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!