Can you tell me what sparked your interest in DJing?
DJing is definitely something I was meant to do. I have been collecting vinyl and music for as far back as I can remember, made dozens of mix tapes off the radio and my vinyl as a kid, and was the one my friends could always count on to supply the music at all our social events. What inspired me to finally get turntables and learn how to mix, was becoming a local promoter and event coordinator. After throwing a few events and being drawn to the hard dance beats, I instantly became fascinated with the beauty of moving a crowd with sound. It quickly became evident to me that it was something I needed to learn, and I embraced all aspects of DJing whole-heartedly and tirelessly.

How would you describe your sound?
I play and collect so many styles. My collection consists of everything from hardcore techno to trance, jungle to hip hop, and even old skool house to freestyle, but my main focus is hardcore techno. But calling me a hardcore DJ just wouldn’t suffice. In my sets I like to mix things up with jungle, hip hop, metal/rock, and sometimes I’ll even start off with some hard trance or acid techno. Plus I like to keep things exciting and fresh with some turntablism/scratching. Basically, my goal is to take people on a journey of sound that gets more intense as it progresses, leaving dancers and listeners fulfilled and even exhausted by the set’s end.

How is it being one of the lone females in the hardcore scene?
I’m sure it’s both good and bad in some ways, but I like to focus on the positive aspect of it. Female DJs in general can be rare, female turntablists are even more rare, and females in hardcore are almost impossible to come by. And because I’m unique in those ways, that sometimes sparks curiosity in people to come check me out. And because of that more people end up giving hardcore a chance, which is what my goal has been from the beginning. There’s a negative stigma surrounding the hardcore sound, and people associate it with being noisy, unrhythmic, and hard to dance to, monotonous, and so on. From day one I felt a calling to change those views and I knew to do that I had to be different and take things to higher levels. And little by little, I think I’m helping. Sure, sometimes I’ve just gotten lucky and played before or after more popular DJs, and then people who wouldn’t normally give me or the sound a chance end up sticking around after watching me do my thing for a few minutes. But no matter what the situation, people usually walk away liking hardcore a little more than they thought they would, and to me that’s mission accomplished. And I lure them back for more using my skill, not my femininity or sexuality, because I think that’s what it should be about. We’re all equal in this game, and should use talent and not looks to gain popularity. But I’ll admit I do have a soft spot for other female DJs that rock and take their art form as seriously as I do. And I throw a free female DJ party every year to prove that.

What is it that draws you to hardcore?
First of all, it’s the bass drum! It‘s so addicting and invigorating that nothing in the world feels like it or can compare to it. A room just comes alive when those kick drums start bumping through the speakers. Next, it’s the variety that it has. Depending on the style or producer, hardcore has elements of metal, hip hop, jungle, trance, hard house, and so on. So no matter what mood I’m in, there’s always a track that will suit my needs. Finally, putting together a hardcore set is like writing a story or piecing together a puzzle. I can unleash so many emotions in one set, I couldn’t fathom doing that with many other styles of music. And after I’m done playing, I’ve emit so much energy that I feel vented and refreshed. It’s like a personal therapy lesson! Plus hardcore heads (for the most part) are an amazing group of people. The vibe we all create and share in is so positive and real, it makes everything so worthwhile. And you can count on them to go to parties for the right reasons – the music!

Can you tell me what has been your favorite experience DJing so far?
Every experience has its great moments and any opportunity to spin for a crowd is a blessing. But there are definitely times that have stuck in my mind. I’ll quickly mention two. One time was in NY, and it was one of my first main stage performances for a large audience. The energy in the room was insane, and to look up to see dozens of peeps dancing, moshing and enjoying my set was surreal. We just fed off each other, it was awesome! Another great moment was in Detroit this year. It was my first time playing somewhere not knowing how people were going to react to me, or if they’d even like my music. When I got off the decks and heard that kids were lying down on the dance floor because they were so tired from dancing, and then later to learn that my set was the winning DJ set of the night (it was a boys vs. girls battle). I really felt all my years of hard work were beginning to pay off.

Your worst?
I always try to make the best out of any situation unless it’s totally beyond my control. And I really don’t have many complaints except for the couple of times I had to deal with faulty or wrong equipment. If I can’t play to my best ability because of that, I feel the crowd and I have been cheated. It’s like asking a band to play without some of their instruments. But unfortunately that’s a part of the game, you just have to learn to make due.

As a producer why do you feel the female representation is lacking in production?
Well…considering the lack of female DJs in general, it’s understandable that there aren’t that many producers either. But lately with the growing trend and ease of use for producing with home computers, music-making is on the rise for both genders. And just like females are coming up and getting into DJing more, I think they’re going to do the same and start producing more as well. Our generation is experiencing and seeing more gender role-reversals than ever before, so I think we’re going to continue to see everything even-out and hopefully DJing and producing will follow suit and no longer be considered a boy’s thing.

What are you future goals as far as DJing/production are concerned?
All I have to say is the learning never stops, and I’m constantly refining my scratching and production skills. It’s hard juggling a full-time job and music, so results take time, but this is a lifetime goal and slowly it’s all coming together. But as a DJ, my long-term goals are to continue refining my turntablist skills and to keep my sets unique and exciting. As a producer, I’d like to create tracks that parallel my DJ creativity – with lots of genre-blending and ingenuity.

Are you working on anything now?
My new mix, “New York City Femcore - Part 3!” It’s due out at a massive hardcore party happening here in NY on August 27th, Fuck the Prejudice II. After that, I’ll be preparing for another DJ battle and going to finish up some tracks to be released on ADAM Recordings.

Any advice for up and coming DJ’s??
Work hard, be patient, and enjoy what you do! If it takes you longer to play out in public don’t lose hope, just think you’ll be that much better when you finally do. It’s a frustrating scene, just keep your head out of the drama and bullshit and stay positive. Love what you do, and do things for yourself and the music, not the money or popularity. Lastly, be open-minded, don’t be afraid to try new things, and remember that you can accomplish anything you want if you put your heart and soul into it.