Q&A with LISALÖÖF

We caught up with Glasgow based DJ & producer LISALÖÖF this week and she gave us some great insights and advice for anyone that is starting out in the industry. LISALÖÖF’s raw dark strain of techno is catching a lot of attention in Scotland and further afield as she gears up for a busy 2022. Read the Q&A below.

Where did your career in music start and how long have you been a DJ & producer?

In 2017 I started DJing and producing at the same time. I was out clubbing in Glasgow every weekend. Usually at the afters there was a fight for the aux cable, and I would often win, but to the detriment of everyone in the room I would usually select dark techno. Friends encouraged me to start DJing but I felt terrified that I would be the only woman on the bill (if I even got on the bill) So I attended weekly DJ lessons at Grassroots Glasgow, run by Sarra Wild, and also Intersessions run by Nightwave and E.M.M.A. They helped me to build skills, confidence and also network (I’m still friends with lots of the DJs and students today). I then purchased a DJ controller and practiced every night. I was really lucky to be invited to headline at my first gig, it felt really special and gave me confidence to push through!

How has your sound progressive since you started djing?

My musical tastes have changed a lot over the years. But there has always been dark and hypnotic undertones to the music I like to play. When I started DJing I would play what I expected the promoter would like because I was desperate for gigs, but now I’m booked for playing the music I like.

What DAW do you use?

I use Ableton 10 on an extremely slow MacBook Pro.

What have you got coming up in 2022? Can you let us in on any of your plans ?

As for 2022, it’s a pretty big year so far. I have played with Slam and Tham, and next month I’m playing at a Ukraine Fundraiser organised by my wonderful friend. I’m absolutely buzzing for the legendary Slam Tent as I’m going b2b my friend Neoma who plays some right raw techno. In the summer I’m opening at Riverside and I couldn’t be any more excited. I’m also excited to have one of my tracks on a compilation from a Berlin label run by one of my dearest friends.

who are your biggest influences ?

It’s difficult to choose from the abundance of music that’s shaped me as a person. But some influences to name a few are Underground Resistance, Blawan, Lady Starlight, Bjarki, Drexciya, Ryan James Ford, Slam, The Advent, Nene H, Stanislav Tolkachev.

what advice would you give to someone starting to emerge as a dj ?

I’d recommend you stay true to your sound never doubt your abilities. Don’t let chin strokers and trolls tell you anything. It’s your gig, you’re the person being paid to play, not them, just ignore them. They are usually jealous or threatened, especially if you’re not a typical white dude. Also when taking gigs always be clear about your fee, travel arrangements, and set times from the minute the promoter contacts you. It’s less awkward than waiting until the gig and finding they weren’t planning on paying, and it means both parties know where they stand. The same goes for releasing music on labels. I would also recommend that you put as much focus on your mental health as you do with music. Partying and electronic music comes hand in hand and this can result in burnout, especially if you juggling DJing, producing and working full-time. I would recommend you stay away from the narcotics and bevy as much as you can, try the odd sober club night and try to keep out of the continuous samsara of getting on it. It will ultimately leave you too exhausted to focus on DJing and producing.

If you could go back in time five years and give yourself a piece of advice, what would it be? 

My advice to my old self would be: know your worth, trust in your abilities, and enjoy all your gigs, even the super quiet ones!

Listen & Follow LISALÖÖF here.

Q&A with Malka & Amunda

We’re back with another special Q&A and our artist of the week champions MALKA & AMUNDA. Today marks the global celebration of International Women’s Day - a day to honour the social, cultural, political and economic achievements of women. Two of Scotland’s finest musical talents in Malka & Amunda have teamed up to mark this significant day with the release of ‘On The Up’ - we caught up with them this week to hear all about it.

Your brand new single ‘On The Up’ is out today on International Women's Day, tell us about this new release and the significance of releasing on IWD 2022.

We collaborated on this track at a time when I think we felt like we were both working really hard and having some personal breakthroughs. So it kinda turned into our own anthem about staying focused and becoming the hero in your own story. Releasing it on IWD 2022 is exciting because the world is opening back up and it signifies pressing play on everything you want to pursue in life, without having to wait.

Describe this new collaborative release in 3 words

Brassy, punchy pop.

Amunda, this marks a new solo identify for you - what inspired this move and can we expect more new music in the coming months?

I started making music when I was 16 and the bulk of that was spent playing in bands. I think I just wanted to explore myself as a solo artist and I am always writing new music. I started writing a bunch of songs in 2018 and they felt different, they felt like they were supposed to be for just me. So, this year I am releasing 5 songs. The first single “Did You Get That?” comes out on the 30th of March and will be released on Tantrum Records.

Tell us about the Hen Hoose collective; Why does it exist and what are your proudest achievements to date

Hen Hoose was formed as a response to gender inequality in the music industry, the numbers speak for themselves - only 17% of writers registered at PRS are women and only 20% of artists signed to major labels are women. HH is a way to highlight the talent of women and non-binary artists, prodcuers and mixing engineers in Scotland. We released Equaliser which has had an incredible response and we have also written the music for the Scottish Government Vaccine Campaign

Hen Hoose - a music production and songwriting collective founded by Tamara Schlesinger.

One album inspired/defined you as artists?

Oh that's a hard one. I have so many. I will have to hand this over to you Amandah

Amandah - Janet Jackson - The Velvet Rope.

What’s next on the cards for you individually and as part of the Hen Hoose collective

I will be releasing new music this year and playing some shows. I am playing the new AMPLIFY festival at Queens Hall in Edinburgh on the 25th May and a few festival dates that haven’t been announced yet. I am really excited about it all! - AMUNDA

I have just released a new single 'Not Alone' and have some festival slots to announce soon too plus I am working on some other little side projects. We have some HH news coming up soon which we can't wait to announce and we are hoping to do a second round of the collaborative project too. It's all go really. Tamara/MALKA

We’re head over heels for this brassy pop collaboration and you can check it out here. This is a triumphant release to mark International Womens Day and we are absolutely here for it. Make sure you follow MALKA & AMUNDA and keep up to date with upcoming releases.

Find out more on International Womens Day here.