Cassy

Which leads us back to the Fabric mix. What planning went into it?

I’ve done a few now so I know how I’m approaching it. At first obviously I was scared and thought ‘oh god, what am I going to put on there?’ But then I just checked my favourite record stores and picked stuff that is really strong on vinyl. I also picked artists I loved and all of them have played at Fabric, which is an interesting point, because Fabric have people play that are not known to your average EDM crowd.

That said, I’m not a missionary as a DJ. Music does not need anyone to convince them to like it. I don’t need to do anything to make people like it. All you can do is play music for people to hear it. I guess in the end it’s like a 5-hour set compressed into one CD.

You told RA when news of the mix broke: “I have aimed to get back to the roots of what this should be about for every DJ – namely playing records for the love of playing records – and not because of anything else.” What is ‘anything else’?

DJing shouldn’t be about the person playing the music or glamourising the job. All we do is play music for people and some have mastered it so well. But, obviously, your personality always shines through ’cause it’s you playing that music. Sometimes it scares me though. I see crowds at parties and the scenario where sometimes it’s about finding the quickest high, or it’s a rush to get people’s hands in the air. DJing is not about people having their hands in the air, DJing is about people dancing on the dancefloor and enjoying music.

At DC10, the sit-down thing, for a DJ that’s a compliment that says the crowd is really enjoying the music. And I remember I had to DJ a few times and people wanted to sit down, but I find it strange. Rituals are cool, I am full of respect for that, but sometimes people don’t even realise what’s going on. That’s what I love about Panorama Bar – people don’t really look at you, they are just dancing and it’s great.

You seem like something of an outsider with no real ties to any one family, whereas some crews are very tight, like Appollonia, Visionquest… is that on purpose?

Way too many people take way too many things too seriously, and we take ourselves too seriously doing it. When you’re younger you do it, it’s endearing or sweet or cool, and I understand, but if you come from a certain movement you want to push, you have to do that, it’s cool for you and your mates.

But I don’t want to be tied down to anything. I love people; human beings are the most interesting things on the planet. I come from a strange family and I love characters and I was probably raised to be an individual, or become a strong individual. I was forced to be one through my circumstances. Families and groups are great to a certain extent, but they are also quite oppressive. They don’t really take care of the individuals as such. Capitalism makes individualism possible, though – it’s a bit harsh to say that, and I know we’re all supposed to love each other, but groups have always scared the shit out of me. But I’m a woman, so yes I do. I feel like an outsider.

You are indeed, and no one can deny there are fewer women in this game than men. The ones who do succeed really seem to succeed though, from you to Steffi to Nina Kraviz. Is that because women have to work harder and impress people more to get to the top?

Let’s put it like this: these women you’ve mentioned are extremely individual. They have an individual style of DJing and music that they like, but yeah, they also have to work harder. Though some guys have to work hard, too. There are so many cliques and it’s hard for them to break from one area of the scene to another. It’s rare when that happens, but I do believe anything is possible if you work hard at it.

Capitalism makes individualism possible – it's a bit harsh to say that, and I know we're all supposed to love each other, but groups have always scared the shit out of me.

Generally, do you think as many women want to be DJs? Do you get as many girls as boys coming up to ask for track IDs, for example?

No! It’s really funny. In the past I made a really bitchy comment about this – but I love it – and said no, because most of the girls are not interested in music, but interested in DJs. That is very much the case, still. But to be honest I don’t care about track names, I just play records in a shop and buy them if I like them.

What do you wish you could tell the young Cassy?

I would tell any girl – you are beautiful no matter what other people think. You can do whatever you like. Don’t be afraid. Be brave. I was quite feisty as a young girl; I went to an all girls’ school voluntarily. I didn’t like how in a mixed class boys could do more then girls. I think men are just as gossipy as women and can be extremely passive-aggressive and cuntish. I don’t know. For me, I find my male colleagues are more threatened by me than my female colleagues.

I think men are just as gossipy as women and can be extremely passive-aggressive and cuntish. I find my male colleagues are more threatened by me than my female colleagues.

Can you imagine why?

It’s strange for them, they are afraid of what they don’t know. Our world is based on pre-lived concepts, like how do you behave and act around, or talk to, a woman. You learn it from your older brother and then when you are there in that situation and [women] don’t act like how they expect, they are frozen and feel threatened and nasty. Men can be so stupid, why is it so difficult for them? On the other hand it can be difficult for me and the point comes where I just think I can’t be bothered. I’d rather watch a movie or something.

Fabric 71 mixed by Cassy is released on the 19th of August. The launch party takes place this Saturday night at Fabric. Find Cassy on Facebook, Twitter and SoundCloud.