The Origin

Spicy Juliet was born in London, but its roots run deep into Italy — and to one serendipitous night in a tiny South London pub.

Nicola Mannini, Pietro LGF, and Suerta had each followed their own musical paths, but on that evening they found themselves side by side, beers in hand, watching a jazz gig and swapping stories. Within minutes, they'd uncovered mutual friends, shared passions, and a collective obsession with music.

Somewhere between the laughter and clinking glasses, Bruno threw out a name: Spicy Juliet — a playful nod to Nicola's hometown of La Spezia (“spice”) and Bruno and Pietro's Verona roots ("Juliet"). By the end of the night, a pen-and-paper sketch had turned into a finished logo, and the trio’s vision was already taking shape.

The Trio

Nicola’s journey began in 2000, inspired by the soulful grooves of the ’70s and ’80s. From early sets alongside a local DJ friend to curating upscale events and debuting in clubs in 2004, his style blends soul, funk, disco, and ’90s house with deep and tech textures — always warm, always connected to the dancefloor.

Suerta’s story starts in the ’90s, making mixtapes from late-night radio. His path wound through bands, art, and ethnomusicology before leading him to the decks. A dedicated crate-digger, he weaves together indie obscurities, global dance rhythms, and unexpected gems with an instinctive touch.

Pietro, classically trained and shaped by Italy’s early 2000s hip-hop scene, co-founded reggae-dub collectives before moving to London to study field recording and synth programming. Now running his own label, 45drakes Records, he brings a producer’s ear to the booth — eclectic, layered, and rooted in both tradition and experimentation.

Spicy Juliet in Action

Spicy Juliet’s first chapter as a collective was written at Tooting Tram & Social, where their monthly residency packed in 300–400 people a night until summer 2024. From there, they branched out to Four Thieves, Rolling Stock, EGG, Café 1001, and BRICKS, as well as a residency at Bar Palazzo in Crystal Palace — a hi-fi pizzeria that introduced them to artists from across the UK and beyond.

Today, they hold a bi-monthly residency at The Marquee Moon in Dalston and another at The Bear in Camberwell — a vinyl lover’s paradise — soon to become monthly. In summer 2025, they debuted at Two More Years in Hackney Wick, securing a residency from February 2026, and they will launch Kave’s first-ever vinyl-only night in August 2025.

Their reach extends beyond the dancefloor: in July 2025, they began a monthly show on Loose.FM, after the station’s owner caught one of their sets at Bar Palazzo. Radio has become a new playground for sharing their eclectic taste.

Standout moments include playing the Queen’s Yard Summer Party in May 2025 — a multi-venue festival drawing 10,000 people — and hosting live band Zkeletonz at Tooting Tram & Social in 2024, merging DJ sets with live performance to euphoric effect.

Philosophy

At their core, Spicy Juliet stands for respect: for music, for each other, and for their audience. They gravitate to venues that feel like home, value strong human connections, fair treatment for artists, and top-quality sound. Whenever possible, they keep gigs free and accessible — because joy on the dancefloor shouldn’t be a luxury.

What’s Next

Looking ahead, the trio are working on original Spicy Juliet productions, expanding their residencies, and taking their sound to more renowned venues and festivals. Whether in a backroom bar, on an open-air stage, or over the radio waves, their mission remains the same: keep the needle on the groove, the music flowing, and the crowd moving — always with a little spice.