{{Short description|British techno musician}} {{Use dmy dates|date=December 2024}} {{Use British English|date=December 2024}} {{Infobox musical artist | image = | caption = | name = PAWSA | birth_name = David Esekhile | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1992|03|31}}<ref name="DJMAG"/> | image_size = | background = | origin = London, England | instrument = | genre = Tech house | occupation = {{flatlist| * DJ * record producer }} | years_active = 2013–present | label = {{flatlist| * Solid Grooves * PAWZ * Treasure Series * GOLFO TRAXX }} | associated_acts = | website = {{Official URL}} }}
'''David Esekhile''' (born 31 March 1992), known professionally as '''PAWSA''', is a British DJ and record producer from London, England. Specialising in tech house, he is known for a number of chart hits, international touring, and being the co-founder of Solid Grooves Records. PAWSA has toured internationally, particularly around Europe, and had a summer residency at Sankeys Ibiza.<ref name="DJMAG"/><ref name="AMBIO"/> His music has been called "inventive tech house with an old school vibe".<ref name="RABio">{{cite web |title=PAWSA · Biography |url=https://ra.co/dj/pawsa/biography |website=Resident Advisor |access-date=28 December 2024 |archive-date=28 December 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241228165454/https://ra.co/dj/pawsa/biography |url-status=live }}</ref>
==Career==
===Early years===
PAWSA officially began his musical career in 2014 with the release of his four-track EP “Pilot” through Lost Records. The year prior, he had met fellow tech-house producer Michael Bibi at a warehouse party in London.<ref name="DJMAG">{{cite news |last1=Fielding |first1=Amy |title=PAWSA: tech-house, reimagined |url=https://djmag.com/longreads/pawsa-tech-house-reimagined-solid-grooves |access-date=28 December 2024 |work=DJ Mag |date=10 August 2021 |archive-date=28 December 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241228165455/https://djmag.com/longreads/pawsa-tech-house-reimagined-solid-grooves |url-status=live }}</ref> The two soon began collaborating and, in 2015, they co-founded the ''Solid Grooves'' record label. Parties organised by the label began to "take over" the tech-house music scene. In 2017, PAWSA launched his own imprint, ''PAWZ'', to release tracks that did not fit the Solid Grooves sound.<ref name="DJMAG"/><ref name="AMBIO">{{cite web |last1=Simpson |first1=Paul |title=PAWSA Biography by Paul Simpson |url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/pawsa-mn0003484539 |website=Allmusic |access-date=28 December 2024 |archive-date=28 December 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241228165454/https://www.allmusic.com/artist/pawsa-mn0003484539 |url-status=live }}</ref>
===Commercial success===
In 2024, PAWSA solidified his place atop the UK electronic music scene with a string of standout releases that gained mainstream traction. ''PICK UP THE PHONE'' was released on May 30 through PAWZ and became one of his most commercially successful tracks to date, charting in the UK Top 50. It is built around a looped and manipulated vocal sample from Nate Dogg’s "Gangsta Walk (Acapella)", specifically the line "Lady, pick it up, it’s me calling." He followed up this release in July with ''Too Cool To Be Careless'', a modern cover of Dennis Edwards & Siedah Garrett’s Don't Look Any Further.
On October 4, 2024, PAWSA dropped highly-anticipated single ''COLLECT THE COMMAS'' via CircoLoco Records. In November, he released his rework of Dirty Cash (Money Talks), which peaked at number 3 in the UK Dance chart. By the end of the year, the track had amassed 56.9 million Spotify streams—far surpassing his other songs on the platform.<ref name="OCC0"/> He was invited to "take control" of the BBC Radio 1 Essential Mix, delivering a two hour set consisting of his own music and tracks from other artists including Eddie Richards and Dauwd.<ref>{{cite web |title=BBC Radio 1 - Radio 1's Essential Mix, PAWSA |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m002360f |website=BBC |access-date=28 December 2024 |date=3 November 2024}}</ref>
PAWSA's momentum carried into 2025 with the release of his latest track, ''DOUBLE C'', which was featured on the official soundtrack of F1 the Movie.
===GOLFOS===
In addition to his work under his own name, PAWSA is one half of GOLFOS, a collaborative project with Spanish DJ and producer Dennis Cruz. GOLFOS began formally in 2018, with early ideas reportedly emerging during a joint stay in Ibiza.
In 2023, GOLFOS delivered a standout b2b performance at the Kappa Futur Festival in Turin, which has been widely circulated via SoundCloud and YouTube. The set featured some of the duo's deeper cuts like “Hole 9” and “Feeling Good (JBL Mix)."
===Treasure Series===
PAWSA is also the producer behind the anonymous Treasure Series project, which began releasing tracks on streaming services in 2019. The series often features minimal, tech house reworks of popular songs. Each release is typically restricted to 250 physical copies and accompanied by a digital download code. Though not explicitly crediting PAWSA, many of the tracks have been featured in his live sets and share stylistic characteristics with his solo productions. The series includes songs such as ''Thirty Thousand'',<ref name="GrayAreaTreasureSeries"> Gray Area. (2023). ''Treasure Series Drops Another of Their Coveted IDs: ‘Thirty Thousand’''. Gray Area. Retrieved July 17, 2025, from [https://grayarea.co/magazine/treasure-series-drops-another-of-their-coveted-ids-thirty-thousand](https://grayarea.co/magazine/treasure-series-drops-another-of-their-coveted-ids-thirty-thousand) </ref> ''Jungle VIP'', ''Ruffneck Brother,'' and ''My Favourite Girl''.
===Awards and recognition=== In 2021, PAWSA won the "Best Producer" category at the ''DJ Mag'' ''Best of Britain'' awards.<ref>{{cite magazine |last1=Williams |first1=Sophie |title=PAWSA Announces His Biggest Ever Show With 2025 Date at London's Gunnersbury Park |url=https://www.billboard.com/music/concerts/pawsa-biggest-ever-show-2025-london-gunnersbury-park-1235836508/ |magazine=Billboard |access-date=28 December 2024 |date=22 November 2024 |archive-date=28 December 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241228165454/https://www.billboard.com/music/concerts/pawsa-biggest-ever-show-2025-london-gunnersbury-park-1235836508/ |url-status=live }}</ref> The ''Mixmag'' music magazine ranked him at #19 in their list of the top producers who had "defined the year" 2024, stating he is influential in "pushing deep house and dancefloor classics".<ref>{{cite web |title=The Top 25 Producers Who Defined The Year 2024 - Features - Mixmag |url=https://mixmag.net/feature/the-top-25-electronic-music-producers-who-defined-the-year-2024 |website=Mixmag |access-date=28 December 2024 |date=18 December 2024 |archive-date=28 December 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241228165454/https://mixmag.net/feature/the-top-25-electronic-music-producers-who-defined-the-year-2024 |url-status=live }}</ref>
==Discography== {| class="wikitable sortable" |+ PAWSA singles |- ! Title !! Artist!! Year !! Peak<br>UK singles!! Peak<br>UK Dance |- | "PICK UP THE PHONE"<ref name="OCC0">{{cite web |title=PAWSA songs and albums |url=https://www.officialcharts.com/artist/pawsa/ |website=Official Charts Company |access-date=28 December 2024 |archive-date=28 December 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241228165454/https://www.officialcharts.com/artist/pawsa/ |url-status=live }}</ref> || PAWSA ft. Nate Dogg || 2024 || style="text-align:center;"|49 || style="text-align:center;"|13 |- | "Too Cool To Be Careless"<ref name="OCC1">{{cite web |title=PAWSA songs and albums |url=https://www.officialcharts.com/artist/pawsa-0/ |website=Official Charts Company |access-date=28 December 2024 |archive-date=28 December 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241228165454/https://www.officialcharts.com/artist/pawsa-0/ |url-status=live }}</ref> || PAWSA || 2024 || style="text-align:center;"|51 || style="text-align:center;"|8 |- | "COLLECT THE COMMAS"<ref name="OCC1"/> || PAWSA || 2024|| style="text-align:center;"|- || style="text-align:center;"|- |- | "Dirty Cash (Money Talks)"<ref name="OCC0"/> || PAWSA / Adventures of Stevie V|| 2024 || style="text-align:center;"|17 || style="text-align:center;"|3 |- | "BANG BANG" || PAWSA || 2025 || style="text-align:center;"|- || style="text-align:center;"|- |- | "DOUBLE C" <ref name="WeRaveYou">{{cite web|title=PAWSA offloads groovy new house anthem 'DOUBLE C': Listen|url=https://weraveyou.com/2025/06/pawsa-offloads-groovy-new-house-anthem-double-c-listen/|website=We Rave You|date=29 June 2025|access-date=17 July 2025}}</ref> || PAWSA || 2025 || style="text-align:center;"|- || style="text-align:center;"|- |}
==See also== * List of club DJs
== References == {{reflist}}
==External links== * {{Discogs artist}} * {{AllMusic}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:PAWSA}} Category:1992 births Category:Living people Category:Musicians from London Category:21st-century British musicians Category:Year of birth uncertain Category:British electronic dance music DJs