Izzi – SumMix 015
SumMix 015 comes courtesy of one of our favourite DJs right now, Izzi. Known for her genre-bending sets, combining tight blends with a cutting-edge knowledge of the best and latest tunes, it’s no wonder she’s starting to get the props she deserves. Now starting to get bookings all over the shop, as well as holding down residencies on some of the capital’s best online radio stations, Izzi’s star definitely looks bright.
I caught up with her to discuss how she got into DJ’ing, her approach to finding new music, putting together her radio show and more. Read on to find out more about Izzi and don’t forget to check her mix below.
Giddy: Hey Izzi, do you want to introduce yourself?
Izzi: Hey, I’m Izzi! I’m a DJ and I’ve recently relocated to London.
G: Congratulations on your new residencies on not one but two radio stations! How do you prepare for each show? Do you treat each show the same or do you have a certain approach for one station and a different one for the other?
I: I prepare for shows by trying to sort all my recent music finds into mini playlists/vibes and try to organise a sequence of songs that sounds cohesive.
It can be really tough because my music taste is all over the place, so it’s hard to strike a balance between covering all the ground I want to, genre-wise, and playing a show that actually makes some kind of sense and isn’t jumping about all over the place.
G: Regarding your approach to preparing sets, I definitely appreciate how difficult it is trying to fit everything you’re feeling into one set! You seem to be managing it pretty well tho! Some of the sets I’ve heard from you recently really do cover a variety of tempos and styles, whilst still packing a thump. How do you find all this music and who are some of your favourite producers right now?
I: In terms of finding music, it comes from lots of different places! I’m on mailing lists for all my favourite labels and artists, I listen to lots of radio and I read a lot of music journalism as well.
Favourite producers at the moment are Octoptic (head of Mexican label WVWV), La Dame, Nick Deane, Jialing (of course), Aziza & Finguz. Matteo Coffetti as well… and yeh tbh I spend about half my life on Bandcamp and Soundcloud!
G: Ah that’s cool to hear you find a lot of music through old fashioned journalism too! I don’t have the numbers to back it up but I feel that with ubiquity of video-based social media, actual music journalism is a format that’s often overlooked these days.
Personally I definitely find a lot of the best stuff through interviews, scene reports and the like. Hence the reason for starting this blog actually!
What are some of your favourite blogs and spots to check for new music?
I: Yes same! Always good to get tip offs from trusted heads in the scene and not let the algorithms rule everything
Ahhh so many favourite spots. RA being an obvious one. The Quietus. Crack Magazine. Rate Your Music (RYM) can be really good for niche genres/releases that might fly under the radar. Bandcamp journalism is also really good quality too. Fact Mag and Loud and Quiet too.
G: Also while we’re at it, any particular radio shows you wanna throw some shine on to?
I: Oh yes for sure, let me have a think. Scuffed Recordings, each & every. Kultura Collective!! Kaval’s Lost Drums show. Mayly (she’s on Aaja and plays breaks, electro and general duttiness, highly recommend!). Freshta of course. Also Kampire on NTS and Lil C – Pum Pum Power Hour never misses.
G: Ah brilliant, that’s some serious listening material for me to sink my teeth in to! I can see how this feeds in to the variety that can be heard in your sets for sure!
How did you get in to DJing? Were there any DJs who had a strong influence on your style?
I: I’ve always been super into my music .I would say early days when I was getting into it, 6 Figure Gang were pretty inspirational (they’ve obviously since disbanded but) definitely LCY and Fauzia were a big influence.
Also the emergence of Daytimers over the first lockdown was huge for me! To see a collective of historically marginalised people creating this amazing movement was really inspirational – I think DJing and music have been a really big part of finding and getting in touch with my cultural identity. Especially yeah movements like Eastern Margins & Daytimers, which resonates with my own South East Asian and South Asian heritage.
G: Yeh 6 Figure Gang were pretty special when they were all together. I’m a big fan of Jossy Mitsu. Her DJ’ing and production style is right up my street. Did you check Yazzus’ RA mix by the way? That was a belter
I: I haven’t actually heard Yazzus’ RA mix!! I will check out.
G: Yeh definitely do, it’s great. I’m yet to reach a Daytimers party yet but I’ve heard lots of good things. From what I’ve seen on socials, the crowds always seem well energetic and up for it. Am I right in thinking you’re also part of Daytimers?
I: Yes I lurk on their discord haha and recently started helping with their monthly Reprezent residency!! I’ve played a couple of brilliant events with them as well – missed the most recent Phonox night which was gutting. Almass Badat’s set had a live tabla drummer, which is honestly the stuff of dreams.
G: Ah what the fuck, that sounds mad!
I definitely think the emergence of these different crews breaking through and doing things on their own terms is vital for music in the UK (and worldwide) to grow and develop.
A lot of the main UK dance music scenes seem to have become very inward looking, which has led to things becoming quite stagnant and boring in my opinion, so it’s exciting to see movements like Daytimers and Eastern Margins doing something fresh.
I: Yes I agree haha also definitely so interesting to see the cross cultural communication lines and how the internet has meant that people can have such a global range of influences.
G: For sure, the internet has definitely played a huge role in this cross-pollination of global sounds.
I guess that brings me to the mix you’ve provided for us. There’s some serious blending of different sounds there! It’s a massive melting pot of bassy, dancey goodness.
How did you approach putting it together? Did you have an idea in mind or just start running tunes and see where you’d end up?
I: There were a few songs I definitely wanted to play, that I’ve been really loving recently – particularly the Pura Pura edit I started off with. I let that set the tone then tried to carry on with slow, bassy stuff, lots of mutant dancehall-type biz which I’ve been obsessed with for a while now.
I also wanted to end on the experimental/deconstructed techno-y sound in the last few tracks, so I tried to weave together a cohesive musical journey from one sound to the other, whilst including some of the different global influences that have come to define my sound.
Catch Izzi on Netil 5-7pm, 2nd Thursday of the month, and Aaja 5-7pm, 4th Thursday of the month. Make sure you also give her a follow on the socials.
Izzi:
Tracklist:
Punjabi MC – Mundian to (Pura Pura Edit)
Dual Monitor – Fractal Submission
Sevenbeatz – Can’t Roll
Capiuz – Hand To Skin
Carthnage – Lamman Galo
Max Mason – Slope
Small Crab – Glucosides
Destrata – What Dreams Are Made Of
Honeydrip – Wake the Phone
Neana – Crop Top Drums
Sevenbeatz – Indo Dembow
Zaliva-D – Whisper
Clap! Clap! – Ode to the Pleiades (Photay Remix)
Ayesha – Orbital (Ayeshas’s After Dark Rub a Dub)
Drumheller – Stigmata
Sam Interface – Let It Go
Au Contraire – Crow Magnum
LeftLeft – First Word
Amadeo & Oxóssi – Senta Senta
Cadenza – Toucan
Max Mason – Slope (Chalo Remix)
WRACK – Gore Max
G3 – I Drink Your Milkshake (De Grandi Remix)
twofold – Lightweight
skulptor – i hope this message finds you well