ELM is no stranger to our decks. This mainstay throughout the Perth goth community has slayed at events like ABYSS, ZERØ, INCURSION, DARK VIBES, RITUALS + more. Just because we can't get enough, here’s a mix she did specially for your ears.
We also had a chat with them ahead of their slot at ZERØ at the Rechabite Basement on Friday, November 5…
Give us a little insight into your background in DJing: When + why did you start and what have been some of your favourite moments?
When I was about 16 I was living with my partner, who I also played in a grindcore band with, and his brother in the next room used to mix old school trance vinyl, then onto CDJs (Tomcraft, Jochen Miller, Energy52, Push, Umek etc.). So it’s probably safe to assume some top notch early 00’s green Mitsi’s had something to do with me learning to use decks. Next thing I knew, I was competing and “won” a DJ competition at the Loft Alternative at Geisha Bar. The trophy is in a box somewhere. This year will be 10 years since then.
Always had a lot of fun DJing at Incursion (Gilkisons Dance Studio). One of my favourites would’ve been when DJ Hypodermic and I (together as Lesbionic) played a hardcore set; it was the first or second time mixing hardcore out and it was to a couple of hundred goths on Halloween.
Tell us about the mix: What were your ideas behind it? Any favourite artists showcased? Any particular favourite tracks?
This mix is a step towards defining what to expect from my sets now. I’ve always played a variety of music out and it’s been great, but I’m now committing to the heavier electronic genres I’ve always loved. I've missed hearing hardcore and crossbreed tracks out. I’ve been loving Nico Moreno’s sets lately; they’re put together so fluidly. ‘Sadistic Girl’ is a mood. I’ve put a couple of classics in the mix to keep it friendly; Art of Fighters and The Outside Agency, but a long-standing favourite has been ‘Paradise’ by Bloodcage.
Who or what do you feel has influenced your own musical style the most? Anyone // anything outside of music that has fed into it?
Liking metal and EBM influenced liking harsher/heavier/industrial electronic music. Spending years each Sunday morning with close friends passionately talking about a kick for hours, and having a certain disposition towards life has fed into it. I enjoy putting sets together based on my mood.
What are the favourite gigs you’ve been to? What about them made them special?
Ah fuck, so many. Everything from Metal for the Brain in Canberra when I was 17 seeing Damaged before they split, to seeing Simon Patterson and Sied Van Riel at Rise back in 2010 where a friend and I got the closed off Mezzanine to ourselves so we could dance in peace (hearing ‘Smack’ kick in up there was pretty great).
Going interstate for festivals and events (Defqon 1, Footworxx, DJ Hidden/TOA, Mark N, Dep Affect etc.) was always great. Got to see some amazing producers and DJs at a pretty good time for hardcore, and I made some close friends because of it.
Then obviously being involved with Dominate††; each event was special but seeing I:Gor, Sei2ure & Art of Fighters were among the best.
[†† Editor’s note: Dominate was Perth’s longest-running hard dance event which ran at Gilkison’s Dance Studio from 2010-2014 https://www.facebook.com/DominateClub]
Who are your favourite crews and performers here in Perth? What is it that makes them special to you?
HoD*/ZERØ/RITUALS/Gathering** and Grit are where I’m most at home these days. HoD are special because they’ve kept an entire community together from the days of sIn; they my fam, and along with Grit, have allowed a platform for more unconventional music and performers.
Favourites range from Clarkamz, Christopher John Brown, to Siera Wiski, Hackitt, to Ratking, HEXX, Iniquitous Monolith and others.
[*HoD → Hearts of Darkness]
[**The Gathering → Series of goth club nights (2013-2018) which eventually became the foundation for Hearts of Darkness Inc]
What can we expect you to bring when you play at ZERØ on November 5th?
Producers such as 753, D.N.P, Morsüre, Sei2ure, Igneon System. Basically, an industrial journey from hard techno to hardcore/crossbreed.
ELM will be playing the closing set at ZERØ at The Rechabite Basement on Friday 5 November. Grab your tickets here: linktr.ee/zero.perth