M&A #11: Princess Banga

Princess Banga, aka Johanna Kinnock, is a DJ who likes to take audiences deep. Recently you might have caught her at Avant Gardening, Mingle or Grandma Groove playing anything from dark and dirty queer techno, to euphoric 90s house. Her reputation as one half of Star Whores (who warmed up for Violet at last term’s King’s Mingle) and as a solo DJ lives up to her …loud… alias. Here, Princess Banga gives us a tough hour of tight percussion, vibrant acid and raucous bass lines.

How did you record the mix?

On my pioneer SB2 linked to Serato.

What were you trying to do with the mix?

Breakbeat is everywhere at the moment and its just always so lush!! So I got obsessed with finding break beats across different genres - I thought that would be cool as a theme running through house, acid, trance and techno. I hope it comes through in the mix.

How did you first get into DJing?

I was curious about it for a long time and was playing around on free apps and stuff. Then when I could afford a mixer I got it and I must say it’s a very funky gadget.

The mix is pretty hard throughout. Do you find yourself looking to play deeper, harder, bassier tunes in the club? How would you describe your style as a DJ?

I have been drawn to harder stuff recently for sure, so I guess this mix really is just a soundscape of my stressed out exam term mind haha. I also desperately wanted to prove to Ms. Talia [Maidenberg, other half of star whores] that I could handle the sickening stuff.  

Hmmm. I like nearly all different genres of music and try to play what seems right for the crowd… I also really like playing around with all the stupid sound effects so I guess maybe my style is non-purist and a bit confused??

There’s a nice story arc, where the start is quite fun and high energy, and at the end you use tracks that are more minor and reminiscent sounding. How do you sort tracks? When you’re listening to new music do you have in mind what you could use it for/when you could play it, or do you just think ‘fuck, I like this’?

Thank you!! I am mega obsessed with making playlists so I definitely take anything I like but then sort it into really niche categories. And then try and play it on the right occasion. The best sets I’ve seen strike a perfect balance between the expected and the unexpected: so categories are good but getting too hung up on mixing all in one genre is not. In this mix I had a few extra tracks that I wanted to add but then restrained myself - mainly because Born Slippy is just so epic and euphoric it had to be the last one. It has exactly that reminiscent feel to it: the kind of tune that should be played out at an afters in may week :^)

You mentioned one of the genres you experiment with is acid. Acid house and techno is a great subgenre where seemingly the only addition is the squelchy synth/bass lines. What do you think it is about acid that’s so attractive?

That Pearson sound tune really did it for me so I rolled with that and dug up all this acidy stuff that I’d never tried mixing before. Acid’s fun because you get to play with the mid-frequencies as opposed to just the bass and high ones.

There are some great bits of signposting with vocal samples dotted about. Do you try to use vocal samples like this? What do you think DJs should be wary of with vocal tracks?

Wohoo thanks! I love bits of vocals as something to latch onto especially in heavy sets. Also everyone at the club screaming like “eat my pussy” is just a great image.  I love it when samples bring that bit of humour to the party.

Hmmm samples in electronic music are often über repetitive so that’s something to watch out for. For example Four Tet’s recent track  “only human” is amazing but if I was playing it in a set I’d break it up a bit so it doesn’t just go into endless overdrive.

What is your musical guilty pleasure?

I’m not guilty about any of my pleasures. I wear my love for T-Swift on my sleeve, proudly.

I believe we should fight the music snobbery, collectively stop doing Spotify private sessions and bask in the cheesiness.

What is the last song you listened to?

The new tyler album – very yummy.

Who is your favourite producer/performer at the moment?

I’m enjoying what courtesy is doing with her new label Kulør (repping Copenhagen woop woop). That’s where the Schacke track is from.

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

Work it – Marie Davidson.

What was the best party you’ve played?

Avant Gardening when I was playing lots of queer techno and ghetto house and a big vogueing competition started on the dancefloor… I was like.. this is it… I can die in peace now.

What have you got planned for the future?

For may week KA and the Grandma Groove room 2 Junction takeover + a couple of other events :D :D :D

Johanna’s Track List:

[Artist - Title]

Dehousy – Ritual

Pearson sound – Rubble

Funkin Matt feat. Teki Latex - Get loose (canblaster remix)

Kollektiv Turmstrasse – Sorry I am late (the blaze remix)

Anthony Naples – OTT

Transparent Sound – No call from new york

Gerome Sportelli – Some Acid

Jared Wilson – Acid River

Artwork – Acid Lines

Lauren Flax, Dj Heather – The Acid (LSDXOXO reflax)

Matrixxman – Sexual Frustration

Anet K – Eat My Pussy (Egyptian Lover vocal remix)

Nathan Melja – Candy

Antonio Hyperfunk – Hyperfunk

Jordon Alexander – More than I ever thought I could

Pangaea – Router

Schacke – Automated lover

Underworld – Born Slippy [Nuxx]