: it mixes disciplines that don’t usually coexist in other spaces, and here they do it in peace, sharing a passion for street sports.
What musical style would define each of these three sports: Skate, BMX, and Scooter?
-
Skate: Old-school hip-hop.
-
BMX: Rock and hip-hop.
-
Scooter: Hip-hop, French and English trap.
Any funny anecdote or moment you remember particularly well?
At the end of the event, the final “jam” always gets wild, and everyone just loses it. I do too; it’s a total party where the crowd, the athletes, and the music blend into a collective madness.
As a family anecdote: my daughter has come every year since she was born, hangs out with friends until I finish, and she loves it. Last year, when I wrapped up, she was waiting for me downstairs. My friend told her to wait until I came down, but she saw the music had stopped and, with zero shame, walked straight up to the security guard—a massive guy. He told her she couldn’t pass, but she pushed right past him saying, “She’s my mom, I’m going!”, and climbed up onto the stage. I died laughing!
Another fun one: I met some scooter athletes from Paris who later, by chance, saw me DJing over there in France. When I was about to order an Uber to go back to the hotel, they offered to give me a ride on a scooter… and I was five months pregnant! I arrived completely safe and sound, but it was a great adventure.
Druman Selektor: “Music at Extreme isn’t just background noise; it’s part of the experience”
How many years have you been DJing at Extreme Barcelona?
I’ve been the official DJ of Extreme Barcelona for six years. During this time, I’ve been lucky enough to experience the event from the inside, soundtracking each edition and being part of an experience that goes way beyond mere sports competition.
After so many years of being part of the event’s soundtrack, what keeps it special for you?
Every edition has a different energy. What motivates me the most is that the music isn’t just in the background; it plays an active role in the experience. Being able to read the room, connect with the riders, the announcers, and the crowd, and accompany every moment with the right song makes every year unique. Plus, there is the human element: reconnecting with so many people I now consider family.
How does the rhythm of the competitions influence the musical selection you make during the day?
It influences it completely. I try to make the music breathe at the same pace as the competition. In moments of peak intensity, I look for tracks that bring adrenaline and push both the riders and the crowd. When the atmosphere needs a breather, I adapt the selection to maintain the energy without overwhelming people. It’s a constant reading of what is happening second by second.
For example, when I’m DJing for the Scooter competition, I look for more current music since the riders are super young. In BMX, where there are more experienced riders, I usually drop classic rock tracks. And if it’s the Skate competition, I lean more toward hip-hop, trap, and rock ‘n’ roll. I read the vibe by category so the crowd connects and the riders feel comfortable.
If you had to summarize the spirit of Extreme Barcelona in three songs, which ones would you choose?
It’s hard to pick just three tracks, but my selection would be:
-
Work Hard Play Hard by Wiz Khalifa
-
Adam’s Song by Blink-182
-
Tarantula by Pendulum
These are songs that, as soon as they drop, make the crowd and the riders react incredibly. They have so much energy. Even though they belong to different genres, if you pick the right moment, they work beautifully. You have to keep in mind that the sets I play at Extreme are very long—once I DJed for over 11 consecutive hours—so each day ends up being a real musical journey.
You’ve seen different generations of riders pass by from the booth. How have you experienced the evolution of both the sport and the urban culture?
It has been impressive. The athletic level has grown incredibly; every year we see tricks that seemed impossible a decade ago. But at the same time, the essence remains intact: passion, creativity, and camaraderie continue to be the heart of these sports.
Seeing legends of these disciplines and then realizing the next year that they have retired makes you appreciate how lucky you are to be in that booth. As a Venezuelan, it was a massive point of pride for me to watch Daniel Dhers win the gold medal live in 2021. I’ve also seen how urban culture has gained huge recognition, moving from being something alternative to becoming part of mainstream culture without losing a bit of its identity.
What song or musical style would define each of these three sports: Skate, BMX, and Scooter?
More than a single song, I’d say each discipline has a very distinct personality:
-
Skate: Punk rock and classic hip-hop, for its history and attitude.
-
BMX: Alternative rock, classic rock, and hip-hop, because they transmit raw strength and intensity.
-
Scooter: Drum and Bass, trap, and bass music—styles that connect deeply with the younger generations.
In the end, all three sports share the most important things: freedom, creativity, and their own personality.