In this episode, Gillian interviews London-based electronic musician and recording artist Dyver, who uses dance floors as spaces for processing grief, shame, and abandonment, with a focus on making trans+ people feel seen and accepted.
Dyver discusses growing up in a multicultural part of London as mixed race (Pakistani mother, Scottish-Irish/Midlands father), the complexities of belonging, racism as erasure, and how queer and trans+ identity intersects with diaspora experience, including not learning their mother’s language.
They describe music as a lifelong emotional conduit, beginning to make music in their early 20s after living independently from 16, and explain their album “Rebuild,” made over three and a half years while learning production and documenting liberation, grief, anger, and family abandonment; it was released July 25 to align with Trans Pride, alongside a Tottenham after-party. Dyver mentions performances at Glastonbury, Boomtown, multiple Pride events, upcoming Galway shows (Aug 6 and 8), Boomtown’s Naflika space, and developing co-production work; they can be followed on Instagram as deepseaDyver (deepsea D-Y-V-R).
00:00 Curtains and Studio Vibes
00:39 Meet Dyver
01:15 Music as Activism
03:00 London Roots and Heritage
04:04 Mixed Race Identity
07:02 Racism and Erasure
08:59 Language and Diaspora
11:34 Migration and Culture Shift
13:41 Transness and Intersectionality
15:46 Turning to Music
15:57 Music as Emotional Language
17:15 Finding Songwriting Later
17:40 Survival and Mental Health
20:05 Authenticity on Stage
24:27 Rebuild Album Journey
28:23 Release and Trans Pride
29:26 Festivals and Pride Shows
31:48 Producing for Community
33:38 Where to Follow Next
34:17 Wrap Up and Goodbyes
You can contact us at gillian@transvox.co.uk and find out more at transvox.co.uk