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M 60 SECONDS WITH…


‘Hummingbird’. She played the opening party of Kehakuma at Space and will be back to play Together at Amnesia in August. We caught up with UK house’s first lady when she was back at home…


A


London is a real hotbed for underground house at the minute, how was it bringing that sound to the White Isle? “I loved it! It was just a fleeting visit, because I had gigs on either side, so it was a straight in-and-out job. The party was ridiculously good, because it was the opening and the room was heaving. I managed to catch Nick Curly’s and Mihai Popoviciu’s sets — Ibiza seems really into our sounds at the minute. I’ve only just got used to playing such a big crowd. For the first time ever, it was totally overwhelming.”


Have you been to Ibiza before? Are you looking forward to coming back for Together at Amnesia?


“I’ve played about three times before, but nothing like Space or the big clubs. It was at Underground for a label party that put out my early stuff, Dogmatik Records. They were always pretty low-key, under- the-radar affairs, so playing Amnesia will be a massive change by comparison.”


Since the days of minimal techno have passed, house is having a renaissance, something you are a big part of. Have you always been a fan of house?


“I was producing music before I made house or techno. Aged 15, I started making trip-hop and dub beats for some MC friends. I grew up on r&b and hip-hop, so really it was Missy Elliott and Timbaland that inspired me. I thought I didn’t like dance music because all I heard was the commercial stuff on the radio. But a few years ago, I started partying and I saw Steve Bug play and I was like, ‘Woah!’ That was a real turning point.”


Your new EP on 2020 Vision, ‘Focus Now’, has a less obvious house-tilt, it’s got more of a dubby edge. Is this a conscious change of direction?


“With my ‘Cool Down’ and ‘Hummingbird’ EPs, it was the label that picked the tracks, this time around I have more of a say. So it’s not me changing direction, it’s me actually getting to show people what I am really about. As time goes on, it will be less house, house, house, and more alternative...”


Tell me about your other projects, Nocturnal Sunshine and She Is Danger?


“I don’t purposely spend time on my Nocturnal Sunshine stuff, but if I happen to make a dubstep track, then it goes under that alias, so it can remain a separate entity. She Is Danger is a collab between me and Lena Cullen, a vocalist and songwriter. We’ve been working towards an album, but we’re both so busy with solo stuff it’s on hold for now.”


There’s a lot of buzz about female DJs and producers right now — you, Deniz Kurtel, Nina Kraviz, Steffi etc... Is it frustrating that people focus on your sex when it should just be about music? “It doesn’t bother me, but it is frustrating that there is so much space for male DJs. When it comes to women, it’s like we are made to fight or compete for the limited spots. I’m not into competitions, I think we should all just get along.”


I hear you have an album coming up? “It doesn’t have a name yet. Track names aren’t my forte, it’s always a last minute, random thing. There’s some exciting collabs, but most are secret. I did just finish something with Robert Owens, but it’s not a house track like he usually does vocals on. I’m really looking forward to the album, because it’s going to be a true reflection of myself. I don’t want to be tied down to a certain image or scene. I haven’t picked a label yet, because I want it to come from a label that is genreless.”


014 www.djmag.com


lthough she’s been producing for years, it’s really only been in the last six months that Maya Jane Coles has rocketed onto people’s radars with the luscious, tender and ever-so-slightly-naughty releases of ‘What They’ll Say’ and


AYA JANE COLES


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