M&A #15: Evalution

It might be easier to list what Evalution hasn't done than what she has, since the photographer, vlogger, anti-physics-department-activist and DJ has been so visible in Cambridge over the last two years. After being introduced to disco and dance music during her Cambridge life, she's become a much loved regular at OOX, Grandma Groove and ARCSOC, jumping around both the dancefloor and behind the decks. The creativity seen in her photography and vlogs is in full flow here, as she gives us some of the disco and house highlights of her collection.

How did you record the mix?

It is my first recorded mix. It would of been simple if I had my own controller.

But I don’t.

I tried recording it from Saskia Allan’s (MML, Homerton, very beautiful, single) controller during exam term. Then after exams have finished I went to Fin’s (Robinson) and used his controller. Didn’t like it. And the next day Josh (Catz) was kind enough to allow me to record it again on his. This time I wanted to re-record it again, but Josh didn’t allow me because he liked it.

What were you trying to do with it?

Put smile on people’s faces or create banging feelings in the heart.

What do you think pops out to you most when you’re looking for tracks? The songs in the mix all have noticeable upbeat melodies and vocals, is this something that’s usually makes you save/download something?

Certainly, if I can imagine myself dancing sober with a [newly] found track and you know the feeling when you smile strongly with closed eyes from enjoyment/excitement – that’s two guidelines for saving a track.

You are very visible in the arts around Cambridge, with your vlogs, photography and music. How do they fit in to your schedule? Do they all offer different things to you creatively, or do you think they’re quite similar challenges?

With the science degree it is difficult to do supervision work and do creative stuff at the same time. So the third year of uni was for me divided into –

1^st and 2^nd term with minimising academic work and maximising creativity;

3^rd term all the way around to save my degree.

Currently I enjoy music more because it is recent compared to photography which I’ve done for 8 years now – it brings me pleasure that you can make someone dance and share your music with people. While in photography I love capturing the beauty I see in people. Vlogs contain both visual and music elements.

I love re-watching my memories because it is easy to remember negative moments even though there is so much more positive stuff happening. And my memory is bad. I don’t know how I remember physics formulas.

You’ve played a few early sets; how do you prepare for these? Do you think its harder or easier than a later slot?

I generally have chosen the music I want to play on the same day or the day before and practiced transitions on Eimear’s (lawer, Medwards, very beautiful too, single) controller. Although there were two nights when I had a folder with music for that night but it did not export properly, so it was disappointing to play something that you were not thinking to.

I find later slot easier to play on because I know people are listening and I have more motivation to play well and hence afterwards I will be happier with what I have mixed.

How did you start DJing? Where are you looking to take it/your photography/vlogging?

Maybe it’s weird, but because of my depression until 21yo I was exclusively listening to classical and sad jazz music. In 2^nd year I have my friend group where Hamish (OOX) and Giorgio have introduced me funk, soul and disco. And I was like WOW, WHAT IS THIS.

It kind of saved me and I have started to feel happier. In my head it was always something unreachable but because I started using same music as I DJ right now [in the vlogs], it was vaguely similar to DJing because you overlay music and you make it match the video vibe (“event”). I think because of the vlogs and Hamish it became easier to even consider to play tunes.

I remember in the summer Hamish organised “All-Dayer Beef” and I said in the conversation to Michael (“Brother to Brother”) that I am gonna DJ at some point. I think it is honestly lol cause no experience, never touched controller, does not know what is a record label, EP and here she is saying she will DJ.

My first set was at “Reclaim the decks”. I have practice on Eimeear’s conroller after finding funky hip-hop songs on youtube that can both match my vibe and the event’s. And the fact it was successful from the people’s reactions, it made me [keep] going. Maybe mixing was great at the start, but the music I chose people liked and that makes me happy.

What is your musical guilty pleasure?

I mean… I stopped listening to music apart from classical stuff for 7 years and I am hungry for disco and house music all the time. And taking the example of “American boy” (which is considered to be pop and maybe as a guilty pleasure (?)) there is a great development of the tunes and it is easy to dance to – so I don’t feel guilty.

What is the last song you listened to?

D.A.N.C.E – Justice

Recently discovered. Recently in love with it.

Who is your favourite producer/performer at the moment?

Don’t have one atm. For a while it was “Tugboat Captain” when I was in love with someone.

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

The bomb! The Bucketheads

What was the best party you’ve played?

Probably ARCSOC spandex because I played 11-12pm with people in it and my USB worked and everything was great.

What have you got planned for the future?

Okay. That’s a big question. Next year – fourth year integrated masters. Probably switching to Astrophysics from Physics. Then moving to London for 2 years’ work on video/film/photo/music projects. Then if I get funding – film school at Columbia University in NYC.

Evalution’s Track list

Min – Title – Artist

00:00 Anytime or Place – Azoto

4:30 Funk Makossa – Cerrone feat. Manu Dibango

7:45 You Make Me Feel (Mighty Real) – Sylvestre

10:00 Like It Is – Coeo

13:00 Devil In Me – Purple Disco Machine feat. Joe Killington & Duane Harden

16:15 Flawless – The Ones

21:00 Can’t Seem To Hide – Bosq feat. Megan Doherty

26:00 Never Been In Love – Secondcity & Makree

28:00 Stuck In My Heart - !!! (pronounced chk chk chk)

31:00 Stranger Code – Cosmic Boys

33:45 You Don’t Know Me – Armand Van Helden feat. Duane Harden

38:00 Double Dutch Bus – Frankie Smith

41:00 Je Suis Music – Cerrone

44:00 Its Just (House of Dupree) – Leon Vynehall

46:30 Get Shaky (Vocal Mix) – Ian Carey Project

49:45 For Your Love – Chilly

52:30 Light Star – Coeo

55:30 On The Corner – Solardo

58:10 Writer’s Block – Just Jack