Lives In Music: Sadie Haque

In this series we shine a light on the people that make the wheels turn behind the scenes in London’s music underground. From venue owners and agents, to record label managers and bouncers, we chat to these individuals about their tastes and motivations.

London-based DJ Sadie Haque moonlights under the moniker of Angel D'Lite and previously under the name A Boy From Outer Space. As a radio host she holds a monthly residency on East London's Netil Radio with her J'adore Hardcore show, and she also is the creative mind behind the decor and set design for parties like Creatures, Childplay and at Grow in Tottenham. She's just contributed a driving trance rework of Super Drama for their label and has more releases lined up for the year ahead…

I step off the train at New Cross Gate, my battery dies. After buying a new charger and sitting in the pub for a few mins to charge my phone, I message to apologise about being late and do the final schlep. As I make it to Sadie’s house, I’ll be honest I am ready to go home. The overcast evening with the last remains of storm Dennis still lingering, the lateness and the battery are killing my buzz. But I am trying to be professional (lol). I knock on the door and before it’s even opened Sadie shouts through the glass a big ‘hello’. I smile and then she opens the door in her pink trousers and yellow fluffy slippers. I immediately feel better. We talk about recent happens. I have a cup of tea. Sadie has some plantain. We sit down, put a record on and make a start….

Most Iconic London Venue?

Oh! Erm. For me I would say Grow Tottenham. As a space and the people who run it. Their love, personality and values come through in the bookings and the community that hang out there. They create the space. You could go to Grow on your own and be safe. They have studios there. My housemate has a studio space there, lots of people are doing interesting stuff. It’s not trying to be some flash club; it’s not trying to be something it’s not. It’s a wholesome club experience and they have great parties. The green house there is great. The smoking area of any party is super important.. Even better when there is seating and foliage – so many great friendships made and blossomed through smoking area chat right? I had the pleasure of making a giant quality street room for grow NYE – most of them actually survived too! The purple one was tough – what even is that shape?!

Last gig you went to?

Ka Baird & Sarathy Korwar at cafe OTO it was like nothing I had ever seen before. Using sound and the body as an instrument in a totally different way – plus some cool contact mic synth stuff. But my last really special one was Psychic TV at Heaven, their last gig. It was an emotional one!

Last DJ set that really impressed you?

DJ Marcelle at the Waiting Room. It was so wild – three turntable high NRG madness. A corner of the dance floor had a special finger waggling hands in the air dance for the cowbell sound in one of the records playing. Highlight of the night!

Last meal you really enjoyed?

Last night post Eris Drew’s 3 hour set at MOT – a takeaway from my favourite Indian Ganapati- I always get the prawn curry- although last night it was quiiiiite spicy

Last record you bought?

So this is a bit of a story. I am buying records all the time and my last really good haul was at Jelly records in Hackney where I got lots of bleepy stuff, hardcore and an amazingly mental 170 techno breakbeat rephlex record with a very nice handwritten note (and drawing) in. But at this moment the last one was a bargain on Ebay (Discogs was crazy!). It was a repress of Egyptian Lover – Dance. A song I had been trying to find out the name of for over a year! My friend Nacho played it at his party Electric Sweat and I never got to find out what it was but I heard it at Superstore last week when Will, someone really close to me was playing it, and my heart melted!

Best bit about working in music?

All of the wonderful sounds I am gifted with hearing, playing and discovering. Way better than drugs.

Toughest challenge about working in music?

Errrmmm struggling to think of one! My friends would say I’m a pretty responsible raver so even when I play I manage to party hop and catch people and sets I want to see and I don’t lose my weekend. But I only play parties I’d go to myself and that’s my way of keeping it fun and not a job. Waiting till the end of the rave to take down decor can be pretty tough sometimes but you can always count on some enthusiastic dancers who are still full of energy to help you out – and always worth it. Oh and trying not to spend ALL my money on records.

What was the first break in your career?

I’m pretty lucky with how I started DJing. After meeting Nick Powell and Joe Roberts in a bar in deptford five years ago – who were playing the most amazing tunes – I HAD to get to know these guys! And I did, the first conversation Nick and I had was about the lack of SE London Gay/Queer parties, let alone with interesting music. We wanted to make it happen. Long story short Joe got us to meet Emma Kroeger at DSS and offered us a NYE party – A CHALLENGE! At this point I couldn’t really DJ and had just been practicing in my friend's studio when they went to make music in the other room. The party (mouth to mouth) went really well and we were offered a monthly residency. There I was learning to beatmach in a club! Once a month!

Best headline act you have seen?

The Cure at Glastonbury. I cried my eyes out. Or the Demdike Stare A/V show at the Re-Textured thing at the Strand. But for non headline but totally amazing act (I know you didn’t ask!) Snapped Ankles! 

Last time you stayed in a club until the lights came on?

At Dalston Superstore for Fast & Bi Furious, where Corporeal Face, my friend Joe was closing, totally kept the dance floor going in full effect right till the end!

Best place to eat before you go out with friends?

Oh haha… Well I will try and narrow it down for you – I don’t know if I can say just one place because there are places for different occasions you know? I’m big on cooking so probably my house, and then for chilled vibes and a 24hr experience I'd say Somine, the Turkish right by Superstore, and my three new favourites are probably Duck Soup, Padella and Morito BUT my pre-rave comfort food is definitely Cummin Up, the Caribbean next to New Cross station. Sorry that's more than one!

Best thing about the music scene in London?

The community. The blend of people as well as such a blend of sounds. I have made so many friends met through the rave – a love of dancing and music. There is a lot of work still to be done and I believe that more integration and equality in all scenes is the only way to move forward, but we’re working on it. How else can we learn to understand each other?!

Any labels that you are enjoying at the moment?

Ritual Poison!! The new Anna wall and Corbi release hasn’t left my bag and I play a different track off it every set! Every release of theirs has been incredible.

Last thing you shazamed?

'I Do Because I Couldn’t Care Less' by I-F. On the way back from somewhere – I can’t remember now – but it was playing on Resonance of all places!

Anything exciting going on professionally at the moment?

I'm working on an EP – don’t know how professionally though! I try not to take anything creative too seriously and with set stuff always! Luckily my job takes me to lots of different places and I’m always searching for or making different props for different worlds. Although the last exciting thing I made for myself was a set of pink and green giant glitter mushrooms for a record shop Christmas display!

Sadie will be playing on 28th February at Voices. Follow here on Facebook.