7 Sides of Martha [Interview & Mix] | Selector After Dark

Introduce yourself and tell us about the part of the UK you’re from?

I’m Martha, I’m a DJ, sound artist and documentary maker from Peckham, south-east of the river here in London – where Giggs is from. I play on Radar Radio every Thursday 8-10PM UK time, and I produce and present a podcast for Resident Advisor called The Hour – it’s documentaries and discussion on electronic music culture.

 

Tell us about some of your British DJ heroes?

My British DJ heroes are Storm and Kode9. Storm carved out a path for women in underground electronic music and I’m really grateful for that. In terms of set curation and innovation in the club environment, no one comes close to Kode9. He is a big inspiration, Hyperdub is my favourite label and _Ø is my favourite club night.

 

What have you been working on recently?

 This year so far I’ve taken my Radar Radio show weekly, and have hosted Hitmakerchinx, Blackdown and Total Trax. I’ve DJ’d for Nike, Resident Advisor and supported Actress, and I did my first Boiler Room which was mad sweaty!

 

Tell us about the mix, how did you put it together, what did you want to represent?

I recorded this mix live on CDJs, that’s how I do all my mixes. I like the time away from a computer screen, and I like being hands-on with the decks. Also because I mix genres that weren’t designed to go together, I need to be adjusting the jog wheel a lot and stretching BPMs to make things work the way I want it. There’s music in here that reflects what you’ll hear on my Radar shows, in my club sets – plus an ambient moment in the middle that I hope you’ll enjoy. 

 

Talk us through the British music featured in this mix? Which British artists are you most excited about?

 The focus of what I do is to combine UK music with global club sounds, so you’ll hear artists like Headie One, Belly Squad and Not3s mixed up with instrumentals you might not be used to – stuff that’s a little challenging and abrasive in places. The UK rap scene is alive and well here in London and across the country, so it’s important to me that I reflect that – but put my own spin on it. 

 

What is on the cards in the immediate future?

I have a party on International Women’s Day (8th March 10PM-2AM) at East Bloc in London with Radar. It’s a line-up I’ve curated of strong women. It was easy to programme because this city is glowing with talented women in electronic music. There’s a lot of women I would love to have fitted in but the bill was already bursting. Any promoters who still struggle to book a diverse line-up feel free to hit me up. I’m at the UN He for She event for RA, doing a live Exchange podcast with B Traits. Also DJ sets in London coming up at Tola and The Yard and you’ll find me on Radar each Thursday 8PM!

 

Where is the best place in the world you have DJ’d and why?

I had a great time in Paris and festivals like Bestival have been really great for me to learn how to share what I do with a bigger crowd, but to me, the best place in the world to DJ is Room 2 of Corsica Studios in Elephant & Castle, South London. It’s ten minutes down the road from where I was born. The soundsystem suits what I play and I love the layout – for raving and for DJ’ing. Recently I played there alongside Fatima Al Qadiri for the Hyperdub monthly party – that was particularly special because I’ve been going to that party religiously since it started. To be on the other side of the decks curating the music to that specific crowd meant a lot to me.