- Timeless house music for summertime.
- Like most multi-genre music fans, London-based Ruby Savage approaches DJing through a wide-angle lens. Whether she's touring, playing her post-punk disco party, In Flames, or hosting her monthly Radiant Life show on NTS Radio, the Amsterdam native opts for warm, bouncy tunes that traverse dub, jazz and '80s proto-house. As she once told Mixmag, she isn't beat-matching but "heartbeat-matching." For her, a dance is a means to feeling the full spectrum of emotions in a healthy way.
Years spent behind the scenes at influential institutions have added to her understanding of energy and flow. She's worked the counter at Honest Jon's Records, managed Theo Parrish's Sounds Signature label (plus created the Wildheart Recordings sister label) and Gilles Peterson's Brownswood outlet, in addition to helping the Worldwide FM don launch Arc Records. When she's not DJing, she's spearheading community initiatives like Don't Be A Creep, an educational platform about club safety, as well as Artist Recovery Club for creative growth among music-makers.
For her RA podcast, the vinyl enthusiast crafted a house music odyssey through soul, disco and gospel-inflected cuts like "Glory" by Waajeed and Dames Brown. It's an uplifting excursion through joy, catharsis and self-affirmation, relayed straight from the heart.
What have you been up to recently?
Making ice cream. Digging at my local record shop. Travelling. Playing new places, meeting new people. I love summer!
How and where was the mix recorded? And can you tell us the idea behind it?
I recorded the mix at home. I prefer building my sets bouncing off energy from people on the dance floor but I drew on some good memories of recent parties. Ended up giving it a proper foot stomp (apology to my neighbour Kelly)!
I can get in my head quite a bit. So I wanted the mix to do the opposite. Something fun that would get me back into my body. I love how music can do that. Always feel better after a dance.
What's one social or political cause you want the world to pay more attention to?
How white supremacist capitalist patriarchy is fucking. us. all.
Resist whenever you can.
What's one club or party that had a major impact on you as an artist?
I come from the School Of Plastic People! Lucky to have spent many years listening, learning, dancing, connecting and learning some more going to the wild variety of club nights in that basement. It's defined my approach to music, DJing and how I move through the world to this day. To not shy away from trying new things, to mix it up, break rules, be honest, be open and stay dedicated to sharing your best self.
What are you looking forward to in the near future?
I'm back at Berlin's Panorama Bar in September. A complete honour.
Alongside DJing, I also run Artist Recovery Club, helping people work through creative block. There's a direct connection between the ability to play (as adults) and tapping into creative flow. I love exploring this, especially in relation to DJing. My next course starts in September.
Also Don't Be A Creep, a music and nightlife arts initiative in support of safer spaces that I run with Maude Churchill, will be at Rally and We Out Here Festival in August. We work with promoters to communicate their welfare policies in creative and effective ways. It's promising to see wellbeing policies being taken more seriously and as an essential element of throwing a good party—up there with the other necessities such as cloakrooms and toilets.
TracklistMarcel Vogel - If You Like (Alma Negra Remix)
Jamie 326 x MrScruff x Danou P L - Scrubb It
Len Leise - Desperado Dining
Ron Hardy - Shake It
Pete Herbert & Dicky Trisco - Fique Louca
Doug Gomez - Meta Mor Fo Sis (Latin Jazz Mix)
The Vision - Heaven feat Andreya Triana (Danny Krivit Edit)
AC Soul Symphony - K-Jee (Philly World Mix)
Sandy Barber - I Think I'll Do Some Stepping (On My Own) (OPOLOPO Rework)
Visionary - Music Is My Life
Harry Romero - The Journey
Doug Gomez - Without you feat Aaron K. Gray
Luis Radio, Stefano Guerra - Bazaar
River Ocean, India - Love & Happiness (Yemaya Y Ochùn) (12-inch Club Mix)
Dames Brown - Glory (Extended Mix) feat. Waajeed