DJ Blexxy performed during Sled Island on Saturday, 6pm at Festival Hall.
TRANSCRIPT:
Emma (CJSW)
This is your first year playing Sled Island. Can you walk me through what you’re feeling leading up to your set?
DJ Blexxy
I play tomorrow. I’m super nervous, but excited. I want it to be a really meaningful set. I want to send a message out, and I just want to show my culture. Show Canada, what it’s like to be Middle Eastern and African. It’s also Indigenous day, so I’m happy to represent them. It’s gonna be super exciting playing for Drum Beat. And honestly, it’s an honor. So I think that’s why I’m so nervous. It’s like a lot to hold on to. But you know, I got this, I’m ready.
Emma (CJSW)
Can you tell me a bit about some of the first shows that you started to play?
DJ Blexxy
My first event was Back and Forth. So that’s a all femme DJ lineup in Calgary, and they usually look for just, obviously girls to play for them. And so I played at Modern Love rooftop. Super good crowd, fully packed venue. Honestly, for my first set, I was like, ‘I can’t believe I’m doing this.’ It was really scary. I’m like, is this really happening from literally, my bedroom, through all of COVID to now this is… I don’t know. It’s crazy, but exciting.
Emma (CJSW)
Now coming up on a year and change since your first show. Can you tell me about what inspired you to take that leap into live mixing for the first time?
DJ Blexxy
So I really had a love for music. I just honestly couldn’t stick to a guitar because it hurt my fingers, and I loved long nails. And I was like ‘Okay guitar is not the one for me.’ And I found a few girls on TikTok, it was this DJ named Honeybee, and she was TikTokking out of her bedroom, and she just blew up overnight. And it was so cool to see that happen. And just express herself musically. I guess that’s what I wanted to do, was express myself in the musical way and DJing was one of them. I kept meeting other female DJs, and I was like, ‘Oh my god, this is so cool,’ and I can throw some Arabic-Afro fusion into there. And I don’t know, just teach people what good music is.
Emma (CJSW)
So what does the process look like? Did you learn online, did you teach yourself? How did you learn these techniques?
DJ Blexxy
Mostly online, but also just standing next to my friends DJ, and just watch them and ask them questions and kind of bug them. Like, ‘Okay, so what did you just do? Like, what was that and what?’
Emma (CJSW)
That was the best way to learn. Especially because the EDM scene is so word of mouth, you learn from the master then become the master.
DJ Blexxy
There’s always so much to learn every day, I’m like, ‘Oh my god, okay, this is, like the most basic thing, but I didn’t even know it.’
Emma (CJSW)
Have you ever looked to production, or are you just gonna stick with mixing?
DJ Blexxy
For now, I think I’m gonna stick to mixing. I don’t know, maybe one day I will get into producing, but so far, I like the easiness of just mixing. Productions a whole it’s a whole different world. I think I want to still perfect DJing to a tee and then, I don’t know, maybe I will get into producing one day.
Emma (CJSW)
So you have traveled a lot, you’ve even mentioned a few times already, that you describe your tunes as innovative. You fuse different cultural sounds. How much of that comes from your own roots versus how much of it comes inspired by your travels?
DJ Blexxy
So I’m big on Brazilian music. I went a couple times last year, and I found that was like another world of music. And I was like, ‘Oh my god, this is so good. I have to bring it back home to Calgary.’ But most of it is like Afro and Arabic mixes. But other than that, I just love to go to shows, check out the sounds and take a couple songs here and there and just throw that into my set and introduce it to the world.
Emma (CJSW)
Get it out there as much as you can. I guess on that note bringing it back to Calgary, can you tell me about your experience with the Calgary music scene?
DJ Blexxy
It’s been so welcoming and sweet. I don’t have anything bad to say. I’ve gotten so many opportunities by these people, I felt like they’re so welcoming. And as soon as I tell them I’m a DJ, they’re making sure that I’m on the back of their mind, like, ‘Okay yeah, Sarah would be great for this set,’ and so in that way, I think it’s been great, I’m forever grateful.
Emma (CJSW)
You’ve done Deep Down Inside already, what was your experience there?
DJ Blexxy
That was also fun too, because it was also different genre. It’s more house-y, but, you know, I find you got to branch out and try different music, listen to different genres, don’t close the door to everything. And Deep Down Inside was awesome, I had a great time. The crew was awesome. DJs were great.
Emma (CJSW)
It’s a cool space, too. So what’s your most memorable form performance to date? My most memorable performance?
DJ Blexxy
I have so many in a way of…. Who I was playing with, or what the venue was. I feel like they all have different parts of my heart. But so far, I think the most fun I’ve had was that Back and Forth, the crowd and the people there, was so sweet and willing to hear different music. Sometimes you get some house, some Afro and girls were ready to shake it. So I love a crowd that’s just ready to listen and not be so close minded. I think that’s what makes the makes the event. I’m like, ‘You know what? This is not what I would listen to, but I’m gonna shake ass.’
Emma (CJSW)
Grooving to whatever, but this hits.
DJ Blexxy
Yeah like this isn’t what I would listen to but I’m gonna shake ass.
Emma (CJSW)
Is there anyone that you would love to, like, go back to back with, or perform with that you haven’t yet?
DJ Blexxy
There’s so many people I’ve… Let’s see I’ve played with a few people in Calgary that I’ve had fun with. Shavvy is a great DJ and Prince Morbucks, they’re awesome. BLKFT would be a fun guy to do it with. He obviously got me into the scene. So a fun back to back moment would be really nice to have.
Emma (CJSW)
What are some of your big goals for DJ Blexxy?
DJ Blexxy
I think I want to just keep it local. I don’t want to do anything too crazy. I love just enjoying music. For me, it’s just more of a hobby than it is a career. I mean if and when it does happen, then I’ll be shocked. But right now, it’s just a hobby for me to do outside of work and just keep keep life fun. I love to go out, I love to dance, and this one just pays me to do it as well and show of my playlist.
Emma (CJSW)
What do you do full time?
DJ Blexxy
I’m a full time flight attendant. If I’m not doing that, I’m here spinning on the decks. It’s been pretty good. I love it. It’s a great combination. I can express myself here as a DJ, and I love that.
Emma (CJSW)
Great, that’s all I have for you. Thanks so much for meeting with me.