A MARKTSTROLL WITH MISS MELERA
Miss Melera is back in De Marktkantine! After a successful ‘All Night Long’ last October, she’s taking over De Marktkantine this Saturday with her own concept ‘Colourizon’. Through the busy life traveling the world, nights in the studio, and living the life of a dj- she made time for us to have a little chat. We walked around the Food Center Amsterdam to talk about her passion for music, the journey her career has taken, and of course ‘Colourizon’.
“It’s nice to hear about all the diverse stories of defining moments when artists become connected to electronic music. Which party, time, or situation acted as a portal into the world and industry of dance music for you?”
When I was younger I was more interested in electronic music rather than R&B or hip hop. When I was 16, I was on vacation in Italy and met someone who recorded their own cassette tape of the same music that they played. I fell in love with it and learned more about this music. Then later I began myself.
“What kind of music was it?”
The first vinyl I bought was a Trance record- I still remember it, it was a Tiesto track “Theme from norefjell”. But yeah, I began with Trance and later Hard Techno. Trance was really good in 2002 when I started and I still collected the Trance tracks that I liked. But it didn’t seem to be getting better which I found to be a bummer. So I searched for something else and continued playing Hard Techno until I began to find that too boring- so I started to experiment with 3 decks or try something with it, but I still missed melody or a warm sound. Overtime your taste in music changes and it’s a long steady journey between balancing your beginning point and the point you search for that gives you security and that just clicks. That’s how it pretty much went over the last 10 years for me.
“We know that inspiration can come from many outlets- both conventional and unconventional. Who (or what) was your first inspiration that guided you to achieve where you are today?”
That guy with the cassette tape. That is really the first inspiration I got for what I do now.
“Currently?”
Yeah from different things, it doesn’t necessarily need to be from music but can come from the people I surround myself with- my friends, my family. But also what surrounds me. Walking outside. I’m a visual person. Let me hear something, but let me see something too. That inspires me as an artist. I’m curious about people and their backgrounds, and from that I also get inspired.
“Can you tell us something about your creative production process? Do you have any rituals/habits that you do every time before you start producing or editing a new track/remix?”
No, I just sit down and I see it. It’s really a feeling, I can’t do it any other way. I just need to sit down and see what comes from it. Some people already have an idea and can play with that, for me it’s more of a feeling. I just try things and only do, do, do, and then I listen with a sharp ear to what sounds good and what doesn’t. You don’t need to know everything about music. I can’t read music and I don’t play an instrument, but with a good ear I don’t miss anything, so I just need to listen well. It’s not a standard procedure, you just have to go with your intuition. Perhaps a woman’s intuition, which plays a big role in everything I do and definitely in making music.
“What is the background of Colourizon? How did you choose the name?”
3.5 years ago I began it as a podcast. I was asked by an American radio station {Proton} to make a monthly show. Then I had to think of a name fast for my show because I had 3 weeks. ‘Colourizon’ comes from two words- from color and from horizon… two things that drive what I do. But it’s never a clear definition. I prefer that people can experience it and define it theirselves in a visual sense- and it grows from there. Look around you, open your eyes, and widen your horizons. It began as a process with a name, then a monthly podcast which went to an ADE party with steps that I made which fall under the concept/name, vision, and idea, and mostly- the feeling. But it’s not so easily defined- I want people to experience it. Look around, open your eyes, what you see is what you get. You can choose it yourself. It’s broad enough for that, and it can go in many directions. The direction can be very open, but the sound that I bring gives a certainty- melodic house- what I’ve stood for for a long time, this leaves it for an open interpretation. The podcast gives a great beach feel, but when I do it live it needs to be different than what can be easily listened to during work. On Spotify it’s more relaxed and when live it’s more heavy but with the same strong melody house driven sound.
“Where would you like to see ‘Colourizon’ in the next year or two?”
I’d love to see it at the beach with good weather, so maybe The Netherlands isn’t the most ideal place ;). I’d love to bring it everywhere where my concept fits well. I would like to stick with what fits by my concept, and that the location stays unique- which is the most important. I’d like to build the music- with ADE I had a very special location which isn’t always open- Muziekgebouw aan het Ij. I’ve done it {Colourizon} before in Vondel park the year before last {2014}, and that was really fun. Last summer was on a boat {The Pure Liner}, which ended in a really beautiful sunset, for the first time. I want it to stay special and never standard. I think it’s really cool that it fits also in a club. I thought at first that it can only fit in a place that has a view, but this can be created- and that’s what we’re going to do. Between four walls a lot can happen, I think that’s really cool. My goal is to insert a feeling within 4 walls with still strong visuals. And I’m excited for people to experience this.
“Why De Marktkantine?”
I did an all-night long in the smaller room last year which was really cool. Reza {Athar} and I kept in contact and I began to think about how my concept would fit within four walls and in my opinion I think Marktkantine is the coolest club in Amsterdam, and I’m really happy that I can bring my concept here.
“Your music is a way to express who you are as an artist, you are very good at relaying that. How does the dance floor act as a space for expression?”
There are a lot of different types of people, but on the dance floor people can be one in that moment. That’s what I try to reach and what I love to see. I see that often and that’s the most beautiful goal that, I think, that everyone can get.
“Many don’t like to bring to light, necessarily, the unbalanced environment of women & men DJ’s… but it exists and you are a successful woman DJ & producer flourishing and succeeding in a scene that is filled primarily with men- What is your view on this, and why do you think the circumstance is as such? Do you see it changing?”
This question is asked a lot. And I don’t have a good answer for it, because really I’m just one of the guys. I don’t feel treated differently. I have a lot of girlfriends that are really interested in the music but haven’t necessarily pursued it or put in real effort to become a DJ as a career. It’s a hard question that keeps coming back. And I don’t get wrapped up in it because I haven’t experienced an injustice and it doesn’t interest me. I know that the situation is as so. When I begun in 2002 with DJ’ing, I remember getting some attitudes like “what is this blonde girl here to do”, and I felt a lot of attention being put on my skill- which drove me to really focus on mixing well and show everyone that I can mix well. That’s how it was back then. And now days I think people are excited to see female DJs and they think it’s really cool. That’s the difference I’ve experienced over the years- the attitude. The times are changing, before there was a lack of confidence in female DJs and now it’s a unique selling point to have a good female DJ booked. If you have the passion when you are behind the decks, I don’t think it matters if you are female or male. That’s my opinion, and I know that other people feel differently. In the end I’m not sure why it’s this way.. if it’s about technique, or whatever- everyone can do it if they just go for it. But again, I don’t get wrapped up in making it an issue. I may have long blonde hair, but in the end I’m still just one of the guys.
“Do you feel the need to reach out and help/inspire more female DJs?”
You just need to go after what you are passionate about, and if you can do that then you can do it {be a female DJ}. I’m not busy with getting others {female Djs} to get into it. If someone asks me for advice or needs help- I will always help, doesn’t matter the gender.
“Festival season is coming up… favorite summer pick?”
DGTL, for sure. This year we were lucky with the weather. I think it’s really cool. From the first year I was booked to play there, it’s been an instant favorite. It’s nice to see it grow, and I love the style, and how everything is set up. The location is really cool. I’ve been to NDSM for a lot of parties. When I was in school I went to NDSM werf often to take pictures. I studied Fashion at the Kunstacademie van Rotterdam and my senior project was revolved around photos. The inspiration was fashion design which focused on more close-ups to find inspiration for prints or fabric. Taking pictures to me has always been fun so I would walk around there {NDSM werf} with my camera and DGTL fits really well in the surrounding. Everything fits and that makes it very strong. There are other really cool festivals but my all-time favorite is DGTL.
“Most embarrassing backstage/onstage moment you are willing to share?”
Some people know this already, but if I am playing then there is a chance that I really need to use the toilet- and sometimes even in a set of 1.5 hours. One time I was in the bathroom and I thought “Whoa, this break {in the song} is lasting really long, and later I realized that the electricity went out. But I have to be able to play with the idea that I can go to the bathroom. I always walk around the club in my socks because I play with my shoes off.
“You take your shoes off every time you play?”
For sure. I feel more at home and it’s more comfortable. I can also move better and I feel more free. I think I originally got this feeling from the festival ‘Shoeless’. From that point forward I never wear shoes or heels behind the decks. It feels good without them.
“Current track that comes to your head… ready.. go.”
Oh shit… there are so many names and tracks flying through my head right now now. Was much easier back in the days with vinyls; Then I can imagine more the colors and figures on a particular cover. I see a lot of colors and letters but nothing in particular. Now there are so many names of artists, tracks, remixes..
“How do you feel when people in the crowd ask you to type the name of the song playing in their phone when you are playing?”
No problem at all. I give it with pleasure
It’s not nice to be asked constantly, but if you really want to know a particular track, I’ll give it with no problem. It doesn’t matter . That’s the job of being a DJ- sharing music with everyone
This Saturday Miss Melera, together with Henry Saiz, will give her first edition of ‘Colourizon’ in De Marktkantine. Final release tickets are available here.