- You grew up in Adelaide before re-locating to the UK. Do you have fond memories of WOMADelaide and how special does it feel to return home and perform at the Botanic Gardens?
My parents took me to the first ever WOMADelaide in 1992 as a little kid, and I still remember two performances from that year – Crowded House and Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, who I then saw again there a few years later. Since that initial outing, I went to nearly every WOMADelaide until I left Australia in 2007. It was fundamental in shaping my world view and appreciating the diversity of sounds, languages and cultures.
I’ve only been able to come back for the festival 4 or 5 times since I moved away, and I really miss it, so to be able to return to not only experience again but to also play at it…?! It’s just so special – and frankly, a little nerve-wracking because it means so much to me.
- After learning multiple instruments growing up, you were drawn to DJing because of the diversity of your musical tastes? What are some of your biggest influences? Can you identify anything which unifies your diverse tastes?
As much as I love the emotional connection while playing a single live instrument, DJing has been the best outlet for me to share all the different kinds of music that I love. It’s hard to pin down my taste exactly but it has been shaped by going to many classical and avant-garde concerts with my father when I was young, followed by years of breakdancing and capoeira classes, and then clubbing in Australia in the early 2000s. Then when I moved to London I was able to indulge in even more concerts, festivals and nightlife. Seeing icons perform live like Prince, Roy Ayers, Patrice Rushen, Jon Hopkins, Moodymann and more –anything that has moved me in a live setting ends up feeding into my taste, which is like for most people a sum of our experiences. It needs to have soul or a certain energy for me to enjoy it.
- You’ve performed live at Boiler Room. What have been your favourite live performance experiences and what made them most special?
My favourite gigs as a DJ have been when I’m playing to a community of people that get who I am and are open to my rollercoaster ride of genres – and I’ve been lucky to have found many communities like that. Last year at Glastonbury the tent I was playing in had speakers not only inside but also blasting outside, so during the night the entire Park (area in which we were playing) just turned into a 2000-person street party. We climbed to the top of the tent briefly and saw such an incredible view – a sea of people celebrating so freely.
- DJing, like many sections of music industry, has been traditionally male dominated. On your monthly Soho Radio show, you platform womxn musicians. How important are platforms like your show for shifting misconceptions and inspiring more womxn to create music?
I feel like if you have a platform that helps you reach people, you should use it for good. I wouldn’t be where I am without the support of other DJs, musicians and friends. When I started DJing 14 years ago, people were still shocked to see a ‘female DJ’ and would make inappropriate remarks or judgments. It’s hard to describe how bad it actually was but I’m glad we’re past that now – and that it’s normal to see women and femme people on line-ups. Some incredible festivals such as Sonar and Primavera have been leading the way in booking high quality diverse acts. Likewise online radio has helped shift the narrative – having been a resident on Worldwide FM, Soho Radio and Foundation FM, I can safely say that the internet can actually be a conduit for positive change. As a listener, you just have to go find it.
- Who are you must excited to see at this year’s WOMAD?
Well I did see PJ Harvey live at a festival last year and she was absolutely electric! But if I was going to see someone I hadn’t seen before it would be Shabaka – it is kind of embarrassing that I haven’t seen him live yet, given we are based in London. But where better than my hometown of Adelaide!
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