210

ISSUE 1
210 is a bi-annual
magazine that
focuses on women
in the music industry
based in the North.
We aim to celebrate
female talent, with
this particular
issue looking at
Manchester and
featuring Anz,
Annabel Fraser and
IAMDDB

Contents

p.1 Anz

p.9 Annabel Fraser

p.13 IAMDDB
I was first introduced to Anz when
Dj Spooky at Soup Kitchen last ye
I have looked forward to her sets
performing in a basement or jum
decks at a fallowfield house party
read and engage with a crowd se
from many of her male counterpa
known as the Duchess of Dubs h
from 100 - 140 bpm, but her mus
not restricted to a club setting an
being a DJ and producer, she is a
trained musician. Having already
performed for the royal college o
only 14, her classical background
her to approach music with a mo
knowledge and understanding of
a track. We decided to meet at he
soon as I walk in Im greeted with
Paris is Burning, playing in the ba
 n she supported
ear. Since then
s whether shes
mping on the
y, her ability to
ets her apart
arts. Fondly
her sets range
sical abilities are
nd as well as
also a classically
composed and
of music aged
d has allowed
ore technical
f what goes into
er house and as
a wine drink and
ackground.
ANZ KEEN TO KILL IT

Ellie: I love Paris is burning, the dancing is insane!

Anz: yeah its crazy, Im just doing some research for a ballroom
track Im making, I want to make sure it sounds authentic without
appropriating.

E: Yeah definitely, your music taste is quite broad, what was your
introduction to music like?

A: Well Ive always liked music and my parents clocked this from an
early age and just kind of gave me stuff to see what stuck, from this I
just started playing loads of different instruments. My parents were in
to Funk and soul and so I grew up listening to that and I suppose its
kind of shaped the way I look at music, like with the drum patterns and
stuff. Im getting some stuff vocalised this summer which has a lot of
funk and soul references, so its come full circle!

E: Is there anything you wont listen to because of lyrical content or an

artists background?

A: I dont really listen to the words, I listen to the flow. I look at music
from a craftsmanship point of view and I tend to abstract the voice to
an instrument and focus on the way the artist is saying it, not what
they are saying. I do listen to stuff that has quite explicit content and
Ive used Beatking accapellas but just because you listen to it, doesnt
mean you apply those views to your own life, are we supposed to
boycott everything that propagates the male gaze? If a records got a
sick flow just enjoy it, lifes too short.

E: How supportive is the music scene here in Manchester?

A: Manchester specifically is a great place to be, and even on a

logistical level its so much easier than say London. You can literally
walk round to your friends house and play them your tracks rather
than having to spend hours on tube. For a little while i did lament
the fact i wasnt in London but growing up there meant that i was too
comfortable, being in Manchester has meant that Ive had to build and
 GET DOWN OFF MY LITTLE
CRATE AND FEEL LIKE IVE
DONE SOMETHING FOR
FEMAL DJS

search for my connections. The people Ive met and the community
here, has added meaning because Ive gone out of my way to find
people, everyones so supportive. However I still trust the opinions of
my girls in London like A.G and Alia Loren who are absolutely killing it!

E: yeah youre one of the few female grime Djs Do you think being a
woman has shaped your experience with the music industry so far?

A: Yeah kind of, I think that gender plays a role you wouldnt
expect. For a long time I used a lot of gender neutral imagery on
my soundcloud as I didnt want my gender to influence how people
respond to my music but now Im all about celebrating the fact Im a
woman. I think people are often still surprised to see me when i turn
up to a booking and they see Im this shrimpy girl that can barely see
over the decks! I have to request a box or a crate to stand on, as
the decks are set up for someone much taller, its a very male centric
environment which has impacted on my posture when I dj and i have
to position my elbows up higher so I dont bump any buttons. I often
feel like I have a lot to prove but this has actually helped me, as Im
keen to kill it and that determination and energy translates when I Dj
and produce. I get down off my little box after doing a set and I feel
like Ive done something for female djs. Despite my male friends being
really supportive I am constantly reminded that it is different for me as
they will never have that intrinsic self doubt because of gender.

E: you do a lot of the bookings for strange riddims, is it easy to get the
lineups right?

A: I always want to make sure I get the balance of male and female
acts and its important to consider this when booking people. However
it should be about the music and I aim to book people who are
relevant and complimentary to each other, people shouldnt just book
women for the sake of it but there should always be a moment when
the gender balance is reconsidered. I think the reason there arent
as many women on lineups isnt due to a lack of talent but more of a
visibility issue.
A
N
N F
A R No one cares when your dancing what
B A format its on!
E S
L E
R
Ellie: your catchphrase is a lover of music not genres
how do you go about making your selections?
Annabel: I just play whatever I love and I have
110% conviction in what I play. I listen to whether
it fits together and flows but other than that I have
no boundaries I just keep an open mind. When Im
booked to play a house or techno night I might play
something thats within that context but it might be a
post punk record.
EH: How well represented are female DJs in
Manchester?
AF: I think women in Manchester are well represented
as its quite an open minded city, there are a lot of
opportunities in the city for people to get involved,
however there is still room for improvement. I get
booked to play a lot and have always had a good
reaction when I play, I also have a monthly show on
NTS and they are one of the platforms that are really
pushing women to be involved. Ive had nothing
but support from them and Im going to DJ for them
in Rotterdam. I am aware that there are more men
involved in the music industry but I think its down to a
confidence thing and it is starting to balance out. There
are a wealth of women out there and although there is
sexism in the industry, attitudes are changing.
EH: Why Manchester over London?
AF: I used to come to parties in Manchester at the
Electric Chair night which I like to call my spiritual
home, as I got an education going there. I remember
going to see Theo Parrish there in 2002 and I didnt
quite know what Id walked into, everyone was going
nuts. The thing that worked about Electric Chair was that
there was no them and us, everyone was there for a good
time, its now a Tesco on Oxford road. However, Hidden
has opened which is a really good space and there is the
car garage in Salford which is everyones party, people are
brought together by word of mouth, no one really knows
whos behind it. Its also a bit dirty and grimy so everyone
relaxes, If you havent got mud up your legs by the end of
the night you havent been partying properly.
EH: How did you first get into DJing?
AF: Ive always been into music, even as a kid I was playing
music to my friends. I got my first set of 1210s when I was
17 and Ive just gone from there really. I really like playing at
peoples houses and just get a buzz off it, Its not important
for me to get loads of gigs, but it has to be right,I like
underground gigs and I cant see myself playing big places.
EH: vinyl or digital?
AF: I mostly play records, but its important to say that Im
not a format snob, youve just got to find what works for
you, its all about your selection and how you read a crowd.
I think for me, records make me approach sets more
dynamically, theres something about the whole process
of finding the records and being able to interact with it that
means that I believe in every single song that I play. I hate
vinyl snobbery and If people think that DJing is all about
beat mixing they dont understand anything, theres so
much more to playing a good set. Ive heard people who
are technically very good at mixing but it sounds clinical. Its
all about what comes out the speakers and knowing your
records and how you put it together. No one cares when
your dancing what format its on!
Annabel Fraser is
a self proclaimed
lover of music
not genres
with her sets
spanning a wide
range of different
music. I met up
with her at soup
kitchen where we
talked over lunch
and discussed
her introduction
to music, right
through to her
current position

I have 110% conviction in what I play.

supporting the
likes of Erol Alkan
and Omar S as
well as having a
residency at one
of Manchesters
most popular
clubs, Hidden.
If you hav
mud up y
by the en
night you
been par
properly
vent got
your legs
nd of the
u havent
rtying
y.
 IAMDDB has a thick
Manchester accent
but you would never
hear it when she
sings her soulful jazz
inspired songs. Having
already performed
for the President of
Angola and having
recently had her song
Leaned out featured
on BBC 1Xtra, you
would think that the
Manchester based
singer would have
relocated to London
by now. However after
speaking to her for
just five minutes you
can tell where her
heart lies; surrounded
by people that have
helped and supported
her so far. The team
that she surrounds
herself with consists
mainly of friends and
this comes across
in her songs as well
as the visuals for her
music, its authentic as
it reflects IAMDDB in
every aspect of her life.
IAMDDB
Ellie: youve collaborated with quite a few Manchester based artists and producers and your song with
INKA has over 30k views on youtube, how important is that idea of community when creating music?

IAMDDB: So important, even from the booking side of things its my flatmate that gets me all my gigs! You
have to keep yourself surrounded with people that motivate and inspire you and keep you on your toes, if
you get comfortable you fall back, you need to keep it moving at all times. We are taking on each others
lives like If Im broke your broke, If Im up your up, we work together like a family unit. What you surround
yourself with is what you become and I think collaboration has payed a huge part in developing my sound
as its allowed me to experiment and try new ways of working depending on who Im making a track with.

E: So theres not even a possibility of relocating to London?

I: I would never ever ever ever move to london! its way too fast paced and I just feel like Manchester is a
warmer vibe and everyone supports each other regardless, for example south London people dont know
whats going on in west, like how do you not know about each other?
Theres so much talent here in Manchester like, if we got half the attention that those in London get we
would be popping because we have the content, theyre saying and doing stuff without substance. I might
get to where i want to be faster in london but i wouldnt know the people that I know now, i want to be
surrounded by my people, my team, theyre all my family.

E: that definitely comes across in your videos, how much creative input do you have when making the
visuals for your tracks?

I: Im involved with everything form the styling, the videographer and how the shots look. Even getting
shots of cats and stuff like that, it makes it more believable as its showing my life and who i am. I like to
get everyone involved and theres definitely a sense of family when Im thinking about who I want to work
with for my videos.

E: your music is heavily influenced by jazz, soul and hip hop what was your introduction to music like?

I: my education in music was there from an early age, my dad is in a successful band from Angola, and
we even had our own studio in the house. Its so deeply rooted in who I am, that i couldnt see myself
doing anything else. In 2015 I took a trip to Angola to go see my dad and thats when everything changed.
I just did 6 months straight of music and was performing on huge yachts and for the president, which
is mad. I came back and was ready to smash it in England, and its been none stop since then, Im still
surprised when people want to book me!

E: what does IAMDDB stand for?

I: its literally just me saying I am and then the initials of my name, because my dad is a successful
musician I didnt want to be associated with the name Debrito. I I want people to recognise that
everything Ive done, Ive done it for myself. No favours, nothing.

E: why do you think there arent as many women involved in the music industry?
I: Theres a lot of talented women out there but i think it comes down to confidence. Being an artist is a
way of life, its the whole thing andI have to train myself to be IAMDDB. Its hard because you dont want
to come across as arrogant but you have to be confident when you need to and gas yourself up, it might
be a front at first but as time goes on you get more comfortable. I love performing though and the feeling
is indescribable, when people are singing the lyrics back its just mad.

E: what have you got planned for this summer?

I: Well Ive just confirmed to play at Gottwood and at Soundwave in Croatia as well as performing around
England, I just want to reach everywhere! Im hoping to collaborate with some new people which is
exciting, lots to look forward to.
IAMDDB
 FEBRUARY 2017

Photos courtesy of IAMDDB