RW048

Hey there,

Week after week, we have now spent 48 newsletters together. But one thing has never been as crazy as it is this week. I'm currently looking through the new releases and honestly asking myself: how many banger records came out this week? We're skipping the old school section today so we can put our full focus on the best records of the week. On top of that, we have a "Behind the Booth" written by Kathi, aka Krackk, from her perspective. Today we're going all in.

But first things first:

1. Recent Cuts - Fresh vinyl and digital releases worth checking out.

2. Behind the Booth - Personal stories, lessons, and perspectives from life as a DJ.

3. Top 5 Samuel L Session - A handpicked selection, carefully curated each week by DJ’s.
   

1. Recent Cuts - Fresh vinyl and digital releases worth checking out.

2. Behind the Booth - Personal stories, lessons, and perspectives from life as a DJ.

This section is written today by Kathi, aka Krackk.

I thought I'd take over the "Behind the Booth" section today and share some of my experiences with hate comments on the internet over the past few months. Unfortunately, I could probably fill twenty pages on this topic alone. At the beginning of this year, I decided to increase my social media presence because, whether we like it or not, it has become a basic requirement for getting booked regularly. In that context, I spent a lot of time thinking about what kind of content would feel authentic to me and what I could genuinely stand behind. Even so, I struggled with it at first because social media has very little to do with what I actually want to do: express myself artistically through music. I eventually decided to introduce and talk about records, because for me, DJing is fundamentally about sharing music and expressing myself through it. However, as a person who is not male in this scene, any kind of visibility also creates a stage and a space for criticism, and unfortunately, for hate.

I am deliberately referring to gender here because I have a direct point of comparison in Robin. We share an apartment and therefore also a music room, and we create content that is very similar both in terms of subject matter and perspective. Gender is therefore the most obvious difference between us. Of course, Robin has more expertise and experience simply because he has been DJing for many more years than I have. But that distinction is not necessarily apparent in a reel that lasts only a few seconds. Over time, I have collected countless screenshots of men unsolicitedly judging my abilities, my expertise, my appearance, and my taste. Or, more accurately, insulting them in the harshest possible terms.

People have denied that the records I present could actually belong to me. One person claimed to have enough expertise to know that there was no way a woman could have built such a collection; the records must have belonged to my father. Naturally, I'm not a real DJ either. I merely pretend to turn random knobs for show. Many people also seem preoccupied with questioning my gender. Because if I really am a woman, then apparently I look far too masculine. Maybe I'm transgender, which, in their eyes, would somehow be worse than being “just” a woman. Or perhaps I'm simply an “it,” and this it “sounds like it looks - garbage.”

Then there are comments like: “Wow, finally a woman who can actually do something and play records. If I just adjusted the pitch on the left deck by a millimeter and smiled a bit more, it would be perfect ;)” I don't want to go into further detail here because I don't want to give these comments, and the people behind them, even more attention and space. With essentially the same content, Robin probably receives about 0.1% of the negative comments that I do.

Why am I telling you all this?

Because this is not an individual problem. It is a broader social and structural issue that is very much present in this scene. In the past, I have led many FLINTA* workshops, and the experiences shared by participants consistently reveal gender-based discrimination. Every participant has encountered it in one form or another. I do not know a single FLINTA* person in this scene, regardless of how well-known they are, who has not had to endure this kind of behavior. No matter how this discrimination manifests itself, it affects you. It creates pressure to constantly prove yourself, to be exceptionally good, to leave no room for criticism, and to avoid making yourself vulnerable in any way. In short, it creates insecurity.

It takes away the joy. It leads to the exact opposite of what this scene originally stood for. And it has nothing to do with the spaces from which “our” scene emerged. All of us are responsible for what these spaces will become in the future. This text is intended as a point of reflection. And I hope it encourages more people to actively stand up against this discrimination. Otherwise, the space we love will be lost. 

3. Top 5 Samuel L Session - A handpicked selection, carefully curated each week.

Today I was scrolling through my Discogs collection, which, fortunately, I fully catalogued years ago. And one thing stood out to me. I've never done a TOP5 dedicated to one of Sweden's greatest DJs and producers. We all know him. Basslines so deep they go straight into the heart of every techno listener. So much feeling. So much groove. So much passion. And he's been doing it for almost thirty years. New and old releases constantly appear on Bandcamp. For me, he's an inspiration and one of the greatest producers when it comes to atmosphere and depth. I'm talking about Samuel L Session. I honestly can't remember playing a set during the last two years without at least one Samuel L Session track. Samuel always has to be there. A mix needs highs and lows. And Samuel brings depth without ever feeling like the low point of a set. Do you get what I mean?

This weekend I don't have any gigs. And honestly, I'm getting a strong urge to produce music again. Finishing projects. Starting new projects. We'll see. I really feel like releasing a record again. It's about time. It's been one and a half years now. But creativity isn't something you can simply pull out of a drawer and switch on whenever you want. Wish me luck! :-) See you next week!

And don’t forget: keep sending me your favorite track or record. Who knows? Maybe you’ll be the one curating the next pick in the Community section.

Simply reply to this email or comment here with a link to your favorite E.P.

Catch you next week! Be ready to drop the needle on my next picks.

Keep it spinning,
Robin Tasi @ Recycling Wax