SHEDJS: What initially sparked your passion for DJing, and how did you get started in the music scene?
I've always been very passionate about the music scene and after working behind the scenes for about 10-15 years, I went to MUTEK in Montreal and I saw Pierre Kwenders talk about the need to step out of complaining about what we don't see and create what it is that we wanted to see.
So that really inspired me because I was like Yo, if what I want isn't here or where I live then it really is up to me or my personal responsibility to create it and that was a brilliant reminder. Another thing that motivated me or sparked my passion to take on DJing as a full-time career was that I saw Lissa Monet Play in Calgary at the bar located within SAIT and it was her stage presence as well as her focus and delivery that really inspired me.
I danced the whole night and it really showed me that women can be in this profession. It showed me that you can be black like me and succeed and get booked and travel and love it. You know whether there's a crowd or not and it was just a beautiful beautiful time when I saw her because it was very special moment in my history of being a music journalist as well.
You know, to go back to the power of MUTEK in Montreal I connected with the phenomenal DJ and Producers NKISI and JLIN and oh gosh just another brilliant moment. Honestly there were so many people in the industry that I had wanted to connect with right before me. It was the first time I ever connected with more than three female DJs who reflected me at an event in Canada and it changed my life you know because I saw Modelic Arts as well and I got to connect with the Moonshine family and it was just it was just a blessing like it changed my whole life.
SHEDJS Can you share a memorable experience from one of your performances or events that stands out in your mind?
A memorable experience from one of my performances or events was honestly my residency at the Hi-Fi club UMOJA Sessions, rest in peace Hi-Fi club. You are sorely missed. It was just brilliant to at least be one of the first women to have a residency at this club that holds such a history and even as a journalist you know one of my very first stories was covering an exhibit that went up a long time ago on the walls of the club.
So it was just so iconic to go from being a patron of the club to being somebody who had been given the opportunity to host an event which we did in partnership with Stirling Agency at the time, a brand called Mink Pink as well as Blondtron and Crystal Precious. We even had the Jamaican Bobsled team show up and it was just fantastic.
Um, it was just a phenomenal thing to bring the residency UMOJA Sessions to the club as well as to spark the elevation of some local artists for artists in the city who had never graced the stage at Hi-Fi club and it was just such a beautiful time because it it opened the doors for for many artists so it wasn't just about me excelling as a DJ and an event producer with a residency at a world-renowned club, it was about bringing my friends and music family with me on the journey of the diversity, equity and inclusion at a bar that had been pushing this principle for many years.
SHEDJS: How do you approach creating a setlist or choosing tracks for a particular event or venue?
I'm very fluid about how I DJ. Being a multi-genre. DJ allows me to have an expensive and expensive library that's worth its weight in gold where I'm able to pull on the spot. And I think not putting myself into one category has really allowed me to advance and present to diverse audiences. You know I have played country music sets. I have played rock and roll sets. I have played dubstep sets. I have played drum and bass sets I have played, you know afrobeats, amapiano, techno, synth wave... I've done it all, classical sets even and I just I just love being a multi genre DJ because it allows me to come as I am while respecting the room that I'm being booked to play.
SHEDJS: Are there specific genres or artists that have had a significant influence on your style?
I would say it's just Poirier Sound was very instrumental in influencing who I am as a DJ because he was one of the first DJs that I saw who was melding and infusing genres together that typically didn't have a relationship and from watching him and you know seeing him play and just soaring at such great heights was honestly a big deal for me. Another person that had great influence on me was 12th Planet. You know dubstep is something that I have loved from the very beginning and when I saw 12th Planet play it blew my mind. The other person that really, really locked it in for me…like man I'm falling in love with DJing was King Cannibal. Well he's no longer under that moniker now. He's under House of Black Lanterns and phenomenal performer.
RSD also changed my life, spending time with the legend just you know gave me foundation and influence yo another person that really like changed my whole life and just on you know being around was Max Ulis and Fluxo, like I can't not say anything about Fluxo because he was amazing at keeping me excited, he introduced me to B Traits and again, just another phenomenal lady who really showed me that this is possible.
Another really influential person was Peggy Gou as well as Ciel, who is a DJ based in Toronto. I saw her play Calgary and it was the first time I'd ever seen like a proper vinyl set from a lady and it was just a beautiful time. Again, it was just a beautiful beautiful time. That are phenomenal beings out there and it's just an honor to have been able to absorb their gracious vibes and energy.
SHEDJS: In a constantly evolving industry, how do you stay updated on new music trends and technologies?
I try not to hop on new things all the time. I'm very happy with the basics. You know I'm never going to say I'm an expert because I believe that you are always learning and you know there's a different strategy of how people come into DJing now, before people used to learn vinyl.
Whereas now vinyl is the last part of the education. If they ever get to it and new music trends and technologies are going to be here and it's important to to be aware, but it's not something that I really overwhelm myself with because you know if you think about it DJing is about two records and whether or not technology advances or not, it boils down to being able to play two records. So yes, keep on top of things but it's not something that I worry myself about too much and with genres it's always evolving, you know. So yes I like to pay attention to some of the new things but I really like to you know blend between the old and new because that's how we stay balanced.
SHEDJS: Do you have any advice for aspiring DJs looking to break into the scene or enhance their skills?
My advice to aspiring DJ's looking to break into the scene is never work for free and stay passionate. You know and keep practicing and the world is really your oyster and you can connect with anybody all around the world on various platforms like SoundCloud, Twitch, Spotify, even Twitter and Threads, now, Facebook, you know any social media platform you can honestly make your domain so don't get hung up about you know playing in a club or playing on a radio station. You literally have an audience even just in your Instagram feed and you know respect this profession.
This is a profession that is about delivering sound to the people and it is a skill and it is a professional skill and we don't work for free. Ever.
