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RA.889 DJ MELL G

Published
Jun 18, 2023
Filesize
169 MB
Length
01:13:39

The sound of JUICY GANG.
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In 2020, DJ MELL G dropped out of law studies to pursue music full-time and hasn't looked back since. For good reason too—she's far too busy for any potential regret. Over the past three years, the Hamburg-based artist launched JUICY GANG RECORDS, switched up her DJing style from ghettotech to electro, began touring and started producing. Her year-and-a-half old label is now a go-to source for brazen, bouncy club bangers and her refocused, electro-heavy sound has led to bookings alongside DJ Stingray, Pearson Sound and other heavy-hitters. The rising star is certainly having a moment, yet it hasn't been all smooth sailing. These sudden career ascents can be tricky to navigate emotionally and her upcoming debut album, ISSUES, expresses some of the mental health struggles she's faced along the way. Her RA Podcast is similarly personal. Moving from retro synthwave to acid-laced techno to UK bass before ending on funky electro, it embodies the core sounds that are near and dear to her. Loaded with lots of gritty low-end frequencies, it's a thrilling ride across contemporary club music that cements her status as an in-demand DJ. What have you been up to recently? Ever since completing my LP, titled ISSUES, my team and I have been working extensively on its release. The response has been overwhelming, with a lot of press inquiries coming in. Addressing mental health in the music industry demands a high amount of emotional and mental energy for me. Nevertheless, I am extremely happy to have the opportunity to share my experiences and that I'm able to speak up for myself and (maybe) help others. Lately, I have been receiving many messages from various people, and these interactions mean a lot to me. Can't wait to share all this with you. Also I'm working on new music and touring a lot—I mean, it's festival season after all :)!!! How and where was the mix recorded? And can you tell us the idea behind it? Unfortunately, I don't have decks at home, which is why I chose to record my mix at Hamburg's Pirate Studios. Usually, I prefer playing with Allen & Heath Xone 92/96, but this time I had to record the mix with 3 CDJ Nexus 2000s and a Pioneer DJM 900-NXS2. Typically, I lean towards playing electro with house and techno influences, but this time I've decided to go into another direction. I was thinking a lot about what to play and in which order, because to be honest, I had too many ideas. In the end I've decided to start with some Italo disco influenced tracks, mixed with synthwave, as I find myself listening to it a lot when I'm alone at home. I then transitioned into trap, which is the genre that kickstarted my music career, and wrapped up with some bass music and electro. My intention was to showcase the transformation of myself as an artist, from "just listening to music at home" to being a DJ in the club. I hope you will enjoy the mix! What's one club or party that had a major impact on you as an artist? The impact that the club ∄ in Kyiv had on me was signifiant. I played there in August 2021 for the first time and I've never experienced such a vibe and energy during my 4 hour set in the backyard. I had moved to Kyiv at the end of 2021, I had the opportunity to play there a couple of times, and I've never felt so accepted and loved during my stay. Can't describe this feeling in words. You started out playing/making trap and ghettotech and have recently moved towards electro. Did you find that Germany was a receptive place for these sounds, or did you kind of have to make your own scene(s)? I played trap and hip-hop when I started DJing and went to ghettotech and footwork because of my collective in Marburg where I was studying until 2020. It always works on the dance floor and was a lot of fun for me as well, but I realized it's not the sound I want to be known for. All these edits were everywhere at one point without paying adequate respect to their origins. Also electro has so many opportunities for mixing without getting boring, and I've really learned how to express my feelings through music for the first time. What's coming up on JUICY GANG, and what kind of sounds are you trying to push with the label? At the moment we are releasing my debut LP. The first single called "ISSUES (INTRO)" is already out, second one is dropping on June 22nd and the whole LP will drop on July 20th. A music video directed by Ricarda Haehn will accompany the release, adding visual representations of each track and a collage for a full music video on the record. I'm really excited to share all this with you. Following that we have plans in the works for a remix EP of ISSUES. JUICY GANG RECORDS is not just a label, it's a family, and I'm trying to push underground artists first of all because this is where I come from as well. But we decided to take a short summer break to reorientate. What's one social or political cause you want the world to pay more attention to? We have a collective responsibility to cultivate a supportive and inclusive environment where individuals of all gender identities and marginalized communities can stand together and uplift one another. And please continue your support for Ukarine without ceasing. What are you looking forward to in the near future? Definitely the full release of my LP and some fresh new back-to-backs this year!
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