Womanrock:
How/why did you become a DJ?
Polywog:
I first DJ'd at house parties in the fifth grade because I love(d)
music and because I was shy and preferred focusing on playing records
to dealing directly with people. I preferred to let the music speak.
I have been DJing "professionally" for the last seven years. Why?
Because of my tremendous love for music and a desire to play songs
or mixes that I wasn't hearing other DJs playing. I was DJing ecclecitcally
way before it was cool. However, all of this dues-paying has led
me to being the opening act (DJ) for Lee Scratch Perry, Tricky,
Beck and Devo, Primus and Spearhead as well as the tour DJ for Jane's
Addiction and Lollapalooza.
Womanrock:
How do you describe or classify your music?
Polywog:
The music that I choose to play varies depending on the event, the
people, the environment, the time of day. But my mixes are based
over bassbassbass and beats. I play electro, drum and bass, hip
and trip hop, dub, funk, a bit of deep house and techno mixed with
nearly every genre from rock to tribal chants and from oldies to
strange electronic experiments.
Womanrock:
What are some other projects you are working on?
Polywog: My "other" projects include organizing benefits/cultural
events with my husband, DJ Platypus. We most recently co-organized
a benefit for H.E.A.R. (Hearing Education and Awareness for Rockers)
that featured DJ Perry Farrell, Michael Franti, The Space Travelers,
DJ Polywog *with the Tadpoles - Cello, Didge and Vocal), DJ Platypus,
Peter Childs and more.
I'll be appearing as myself in the rave film titled "Groove" to
be screened at the Sundance Film Festival this January. My song
"Frogs in the Fog" that was created with the help of Platypus and
engineered by Shranny the Beat Wizard and Rx should be part of the
soundtrack as well. Platypus and I are getting to know and learn
our recording studio and will be cooking up many projects in the
near future.
Womanrock:
What are your professional/artistic goals?
Polywog:
My professional and artistic goals include the continuation of evolving
as a DJ as well as developing my skills as a producer for a wide
range of sound projects that span way beyond a party.
Womanrock:
What are the benefits of being involved in the collective?
Polywog:
It has been quite beneficial to be a part of the Sister Posse
(Charlotte and I, as the more established DJs at that time, helped
to get the thing rolling, but it is Linzee, XJS, Forest Green and
Siren that have taken the Sister project and run with it. I enjoy
all of my projects, but Sister is special in that the core cause
and focus remain the support of women in their unique contributions
to the world of DJing and event production. Sister has been putting
on some wonderful benefits as well. So the mission is to be effective
in a positive way, to assist and encourage one another in doing
good work.
Womanrock:
How does Sister differ from it's inspiration, Your Sister's
House?
Polywog:
Sister is less of an open collective and more broadminded
and organised in its operations. The Internet and a Web site have
been important new tools, and the women at the core of Sister
are serious go-getters on a mission that are smart enough to build
on the past.
Womanrock:
What do you say to critics of Sister?
Polywog:
There are still people who will concentrate on the fact that a woman
is on the decks - a place of power and control that still makes
some ignorant men react uneasily and unfairly - but that has been
changing. Most listeners just want to hear quality music mixed well.
|
|
