Having built a reputation in the US, performing in Los Angeles and New York City, before setting her sights in Asia, DJ Lizzy talks about the inspiration behind her new releases, the realisation of her love for electro music, and her experience spinning in China’s leading clubs.
You grew up in New Jersey; how much has your hometown inspired you to be a DJ?
I grew up in North Arlington in New Jersey, where I was highly influenced by the neighbourhood hip-hop culture. When I moved to New York City, I was quickly attracted to electronic music, and I started to listen to different styles. New York City was the best training ground for my musical talents because it is the centre of the world, a place to follow music trends and be exposed to some of the best clubs in the world. I had the opportunity to hear the hottest beats and see top DJs performing all the time. It was definitely one of the main inspirations for me to become a professional DJ.
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You’ve played at LA’s Los Globos, NYC’s Club Circle, and Shenzhen’s Club Dazzle and M2; how does DJing in China compare to the States?
To be honest, music unites us all; there isn’t much difference now. I play more bass and hip-hop in LA; more trance and techno in NYC, and it’s almost the same music I play in China. I guess the only difference is the portion of each genre I play at different venues, but there’s no boundary in music. I find the same love from my fans in different countries. I was really shocked by the reaction from LA and NYC, especially at Los Globos, when the promoter and fans kept on asking me back and posting in my fan group. I was really touched.
Where does the inspiration for your latest release Kombat stem from? How’s it different from your previous creation Kill the Vampire?
Kill the Vampire was inspired during a visit to a coffee shop in Amsterdam last year. It was a beautiful day and that beat just lingered in my head. I started to imagine how this street would look like when it was dark, and how the vampires start to come out when the sun goes down! It was a bit crazy and pretty random.
However, Komba was more of a studio work; I wanted to create a song that people can dance to, and beats that are easy to remember. I always loved history and war movies, and a lot of my inspiration comes from soldiers and battles.
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Both of your new 2017 releases have appeared as hot tracks on PYRO Music, a platform for global DJs and electronic music lovers alike; what does that mean to you?
It really means a lot to me. It really encourages me to follow my heart. I will continue pursuing my dreams and keep my own style in music. I still remember the day I uploaded Kill the Vampire to Pyro Music, and the next day I woke up, I saw my song had 4.4k clicks and was on Pyro’s front page hot list next to Galantis. I couldn’t believe it. I actually thought their website had mechanical problems.
Who are your favourite DJs?
That’s a tough one, I have many favourite DJs: Alok, KSHMR, Don Diablo, Oliver Heldens, Jauz, Kygo, Kaskade, Carnage. They’re all great producers and have their own styles. I love songs that touch me, such as Dash Berlin’s Underneath the Sky and Here Tonight, and Kaskade’s Last Chance. They all touched my heart.
Name one song you’d dance to death.
Definitely hip-hop. Maybe Ridin’ Rims by Dem Franchize Boyz, or All Night by Juicy J, Wiz Khalifa.
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How’s the DJ scene evolving in Asia?
More and more people start to understand and respect DJs now. A DJ is no longer a music player at a club or a sexy showgirl who presses the buttons anymore. People have started to appreciate and value real DJ/producers and start to focus on the business value in this industry. Big companies like Zouk have been bringing out a lot of DJs to their events, such as Zouk at Sea’s High Seas Summer Series on Dream Cruises’ luxury cruise ship. It’s going to be the best summer kick-off party ever.
What’s next for you?
Besides events, I will open for a few of my favourite DJs, including Don Diablo, Steve Aoki, Garmiani, and Head Hunterz, and my new EP is also coming out in summer, which I am super excited about.
If you can choose any venue in the world, where would you spin?
Hakkasan Vegas and Space IBIZA.
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