Episode Transcript
[00:00:32] Speaker A: Hey, babies.
[00:00:33] Speaker B: And welcome back to From Studio to Stage. This is my first interview and I am so, so excited for this guest. This guest has been someone who has been a massive inspiration to me for years and she has literally been a trailblazer in the industry for all female DJs. It is none other than my mentor and secret manager, lady Leah.
[00:00:57] Speaker A: Oh, thank you, my darling. You're so awesome. I appreciate you so, so much. Thank you for inviting me.
[00:01:02] Speaker B: No, of course. I mean, like, it's the natural progression. I need to thank you so much.
[00:01:08] Speaker A: And it's amazing what you're doing. I'm very proud of your proactiveness.
[00:01:12] Speaker B: Thank you.
[00:01:13] Speaker A: In your brand and getting out there. So well done. You've passed. Your mentorship.
Never ending mentorship.
[00:01:20] Speaker B: That is never ending mentorship. Yes. No.
[00:01:23] Speaker A: Amazing.
[00:01:24] Speaker B: I'm absolutely like in awe of you. I don't think you realize how much I revere you every time I'm out with you and I watch you play a gig. So whenever Leah plays, I tend to come along and then sit with her husband, Warren. And every single gig, I always just turn to Warren and I'm like, do you know how cool your wife is?
[00:01:43] Speaker A: That's so sweet. Sometimes, you know, don't always feel that way. You know, imposter syndrome still has me after 30 years every now and again, but I just enjoy it. You know, it's all about setting the vibe, playing the right song at the right moment, which is for me the biggest thing.
[00:02:05] Speaker B: So listen, you do it so well though.
[00:02:07] Speaker A: Thank you.
[00:02:07] Speaker B: You'd never say you have imposter syndrome. Quite frankly, I have it more with.
[00:02:12] Speaker A: Other things, I guess. But every now and again it's good to feel those nerves.
[00:02:17] Speaker B: It is. It means okay. Exactly.
So that actually helps me quite a lot. It's a nice lead in to my first question for you about your three decades of being active in the industry. As you celebrate over 30 years in the industry, what do you consider the most significant change you've witnessed in the music scene and how have you adapted to said change?
[00:02:39] Speaker A: I think the biggest change has come from analog DJing and CD DJing into the whole digital downloads, Internet type DJing and now also moving into pretty much going to be streaming. DJing is going to be quite big and live production type of DJing. So, you know, I come from vinyl DJing, which is like kind of your 50 records that you're carrying with you, what you get to play. And now you walk around with a tiny little stick and you know you've got like Thousands and hundreds of thousands of songs. So just having been spoiled for choice, I think.
[00:03:20] Speaker C: Okay.
[00:03:21] Speaker A: Musically, also, just the amount of music that comes out every single day, you know, it's scary. It is scary. It's good in a way, but it's also not so good because there's a lot of crap. And then the really good ones are. You have to, like, find a needle in the haystack.
[00:03:40] Speaker D: Yes.
[00:03:41] Speaker A: So it takes a lot of sifting and sitting on your beatboard for hours on your computer. And I mean, if I could go back to the days of missioning through alleyways and going to record stores, I would go back there in a heartbeat.
[00:03:57] Speaker C: Okay.
[00:03:57] Speaker A: Even though it took more time, you had to get in your car, you had to drive, you had to go, you had to stand there, you had a look. It was just so much more fun being there and seeing other DJs and feeling the actual song in your hand. I'm not saying it was better. It was more fun.
[00:04:13] Speaker C: Yeah.
[00:04:14] Speaker A: You know, now you have access to a lot more, a lot quicker. But again, it's a needle in a haystack. You're going to have to sip really, really, really well. I think that's the biggest change. It's just the medium that we play music from and find music and where we get music. It's a lot more accessible now. So anyone can really be a DJ with a couple of simple steps, but it doesn't mean they can be a great dj.
[00:04:40] Speaker D: That's very true.
[00:04:41] Speaker A: Ultimately, a great DJ chooses the right song for the right moment and that's really what it boils down to. You know, you can drop mix every song.
[00:04:50] Speaker D: Yes.
[00:04:50] Speaker A: At a birthday party and no one will care as long as you're playing the right song.
[00:04:54] Speaker D: Yes.
[00:04:55] Speaker B: That's very true, actually.
[00:04:56] Speaker C: Yeah.
[00:04:57] Speaker A: When you get more into the underground clubs and stuff, that's where the technique and the technical ability really matters more.
[00:05:06] Speaker B: Or your boiler rooms.
[00:05:07] Speaker A: Yeah. And clubs where the people's music knowledge and mixing, you know, they're very, like, aware of what you're doing. That's where that kind of stuff really matters.
[00:05:19] Speaker C: Okay.
[00:05:20] Speaker A: But I would say like 70% of the population don't care about mixing as long as it's not huge. HORSE GALLOPS Terrible.
[00:05:29] Speaker C: Yeah.
[00:05:30] Speaker A: They really don't care. In the end of the day, a DJ really needs. They are made up of their music collection and that's what makes them the type of DJ they are. Your sound, it's your music collection. I mean, I have a sound, but it's not genre specific.
[00:05:47] Speaker D: Yes.
[00:05:48] Speaker A: So it doesn't mean I'm only deep house or only funky house. I can play pretty much anything. But I always like to play happy. Bouncy, still gritty, but. But that sort of, like, happy feeling. Whereas other DJs might be more darker. So it doesn't matter what I choose. There's always that Lady Leah feel.
[00:06:07] Speaker C: Yeah.
[00:06:07] Speaker A: You know, that's kind of what makes you a great DJ. And I think this day and age, for new DJs to find that sound of theirs, their own, is very important because you can try and be the next black coffee, you can try and be the next whatever, but there really is one.
[00:06:25] Speaker D: Yes.
[00:06:25] Speaker A: You know, so you need to take bits and pieces from everyone and make your own thing. And in the end of the day, playing something that you love but you're not sure, you know, maybe no one else has played it, that's the song that's going to set you apart. So, like, remembering these things in this day and age is very important. Trying to find your specific sound in this cesspool of music, excess music that we've got now, it's very, very important. Otherwise you're just going to be the next sync dj playing beatboard top 100.
Anyone can do that.
[00:07:03] Speaker B: Exactly.
[00:07:04] Speaker A: Yeah.
[00:07:05] Speaker B: And talking of that, you've been a trailblazer, like I mentioned, and a massive inspiration for women in the DJing world, myself included.
Can you share a moment when you felt like you broke through a significant barrier and how did that experience shape your career?
[00:07:23] Speaker A: Okay. I hope it's not just women that I inspire.
[00:07:27] Speaker B: I'm sure you inspire the masses, friend.
[00:07:30] Speaker A: I think a significant barrier. I mean, there were small moments in my career where I. I did, like, cool hairstyles and stuff. And then suddenly people noticed me. Also just being a woman that time where there weren't many female DJs, also was like a very big standout for people. They were like, what? Like, there's a girl mixing. And then I would love it when they did that because then they'd think, like, you know, she probably can't make. She's just kind of standing there. But then I would, you know, want to mix even better and choose, like, the coolest songs to, like, blow them away.
[00:08:04] Speaker C: Yeah.
[00:08:04] Speaker A: But one of the biggest breakthroughs in my career was doing my Catch Me if you can, okay. Album series. I had done quite a few CD compilations before Catch Me if youf can. But Catch Me if youf can just sort of like broke the ice properly and, I don't know, Catch me if youf Can 1. There was just a couple of standout songs that people still to this day ask me for.
[00:08:27] Speaker B: Cool, man.
[00:08:27] Speaker A: You know, and there was also a song that was on radio that I did with Alicia and Scotty, you and Me, which was on radio at that time also, you know, the Freeform 5 and the Fruit was on there. We did massive touring for that and subsequently released another two volumes of that series and then carried on doing a couple of other albums. But I, I think that was like one of the pinnacle points. I was about 24 years old.
[00:08:53] Speaker B: Cool.
[00:08:54] Speaker A: And those albums just like I was just touring the country and also overseas like crazy. Yes.
[00:09:02] Speaker B: Okay, awesome friend. What were some of the biggest challenges you faced as a female DJ in a very male dominated industry and how did you overcome them?
[00:09:11] Speaker A: I feel that honestly my answer is going to be very different to everyone else's answers. I feel like being a female made it easier for me.
[00:09:21] Speaker C: Okay.
[00:09:21] Speaker A: I didn't have challenges in the way that a lot of other female DJs describe having challenges. You know, like been taken advantage of or, you know, have had like sexual people coming on to them or like, I mean, obviously people would flirt with me and stuff, but I never had a time where it was like, oh, if you sleep with me, I will give you a gig. I would just knock the person out. Like, honestly, the way people treat you is the way you let them treat you. They knew they could never treat me that way. Like, don't come and treat me like a little girl because I'm not. And even if I was, that's not how you treat a person. So in the end of the day, I felt being a woman was easier for me to get gigs because I was the one of the only women. So they'd be like, wow, you're like the only female dj and you. I'd walk in and people would like light up when they saw me. So for me, I had more benefits being a woman than I had anything negative.
[00:10:27] Speaker C: Okay.
[00:10:28] Speaker A: However, obviously women carry babies, so that's. I think one of the main things being a woman is, you know, if no one's going to give you maternity leave or. Yeah, you know.
However, I did play until I was literally nine months pregnant. So I didn't stop DJing. I even went to Ibiza and all, I mean, all sorts of things. So.
[00:10:52] Speaker B: Well, Jordy was in your tummy.
[00:10:54] Speaker A: Yeah.
Which was difficult because I couldn't drink wine and I couldn't, you know, I was tired. I remember waiting up for dead mouse at 4 in the morning. Oh, shame in amnesia. And I was just like, oh my gosh, I want to go to sleep. But yeah. So I think the pregnancy thing, having babies.
[00:11:14] Speaker C: Yeah.
[00:11:14] Speaker A: Is a challenge.
[00:11:15] Speaker C: Okay.
[00:11:16] Speaker A: Especially as they're born. And then I, I had to travel with him a lot.
[00:11:20] Speaker B: I can imagine.
[00:11:21] Speaker A: For the first few, like two years, I'd need to have two flights instead of one because it. Obviously he could fly for free. But I'd need a nanny.
[00:11:30] Speaker D: Yes.
[00:11:30] Speaker A: While I was out and about. Or a friend or like when I arrived somewhere. Then I'd need someone to be on babysitting duty. So it's the whole mother thing. At least the first few years that would, I, I would say would be like the biggest challenge. And also like your body changes and then your confidence changes.
So like when you're pregnant, you're obviously feeling big, but you're like, well, I'm, you know, I'm big because I'm pregnant, dumbass.
And then afterwards you lose some weight, but it's not like where you were.
[00:12:02] Speaker D: Yes.
[00:12:03] Speaker A: You know, and then you hit like your 40s and then your body changes again.
[00:12:08] Speaker D: Yes.
[00:12:08] Speaker A: So it's like all of this, like, identity crisis with your image and your body. Like, I don't want to go to my gig being Lady Leah looking like a mommy.
[00:12:19] Speaker C: Okay.
[00:12:19] Speaker A: I don't want that. You know, I always want to look like Lady Leah.
[00:12:22] Speaker C: Yeah.
[00:12:23] Speaker A: But you know, when you have like a mommy tummy and this and that, it makes you feel like a bit embarrassed. So I would say that would be my biggest thing is body changing, having a baby and, and those sorts of things. But with regards to having respect in the industry and safety and people taking advantage of you, I never allowed those things to happen.
[00:12:47] Speaker D: Okay.
[00:12:48] Speaker A: Yeah.
[00:12:48] Speaker B: That's a good word of advice for all.
[00:12:51] Speaker A: Yeah.
Don't. The minute you see a little bit of disrespect, you put your foot down straight away.
[00:12:58] Speaker C: Yeah.
[00:12:59] Speaker A: Say, listen. Yeah. This is. You've got the wrong person. Yeah, buddy.
[00:13:02] Speaker D: Yes.
[00:13:02] Speaker A: And then that won't continue.
[00:13:04] Speaker C: Okay.
[00:13:04] Speaker A: A lot of, I think depends where you are and, but you, you need to be careful not to get yourself into dangerous situations.
[00:13:11] Speaker D: Yes.
[00:13:11] Speaker A: And listen to other DJs, like, oh, that person's dodgy. This, that, that, that. Just take care of yourself, you know.
[00:13:18] Speaker C: Yeah.
[00:13:19] Speaker A: Don't take stupid risks.
[00:13:21] Speaker C: Yeah.
[00:13:21] Speaker A: And even though, like, maybe you need money and this and that, you don't want to sacrifice any your safety and your health and well being for the 500 range you're going to make for that gig.
[00:13:31] Speaker B: Yeah. Don't Put a price tag on your well being.
[00:13:33] Speaker A: Yeah. If you have your gut feeling of someone not being cool, then ask around. Ask the previous dj. Phone someone else up, like, what does. Or go with someone. Go with another man or a bunch of friends and make sure you're not left alone and just look after yourself. Like, don't put yourself in a. In a position where you can, you know, get harmed.
[00:13:54] Speaker C: Yeah.
[00:13:54] Speaker A: So.
And I'm quite a tough cookie. You know, I carry like a pepper spray and a this and that, and I'm always with someone or if I feel like it's a dangerous area, I'll take. I'll literally hire a bouncer to go with.
[00:14:08] Speaker B: Good old boxer. Yeah, exactly.
[00:14:11] Speaker A: So that's pretty much it. It's the mommy part, the mummy part. Growing up in the mommy part, that changes things slightly. But I'm still me.
[00:14:21] Speaker C: Yeah.
[00:14:21] Speaker A: You know, like, I might not look like I was when I was 25, but I.
I'm still the same person and I still rock it the same way. I'll still choose the music the same way I would.
[00:14:35] Speaker D: Yes.
[00:14:36] Speaker A: And, yeah, if I feel like if people are your real, true followers, then they'll embrace you in. In all your stages of life.
[00:14:45] Speaker C: Yeah.
[00:14:45] Speaker A: Yeah.
[00:14:46] Speaker B: As they should.
[00:14:47] Speaker D: Yes.
[00:14:47] Speaker B: So that's actually quite interesting. Something that I didn't put in my question. Sorry, this is conflicting ambush question. But you mentioned you want to show up as Lady Lia.
[00:14:58] Speaker A: Yes.
[00:14:58] Speaker B: Is Lady Lia a Persona for you? Is Lady Lia different to Lia?
[00:15:03] Speaker A: It's kind of like my alter ego.
[00:15:05] Speaker C: Okay.
[00:15:06] Speaker B: Like Sasha Fierce and Beyonce.
[00:15:07] Speaker A: Yes.
[00:15:08] Speaker C: Okay.
[00:15:09] Speaker A: So it's still me, and it's. It's me stepping into my superhero outfit.
[00:15:14] Speaker C: Okay.
[00:15:15] Speaker A: You know, so it's not a different person. And even in my daily life with my kids, I'm still Lady Leah with regards to, like, my temperaments and my funness and my young, joyful sort of attitude for life. I'm always trying to be happy and positive and, like, bubbly and. Yeah. Also with my kids, I'll be strict when I have to be strict. Like, I'll be stricter than owner if he wants to cause trouble with me. I'll be hard if I have to be hard. But I'm also trying to always be fun and lively and bring sort of light to a room. But I have to, you know, be work mode sometimes and mommy mode sometimes. And then when I put on my outfit and my cool hair and I walk into the club, I feel a little bit more, you know, like, I don't know if you want to Call it powerful or vibey or, like, just ready to sort of take on, you know, the space.
[00:16:16] Speaker C: Yeah.
[00:16:16] Speaker A: In a musical way. So, yeah, it is very much Beyonce, Sasha Fierce kind of thing once you're on that.
[00:16:22] Speaker C: Yeah.
[00:16:23] Speaker A: And. And I see it with a lot of my DJs that I'm training and in my agency, when they behind the decks, they're like, open and hands in the air and like, literally play with a crowd, jumping around, confident. And when they step off, they're, like, very introverted and really want to speak to a lot of people and they just want to sit in their corner and, you know, maybe don't drink. And so there is. There. There is that split personality in a way, but it does encompass you as a. As a whole. You know, also, like, you don't have to be a social person to be a really good and, like, exciting dj, because when you on the stage and when you're in the DJ box, people can't and don't really speak to you.
[00:17:14] Speaker C: Yeah.
[00:17:15] Speaker A: Right. So you don't have to socialize, really.
But everyone still gets a piece of you.
[00:17:21] Speaker D: Yes.
[00:17:21] Speaker A: In that moment.
[00:17:22] Speaker C: Yeah.
[00:17:22] Speaker A: So kind of everyone should leave you alone.
[00:17:24] Speaker C: Okay.
[00:17:25] Speaker A: You know.
[00:17:25] Speaker C: Yeah.
[00:17:27] Speaker A: And I think that's like, a safe space for a lot of DJs.
[00:17:30] Speaker B: It is, yes.
[00:17:32] Speaker A: I also. I feel like the older I get, the less sociable I'm becoming.
[00:17:37] Speaker B: Okay.
[00:17:38] Speaker A: Just in a way of, like, I think small talk and that sort of thing. I'm just bored of it now. I don't really need to small talk with anybody anymore, you know, And I'll stay if I have to stay fully, like, a certain reason. But if I don't have to stay, then, you know, my bed's calling, my kids are going to be up in the morning. So I've done my part. I really enjoyed my set. Now I'm like, sweet. I'm done. I'm not like, Obviously through my 30 years of drawing, probably actually more, I've done many, many, many, many late nights, many after parties, many whole weekends of going from Georgia. So, like, I've, like, got my trophies.
[00:18:20] Speaker B: As about to say, you learned your.
[00:18:21] Speaker A: Stuff, and now I have different priorities, but it doesn't mean that I don't still want to kick the ass on the dance floor. Yeah, I love it. You know, it's just. I don't want to stay the whole night and drink and carry on. Yeah, carry on. It's unhealthy little. You know, you want.
[00:18:41] Speaker B: You need to rest as well, look.
[00:18:43] Speaker A: After your body and, like, I Said sometimes small talk. It's just for me, it's just not necessary. Sometimes. Say, hi, how you doing? Cool, cool, cool. Sweet. See you later. Bye.
[00:18:55] Speaker B: So how's the weather? No, no, I'm with you on that one completely.
[00:19:02] Speaker A: So, yes. I mean, there is that alter ego and just. It's the same as a dancer standing on stage. When you put on your. Your outfits, all the feathers and all the bling, and you step out on that stage, you feel like you ready to perform.
[00:19:20] Speaker D: Yes.
[00:19:21] Speaker A: And you must look like you're ready to perform, and you must feel that energy inside of you. And I think that's the difference. It's like getting dressed as Lady Leah and planning your music and getting in and walking into the DJ box and all of that has that, like, I'm going on stage now feeling, which is important for any performer. And DJs are performers. They should be performers. We are, you know.
[00:19:45] Speaker C: Yeah.
[00:19:45] Speaker B: I like what you said. We like superheroes, but instead of a cape, we wear headphones.
[00:19:49] Speaker A: Yes, that's true. Exactly.
[00:19:52] Speaker B: So we spoke a little bit about the music that you have released in the past.
[00:19:55] Speaker A: Yeah.
[00:19:55] Speaker B: Do you have any upcoming tracks that you want to release? Do you want to carry on producing? What are your plans for production going forward?
[00:20:03] Speaker A: I think my production kind of took a backseat when I had my child.
[00:20:08] Speaker D: Yes.
[00:20:08] Speaker A: Even though it has been 12 years now, you kind of, like, get stuck in your own little bubble. I do want to still release music, but I don't really. I've kind of lost touch a little bit of all the new updates and programs and stuff. So when I make a song, I generally collab with people.
[00:20:26] Speaker C: Okay.
[00:20:27] Speaker A: So I'll. So, like, recently I did a song with Advent.
You know, you find artists that your vibes are similar or, you know, maybe a vocalist or someone that jumps out at you, and then you get this, like, itch to make a song with them. And that's kind of how I take my music releases. I don't really plan it. It'll just be, oh, my gosh, this person's got a nice voice. Let's sit with them and make a song.
[00:20:56] Speaker C: Okay.
[00:20:56] Speaker A: You know, so I'm never gonna not want to make a song, but I don't put pressure on myself because there's so much going on. But, yes, I do want to make more music.
[00:21:08] Speaker B: Okay, fantastic. I'm excited. And this next question I'm actually very curious about. So who are your biggest influences who influence both your production and your. Your DJ self?
[00:21:22] Speaker A: I mean, a lot of my sound and the way the energy in my music comes from like 90s house.
[00:21:28] Speaker C: Okay.
[00:21:29] Speaker A: You know, so it's like semi deep house, semi organ funky house.
Like back in the day it was all the like Robin S's and Merc records and.
Yeah. Just the more soulful, happy, bouncy kind of sounds.
[00:21:49] Speaker C: Okay.
[00:21:50] Speaker A: Is where I originally, you know, my sound comes from. And then there's also the more gritty, like dark nightclub feel that comes in it. Where the tech. The tech feeling sort of merges with. With that housey feeling.
[00:22:08] Speaker C: Yeah.
[00:22:09] Speaker A: Which is a bit faster and a little bit more grindy. A bit more, I don't know, maybe distorted bass lines or whatever. You know, it goes slightly darker, but it will still have like a. A melody of some sort.
[00:22:25] Speaker D: Yes.
[00:22:25] Speaker A: I don't like too dreamy melodies. My melodies must be bouncy. One of my best friends, Nicola always says when I play, she always pictures these like, you know, like the Seven Dwarfs. The way they. Like they waddle, waddle around how they.
[00:22:40] Speaker B: Oh, that's how your. Your beat goes.
[00:22:44] Speaker A: So she always says, I've got this like dwarf. Dwarfy music bounce.
[00:22:49] Speaker B: Dwarf house. A new genre.
[00:22:52] Speaker A: So. But I do like to, you know, have it more punchy sometimes or less punchy or sometimes more soulful. I've got a lot of deep, soulful records, which is like almost R B kind of feeling like love songs almost.
[00:23:08] Speaker B: Yes.
[00:23:09] Speaker A: That's kind of where my sound originates from. And it's grown through the years, you know, as new styles come out.
I wouldn't say it influences you to change, but when you hear it so much and you're in that environment, you start to understand that sound. Like for instance, now the whole new Afro tech thing.
[00:23:31] Speaker C: Yeah, right.
[00:23:33] Speaker A: I'm not. I'm not an Afro tech dj, but there's some tracks I really like.
[00:23:37] Speaker C: Yeah.
[00:23:37] Speaker A: And that will work on the floor, depending on where you are. So like I'll collect that because I like the song. If you like the song, you.
[00:23:44] Speaker D: Yes.
[00:23:44] Speaker C: Yeah.
[00:23:45] Speaker A: You buy it. So over time your music might. Your genre, your genres of music might expand and you incorporating different sounds into what's already you, you know. But again, I'll choose this afrotext sounds that are more bouncier than some of the dark ones.
[00:24:04] Speaker C: Okay.
[00:24:04] Speaker A: Because that's the way I like my music.
[00:24:07] Speaker C: Yeah.
[00:24:07] Speaker A: You know, so you don't have to restrict yourself as a DJ in specific genres. You can just go with the flow, you know. So over time, I mean, artists like Chris Lake, I've been collecting his music like since I had my Record store in the 90s.
[00:24:25] Speaker B: Wow.
[00:24:26] Speaker A: I've got a lot of his vinyl. And look how he's also evolved, but still still kept his sound, you know?
[00:24:33] Speaker C: Yeah.
[00:24:34] Speaker A: And so he's a huge inspiration for me.
[00:24:37] Speaker C: Okay.
[00:24:38] Speaker A: And, like, also, it's been, like 30 years for him, and he's still on these main stages.
[00:24:43] Speaker C: Yeah.
[00:24:43] Speaker A: With his productions and, like, headlining and even guys like, if. If you look at The South African DJs, like, Kyle Watson.
[00:24:53] Speaker C: Yeah.
[00:24:53] Speaker A: You know, he came to me also in the early 2000s with, like, a sequel CD with his music. And I listened to it. I still remember it was on a Walkman with little headphones.
[00:25:02] Speaker B: Oh, my gosh.
[00:25:03] Speaker A: And I was like, oh, my God, this is so good. And I still critiqued him. I was like, you know, maybe your. Your breaks need a little bit more filler and this and that and that. And he actually wanted me to sign him back then, but I wasn't even an agent or anything. I didn't know, you know, what the first thing meant was signing someone.
But seeing how he's evolved and stuff, obviously, that's very inspiring.
[00:25:27] Speaker C: Yeah.
[00:25:27] Speaker A: Because he's from South Africa, he's a producer. I think my music inspired him at first. The whole catch me if you can sound.
[00:25:36] Speaker C: Yeah.
[00:25:36] Speaker A: Was how he first started enjoying that bouncy tech house, because that's what he makes.
[00:25:44] Speaker C: Yeah.
[00:25:45] Speaker A: He also gets more gritty and stuff. So that whole culture with a happy techie kind of deep sometimes or more technoish sometimes. It depends. You. There's like a. There's like a scale between the house music that you can buffer through, you know, from deep house all the way to techno.
[00:26:05] Speaker C: Yeah.
[00:26:06] Speaker A: And, Yeah. I suppose it's guys like that that inspire you and make you feel like you can still make more music, you can still tour more. You can see. I mean, look at Cole Cox. He's a huge inspiration.
[00:26:18] Speaker D: Yes.
[00:26:18] Speaker C: Yeah.
[00:26:19] Speaker A: I mean, I used to die when I saw him, and I've played on the same lineup as him in Joburg at Electric Workshop on New Year's.
[00:26:29] Speaker B: That must have been, like, such a moment.
[00:26:31] Speaker A: Ridiculous. It was. I mean, I used to party at Electric Workshop for years and years, and. And it's this huge warehouse, and I remember they always had these lasers that would write the DJ's name, like, on the walls, and I'd be like, oh, my God. Gosh. Like, I'd really want that one day.
[00:26:48] Speaker D: Yes.
[00:26:48] Speaker A: And it happened on that night or a lot of times after that. But lady Leah and D.J. morgan and Cole Cox was coming on, and you can see with Col Cox now, he's what, in his 50s or 60s?
[00:27:03] Speaker C: Yeah.
[00:27:03] Speaker A: He's still banging us.
[00:27:05] Speaker B: He's still coing.
[00:27:06] Speaker A: He's still banging it here. And if you see some of his other videos, he's in the garden, you know, planting trees, cooking food, this, that, that, that. So you can have this normal life being this touring DJ as well and finding that balance in life. So it's awesome to see that sort of thing and then put yourself in the same in their shoes. Like there's never an expiry date to push play.
[00:27:34] Speaker C: Yeah.
[00:27:34] Speaker A: You know what I mean? People DJs that are like, oh, I'm going to hang up my headphones. Pull, bro. You were never a DJ then. You were just doing it for the money or the chicks.
[00:27:43] Speaker C: Yeah.
[00:27:44] Speaker A: It will never leave. You will always push play.
[00:27:46] Speaker D: Yes.
[00:27:47] Speaker A: Even if it's at your braai.
[00:27:49] Speaker B: Yeah.
[00:27:50] Speaker A: If you are choosing the music, you are DJing.
[00:27:52] Speaker B: Yes, basically.
[00:27:54] Speaker A: So, yeah, that's pretty much the inspirations. I mean there's a lot more, but those are the ones that come to mind.
[00:28:02] Speaker B: Okay. So with regards to the. The evolution of people, the industry. Okay. So I've been. This is my 10th year in the industry.
[00:28:10] Speaker A: It's very cool.
[00:28:11] Speaker B: I've got a decade.
[00:28:12] Speaker A: This is a huge milestone.
[00:28:13] Speaker B: I'm so happy. But I've seen an evolution in the music industry itself. So what are your views on the current state of the music industry and where do you think it's going? Also I want to ask you, how do you feel about AI music production now?
[00:28:28] Speaker A: Okay.
I think currently the state of the music industry is.
It is evolving in a couple of ways. Obviously South Africa and the Afro sound is becoming massive everywhere.
[00:28:44] Speaker C: Yeah.
[00:28:45] Speaker A: And music goes through these changes every. I would say four years.
[00:28:50] Speaker C: Okay.
[00:28:50] Speaker A: Then something new comes. I mean my piano came up like four years ago, then now it's Afro. But then they start to join.
Like they sound. So like now there's the three step which is almost like I'm a piano and Afro tech together. Right. Same with T Pass and you know like beats by hand you bring in. I'm a piano with dpass but much slower in this. So the music's going to definitely change in ways where like everything's just gonna join with. Okay, you're gonna have rock and house mix and I love that. Yeah, exactly. So that's pretty cool. And maybe even some brand new types of music. More broken beats I think are going to become very popular.
[00:29:38] Speaker C: Okay.
[00:29:39] Speaker A: Just the normal four, four beats.
[00:29:40] Speaker C: Yeah.
[00:29:41] Speaker A: Also streaming DJing is going to become a big thing. I don't really like that personally. Like doing that 100% of the time because it means you will never own your own music.
You won't have your library. And like I said earlier, your library is what makes you you as a dj. So I don't like not owning your own music. I mean, if you streaming off Tidal or Beatport as a DJ and that site gets pulled down, you have no music.
[00:30:16] Speaker D: Yes.
[00:30:17] Speaker A: Like not even one song.
[00:30:18] Speaker C: Yeah.
[00:30:19] Speaker A: So for me, when I use any kind of streaming, it would be for music I don't want to keep or corporate.
[00:30:27] Speaker B: Yeah.
[00:30:28] Speaker A: So if you had a birthday or corporate and someone asks you for a song that, that like you'll never play again or you don't like, then stream it.
[00:30:36] Speaker C: Yeah.
[00:30:36] Speaker A: Sweet. It's like renting a movie. You know, if you, if you love it, you should, you should buy it and you should support the artist and you should keep it and treasure it and build up your library and your collection.
[00:30:49] Speaker C: Yeah.
[00:30:51] Speaker A: So I would suggest DJs embrace the streaming, but not 100%. Only streaming.
[00:30:59] Speaker D: Yes.
[00:30:59] Speaker A: Yeah. An AI music production.
I think it just takes that obviously that, that humanness out of the song. Like that soulfulness. Obviously AI also learns, but it will never be as beautiful, I think, or as thoughtful.
[00:31:21] Speaker C: Yeah.
[00:31:21] Speaker A: As a human made song. You know what I mean?
[00:31:24] Speaker B: That's so true. Because I feel, that's what I feel like, like your music. Well, for me at least, when I produce, it's an expression of my soul. So who's AI expressing whose soul is that?
[00:31:33] Speaker A: It's just getting millions of songs and finding a pattern and choosing a similar kick drum and then a similar. And I mean it can learn melody because there's chord progressions and stuff that you have to stick to and keys. Like it already knows that there's like rules to follow.
[00:31:56] Speaker D: Yes.
[00:31:56] Speaker A: And if it follows the rules, it can make a melody. But choosing a sound with a human ear was not the same as, you know, what AI would choose.
[00:32:09] Speaker D: Yes.
[00:32:09] Speaker A: Obviously it can. It will know that they're in key, but it won't know actually what it sounds like. You know what I mean?
[00:32:18] Speaker D: Yes.
[00:32:18] Speaker A: It's like record box with the analyzing and the grid.
[00:32:22] Speaker C: Yeah.
[00:32:23] Speaker A: It only sees peaks and it snaps a grid in there. It doesn't actually hear the song.
[00:32:29] Speaker C: Yeah.
[00:32:29] Speaker A: Right. So it can be wrong sometimes the grid is put in.
[00:32:34] Speaker B: Yes, it can be right. Exactly.
[00:32:37] Speaker A: So AI will also be wrong. But then I'm assuming like with graphic design, you know, that a human will now let AI do What it thinks is a nice song, and then the humong will go in and change part of it.
[00:32:54] Speaker C: Yeah.
[00:32:55] Speaker A: So that's cool. Because now it's going to take you two hours instead of two months to make a song.
[00:33:02] Speaker D: Yes.
[00:33:03] Speaker A: Because AI is gonna snap. It's, you know, similar to, like, syncing on a controller. You know, you can sync, but then don't just stand there and sync. You need to do, like, effects and looping. And I want you to. You should be like, live production, in a way, in an acapella.
Echo it. Tap something else. Because the. The. The technology is helping you to do something and now you should do more.
[00:33:32] Speaker D: Yes.
[00:33:33] Speaker A: So I think it's. It's cool to be able to have that help.
[00:33:38] Speaker B: Okay, so use it as a tool, but not as a complete.
[00:33:41] Speaker A: Yeah, no, I don't think AI should release a complete song without any human touch. So it can do 90 of the work and then all of the. Nice. Change the sound slightly, add in the thing. There's that school. Then it's still got that human element.
[00:33:58] Speaker C: Yeah, yeah.
[00:33:59] Speaker A: Embrace technology.
[00:34:01] Speaker B: 100. Use it to your advantage.
[00:34:03] Speaker A: 100.
[00:34:04] Speaker B: Exactly.
[00:34:05] Speaker C: Yeah, yeah.
[00:34:05] Speaker B: Because, I mean, like, if you're a sync dj, what you gonna do if the sync button's broken?
[00:34:10] Speaker A: Or if the grid is wrong.
[00:34:12] Speaker B: Or if the grid's wrong.
[00:34:13] Speaker D: Exactly.
[00:34:13] Speaker A: So you must be able to do these things by yourself first. Then you can have the help. It's the same as, like, how people talk about being a business owner. You can't own a business and run an entire team if you don't know how to do everybody's job.
[00:34:29] Speaker D: Yes.
[00:34:30] Speaker A: Because if that person's sick, you're gonna have to sweep the floors.
[00:34:34] Speaker C: Yeah.
[00:34:34] Speaker A: You know what I mean? So it's just now the Internet's down.
[00:34:38] Speaker C: Yeah.
[00:34:38] Speaker A: Who's going to make your song for you?
You know what I mean?
[00:34:43] Speaker B: Alexa, where are you?
[00:34:44] Speaker A: Exactly. And. And that's another thing with streaming, DJing and technology and AI and all of that. Like, what happens if there's this, like, world blackout?
[00:34:53] Speaker D: Yes.
[00:34:54] Speaker A: Then musicians with instruments are going to come back because they can take something that's not plugged into electricity and play it.
[00:35:03] Speaker B: Exactly.
[00:35:03] Speaker A: So start there. You know what I mean?
[00:35:06] Speaker B: Yes. Go sing acapella in the shower, guys.
[00:35:09] Speaker A: Unfortunately.
But this is a. What I'm saying is that you can't always rely on technology. You have to have backup after backup after backup after backup. Like, if one USB is not working, have another 200%.
[00:35:26] Speaker D: Yes.
[00:35:27] Speaker A: And technology fails all the time.
[00:35:30] Speaker C: Yeah.
[00:35:31] Speaker A: So figure out how to mix by Ear number one, if you can play an instrument suite, you know, if you can talk on the mic. There's so much more to DJing than, than pressing play. Pressing play and just being able to beat match.
[00:35:46] Speaker C: Yeah, right.
[00:35:47] Speaker A: What song you play is at what time is the most important.
You know what I mean?
[00:35:53] Speaker B: So this is actually a good lead into my next question for you, which is what would be the advice you give to a new budding dj?
[00:36:02] Speaker A: I would say collect music all the time.
Find music you love and don't box yourself into a certain genre.
Play as much as you can at the beginning, even if it's like really shitty places, because that gives you experience.
Collect your music. Try and mix by ear as much as you can, even though you'll still have the BPM on the screen and you'll still have, you know, sync if you really want it or whatever. But always learn how to mix by ear. And you'll find like once you can mix by ear, you actually stop looking at the bpm. You're looking at the crowd while you're finding the BPM and while you're nudging and while you're listening to the blend, you're actually engaging with a crowd instead of looking at the screen the whole time. There's nothing worse than a DJ that's focused on the screen the whole time. Especially if it's a laptop.
[00:37:00] Speaker B: Yeah, you know, 100%. Yes.
[00:37:02] Speaker A: I mean hip hop DJs use laptops a lot because they play like 100 songs in a set every one and a half to two minutes. They change, but they're engaging in the crowd a lot. Yeah, they know, they know exactly what the next song is. They just pop it in and you'll see they are very engaging with the crowd. So I'm not saying laptop DJing is bad. I'm saying when you have a DJ that's fixed on the screen all the time without vibing with the people, it's, it's not exciting for anybody.
[00:37:35] Speaker C: No.
[00:37:35] Speaker B: You also can't read your crowd then if you're not looking at them.
[00:37:38] Speaker A: Looking at them. Yeah. So yeah, just finding your sound. And don't think you're going to go from zero to hero overnight. Even if you have 100,000 Tik Tok followers.
[00:37:49] Speaker B: It's a tough pull to swallow, but a true one.
[00:37:52] Speaker A: Tik Tok DJs just feel like they are like, you know, the world's best DJs overnight. Cuz they have 400,000 views. It doesn't work that way.
Just listen, just Listen, because you're not ready, you're not going to get that stage yet. You need to also put in your hours. It doesn't work that way. Okay.
[00:38:16] Speaker B: Got to earn your stripes, guys.
[00:38:17] Speaker A: Tik tok person as much as you want and you can be famous for whatever, but if you don't have the right experience, you know what's going to happen. That chick, that at Tomorrowland, that Elon Musk's chick. Oh yes, I forget. Anyway, yeah, she didn't analyze her music, blah, blah, blah. She didn't know what to do on that stage. That's the worst thing that could ever happen to you. And she didn't know what to do. And that's the thing, she wasn't ready for that stage.
[00:38:46] Speaker C: Yeah.
[00:38:47] Speaker A: Because she went from zero to hero. Why? Because she had all the money in the world and she was attached to Elon Musk and blah blah, blah, blah, blah, blah blah. And in the end of the day, you need that experience and you need to always know what to do if something breaks.
[00:39:04] Speaker D: Yes.
[00:39:04] Speaker A: And also you don't have the experience. You are going to force your, your sound on a crowd that's not ready for it, for it or doesn't want to hear it.
[00:39:14] Speaker C: Yeah.
[00:39:14] Speaker A: You know what I mean? You're not going to be able to navigate other sounds or even understand what they're thinking.
[00:39:21] Speaker D: Yes.
[00:39:22] Speaker A: You know, so give it time. You need to put in your hours, learn what the crowds want, understand the venues and you know, always be humble.
[00:39:34] Speaker C: Yeah.
[00:39:34] Speaker A: In your first 10 years, I don't care who you are, you cannot be demanding huge hospitalities and five star rooms and stuff like just don't do it.
[00:39:46] Speaker B: Just know, don't do do it.
[00:39:49] Speaker D: Yes.
[00:39:49] Speaker A: After 10 years and you know, further down the line, fine, start having riders. But it's all about your demand. If, if you are in huge demand, then you can demand more.
But again, if it's your first 10 years, be humble.
[00:40:07] Speaker C: Yeah.
[00:40:08] Speaker A: You really don't need a five star hotel. You can have a four star hotel.
[00:40:12] Speaker C: Yeah.
[00:40:13] Speaker A: That's fun, simple. But again, your music collection and obviously in this day and age, you need to work on your brand and your socials.
[00:40:21] Speaker C: Yeah.
[00:40:22] Speaker A: So yes, it's very good. If you do have a lot of TikTok followers and if you do have Instagram and Facebook and all of that, it helps. Doesn't mean that you are the king of the universe, but you do need.
[00:40:38] Speaker B: You do that to grow.
[00:40:39] Speaker C: Yeah.
[00:40:40] Speaker A: But in the end of the day, it's the music you play and how you are in front of the audience. That makes you a great dj. And your production, if you can produce good music, that will take you over the borders.
[00:40:53] Speaker C: Yeah, basically. Okay.
[00:40:55] Speaker B: Yeah, that's very good advice. So, speaking of that, let's tap into your legacy. So looking back on your career, what do you hope your legacy will be and how do you want to be remembered as a DJ entrepreneur and advocate for DJs in the music industry?
[00:41:14] Speaker A: I think just someone who has, you know, had a lot of fun. You know, in my days, I've had a ton of fun. I've never been, like, stuck up like that. So like we said earlier, I've got my stripes. Also brought my vibe always to, to the place. So there's no like, copying other DJs or, you know, when, when I come, people know what to expect also. Yes. Being a bit of. I mean, obviously when I started, I was the baby in the industry.
[00:41:46] Speaker C: Yeah.
[00:41:46] Speaker A: Because I was like 14 in the clubs. So in the clubs at 14, I still feel like I'm still the baby in my head. Because that's what gets ingrained in you.
[00:41:56] Speaker D: Yes.
[00:41:56] Speaker A: But obviously the last, like 20 years, being sort of like the mommy and the protection protector in the industry, not only for the DJs, but also for, like now being an agent, like protecting the event as well.
[00:42:10] Speaker C: Yeah.
[00:42:11] Speaker A: Making sure the DJ arrives and that they do a good job and that, you know, things are handled properly. So as much as, like, people think, oh, I'm an agent, I'm, like, only on the DJ side. I'm there to protect the industry as a whole.
[00:42:26] Speaker D: Yes.
[00:42:27] Speaker A: You know, we know that there's a lot of promoters and clubs who are dodgy with payments and stuff. So that's, for me, a big thing. Being able to make sure the DJs are paid.
[00:42:39] Speaker C: Yeah.
[00:42:40] Speaker A: Up front. If it's not upfront, it means we've worked with, with them for a long time and you have a trust.
[00:42:46] Speaker C: Yeah.
[00:42:46] Speaker A: But also handling that transaction because I know in my days I had a lot of times where I wasn't paid. And that's the thing, is that I've been through it all.
[00:42:54] Speaker C: Yeah.
[00:42:55] Speaker A: I've been to every place I've been stranded, I've missed flights, I haven't been paid. I've been given dodgy accommodation. Like, I know who is dodgy. I know you know, who to avoid and who, who's good and which ones treat you well. And I think with that, my DJs in my agency understand that they can trust me.
[00:43:19] Speaker D: Yes.
[00:43:19] Speaker A: To help them with their careers and look after them. And also, you know, my judgments. So almost like a protector of the music industry in South Africa. I feel like I'm the mommy protector a little bit.
[00:43:32] Speaker B: Very much are.
[00:43:33] Speaker C: Yeah.
[00:43:34] Speaker A: And also now with my mentorship, just guidance and being able to teach people properly.
[00:43:42] Speaker C: Yeah.
[00:43:42] Speaker A: Cuz there's a lot of other schools around where I get students come to me who have finished their course in other schools and they come and they literally know nothing. You know, they'll tell me like they were just left in a room.
[00:43:56] Speaker C: Yeah.
[00:43:56] Speaker A: To like figure it out for themselves.
[00:43:59] Speaker C: Oh, wow.
[00:43:59] Speaker A: Yeah. Or like the guy teaching them like, also didn't really know how to explain the counting and the pieces. Just like just push play, you know, and then move this back button. So this is what I'm saying is going from showing people the best times of their lives on the dance floor to, you know, looking after the industry and the DJs and the, and the, the, the places and the venues and then also guiding younger students and. And DJs to doing it properly.
[00:44:30] Speaker B: Growing new talent.
[00:44:31] Speaker C: Yeah.
[00:44:31] Speaker A: Not just how to mix, but also how to act and how to get gigs and yes. How not to act. Because I will see. I mean, I'll see my students sometimes post something and I'll be like, take that down. Now look at the red lines on your mixer. They are literally full. Take that down. Because this makes you look bad.
[00:44:50] Speaker C: Yeah.
[00:44:50] Speaker A: Why? Because you were doing the wrong thing.
[00:44:53] Speaker C: Yeah.
[00:44:53] Speaker A: Now you know.
[00:44:54] Speaker B: Now you know.
[00:44:55] Speaker A: Now you know. So bit of a watchdog, I suppose.
[00:45:00] Speaker B: Okay.
[00:45:00] Speaker A: Sometimes we'd call, people would call me that. And I get a lot of DJs call me often for advice, like, how do I handle this? Do you trust that person? Like, do you know anything about this? Like, how do I. A lot of recently it's like, that person hasn't paid me. What do I do? You know, that's sad maybe because I'm a bit of a tough cookie when it comes to that kind of stuff. They're like, how did you do it?
[00:45:25] Speaker B: What do I do, Leah?
Okay, so our final little bit. I didn't prep you for this, but we're gonna do a quick fire round of questions.
[00:45:35] Speaker A: Okay?
[00:45:35] Speaker B: So I'm just gonna say two things. And you tell me. Don't look.
And you tell me which you prefer.
[00:45:42] Speaker A: Okay.
[00:45:43] Speaker B: Morning or evening?
[00:45:44] Speaker A: Evening.
[00:45:45] Speaker B: Vinyl or digital?
[00:45:46] Speaker A: Vinyl.
[00:45:46] Speaker B: Club or festival?
[00:45:48] Speaker A: Club.
[00:45:49] Speaker B: Underground or mainstream?
[00:45:50] Speaker A: Underground.
[00:45:51] Speaker B: Morning after or main stage? Do you want to play the after party or do you want to play the main stage? Okay. All right. Well, there we go. Thank you. So much for being a part of this, friend. I appreciate it so much.
[00:46:02] Speaker A: Good luck.
[00:46:03] Speaker B: Thank you very much. Thank you.
[00:46:05] Speaker A: And I'm very excited to see how this all grows and blossoms.
[00:46:09] Speaker B: Thank you. You and me both.
[00:46:13] Speaker A: Very proud of you.
[00:46:14] Speaker B: Thank you, friend. I appreciate you. And guys, if you want to follow us and keep up with us during the week, you can find me on Instagram @dj_. Abby, that's a B I danger. And you can find Leah at DJ Lady.
[00:46:29] Speaker A: Leah L E A There's no H.
[00:46:32] Speaker B: No H. And you can give the podcast a follow at from Underscore Studio. Underscore two, Underscore Stage. Thank you, guys. I will catch you next week. And have a good one. Bye.
[00:46:54] Speaker A: Come on.
