M&A #07: HAH

HAH is a DJ who has undeniably been at the heart of the Cambridge music scene for a while. Setting up Playtime, the night that showcases female + nb DJs, and organising workshops with some of the best up and coming DJs around. Her sets have been known to hop from scene to high-energy scene, and here she serves up a sweet half-hour of hip hop, soul and RnB. Yum.

How did you record the mix?

On a free trial of Serato DJ pro, with trusty Numark controller and laptop

What were you trying to do with the mix?

I wanted to throw some tunes that I love all together and make something collage-y.

How did you get into DJing?

I never thought about it before I came to uni, but I've always been into music. DJing is one of the best ways to share that and meet interesting people: Jemima Higgins taught me! Thanks mom!!

You play a lot more Hip Hop in this than previous mixes in the series. You’ve been known to play quite adventurous sets in this sense and artists like Skee Mask also drop Grime and Hip Hop in their techno sets. How does it fit into the stuff you normally DJ, and do you think it mixes with the music we’ve heard so far in the series?

This mix was a chance for me to mix some music I wouldn't get to play out so much. Last term I played a few more relaxed sets, at Kettle's Yard and Fleapit. I enjoyed them so much that I thought it was time to get artistic and blend some hip hop together with Tirzah and Rosalia. I get so wrapped up in my sets that I tend to mix across genres quite a lot: if u heard reggaeton mixed into techno in fez, it was probably me, sorry!!!

The mix notably showcases some amazing female artists. How would you say women are misrepresented and underrepresented in the music you listen to? And who do you think are the women making a difference?

Hmmmm. I love Tirzah a lot, her kind of messy melancholy vocals over Mica Levi's crisp production really does it for me. I also want people to listen to the lyrics of this mix, they're saying some good stuff. I don’t know, I could ramble on about it forever, but I think the issue about gender representation has been raised in Cambridge: just keep an eye out for latent sexism and give as many opportunities to women and non-binary artists as u can, especially if they're just starting out.

You set up Playtime, a night showcasing women & non-binary DJ talent. How did that work? Is it difficult running a night on your own?

There's a lot of work behind the scenes that goes unthanked- people don't think about the mechanics of student-run nights. At the start, I worked so hard on the project but it’s so much easier now. I've also recruited some peeps to help out which I'm really excited about.

Fez is actually a cool room to put stuff on in, despite the rep. defo do it if u can!

Something very special that’s also happened under your watch is the recent DJ workshops. What would you say you learned from Peach, Luz and Doc Sleep?

DJ workshops are interesting because dance music isn't really 'taught' in many other contexts. It’s about what you feel and how you like to move, and like all other creative things, the process for everyone is really different. So, I guess what I learnt has been a mixture of practical knowledge and marking out my own style.

What was the best party you’ve played?

My highlights have been Bunker and Reclaim the Decks. I love hip-hop, making the sets is so easy. Bunker is just amazing because of the energy of the crowd and the sound systems Vincent and Bosco bring in. You hear your tracks properly for the first time!

What is your musical guilty pleasure?

Princess Nokia/James Blake/Injury Reserve

What is the last song you listened to?

Lava La Rue's Letra EP

Who is your favourite producer/performer at the moment?

Probably her! Go listen. I forgot to put any in the mix, but its super similar.

What is your go to tune to bring up a party up?

Bodak Yellow / Bad Girls M.I.A. lol

What have you got planned for the future?

Playtime is (hopefully) going to keep putting on workshops. We're losing a lot of our DJs this year, so expect a farewell party at the Portland arms after exams. Next term, we're in Cindies!

HAH's Track List

00:00 - Flowers - Sampa The Great

03:00 - Fa All Y'All - Da Brat

06:00 - Swing My Way - Kamaiyah

08:00 - Despacio - Bad Gyal ft. Ms Nina

10:00 - Money - Leikeli47

12:30 - Wealth - Modelektor & Flohio

16:30 - A Nungún Hombre (Cap 11: Poder) - ROSALIÁ

17:00 - Best Friends - Missy Elliott & Aaliyah

20:00 - Gladly - Tirzah

23:00 - My Skin My Logo - Solange

24:00 - Energy - Sampa The Great