December 13, 2024 |
If Sally C knows one thing, it’s how to make you dance. Tune into a radio show or step onto a dancefloor where the Big Saldo’s Chunkers label boss is bopping behind the decks, standing stationary isn’t an option. Belfast-born and now based in Berlin, Sally C kicked off her DJ career in the Reading Rooms of Dundee – a library-turned-venue where she began mixing in 2010 – before relocating to Berlin in 2015. In the ten-plus years she’s been in the game, her bouncing style of selecting has drawn punters into her open-minded community of music lovers, one dance at a time.
A resident at Berlin’s Refuge Worldwide radio station, she’s used her platform to uplift other DJs and producers like Amaliah and Lovefoxy. She’s jumped on remixes for the likes of Obongjayar and has released on Bradley Zero’s imprint, Rhythm Section, with ‘The Way To Do It’. In other words, if you’re not sure who to keep a close eye on in electronic music and beyond, Sally C’s discography is a good place to start – with her recent EP release, Dr Pleasure, proving just that.
Created alongside producer Eliza Rose – whose star soared with the smash hit Baddest Of Them All, the release features four tracks where each beat chugs with the energy and persistence of a fully-fuelled steam train. Charting the crescendo of a messy night out, the titular song kicks off with a sample from a tempting quack encouraging listeners to “take this pill” because she has the “goodies to make you feel great”. It then launches into a remix of the same track by regular collaborator Bashkka before swirling into Hips Yo Thighs, a track designed to keep you moving just that. Culminating with the deeper-toned I Can Put, Sally C and Eliza Rose have put their heads together and created something that feels energising and fun. Here, we sat down with Sally to hear more about the EP, how Berlin nightlife compares to Dundee and the first record she ever bought.
1. What three words would you use to describe your sound?
Chunky, raw and energetic.
2. You moved to Berlin in 2015. What makes Berlin so special to DJ in?
Living there for nine years makes it feel like home, I always feel super relaxed and at ease when playing there. The clubs are open all weekend so sets are usually longer which is always nice. I enjoy extended sets a lot more. And the dancers! The spaces in the city enable you to be free and let go and the crowds are very open. There’s no phone policies in most clubs which helps with this, the way it should be. When the crowd is feeling sexy and free it’s easier to connect and to feel like that yourself. When those moments of unity are created it feels really special.
3. What’s the first record you ever bought?
Terrence Parker, Your Love, an absolutely beautiful record released in 1996 on Intangible Records.
4. How has Berlin influenced your sound?
I guess a mix of the club culture in general, playing there over the years with open crowds who enable you to play what you want as well as the record stores in Berlin. They were my safe space when I first moved there, I would spend hours getting lost in stores like Record Loft, Oye, Bikini Waxx building my collection over the years, always searching for that old raw simple sound that I’m so obsessed with. Having these stores on my doorstep was a big influence.
5. How does the nightlife in Berlin compare to Dundee?
To be honest nothing will ever compare to my years in Dundee and my time spent at the Reading Rooms, a very special intimate club and my one true love of this era (2010-2015). This is where I fell in love with the sounds that shaped me as an artist, where I learned about real community and acceptance. It was where I discovered my love for the dance floor. I would be there every week front left locked in, I saw so many sick DJs play there it was a real education and it was also the first club I ever played at. Memories that will be with me forever. Berlin is a completely different place all together, different eras.
6. What can listeners expect from your collaborative EP Dr Pleasure?
Dr Pleasure is a raw, sassy and fun four track EP. The tracks are centred around female empowerment, feeling confident and letting go on the dancefloor. This is how we want people to feel when they listen to it. Polished with a sick remix by Bashkaa and incredible artist from Munich, the record is a solid slice of chunk.
7. How was it working with Eliza Rose for the EP?
Eliza is a multi-faceted artist and person and a close friend. It was very inspiring working on this project together. She came to my studio in Berlin last summer and everything just clicked. We had a lot of fun creating that day, the bones of the EP came together very quickly. So much energy, we buzzed off each other so much. I love when that feeling hits in the studio.
8. What were the main inspirations for Dr Pleasure?
We have a big shared love of hip house. The label itself draws inspirations from this 88’-98’ era and I’d been wanting to work with a female vocalist for an EP for a long time. Eliza – I wanted to tap into the hip house style alongside empowerment for the ladies on the floor, lyrics inspired by chunk and sass, music wise pump up the jam was a bit of a gateway song for me so I wanted to replicate a bit of taut energy – my music is quite character driven, so it was fun to tap into bad bitch “rap” lol era!
9. Best cocktail bar in Berlin?
Oh maybe Green Door Bar, super slick.
10. What can fans expect from you in the future?
More Chunkers! Always! And more label parties for sure. For sure an album some day, tapping into emotional Saldo these days.
Photography by Daan Dam.
