Auckland
DJ
HOUSE, DISCO, BREAKS
How did you end up as a part of the music industry?
I could feel it in my bones from a young age; it was inevitable following my solo singing part as Timon in our primary school choir's rendition of Hakuna Matata at school prizegiving. Nah, I loved all kinds of music growing up but felt that was as far as I could take it - being a bedroom aficionado - because I had never learnt an instrument or studied music or anything. I learnt to mix when I ended up living with two great friends who were immersed in Melbourne's electronic music scene, and it sort of all fell together from there.
Do you have any new work coming out that you'd like to tell us about?
I had begun planning a big summer of music and events but COVID continues to stir the pot, now I feel like I'm jinxing it whenever I start planning for anything in the future. I have finally got my act together so that I can start learning the basics of music production, though, so hopefully something positive comes out of the excess of downtime.
What’s the last really fun thing you did?
Singing in the car yesterday with my friend Maxine. Do you ever experience a moment of contentment right in the middle of singing in the car with your friends? It's one of the little pleasures in life you mustn't take for granted.
"Do you ever experience a moment of contentment right in the middle of singing in the car with your friends?"
How do you practice self care?
I'm working on it, because sometimes I let all of my healthy habits fall by the wayside, but some combination of: sleep, outdoors, exercise, eating properly and therapy. I know there are some Black Mirror-esque conspiracy theories about the skincare industry but I take great comfort in my twice daily skincare routine. I also enjoy an afternoon bath (sometime after 4.20pm), while listening to a great album, in a dimly lit bathroom. Bliss. Try it.
What’s your favourite record at the moment?
When I get a song stuck in my head I play it constantly until I've squeezed it for all that its worth. Currently "Like It Like That" by A Tribe Called Quest.
What's the best part about being in the music industry?
I used to have to bargain for my turn on the AUX cord in a social situation and now people pay me money to play music I want to play. I can't quite believe it and I feel like I should be the one paying them. That, and the friends you make.
"I used to have to bargain for my turn on the AUX cord in a social situation and now people pay me money to play music I want to play."
Who inspires you?
Other womxn in music that are doing what they love, and doing it well. It's the best thing to see.
What are your predictions for the future of dance music and the industry?
I hope for a future of diversity, and a future in which we acknowledge the origins and history of the music we play. I hope for more equal line-ups; not just mixed genders, but with focus on inclusion of POC and other marginalised groups. Also, for people to understand where electronic music came from; I saw a man on Facebook comment recently "it's hard to find diversity in dance music when it has been white male dominated historically" . Some people genuinely have no idea that the origins of house and techno is rooted in black, queer culture.
Check out Bontempo's WIP Profile Page for more!