We Are Fierce meets Megan Leo

Welcome back!!! How amazing has it been to go OUT? We did our first set of 2021 last week and my GOODNESS ME, it was a dreaaaaam!

Today on the blog we have another amazing mix and interview, as we meet the incredibly talented DJ Megan Leo!

Megan is a DJ we have been trying to pin down for an interview and mix for a while now as she just gets us EXCITED about heading back out again and seeing live DJs perform!

We first discovered Megan over on instagram after seeing one of her shows on Threads Radio being shared and just WOW - if there is a DJ you need to follow this year and see live then Megan is definitely it. Her energy really comes across in the mixes and shows that she does, and you can definitely feel the passion she has for music whilst listening to her sets.

We asked Megan to pull together a mix for the blog and it’s simply mesmerising - almost like the kind of music you just need to dance to with your eyes closed and let the night take you.

Listen to her mix below and read up on how she got started, what music she is currently digging and what’s next!

Tell us a bit about yourself! What got you into DJing and how long have you been doing it?

Hello! So I have been dj'ing for around 10 years now - my first ever gig was October 2011 in Cosmic Ballroom, Newcastle. I remember being so scared, I was literally pushed on stage haha. The gig went really well though and gave me the confidence I needed. I got into DJ'ing as it is something I have wanted to do from about the age of 14, I have been obsessed with music since I remember and was always the one who liked to select the music at parties etc. I guess I was a DJ before I was a DJ! I fell in love with the underground when I started going out and going to raves, a lot of my friends were dj's at Uni and I also joined my Uni's DJ society. I then invested in a pair of decks, locked myself in my bedroom for a while and the rest is history....learning to DJ is definitely the best thing I have ever done :)


Where can we catch you play and do you have any stand out gigs you can share with us?

A bit of a strange time at the moment with clubs not being open but I have been super lucky to get a lot of radio experience during this time. I have a monthly radio show on AAJA the fourth Saturday of every month from 1-3 and I am also going to be starting a monthly show on Threads Radio called Swirl from 4 May. When clubs are eventually back open, I just want to play as much as possible, I am a resident at Ghetec which is a party based in Newcastle, so will be playing up north. I also have one date confirmed in London on the 24th July so far and in talks with some other places. Literally can't wait to play gigs where people can dance again! People can follow me on my socials to stay up-to-date with my gigs :)

In terms of standout gigs, I have had the pleasure of warming up some amazing artists in my time. Last year I warmed up the incredible Jonny Aux (Paranoid London) at The Cause. In 2013, I warmed up Regal, it was his first ever UK gig, he was so great. I also was fortunate enough to play Sankeys in Manchester in 2012 and played alongside the likes of Dinky; she played one of the best sets I have ever seen in the basement that night. My most favourite time to play is like 6a.m. ish when things get a little magical, so the gigs I have played when I have had the opportunity to do that also really stick in my mind.


What kind of music/DJ's are you listening to at the moment?

I try to keep things fairly dynamic in terms of my sound. I tend to play across the board from cosmic and Balaeric through to electro, acid and techno. I think that is what makes a good resident, being able to play a diverse range depending on the situation but still keeping true to your sound. Artists I am loving at the minute which push that cosmic sound that I love are Daniele Baldelli, Running Hot, Ess O Ess and I'm really enjoying the music Farloh is making at the moment, excited to see what he gets up to next. Then when my faster side comes out, I'm really digging Plant 43, the electro he makes is unreal and I love artists like Anetha, Karenn and Murg. They are all so talented.


What's coming up next for you?

I am working really hard at the minute with production, so hoping to start releasing music when I am ready and the sound feels right to me. Other than that, just playing as many gigs as possible really and doing my radio shows.


What advice would you give to someone who wants to get into DJing and music production?

Do it because you love it, work hard and be nice x


Couldn’t agree more :) Be sure to give Megan a follow here to keep up to date with her latest radio shows and gigs - you’ll no doubt catch us there too ;)

We Are Fierce meets Abi Whistance

Why hello there! Welcome back to the Fierce blog <3

This week we have another treat for ya! We meet the very wonderful Abi Whistance - DJ, radio presenter and disco lover (A GIRL AFTER OUR OWN HEART!!)

Abi Whistance presents a weekday show on Leeds Dance Radio, playing disco, funk and soul - we are simply hooked. With the end of lockdown looming, Abi has a new disco venture called Disco Juice that we are so excited to see take shape!

We set up Fierce to ultimately empower and support female talent, so when we stumbled across Abi we were excited - this is what it is all about after all!

We chat to Abi below on how she got started, what is next for her and any advice she has for anyone reading this that wants to give it a go. You can also listen to her mix here too!

Tell us a bit about yourself! How long have you been working in music?

I’m Abi, a music journalist and DJ living in Leeds! I moved here in 2018 to pursue a career in print journalism, but I ended up falling in love with radio and DJing pretty quickly. I’d been writing for blogs and magazines since I was 14 so it was a completely different direction for me to go in, but 3 years on I’ve managed to secure on slot on local radio and I’m loving it!


We love listening to your radio show on LDC radio! Tell us a bit about your show and the station, how did you get involved?

It was a real coincidence really. I was interviewing Dan Tidmarsh (one of the founders of LDC) for an article for The Yorkshire Post and he just offered me a trial for a daytime show. They were looking for someone to play funk, disco and soul on weekdays and that’s exactly what I do; it just seemed like the perfect fit. I went in for a trial and nearly a year later I’m still there, four days a week!


What kind of music are you listening to at the moment?

During lockdown I’ve been listening to Jonathan Richman on repeat- there’s something really comforting about his music and lyrics. He’s not particularly intricate or the world’s best musician, but there’s a warmth and wit to him that always makes me feel better. Other than that I’ve been listening to heaps of Afrobeat for a similar reason- it always cheers me up and gets me dancing!


What's coming up next for you?

I started my own online event called Disco Juice in November, so currently we’re looking at getting the ball rolling with that and finding a venue to host it in! It’s centred around playing a lot of more of the obscure disco and soul we all love, we’re constantly crate digging on Discogs for new stuff to play at each event. I’m really looking forward to bringing it into the real world in June.


What advice would you give to someone who wants to get into DJing and radio presenting?

It’s highly competitive but the best thing you can do is find your niche selling point and build on that. Creating a brand makes finding work a lot easier, and it makes you look more professional even if you haven’t been DJing or presenting for a particularly long time. It also really helps when you then go on to try and build working relationships with people; they’re much more likely to want to help you out and book you if you have a portfolio of work already online, with a consistent theme running throughout. And, of course, be really friendly and approachable! You never know who you might meet just through having a chat in a bar or at a gig, and you’ll find that most people are more than happy to help you out.


Huge thanks to Abi for that chat & mix! We can’t bloody wait to see you for a dance too! Be sure to follow Abi here <3

Fierce x International Women's Day playlist!

HAPPY INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY!!!!!!!!

Cheers to us <3

We are inspired everyday by the wonderful womxn we are surrounded by and the sheer talent, passion and strength we see in them. We started Fierce to support and empower women in music and ensure we all get the right pay, exposure and opportunities in what is a very male dominated space. We’re so excited for what the future holds!

We are the fucking best - so enjoy our female led playlist below and keep being absolutely fabulous! x

We Are Fierce meets Karistocat

Hello there and welcome back to our Fierce blog! Another week of lockdown is over and we are getting closer and closer to dancing together again <3

This week we are thrilled to be speaking to the very wonderful Karis Beckingham AKA Karistocat, an amazing DJ, producer, artist and Fierce friend - having met many years ago when we were both DJing at the same Topshop gig!

After meeting Karis, one thing that always stood out for me was just how much you can tell she LOVES music and performing. Her sheer energy, passion and talent really shows after watching her play, and I think it is DJs like Karistocat that really inspires people to get into this industry in the first place!

Based in London, Karistocat is also a firm favourite presenter on Soho Radio, and since touring has not been an option lately she has also been live streaming sets on her IG (which are always FIREEEE!)

We caught up with Karis on her inspiration, what she has been doing over lockdown and what advice she has for anyone looking to get into music and production.

Listen back to Karistocat’s latest live stream mix and read our interview below!

Tell us a bit about yourself! How long have you been DJing and producing music?

I DJ and produce under the name Karistocat and have been DJing for almost 11 years, and producing for the past 2.

We also love your art! Do you find music influences what you create and helps inspire you?

Thank you! Music 100% influences my art and vice versa. I find some of my best ideas come when I'm making a track and it inspires a painting, or even a playlist on Spotify or mix I've got on in the background influences the feeling of my paintings.

What art/music are you working on right now?

Currently working on about 16 different tracks and working out what I want to do with them! A few EPs maybe, perhaps an album? I'm just in a creative space and hoping to share it all and keep exploring with it.

Art page here!

What kind of music/DJ's are you listening to at the moment?

Currently listening to Doc Scott's livestreams, and also his BBC Radio 1 Essential Mix is a VIBE. I've also been listening to Machinedrum's album 'A View of U', plus loving everything coming out of Hooversound, Justice's latest album 'A Two Minute Experience' and also been revisiting bands like Deftones, Modern Art, Joy Division and tonnes of darkwave.

What has been your favourite gig to date?

Saturday night/Sunday morning Leeds festival 2017 at Piccadilly Party, 3-4am. The gig was a perfect mixture enjoying every-single-second, and having no inhibitions and taking the perfect risks and a receptive and insane crowd... just WONDERFUL.

What advice would you give to someone who wants to get into DJing and music production?

It's always about the music at the end of the day. Don't be afraid of evolving, stand firm is your vision of what you want to do and KEEP GOING. Watch youtube tutorials about how to produce, start DJing in your local pubs, learn how to crowd read, and keep reaching out to people, and remember it's a marathon and not a sprint. Do everything with grace and kindness, and watch the world unfold for you.


Huge thanks to Karis for the chat, can’t wait to see you again soooon <3

We Are Fierce meets Ruashwae

Welcome back to our Fierce blog! Hope you guys are all doing well and staying safe wherever you are.

This week on the blog we are really excited to meet Leeds based DJ & visual artist Lauren Harrison AKA Ruashwae! We heard Lauren chatting to Lauren Laverne on 6 Music a few weeks back, and after hearing her mention many of the Leeds venues & clubnights we know and bloody love, we realised Lauren was from our neck of the woods!

A DJ, VJ and AV Artist, Lauren can also be found hosting shows every other month for Slut Drop on Leeds based radio station Sable. Lauren plays cool ambient sounds mixed with B-side disco, RnB & electro, and we are totally digging the huge spectrum of tracks she pairs together to make such eclectic, pure cool mixes and shows.

We loved the passion Lauren has for the Leeds music scene, as it really resonates with how we feel, especially as we have missed so much of it this past year. It reminds us just how important our music community, makers, shakers and friends really are, and we’re so excited to see everyone back in our favourite venues soon - low lights, loud beats and pure LOVE.

We caught up with Lauren about all things music, her inspiration and any advice she would give to creatives looking to get into DJing. We’re also really gassed that Lauren has pulled together a mix just for us! Listen to it below and see our interview here:

Tell us a bit about yourself! How long have you been DJing and working as an AV Artist & VJ? That must keep you very busy!

Hi! I’m Lauren, I’ve been DJ-ing for the last few years and doing live visuals for much longer! Since most of my work is in events, I’ve not been as busy as I’d like this past year but I am excited to get back to it when we can. Til then, i’ve been holding the fort every 2 months on Slut Drops Sable show and pottering around the studio and playing with projector setups. My first DJ gig was at Chunk (RIP) for a Permahigh gig in 2019 where I went b2b with Enoby and since then, I’ve not really stopped!  

I've always been creative so when I was asked by Think Tank founder Paddy HK to get involved with the live visuals for the events in 2017, I almost bit his hand off at the opportunity to perform regularly. At that time they were in the smallest room at Hyde Park Book Club - since then, the night evolved into being a real immersive experience for myself, the audience and the acts and I am gagging to be back out there again. I love live projection and events and I miss the hell out of performing to a crowd at the moment. 

We are huge fans of SLUP DROP over here, for those who might not have heard of it can you tell us more about the collective? What's your involvement?

So gassed to hear you’re a fan! We love the community so much and it’s always great to hear about the impact we have on others! 

For those who don’t know, the collective provides a platform for those who we feel are under-represented in the music and creative industries and provides a space for them to be elevated and celebrated. We found that there was a disparity in the support for LGBTQ+ and POC community and we wanted to change that and make sure voices were heard and parties were had in the meantime. I came onboard as a visual technician in late 2018, helping with lights and visuals at the events to help create the right vibe and overtime I’ve progressed to a resident DJ and to be more involved with the work behind the scenes of the collective such as planning and socials. 


We heard your recent interview on 6 Music with Lauren Laverne, it was amazing to hear you talk so passionately about clubnights, venues and music - we really miss it! What makes the music scene so special for you?

I was so overwhelmed with the response from people who felt the same! I think what makes the music scene so special is how it’s constantly evolving and creating space for those who need it in Leeds and the north. There’s a night for pretty much everyone and every vibe  you could think of. If you think you know the scene, you’ll turn a corner and see something completely new, which I LOVE because you’re never bored!


What kind of music/DJ's do you currently have on repeat?

That’s a toughie! I tend to be pretty all over the place and have been spending a lot of my time with podcasts to keep my mind off impending doom. I’m currently listening to the Sex, Power Money podcast which is by Sarah Pascoe and it’s a really interesting look into sex work and the industry from all points of view, deffo recommend. 

In terms of music, I love DJs like Sharelle and Hoe_mies because they’re so eclectic. 


We love to ask this one... what advice would you give someone who is looking to start DJing or get into the music industry?

Just go for it. I let the idea of me being a woman hold me back from wanting to hit up the decks before now. I was scared that people wouldn’t like my music taste or that I wouldn’t be as good as the next person. Now I’m like, if it slaps, it slaps; it doesn’t matter what anyone else thinks so long as I am having a good time. You shouldn’t let anyone hold you back from doing something you love and enjoy. I’d also say to reach out to the local scene and keep your ear close to the ground, there could be open decks you weren’t aware of, or nights that may go on to inform your style and the DIY scene are always happy to help others break through. 


Huge thanks to Lauren for the chat! Be sure to follow her here and keep in the loop with her latest mixes and radio shows. Until next time, thanks for reading!






















Fierce Valentine <3

Hey there you cool cats and kittens!

One for all the looooooovers out there, when it comes to the big love shaped V day we couldn’t really resist a loved up playlist. So whether you’re smooching all night or sat in the bath with a glass of red (dream night) then this playlist is the one!

Enjooooy! x

Fierce x New Year Style

So, as we hop-skip into 2021 and made our way through January, which is without a doubt the most depressing month of the year (unless it’s your birthday??), one thing we do always enjoy is looking at new fashion styles to take shape and discovering new accounts to follow and lust after! After all, what else is there to do?

Now we can’t lie, we often have a bit of a love/hate relationship with instagram. Sometimes we can’t get enough of scrolling through and saving outfits on a rainy day, and others we think nah, would rather sit around in our trackies (or let’s be real - PJs) until this is all over… but spring is fast looming and the sunshine is starting to say hello, vaccines are being rolled out and the prospect of actually getting dolled up to see your friends is… possible?! We wanted to share some accounts we’ve been digging recently.

Emili Sindlev

Emili Sindlev

If you’re hot into fashion you will no doubt already follow Emili and cry over how many stunning looks she pulls out the bag on a daily basis. We have been following her for many years now and can’t. get. enough! Stylist, creative director and most recently part of the dancing with the stars cast in Copenhagen, Emili busts out bright pops of colour alongside oversized fits and designer bags to die for. Check out her account here, you will not regret it.

Yolande Macon

Yolande Macon

Where to even start! Yolande’s effortlessly cool style and skill to pull of ANY look is just wow! We are so here for the bold colour clashes, retro shoes and playful prints - there is nothing not to love! Based in Brooklyn, Yolande also curates visual events and spaces which really shows through her styling and shoot locations. Give her a follow here.

Laura Klein

Laura Klein

A new account for us this year and boy oh boy, are we happy we stumbled across this one! London-based GANNI stylist, Laura Klein is already a firm favourite on our list. With her wardrobe bursting at the seams with gorgeous GANNI pieces, Laura layers cool knits with collared shirts and boxy designer shoes. Oh and her nail game is STRONG! Definitely an account we can’t wait to see more from! Check her out here.

Bee Whittaker

Bee Whittaker

For all your vintage lovers out there! Bee Whittaker is an absolute QUEEN of styling classic vintage pieces and has such an incredible eye for it! 90s trackies meets 60s blouse, we are so here for all her looks. Always love to find an account that brings back vintage pieces in such a playful and fun way, so be sure to give Bee to a look here!

Rebecca Ramsdale

Rebecca Ramsdale

Toronto based nail artist and fashionista, Rebecca Ramsdale is another recent follow for us! We stumbled across her nail art page Rebecca Paints Nails late last year, then soon discovered her keen eye for style and beauty. With more pops of bright colours, baggy jeans and an array of cool hair colours, we can’t recommend giving this account a follow enough! Visit her insta here.

Cat Patterson

Cat Patterson

Another vintage dream stylist! Cat Patterson owns vintage store Cats Eyes Vintage so her page is full to the brim with styling snaps of how to wear her hand-selected garms, playful colour combos and our ever favourite statement blazers. We particularly love how Cat styles old and new styles together, so definitely one to follow for a vintage & high street lover! Visit her gram here.

We hope you can find some inspiration from these accounts as much as we have, and let us know if there are any others we can check out too. Until next time!

Stay Fierce x

We Are Fierce meets SAVVY

Welcome back to our blog! We hope wherever you are, whatever you’re doing or whoever you may be with, that you’re doing well in these crazy times :) we totally got this!!!

We’re super excited for this one, as we had the chance to catch up with up and coming DJ, producer and writer Ruby Savill-Downs AKA SAVVY!

Ruby has been making waves in the Leeds music scene over the last year, and has also kept herself busy working on BabyStep Magazine, starting Ladies Lovin Radio and producing her own music - all whilst studying!

We catch up with Ruby below on how she got started, her up and coming projects and any advice she may have for those who fancy getting into DJing themselves! Read the full interview below:

1. Tell us a bit about yourself! How long have you been DJing and producing music?

I’m a DJ, producer and writer, currently residing in Leeds. I’ve been DJing for about a year and started producing this August. I’ve always been into playing music but was very hesitant to try producing any. But as I started, I fell in love with it and now produce whenever I can. I’ve been fortunate enough to get releases on some sick labels since the summer, such as Posse Up!, Action Reply Codes and GAB Records, which I’m very grateful for!

2. We are totally digging your collective Ladies Lovin Radio! Can you tell us more about this and what plans you have coming up?

Thank you! Ladies Lovin Radio is a project I created with my friend Millie (@milliebethwright) at the start of our second year of uni. We had both always wanted to get involved in radio but were hesitant to start (common theme here), so scrambled some ideas together for a show application on Leeds Student Radio.

We wanted to focus our ideas on music and art, particularly regarding women, as there are of course many discrepancies between men and women in these industries. We wanted to use it as a chance to celebrate amazing creative ladies and learn more about how the worlds of art and music collide. What started off as a radio show then quickly became so much more, as we learnt to DJ at the same time and proceeded to put on an event at Blueberry Hill. Fitting with our theme, we had an all-female DJ line-up, who absolutely blew us away. We also collaborated with ten female artists, who provided the visuals that we projected around Blueberry. It was such an amazing evening as it really felt like a whole team, full of incredibly talented women who came together to celebrate music and art. Unfortunately, as soon as we were getting ourselves off the ground, we were stopped by the pandemic.

Over lockdown we continued with a few mixes and radio shows, but then took a break for obvious reasons. We’re now really excited for the this year with (hopefully) the chance to get some of our projects going again. Our zine, about womanhood, will be released at the start of 2021! This was our way of getting female artists, musicians and writers together but in Lockdown-style. We’re also still planning on our next series of events, but who knows when that opportunity will come by.


3. What kind of music/DJ's are you listening to at the moment? 

I really try to expand my listening as much as I can, as I have a bad habit of getting stuck in genre-holes for months on end. I mainly mix booty house, footwork and electro, so these are my go-to’s when searching for music on SoundCloud. The stuff coming out of these genres at the moment is outstanding, with producers like DJ Mell G, Sarah Farina, Speedy Gonzales and Ghostwhip constantly pushing the bar higher. My stand-out album of this year was with no doubt Queens of Club: Astral Booty, a two-part VA by women and non-binary producers in ghetto-tech, electro, footwork and breakbeat.

Deffo worth a listen if you get the chance! 


4. What advice would you give to someone who is looking to get into DJing/production?

You really have to throw yourself into it. I found it pretty daunting at the start because I had absolutely no idea about how to DJ, or how to work my way around production software, but I was very fortunate to have talented friends who had the patience to help me!

Start DJing with others, watching YouTube clips on producing - the more time you put into it the more you’ll get out. I also believe you shouldn’t be afraid to be rubbish at first – when I listen back to mixes I’ve done or music I made at the very start, I think it’s awful! However, it’s all about progress and building on your style.

The most useful thing for me has always been talking to people I know – the help you get from this is way more accessible and less intimidating. If you don’t know anyone, the range of collectives and production groups out there at the moment is so great, especially for women! I’d recommend getting involved with @thebeatriarchy, @shiftingsspheres or @selextorhood.


5. What's coming up next for you?

At the moment I’m trying to get as much producing done whilst finishing my degree haha. I’m sitting on a few tracks at the moment, with the hopes of releasing an EP at some point. I also have some collaborations in the works with some musicians outside of my normal circle, which is super exciting! 

Check out Ruby’s soundcloud here for latest mixes and releases and be sure to give her a follow on the gram! Thanks so much to Ruby for chatting to us, we will see you very soon for a dance <3 <3

We Are Fierce x Kitchen Disco playlist!

Okay… so we’re in lockdown no.3 and we’re all feeling pretty shitty. Plus to make it worse it is the MOST depressing month of the year :(

To cheer up your Saturday we have pulled together a fun kitchen disco playlist! For best results, pair with a strong cocktail whilst cooking your dinner and if you have a disco ball EVEN BETTER!

There’s no genre, just songs to make your hips shake from J.Lo to CHIC and everything in between!

We hope wherever you are, whoever you are with and whatever your plans are you are safe and sound. Stay home, listen to music, chat to your pals and stay strong. We have totally got this and this isn’t forever.

Click the link below to open in your Spotify and we’ll see you on the dancefloor soon!

Sending love to all our Fierce family x

We Are Fierce x Hannah Marion - Disco Mix

Listen to our latest mix from DJ and Fierce co-founder Hannah Marion, perfect for some Christmas kitchen disco dancing! (Don’t worry, no shitty Christmas songs were played in this…) ENJOY!

Tracklist:

1. BANZAII - Chinese Kung Fu
2. Karen Silver - Nobody Else
3. Razor N Tape - Feel the Rhythm
4. Puzique - Nice N Tight
5. Fern Kinney - Love Me Tonight
6. Groove Committee - I Want You To Know
7. Loose Joints - Tell You (Today) (Vocal edit)
8. Crazy P - One True Light
9. Fonda Rae - Heobah (12" extended)

We Are Fierce meets DJ & Producer Shauna

Welcome to the We Are Fierce blog and our first post!

Here, you’ll be able to find interviews, mixes, chit chat and all things we love from the creative, events and music industry. Our mission is to support and empower female, non-binary and LGBTQ+ artists who are passionate about music, and want to build a safe platform here to share their passion, talent and of course their music, so come join us over here!

What better way to kick off this page than with an interview and mix from up and coming DJ & producer Shauna!

We first discovered Shauna on instagram last year and have followed her ever since. Her unique style, effortlessly cool vibes and solid ears for raving tracks got us excited - it’s always incredible to find like-minded DJs, and so after hearing some of her mixes and radio shows we knew she would be one to watch and an artist who we fancied having a chat with. Fast forward to (nearly the end of!) 2020, Shauna has now released her debut EP ‘Original Workout’ on Interpolate Records. This exciting release, which has already been played on the likes of BBC Radio 1 and BBC introducing, are the perfect tracks for that rave we’re all dying to go to in 2021, and so we see a massively bright future for Shauna.

We caught up with Shauna about all things music, her inspiration and any advice she would give to creatives looking to get into DJing or production. Listen to her mix and read our interview below:

Tell us a bit about yourself! How long have you been DJing and producing music?

I’ve been DJing around Leeds for about 5 years and started producing this March, which is something that I’ve always wanted to do and finally had the time to with lockdown! I released my first EP, Original Workout, at the end of last month on Interpolate Records (which is an ace label based in Hull).

We love your first EP release 'Original Workout', how long have you been working on it and what was your inspiration behind it?

I made it over a few months in summer when I was missing the club and DJing, I wanted to make some club-orientated techno tracks that I can spin when we finally get back on the dancefloor. I was basically just making tracks that I’d want to dance to (and hopefully other people will too!)  

What's coming up next for you?

I’ve started working on some new tracks that I’m very excited about, I’ve also got something planned for Spring but can’t say any more than that!

What kind of music/DJ's are you listening to at the moment? 

I’ve been listening to queer Polish club music by producers like Avtomat and Semprey that’s been coming out on the Krakow-based Tańce label. Both EPs are influenced by traditional Polish music as well as the ongoing oppression of queer people in Poland. ‘Nieludzie (Ignorance Ha)’ by Avtomat (which opens my mix) samples the Polish minster of education’s recent anti-LGBT speech (which translates to "Let's defend ourselves from the LGBT ideology. We have to stop listening to this nonsense about some human rights or some equality. These people are not equal to normal people. End of story"). I love how Avtomat juxtaposes this quote with footwork-like instrumental and turns it into a banging club track - music like this is so vital right now. 

What advice would you give to someone who wants to get into DJing and music production?

There’s loads of beginners Ableton courses for women, non-binary and trans people that have been happening over Zoom recently, from Equalize Music Production, Saffron and Rhythm Sister, would definitely recommend getting on any of those, they’re so supportive and ace environments to learn in.

In terms of DJing, join a collective! I’ve been with Sisu, who are a DJ collective based in London but have members all over the world, since March. It’s been so helpful to be able to talk to other DJs and pick up tips. Even though I’ve been DJing for years I’m still learning loads from other people. 

You can purchase ‘Original Workout’ via Interpolate Records here and go follow Shauna to keep up with her latest shows and mixes here! Huge thanks to Shauna for chatting to us, see you next time!