May 22, 2024 |
AVA Festival has been an unwavering staple of Belfast’s summer scene since its establishment in 2015. A multi-faceted music conference, the event boasts a diverse and considered mix of workshops, exhibitions and panels, centering around the electronic music community, its impact on the Irish capital and beyond.
Now, as the event celebrates its 10th year, the Irish cultural fixture is paying homage to its history and impact in the best way it knows how – a chock-a-block festival schedule stuffed to the brim with local and international talent. Belfast-born DJ duo Bicep is headlining on the Friday, whilst dance music veterans like Kerri Chandler, DJ Seinfeld and Barry Can’t Swim are each occupying a spot behind the festival’s coveted decks. Breakout names like Nia Archives, Sammy Virji and Horsegiirl are also set to play, with every listed artist representing their own distinct sonic style and showcasing their prowess as an electronic selector.
What makes AVA (Audio-Visual-Arts) stand out from the festivals that pepper the diaries of music lovers from May to September is its unmitigated commitment to paying homage to its native city, and platforming the talents who are born and bred there. Hosted on the notable Titanic Slipway site – the location where the infamous sinking ship was built and first pushed into the water – the festival roots itself firmly in its homestead’s heritage. Embracing a similar ethos when it comes to its line-up, you can always count on AVA to save some sets for the city’s most exciting artists. Having previously hosted Irish natives and masters of their craft Or:la and Calibre, this year’s booked DJs have big shoes to fill, but are certainly prepared to do so. Here, we sat down with some of these rising stars ahead of the festival’s commencement next week to chat about how the city of Belfast has influenced their sound, their favourite things about Ireland’s club scene and what they’re looking forward to the most over the weekend.
REGER
How would you describe your sonic style in three words?
Eclectic. Unpredictable. Energetic.
How has the city of Belfast influenced the type of music you like to play?
A lot of the city’s industrial history is embedded in the spaces where I tend to play. Like Ulster Sports Club, in the city centre, once a working men’s club and Banana Block, now one of East Belfast’s most exciting new club scene venues, which was a disused linen mill. It’s exciting to see how spaces like these can be reinvented and repurposed to inject a new vibrancy into the city without compromising on Belfast’s authenticity and character. For me, I love that dynamic drive to reinvent and modernise, while at the same time maintaining a reverence for past traditions. I think that restless spirit of innovation and reinvention is something that I‘ll always aim to reflect in my selections.
You played your first Boiler Room set at AVA last year and described it as like playing the “Champions League Final” – can you describe how this experience was for you?
The Boiler Room was a personal high point, so much of what I’d done in the lead up to it felt like a preparation for that set. If you watch back Marion Hawkes’ first Boiler Room from 2019, you’ll see me in the front row, a starry-eyed fan boy, bopping my head to this amazing music I’d just heard for the first time. Instantly smitten! Marion’s an incredible DJ and she’s been a real inspiration from the start. When she came up on stage after me last year, it all felt very full circle!
Looking back on my Boiler Room set, I feel like it was the only thing I thought about in the months leading up to it. I was constantly digging for new music and road-testing it in clubs to see what reaction it got, so when it came to AVA, I just had to thread it all together. I was given some pearls of wisdom from people like Timmy Stewart the week before about advance planning. I’d never, ever planned sets that much before, but this time I made an exception, and I think it paid off!
I also stand by my “Champions League” comparison! There was a real sense of camaraderie and unity between me and the crowd, a lot of my mates made it down nice and early to support me and the local food spot, Wing It, had custom made scarves for the set. Magical. You can’t ask much better than that! I really enjoyed being up on there, I felt very lucky to be a part of it and I can’t thank AVA enough for the opportunities they’ve given me over the years.
What’s the most important thing to you when curating a mix?
Having fun with it. People hear that in recordings. I like spending a good bit of time trying to find new music for mixes and upcoming sets, it’s so important to keep your collection fresh and be on top of things.
Also, being okay with things not being perfect. I’ve been stuck in this mindset for a while until I heard Virgil Abloh say ‘perfectionism doesn’t advance anything’. It’s fine to have a few quirks here and there in the mix, it happens! I think the thing I love most about curating mixes is the spontaneity that comes with it, I’ll often come across at least two or three happy accidents that just work in the middle of a blend.
The ultimate goal, really, is to show off a creative extension of yourself through your selections and style of mixing!
Who are three artists on the AVA lineup this year that everyone should go and see (no self-noms!)?
Tough choice! We’ve got a stacked roster of world-class local talent, we’re really spoilt so I’m easily gonna vouch for our very own Timmy Stewart, who’s just wrapped up his 30 Years of DJing party.
Then there’s the unstoppable Dublin selector that is Ema. This woman is genuinely one of the best DJs I’ve had the pleasure of seeing, really smashing it in the likes of Fabric, Open Ground, Tengu, I could list so many amazing clubs.
Last, but certainly not least, Sloucho’s live set on Boiler Room. [He] is onto something very special. He sent me some of his debut-album last summer for a BBC mix I was working on and I was truly astonished by his talent. His debut Boiler Room will be a very memorable one, I’m sure!
All very special artists in their own right and ever since I saw their names on the line-up, I’ve been itching to hear what they’re gonna do this year!
AIKA MAL
How would you describe your sonic style in three words?
Deep, cosmic and groovy.
What is one track you know is always going to get people on the dancefloor?
‘Magic Carpet (Guy Contact Remix)’
What’s your favourite thing about the dance music scene in Ireland?
I’ve recently moved back home from London and my favourite thing about the dance music scene has got to be the energy of the crowd. I feel like people really know how to party over here and get really into the music on the dancefloor.
Why is platforming female Irish DJs so significant within the landscape of electronic music, and how does this contribute to its advancement?
Growing up I didn’t see much in the way of representation for woman DJs in the electronic music scene. It’s brilliant to see things are changing rapidly in terms of diversity in our music scene and it’s important for this to continue so other aspirating DJs can see themselves represented though our line ups across all genres.
What are you looking forward to the most with your set at AVA Festival?
There are so many incredible new producers I’m very excited about and I just can’t wait to share some sick tunes with the crowd.
PONYHAWKE
This year’s AVA Festival will be your debut – what are you most excited about for your set?
Playing together under the Ponyhawke banner for the first time will be exciting, I’ve personally played before but this will be Dillon’s (the other half of Ponyhawke) first time and I know he really hyped for it. Hopefully some of our regulars turn it out for our set.
What makes the queer music scene in Belfast so special?
We aren’t spoiled for choice here, it’s pretty small but people make the most of when these nights happen. The community and desire for it is a big driving factor.
You hold a monthly queer underground club night at Ulster Sports Club – what is most important to you guys when curating these events?
Having the right people in the room and the vibe of the night, ultimately that’s what makes a good party (in my honest opinion). We’re very protective of our space, and we have to be not being in a strictly queer venue, so a door picker is essential.
What’s your favourite thing about mixing together?
We feed off each other on stage, our chemistry comes from a solid friendship so it’s really fun DJing together. Another thing would be the spontaneity of bouncing off what we each other is playing, it’s good to have some curveballs to keep things zesty.
Who are three queer, Irish artists everyone should have on their radar?
Bull Horris, Dublin’s Honeypot Collective and Problem Patterns.
SHAMPAIN
Describe a mix by Shampain in three words.
Celtic, Chaotic, Iconic.
Who are your main musical influences?
Right now – I would say the following in no particular order; Miley Serious, Rihanna, Lankum, Olan Monk, Charli Xcx, D.Dan, JamesJamesJames, Seán Ó Riada and Regal86 for good measure. Being just a DJ and not a producer, I’m lucky I can just be inspired by everything and try to mash it all together.
What’s the best thing about the music community in Ireland?
This is a tough question. I think the music scene here is really divided to be honest, which is the same as everywhere, and [it] has pluses and minuses. Dublin in dance music terms is a minefield so I try stay away, but, saying that, there are many dedicated people working across music in Ireland; both behind the scenes and artists. Because it’s small you meet your fair share of sharks and nightmares but rather than get bogged down by that it’s best to focus on the real heroes; say like Sunil Sharpe who fights for us all against the really repressive licensing and legislative system in this country. Other artists such as Ian Lynch, Maria Somerville, Ladrin, Small Crab, Olan Monk, Prozak, Dylan Fogarty, Gash Collective are all really pushing the boundaries when it comes to experimental and club music, among others, and I think it’s people like that that I find particularly inspiring and cool.
AVA is celebrating 10 years this year – what does AVA Festival mean to you?
I’ve never been so playing this year will be my first time also in attendance. I think AVA has always been important in a dance music sense in Ireland because it has always sort of held a standard and sound and you can then see that reflected in audience’s tastes and preferences following the festival’s continued growth year by year. I guess it shows the power of good programming and not getting too lost to trends!
What’s next on the cards for you?
I’ve got a lot going on right now. I’ve re-done the soundtrack to the 1926 silent movie Irish Destiny into a DJ set that I’ll be mixing live as the movie plays as part of Lasta Festival events in Portlaoise and Galway. Then I’m touring tonnes across Europe in May and then off to Australia again in June. All while running my barbershop in Galway!
HOLLY LESTER
Your sound is very high energy and fun – what’s the secret sauce for a track that you know is going to get people dancing?
For me it’s got to be super percussive no matter what the genre, a lot of hi-hats and plenty of shakers, bongos and congas! At home, big build ups always get a big response, it doesn’t necessarily have to be a hard track but people definitely have a penchant for harder sounds here. In the UK anything with a garage influence – or just straight up garage – always goes off.
You founded the record label Duality Trax – what do you look for in an artist you want to platform with this label?
The music has to be great, of course, but the artist themselves also needs to fit. I want to see that they have an authentic, genuine connection to the sound, that they have great potential and that they represent the same ideals. The label is a big investment for me with manufacturing costs hitting an all time high since launching, so I guess I need to have more of an emotional connection to each release and therefore each artist.
How has Ireland’s music scene influenced your development as a DJ?
I guess I tailor my sets a little when I am playing in Ireland, as I know exactly what works and what doesn’t – but outside of it, I might choose to play a little differently. For example, the aforementioned big build ups always elicit a great response, also anything a bit harder and tougher, or anything trance-y. Ireland, particularly in the north, is known for its love of trance; this was my first real obsession as a teenager in the early 2000s and my first clubbing experiences were all trance and hard trance events. It was definitely a dirty word in the underground scene up until around five, six years ago and now things have totally changed. Broadly speaking I’ll always be a house DJ but it’s nice to have more freedom and be able to dip into that if the moment is right. I also find myself playing a lot of contemporary progressive sounds in recent years, which I guess is an extension of the influence trance had on me when I was younger.
What is something the Irish club scene has that can’t be found anywhere else?
It’s been said many times, but there are no crowds like home crowds, the energy and response is unlike anywhere else. Hearing and seeing such a visceral reaction from the crowd is one of the best feelings in the world and makes it a dream environment to play in, even if it’s just to 200 people.
What are you looking forward to the most at this year’s AVA Festival?
Returning to the main stage – I haven’t played the main stage since 2017! Also seeing friends and familiar faces all in one place is something I look forward to every time, it really is such a buzz and a proper family feeling.
Photography courtesy of AVA Festival.
