Danielle
1. You started in electronic music working at Phonica Records when you were 18. How have you seen the electronic music scene in the capital change since then until now?
There certainly aren’t that many HMVs! I’m joking, but it’s definitely changed a lot, but that’s London after all – it’s always been and always will be constantly evolving. In my opinion, the biggest difference is the amount of so-called “institutions” that remain, and especially not in places like the West End. There are a handful of record shops and clubs that are still going or thriving as much as they once were, but they don’t compare to the amount that was there before. However, over time, new record shops, clubs and venues have opened up that are doing things in a fresh, new way, and there’s a ton of great stuff going on at the moment. A lot of these new venues have also sprung up in areas that were lacking in that department and they’re also usually very community-driven, which is great.
2. You have a lot of international festivals lined up for this summer. What makes London festivals like Rally special?
For me, playing in London is special, firstly because I’m from there and I don’t live there anymore, so I always like to have an excuse to visit the venue. Secondly, because, as you say, I play internationally a lot more now than when I first started, and when you don’t play a venue that often, it’s even more remarkable when you do. Rally is special for a few reasons. Firstly, it’s not a DJ-focused lineup alone – there are fewer DJs than live acts, and I feel very lucky to have been included in the selection. Being a North London girl, I’ve only been getting to know the South for a few years now, as my brother and most of my friends live there now, and it’s great to be able to play locally for my friends in a city like London, where the location of a show can make all the difference in whether they come or not.
3. Rally is rooted in the intersection of music and art. How does that influence your role as a selector?
For me, the two are closely related, as I consider my work as a DJ to be an art form in itself. Like art, it requires skill, taste, hand-eye coordination, and a lot of practice and training to get good at it. Also, when an event, record label, sleeve, etc. has a good design, that can make the difference between something being heard or attended or gaining the interest or reputation it deserves.
4. How do your selections change when preparing a set for a club night compared to a daytime festival like Rally?
I’m generalising a lot, and having never played Rally before, it’s hard to say for sure. But there are a few reasons why club sets differ from daytime festivals. At festivals, I think as a DJ you have to be aware that the audience is going to have a much broader and perhaps less specific interest in the electronic music scene – there will be a lot of people who don’t know you and are discovering you for the first time. There will also be fans who are there just to see you! For this reason, it’s important to show what you do, be authentic and also make your fans happy. But you might not necessarily be the full version of yourself as a DJ, as you’ll more than likely have a shorter set there than in a club, it’s daytime and outdoors, rather than indoors in a dark room, there’s more competition for attention during your set, etc. You might have to read the crowd a bit more and respond to what they’re saying. Really enjoying it So they stay with you and you don’t give them any incentive to move on! In a club, they tend to be more “focused” on what you’re doing and that gives you a little more freedom with what you can offer them.
5. Which DJs are you excited to share the bill with at this year’s Rally Festival?
A lot of friends are playing, including Call Super, Ogazon, Lena Willikens, Moopie, Two Shell and Pearson Sound, so naturally I’m excited to see them all do their thing! For the first time, I’ll be playing b2b with DJ Fart In the Club, so that’s pretty exciting! I saw ML Buch play earlier this year and it was great. I didn’t know her music at the time, but I do now, so I’m excited to see her perform again and make her more recognizable.
