Photo of TRICKY FM with Emily Donville (left, CJSW).

TRICKY FM performed during Sled Island on Saturday, June 20th at Dickens.

Interview Audio:

Interview Transcript:

Emily (CJSW)
My name is Emily, and I’m here on behalf of CJSW Radio at the 2026 Sled Island Music and Arts Festival. I’m sitting here with TRICKY FM from San Francisco. How are you?

TRICKY FM
I’m doing really well, thanks for having me.

Emily (CJSW)
Yeah, my pleasure. Let’s dive right in. Can you tell me your origin story, like, what was the spark that got you into electronic music?

TRICKY FM
Oh, yeah. Well, honestly, I originally wanted to start a band, like, I really do love guitar music, and learned how to play guitar growing up, but I think, like, when it actually came around to trying to organize people and thinking about getting people together for a band, it seemed kind of– it seemed kind of like a lot, and then I was like, well, why don’t I try to just like record some songs that I was like playing guitar and kind of making like weird Grouper-esque, like, early Animal Collective, Sung Tongs vibes guitar music and putting it on SoundCloud, and I was using a free DAW called Audacity, and I was like, “Oh, this is pretty cool.” And I think it wasn’t until I got a MacBook and got GarageBand, where I learned you could.. I was like, “Oh, you could like program drums, there’s MIDI instruments that I kind of like leaned more into that. And then, to be honest, one time I had, like, a.. I was taking guitar lessons, and I kind of had, like, a [guitar instructor].. he wasn’t mean, but, like, he kind of said something condescending, and it did make me cry. And then I cried to my boyfriend at the time, and then he was like, “You know what,” he’s like, “Let’s..” like, you could do anything you wanted. He was also making electronic music at the time, and he was like, “Let’s just like have fun and play,” and he taught me how to sample, just like chopping something up on GarageBand, and he was using an SP 303 at the time, and he taught me how to use it, which is what I use now, and I think just like having that experience of like you can make endless sounds, it’s completely autonomous, and it could be your thing, really made me, like, never look back, and I was like, “Let’s just, let’s just make computer music and see how it goes.”

Emily (CJSW)
It’s nice to have someone in your corner like that.

TRICKY FM
I know! Yeah, I feel like my journey so far, and I hope it continues, is like, you know, supportive pushes and like people give you tools, people give you tips, and people put you on, and it encourages you to keep going, and like try something different.

Emily (CJSW)
Totally. Tell me the story behind your name, TRICKY FM.

TRICKY FM
Laughs So it’s funny, but originally when I was like uploading stuff on SoundCloud, I was going by the name Niki FM, and there’s a band that I liked when I was in, like, eighth grade, called “Hawthorne Heights”. They’re kind of like a emo band from.. I don’t know where they’re from, but, like, growing up, they were kind of popular, and they had this song called Niki FM, and, like, the song was, like, and the museum video was very tropey, like a guy’s in love with a girl, and she’s like in a window, and he drives to her house, and everything. I don’t know, I just really liked that song, and I thought it’d be funny to make a project under that name that was very, and like, make music that was very different from that, and also, like, I kind of think of it like that trope is so played out, where it’s like the guy’s in love with a girl, and he shows up to her window with a radio, and I kind of was like wondering, like, well, like, what does the girl think? Does she even like that? Like, does she? So I was like, what if, what if, like, NIKI FM was that girl in the window, you know what I mean. Anyway, so I was going by NIKI FM for a while, kind of like half joking, half serious, and then I think just like one day I made, um, what was that social media that was like really short lived, where you could like take a photo of yourself in real time?

Emily (CJSW)
BeReal?

TRICKY FM
Yeah, one time I made a BeReal, and they prompted me for a username, and I’m like, wouldn’t it be funny if it was, I don’t know, if it was Tricky FM, yeah, and I think I just ran with it because it sounded cool, so it’s Tricky FM now, but I kind of like the idea when sometimes bands make their project name that kind of like doesn’t really have a meaning to begin with, but it’s kind of like up to you to give it meaning, and up to you to give it context, because at first, like, Niki FM was kind of like lol, but now it’s become like a pretty important thing to me.

Emily (CJSW)
Yeah, I love that. I like even assigning your own meaning to it, like when I saw Tricky FM, like I thought of Tricky the Trip Hop Artist.

TRICKY FM
Yes, yeah, people do reference that a lot, and I really like Tricky.

Emily (CJSW)
yeah, and then obviously radio,

TRICKY FM
Yeah, right.

Emily (CJSW)
Which can be huge for electronic music and getting it out there,

TRICKY FM
Yeah. See, I love just like adding new context all the time to it.

Emily (CJSW)
Awesome, you’re based in San Francisco, in the Bay Area. How has the music community in the Bay Area influence your personal sound or approach to the music scene?

TRICKY FM
Yeah, so I feel like when I first started playing there, I kind of just like inserted myself into whatever scene, but I feel like some of the most welcoming people at first were a lot of the.. a lot of like rockers from Oakland, so I feel like I was put on to a lot of like bills that had mostly rock bands, and then I would be like the one like freaky electronic project that was opening, so yeah, I feel like playing with a lot of rock bands to begin with, I maybe like developed a chip on my shoulder where I was like, well, I want to be as loud as them, or I want to like be able to, you know, like hold a candle to them or something, and also, and then like watching them, hearing how loud they can be, and kind of just like expressive that they– how expressive they were, definitely influenced, like, how I wanted to sound, how I wanted my stage presence to be, how I wanted like people to react to me, even though I was just one person and like my computer and some hardware. So I feel like definitely their sound and their like brashness and their loudness, and like how welcoming they were, really they really like encouraged me. They just like kept on going, like, “Yeah, okay, rock star, go off,” and I’m like, “Yeah.” So I feel like, in the beginning, I feel like I was kind of making kind of like soft, kind of more ambient, more like ethereal music, but I feel like playing with rock bands definitely made me want to be a bit more aggressive and kind of like be able to stand next to them, I guess.

Emily (CJSW)
I feel like that almost perfectly answers my next question. Like, I’ve noticed, like, through videos that I’ve seen of your performances online, you have such a dynamic presence, and, like, I think it was Sled that posted this, like, promo video of you, and you’re like in this, like, polka dot skirt with like a little like purse, and it really reminds me of like Pink Pantheress and her little like emotional support purse,

TRICKY FM
Yeah, definitely.

Emily (CJSW)
and like you’re all over the stage, like you just have such a commanding presence, and like you already touched on, you know, the Bay Area music scene, but are there any like specific artists or musical heroes, and kind of looked up to that influence your stage presence.

TRICKY FM
Yeah, I mean, I feel like the first thing I probably definitely did cop that directly [the emotional support purse], or I think I saw–

Emily (CJSW)
You’re so real for that!

TRICKY FM
Yeah, I think I also might have seen Charlie xcx do it, and just like, fuck yeah.. And I feel like people were also saying, like, you coming up with a purse kind of looks like you just got there, and then you have to leave soon, which I also really like that idea.

Emily (CJSW)
You’ve got places to be?

TRICKY FM
Yes, but yeah, musical heroes that I was looking up to that influenced my stage presence.. I mean, I love early Grimes. I love that she was kind of doing that by herself up there. I love Alice Glass, I love her presence. I’m also, I’m originally from the Pacific Northwest in Washington, and so, like, a big fan of Kathleen Hannah and Bikini Kill, and all those girls, just kind of like,

Emily (CJSW)
Kind of the riot grrls?

TRICKY FM
Yeah, definitely just kind of like commanding your presence, and you know, wearing what you want, and like demanding that everyone look at me. Basically, yeah, I love Kathleen Hannah.

Emily (CJSW)
Amazing. I got to see her perform a few years ago at Mosswood Meltdown down in the Bay Area.

TRICKY FM
Oh, yeah, dude that’s awesome.

Emily (CJSW)
Absolutely blew me away. Yeah, once in a lifetime talent.

TRICKY FM
Yeah. I didn’t get to catch her, but I had just like finished reading her book, Rebel Girl, which is amazing. But yeah, I definitely need to catch her.

Emily (CJSW)
Super cool. Your last album, “Peace, Love, Unity, Rave” came out about three years ago. It kind of focuses on core themes of contemporary womanhood, so you have love and intimacy and trust. How do these themes help shape your identity as a solo electronic artist?

TRICKY FM
Oh, interesting… Well, I feel like I kind of always, like I feel like, as I keep on doing this project, I’ve kind of always thought of it as like.. It’s kind of like a relationship with myself, because there really is no one else that’s doing it with me right now, and I’m kind of up there on stage by myself, so to be real, like I feel like I kind of have a history of being kind of codependent, kind of super needy in like relationships with people, so I feel like I’ve kind of tried to have the mindset of like replacing relationships with my music project, and I’m like I can do and be whatever I need to be in that, and it will be okay, and it’ll love me back, and I can.. If I trust it, it’ll trust me, if we have issues, we can work it out. Like, it really is a new form of type of intimacy in my life that’s like not with someone else. So a lot of those themes I feel like I’ve kind of like learned through having relationships with other people, which then I feel like I’m applying now to my craft with myself. Sounds kind of like sad and lonely when I say it out loud,

Emily (CJSW)
No, I think that’s such like a unique perspective, and I really appreciate that.

TRICKY FM
I really am in the mirror in my apartment like, “Let’s freaking do this.”

Emily (CJSW)
“Peace, Love, Unity, Rave” is a great mantra.

TRICKY FM
Thank you.

Emily (CJSW)
Are there any other mantras or phrases you like swear by, whether like you’re at a show or just like day to day? A bit of a loaded question.

TRICKY FM
No, totally fair. There are some. I’m honestly, it hasn’t.. It’s kind of new, but I recently.. I went to see my sister in LA. For some reason, I don’t know why the theme of that trip was it’s not that deep, which isn’t a kind of a natural thing to come from me to say it’s not that deep, because honestly, everything’s really deep for me, sometimes everything’s very serious, and this is like this is so important right now, you know what I mean? So I’ve been saying it’s not that deep lately, which, like, kind of helps take off the pressure sometimes. Sometimes stuff is already really high pressure, and I feel like sometimes I like to add more pressure and more meaning to it than is needed, and I feel like sometimes if you’re just like, you know, it’s not that deep, you kind of can release it and like hold it in your hand with an open palm, and I feel like sometimes that freedom and like lack of resistance can be better, especially creatively.

Emily (CJSW)
Yeah, like I totally agree in terms of like taking the pressure off.

TRICKY FM
Yes!

Emily (CJSW)
It’s good to remind yourself, and then once it’s in the past, you can kind of look at it, and be like, okay, it wasn’t that, deep. Or maybe it was?

TRICKY FM
Yeah, yeah. Maybe it was, but at the time we need to not. We need to lighten it up, yeah.

Emily (CJSW)
You’ve got a pretty stacked resume. I feel like I like put on my Narduar hat and went down your TikTok. So you went to school for molecular biology,

TRICKY FM
I did, yeah.

Emily (CJSW)
You also design chainmail,

TRICKY FM
Yes.

Emily (CJSW)
Which, I also do that.

TRICKY FM
Oh that’s awesome!

Emily (CJSW)
So I was so excited about that.. But you also make electronic music, and you do all these things, and I’m so curious, like, how do you balance and make time for all these different pursuits.

TRICKY FM
Yeah, I think I just really want attention. laughs Everyone look at me. No, I.. how do I make time? You know what? Like, sometimes it’s kind of a very unsexy answer, but sometimes I think sometimes it really is just setting aside a time, time for it, like it is homework, you know what I mean, like I feel like I had to learn that, you know, I love to jump into things when, like, inspiration strikes, and it feels good to, like, ride that wave, but I feel like it’s, I’ve had to learn that it’s also important to set aside time even when you’re not feeling inspired, and like, you have to live life and do your day job and pay bills and do that. Even if you set aside like 30 minutes, 45 minutes, put on a show or make something, just like showing up for it, you know. Like it is like a friend or like a partner that you care about, like just saying like I still love you, and I’m showing up, and I’ll be really present with it when we’re together. And also, like, I had to learn too that, like, sometimes it’s not about adding more, sometimes it’s about taking stuff away that you don’t need in your life anymore, like, whether that’s like I’m like partying a lot, or like hanging out with this person is probably not the best person for me to hang out with right now, or like I’m spending a lot of time, I don’t know, like doom scrolling or worrying about this thing. Sometimes it’s really kind of about like shedding stuff that you know isn’t like, you know, good for you, yeah.

Emily (CJSW)
Yeah, sounds like it takes a lot of discipline and self-awareness.

TRICKY FM
I know, and sometimes it’s a very like unsexy answer, and it doesn’t sound very like punk or whatever, but like I really am kind of like a nerd sometimes, where sometimes I treat everything, like I don’t want to treat it like it’s an assignment or school or whatever, but, like, you know, I feel like if I want to have everything I want to have it just requires some like organization just plan to make time for it.

Emily (CJSW)
It’s your first time in Calgary, I would say our music scene kind of has a reputation for being like very tight-knit but passionate.

TRICKY FM
Oh, really?

Emily (CJSW)
Yeah, I would say that’s my perspective. I’m born and raised, so I feel like I can say that.

TRICKY FM
Okay, cool.

Emily (CJSW)
But did you get a, or, I guess you just got here.. Did you get a chance to check out any bands this week, or are there any like local Alberta acts that you’re trying to check out the rest of the week?

TRICKY FM
I don’t know if they have been local yet, but when we got in, we went to Dickens. Oh, we went to the church and saw Laraaji. We caught a little bit of that set, which was really awesome, really nice to just like kind of close your eyes, and then after that we went to Dickens, and we saw jo passed, which was like really great rock music, and was really tight, and it was a really great venue, like I felt like I was in a movie, and then I think after that was like Pale Hound headlined that show, but I’m not sure if any of those are local. But tonight I think we will try to see Backxwash. I think they’re from Montreal.

Emily (CJSW)
Yeah, Canadian.

TRICKY FM
They’re Canadian. Maybe we’ll see Sextile. There’s a project called Babe Corner? Babe Corner, that I want to try to see them too. I don’t know if they’re tonight, though. But are they Canadian?

Emily (CJSW)
I believe so.

TRICKY FM
Okay, but yeah, I’m.. I also knew that, like, I wanted to come here, and I knew it’d also be like an exploratory trip for me too.

Emily (CJSW)
I guess, yeah, you kind of touched on the bands you want to see here at Sled Island. Are there any bands, artists, etc. from back home that you want to give a shout out that should maybe be on our radar?

TRICKY FM
Oh, totally. Okay, so right now I am on a local label to Oakland called Cherub Dream Records, so yeah, definitely want to shout out Cherub Dream Records. Welcome Strawberry, and Sucker, and Christina’s Trip, and Buddy Junior. There’s a really great, like, digital hardcore band from Oakland called Cel Genesis. I don’t know if they’re making anything anymore, but Sucker from Oakland is one of my favorite bands there. Still Ruins is from Oakland that I really like. Really cool electronic duo from Oakland called Close Good. Who else? Yeah, um, Cheree. Yeah, those are my favorite.

Emily (CJSW)
I’m really glad you mentioned Welcome Strawberry. I know you’ve collaborated before. I love their remix of your track that played on the show recently. I discovered them within the last year, and I just think they’re really special and fun. And there’s one song they did, they sampled one of my favorite kind of niche songs, Phil Cornell’s “Red Lady.”

TRICKY FM
Okay, I’m sure Cyrus would love that you shouted that out. Yes, I’ll make sure he listens for sure.

Emily (CJSW)
What’s next for TRICKY FM? You put out an album three years ago, are you working on any music?

TRICKY FM
Yeah, so actually I have my next album out again on Cherub Dream Records this year in September, so let’s look forward to that. I’m so excited. I really like all the songs, and I’ll definitely be playing some new songs at my show this Saturday here. Yeah, new album coming out. I have some shows lined up back in the Bay, opening for a project by Otha, which is really cool. Another project called Joey Cash. I’ll be playing with there’s like a really cool DIY festival in San Francisco called Rose Blood Fest, which will be happening late August, which I’ll be playing too. A lot of really great, like, femme-centric, femme central projects will be playing that one. But yeah, I think [I’m] just excited for my album to come out. Singles will be dropping soon. Music videos en route. I’m just like looking forward to like playing more within and outside of the Bay Area

Emily (CJSW)
Very exciting! TRICKY FM plays Saturday, June 20, 11 o’clock at Dickens. Be sure to check it out. Thank you so much for your time, and enjoy the rest of your time in Calgary.

TRICKY FM
Thank you. I’m gonna have a blast. Let’s party.

Emily (CJSW)
Let’s do it!