AOS (KAYLA WALDORF; secondnature, TUF)
Current Top 5 tracks:
DJ Stingray 313, "Acetylcholine" (Cognition)
"Not only is Stingray (Sherard Ingram) a great producer, he has played some of my favorite DJ sets in the past few years. He is so precise and mechanical behind the decks, and his sets are aggressive and powerful, but his personality doesn’t really reflect that harsh vibe; he’s such a kind, funny man! His work is also very important to the history of dance music, being from Detroit and pioneering the electro sound as part of Drexciya with his former partner James Stinson. Definitely check out Stinson’s solo work too!"
Alfredo Mazilli, "Vanir (Hiver Remix)" (Blankstairs)
"Hiver is one of my favorite remixers and I find myself playing this track on the regular to pump up the party in the later parts of the night. Blankstairs, run by Nathaniel Young and Warren Mattox, is also the label that I first released music on last year. Their label is diverse and thoughtful, hosting a range of music from grooving techno to more experimental/soundscape vibes."
Shinichiro Yokota, "Do It Again" (Far East Recording)
"This is essential '90s Japanese house. I love to play the sunrise set at a party, and this track has such a fun and triumphant (yet sassy) morning vibe."
Hello 307, "Microlith" (CPU)
"This track shows the more sentimental side of my style. I’ve been really into the electro palette, but with a more gentle, melodic vibe and I think this label and this track in particular does a good job of capturing that sound. I like the juxtaposition of the sweet melody against the funky breakbeat and the groovy bass line."
Midori Takada, "Mr. Henri Rousseau’s Dream" (RCA Red Seal)
"I am also interested in ambient, experimental, and minimalism and Midori Takada is a beautiful example of what interests me in these genres. Her use of acoustic percussion as well as sampling and field recording makes such interesting textures and soundscapes. She is really a genius at using sounds to bring storytelling into her work."
Crew/label affiliation: "I am a member of secondnature and TUF, and have released on Blankstairs, all of which have origins in the Pacific Northwest. secondnature grew out of a group of friends throwing parties in college in Tacoma to a label and party series here in Seattle. We just released our third record from member, Archivist (Alex Markey)! TUF is an organization of female/femme/non-binary artists in Seattle and does truly amazing and important community building through event curation, workshops, and online/physical publications. It has been immensely satisfying to learn and grow alongside such excellent curators, artists, and activists in both these groups."
Styles played: "Techno, house, electro, ambient/experimental."
Events organized: "This year I was the production coordinator for TUF FEST which is a yearly festival the takes place at Judkins Park and is a celebration of visual art, performance, and education with a goal of uplifting, expanding, and celebrating the female, non-binary, and trans electronic music community.
"I also curate and throw events with secondnature every few months. Join our mailing list if you’d like to check them out! Recently we’ve had Jane Fitz, Artefakt, and have some exciting events lined up for October and November (sorry, I can’t say more at the moment)."
DJing philosophy: "I might not go so far to say that I’ve fully developed my philosophy on DJing (that probably takes a lifetime), but I’ll try to articulate what I consider when I DJ and throw events.
"Dance music, like most art that interests me, is very contextual (situated in a specific time and place and first and foremost it’s for the people—the dance floor). I would say that I’ve always approached DJing from the point of view of an events curator, which means that I consider context and how all the pieces come together to create an immersive experience (the space, the vibe of the crowd, the lighting, the time of day/night, etc). This viewpoint has definitely matured since my days of throwing house parties in Tacoma, but I have always been interested in how psychological DJing is. If you have the right crowd and setting DJing can become a truly unique art form, because it is not only a performance, it is also an interaction and exchange. Sure you need technical skills and ultimately you will be mixing tracks together that you, the DJ, have selected to be played, but to me, the art of DJing involves a meeting of the minds. That is, you as the DJ must interact and communicate with the audience to build a vibe and create a musical atmosphere that encourages people to let go and dance.
"It might sound cheesy, but honestly the best way I can describe a good DJ set is as a musical seduction. A really good DJ will comfortably convince you into their musical world and make you feel like that’s exactly where you’re meant to be. That’s why I think it’s really important to collect a wide range of music, so that this interaction with the dance floor can take place. That’s also why I will always believe that track selection is more important than technical ability! It’s important to remember that technical ability will always come with time and practice.
"Another context I consider is the safety of the space itself. At my events, I strive to create a safe and inclusive space (physically and emotionally), because let’s be honest, no one is having a lose-your-mind moment on the dance floor if they don’t feel safe.
"Finally, I also try to consider my place in musical history. Say what you will, but dance music and politics are inseparable in my view and I try to take that seriously in booking and curating events. Sure, sometimes it feels as if we’re just dancing and partying the night away, but it’s important to remember the context in which this was all born and how that context is still important today. Dance music was born from disco/house in the late '70s/early '80s and created by and for queers and POCs. As far as I’m concerned dance music cannot and should not ever be dissociated from these groups. I recommend reading “An alternate history of sexuality in club culture” by Luis-Manuel Garcia in Resident Advisor for a more eloquent and parsed-out discussion on this topic, since I don’t have time to write an essay. Fortunately, I see a lot of promoters and DJs in Seattle considering the importance of this (see: TUF) but of course we can always do more (book, support, promote) and do better; it certainly has been a journey for me."
Format: "I mostly use Pioneer CDJs (I have model 850s at home), but I’m slowly becoming more comfortable DJing vinyl on my Technics SL1200 turntables. My preferred mixer is without a doubt the Allen & Heath xone 92. It’s a versatile and beautiful piece of equipment and has such a warm sound."
Worst request: "Most requests have been for popular hiphop at house parties, which is expected if people don’t know what they’re walking into. Nothing too insidious stands out, to be honest! Last time I played in Portland, a group of people were barking loudly about how all my tracks were psytrance (but they definitely were not—nothing against psytrance, I like progressive tunes, too)."
Upcoming events:
"My gigs: Sunday, September 9: Orphan Radio 7-9 pm alongside the talented, Kristen Dalen, for a Blankstairs showcase
Thursday, September 14: The Lot Radio in NYC (time TBA)
Friday, September 29: MOTOR with Golden Donna, QoQo Roboqs, and Patternmaster at Timbre Room"
Upcoming events I'm organizing: "Secondnature is co-curating KremFest the weekend of September 21st at Kremwerk and the bill will include some of my favorite techno artists (I can’t spoil the news, but you won’t want to miss this)!"
