magda speaks

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One of my favourite DJ/musicians, Magda, has given a radio interview about her life, her music and what she's up to right now in an internet radio show. I've added the interview to my blog below but you can also read more about the show directly from the Red Bull Academy website here.

I find that interviews with dance music artists are as rare as rockinghorse poo at times so it's doubly pleasing that the subject of this particular show is one of the dance industry big hitters. She speaks about moving from her native Poland to Detroit as a child and how she got into DJing and her early influences. She also reveals why she moved to Berlin and her relationship with Minus Records. On the website there's also a tracklisting of the tunes featured between interviews. Overall, it's been a lovely way of spending my lunchtime. Hearing her speak is a bit like meeting someone for the first time when you've only ever corresponded by mail and makes the music more personal for me.

This Red Bull website has been a bit of a goldmine and I'll be exploring further when time allows.

international women's day

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To commemorate the day I thought I'd showcase a few of my favourite female DJs. Anyone who's seen DJs perform must be aware that it's a male dominated arena with a lot of testosterone-fuelled egos at times. The male DJs that I like are the ones who are not afraid to break with the norms and concentrate on the music, Hawtin, Steinberg et al. I do think female DJs do have a different perspective. I can't quantify it but it's definitely there.

Magda is a German DJ at the very top of the tree. One of my favourite minimal techno artists, she's not afraid to experiment as her Fabric album is testimony to. Her sound tends to have a deep, mellow feel to it with rich basslines that really make you feel like dancing to.

Keeping it minimal, here is Anja Schneider, also from Germany with 3 of her better known tracks. I saw her play live a year or two back and she stole the show.

Last up is another German via the UK and Austria, Cassy who is making a big name for herself with her deep house sound. This tune is so soulful, it's a bit of an oldie but in an environment where it seems that you need to keep the tunes in a fridge because their 'use-by' date is so short, this one stands the test of time well. Enjoy.