Talk Shop – Heidi Lawden in conversation

Taking the brave step across the pond, Heidi hit the ground running in LA, blending seamlessly into the Cali scene, where she met her equally cool husband, Mr Love Fingers. Since landing in the City of Angels, her DJ profile has soared. And quite rightly so. Heidi Lawden has walked the walk and talked the talk. She’s very real, incredibly gracious, and genuinely humble. Read on to refresh your memory of this class act.

Where were you born, paint us a picture?

In the North West of England on a small island in a shipbuilding coastal town called Barrow in Furness. I was woken up every morning by the siren or horn that signalled to the largely male workforce it was time to be at work. We lived, in what could best be described, as tenement flats. Magazines, music, dance, and my bike were my escapes. 

When you were growing up, what kind of music was around you at home?

Mom was a huge Stax and Tamla Motown fan, she had her record player and 45 singles, and we’d listen to them over and over, that and recording music off the radio. My Nanna was into opera and jazz, and we all listened to music constantly. My babysitter was into the California Laurel Canyon vibe, Fleetwood Mac, Neil Young, Santana etc.

Who were your icons when you were a kid?

Donna summer, Siouxsie Sioux, Stevie Nicks, Liza Minelli, Maria Callas, Margot Fonteyn, Sylvie Guilleme, Emmeline Pankhurst, Monie Love, Madonna, Blondie, Queen Latifa, anyone in my hometown that dared to be different.

What made you up sticks and move to London?

Everything seemed to be happening there, any concerts I wanted to go to as a kid up till I started reading magazines about clubs that were all happening there too. The saying was you think the streets of London are paved with gold, to me they were. They still are from a clubbing and culture perspective.

Did you jump straight into the London club scene?

Ha yes, I went to The Wag club the first Saturday I was there. I dressed real nice, and Winston parted the sea of people to let us in we danced till the lights came up and that was me hooked for life.

Did you know anyone in London when you first landed?

I had some family members I stayed with for a couple weeks cos my Nanna was born and raised in Canning Town, so I stayed in the East End with them ‘till I got a place of my own which happened to be a large house for ballerinas in Knightsbridge. I shared a room with Ballerinas from Royal Festival Ballet, it was glorious cos they all liked clubbing too. We dancers just wanna dance.

What were the first clubs you went to in London?

The Wag, the Black Cap in Camden, Boilerhouse parties, Soul to Soul at Africa Centre, Raw, Delirium, 3A’s, Enter the dragon, Mud Club, Shake and Finger Pop, after hours drinking dens in soho I think one was called Roosterfish or Rumble Fish. They were the formative experiences I had.

Who were some of the music friends you made at that time and are you friends with any of them now?

Dave Dorrell, Phillip Salon, Ollie, Chris Sullivan, Cymon Eccle, Terry Farley, Andrew Weatherall (rip) Luke Howard, Jeffrey Hinton, Princess Julia, Paulette, Caroline Prothero, Nikki Trax, Luke Solomon, Felix Dickenson, Ben Turner to name a few industry friends. And then my personal girlfriends, friends from all walks of life that I’m still friends with to this day. The shared history has been a lifelong bond.

You ended up working for the Gardening club. Tell us a little about that time and how it came about.

I used to help promote and do the door of clubs like Yellow Book and Flying. We started a night at The Rock Garden, Andy Weatherall and Rocky and Deisel were our resident DJ’s. It was a failing band venue and we convinced them a night with DJs was gonna work better for them, and it did. Rock garden owners mentioned to us they had a space next door (both were subterranean) our party was super popular so every now and then we’d open up the door into this empty space next door for overflow. Eventually the owners decided to revamp and turn it into Gardening club, I was tasked with helping to put a different party in there every night, and we retained Saturdays for ourselves. We got Queer Nation in for Sundays, the Acid Jazz people did a night, Harvey on Fridays, basically DJ’s and promoter friends we loved, so something of quality was happening every night.

Where did you first meet Harvey, what was he up to at that time when you met him?

I met him through our mutual club friend Rev (rip). Believe it or not he came to my party to see me play first once or twice then he invited me to see him play, a warehouse in Brixton with his Tonka crew. It was a different scene from the one I was a part of at that time. I went to see him and thought holy shit this is some next level DJing, we invited him to host/DJ the night (Fridays) at Gardening club when it opened and we still work together, daily.

Moist was “Harvey’s colourful alternative to corporate clubbing.” How were you involved on the night?

Ha yes that was the Friday night. He was the DJ, and I did pretty much all the organizing. Me and some friends – Gaynor and Princess Julia thought of the name. Harvey and I took a joint trip to NYC (my first) and went to The Loft among others and really wanted to further embrace one DJ all night long as a result of that experience which we did with Harvey at both one-off parties and Moist. We had occasional guests, and they were the US legends and UK DJ’s we loved and that could handle a long set. So many incredible people came through the doors of Moist to play and party.

You were approached by Ministry of sound to be a booker, right? Tell us a little about that time.

I’d taken a little time out, had a baby and spent time with him while still occasionally DJing – Gardening Club, Ministry of Sound etc. I wanted that job as much as it turned out they wanted me. Harvey and I went to see Ministry before it opened, Justin gave us the tour while it was being built a few times. He had this massive scrap book of inspiration – pictures, NY club flyers, blueprints etc, to say I was excited at the prospect was an understatement! I actually named the Saturday night Rulin.’  I think it’s still called that to this day. We were all involved in the label, Jim and I signed paperclip people Throw, I hand wrote the notes/release that accompanied the DJ mail out, wish I still had a copy of those. There’s a lot more to tell but we’d be here all day.

You went on to manage Harvey. Did you know what you were doing when you first started, or did you shoot from the hip?

Of course not, that’s the half of it, none of us truly know what we’re doing if we’re honest, we’re learning as we go. I just had an affinity for it and wanted to see him thrive. I had great teachers along the way, I worked with Jim Masters and Caroline Prothero at Ministry all at the start of our careers. I left to work with Marts Andrups at Unmanageable who worked with MAW, Todd Terry, Trevor Jackson, Ashley Beedle, The Brotherhood, to name a few. I had incredible teachers, Marts being my biggest, I thought F** it why don’t I help closer to home haha.

What made you make the move to LA?

To take a break honestly, that and hearing the music and stories of places like Laurel Canyon and sunset strip as a kid, it held a kind of appeal and magic.

How did you adjust when you first got there?

I thought it was a bit sleepy haha. I kinda wanted to move to NYC but then I slowed my pace a little and have never looked back (I do still frequently consider moving to NY tho).

Did you miss the London scene at all initially? 

Of course, there was a minuscule scene in LA, and I didn’t really have anyone to talk about my London world with, nobody knew or cared about that world over there except a few interested study masters. I missed my friends and Brit humour and the way we’re real serious about it but don’t take ourselves too serious. I still miss all the above and don’t get back as much as I’d like.

What is it you love about LA most?

The geography of it, I live at the beach, I see the ocean out the front and mountains out the back, the cliche of I can see sun in the am and snow in the afternoon at certain times of year. Now the nightlife and scene here is incredible, I’ve found friends that have become family on the dancefloor all over again.

You met your husband out in LA. Do you fight over records at home much or is shop talk on a strict ban when not working?

We talk shop nonstop hahaha, he cares as much as I do, it’s honestly our life. He runs a label, ESP Institute, it’s a label of love a home for outsider everything.

Your career as DJ really lifted out in LA, what made that happen do you think?

I was welcomed and supported with open arms as soon as I started to play friends parties, house parties, skate jams, anything just for the fun of it. People were like ‘you never mentioned you could DJ.’ I got booked early on by people like Bears In Space, VSSL played LA’s growing burgeoning warehouse scene and it took off from there. I don’t ooze confidence naturally, but the LA and US crowds gave me so much and still do, I’m working my way up from the ground up playing clubs in cities then getting asked back, that’s the best compliment.

What has been the biggest challenge for you as female DJ in your time?

I grew up really f-ing poor, single Mam, on benefits or putting her hands down other people’s toilets (as she likes to say). She was a cleaner and wanted me to have all of the things I was curious to explore, ballet lessons, tap lessons, violin lessons, ski trips with the school, underage discos, she was strict AF but so open to my whims and worked hard so I could have all the experiences, including moving to London as a young teen.

She would send money to help fuel my curiosity and freedom. I was a student and a YTS hairdresser so made next to nothing. I frequently gave up food for funk as I like to say. Having a kid young was an early hurdle, not to me in my mind, but to others, if that makes sense. Being a really young Mom comes with a lot of judgement, having girlfriends and boyfriends and being judged for that at a time that was way less acceptable, being a girl in this industry having to take several back seats, several times as I found my voice. 

What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger is a mantra.

Do you feel you have overcome these challenges today?

I battle with insecurities but who doesn’t, we all do. I’m my own worst critic. I’m learning to ignore that voice in my head that isn’t on my side. 

There are gonna be people that don’t wanna see you succeed for whatever reason. I’ve got a few, fuck em. I know who they are, I wish them well and keep it moving.

What single challenge do you feel that women still face in the scene if at all?

A boys club mentality can be an issue, but honestly other women can be an issue too. In an ideal world we all uplift one another and support each other, but I’ve faced challenging females which cuts deeper.

All the isms, ageism seems to be among the final isms we’re starting to knock down and address. Women, and the LGBTQI+ community are a superpower in this industry, we’re the true agents of change, the more we engage, vocalize, and create, the better this scene and world gets for us all, I truly believe that.

You’ve had some pretty amazing gigs the last few years. Where have you played most recently?

I’m really lucky I get to play some incredible clubs and parties. I am given the space to truly thrive in queer spaces and festivals and that’s the biggest joy of my life. I’m active in the LA (and US) scene behind the scenes too, and I’m happy to give all the time and experience advice I can to support LGBTQI+ spaces and rights. I play Intimate small clubs/parties that let me play all night long 7/8 hrs plus including a night in LA – certified Groovers. I recently played Eli Escobar’s new NY club Gabriela all night long, I’m kind of an informal resident at House of Yes, I’m playing an awesome queer party all night long this coming weekend in NY called Hot For You. I love being a part of the insomniac family, one of LA and California’s original party and rave throwers. They do things right from the DJs perspective, its founder Pasquale and his team are among the best people I’ve worked with anywhere. I have a party series in LA with Masha Mar, we’ve hosted everyone from Honey Dijon, DJ Minx, Massi Pagliara, Chris Cruse, to Paula Tape as well as championing talented local DJ’s inc Colored Craig, Stacy Christine, Juliet Mendoza, Mez, Sprinorita, Kerry, Leon aka Dick Enselada. I’m heading to Movement Detroit this year to play and attend the festival and am bursting with excitement for that. Further afield I’m looking forward to heading back to play Panorama Bar and new cities clubs and festivals (to me) in Europe.

You’re going to be playing at Wild Wood Disco this year. What do you know about the festival?

That it has some wood fired hot tubs! Haha… when I saw that I was like now this is my kinda festival, house, disco & hot tubs. I’m trying to rally as many Brit friends as I can to come join me, I am very busy in the US, Canada, Mexico etc so the trips to UK and EU are ones I cherish when I can make it.

What kind of set will you be delivering?

You know I’m not one of those put a cute set together from a-z type people, I like to throw some stuff on my usb (usually way too much) then feel it out and feel the crowd and what they’re going for and responding to, sure I’ve got the tracks I know will work well in a particular environment and I marinade what I might play to the point of obsession beforehand lol, but ultimately on the day or night itself I like to feel it and just go for it.

How good are you being in a field for a few of days?

Real good, I’ve got stories for days of why including throwing a festival in California in what can only be described as El Niño style torrential rains but yeh I love it.

Give us a track for peak time festival craziness?

Oh, shit what a question, I’m gonna go with something by Hilit Kolet. I’ve been a fan of her stuff from the off and she sends me everything to road test, her tracks and remixes are party starters and really great tools for fucking with in the mix.  Anything by Amy Dabbs, her range is big and really just starting to show more and more she’s an incredible producer. I love all her releases. 

Your fave tune to watch the sun come up to?

I adore Rude Movements Sun Palace, it’s an ultimate sunrise sun set track for me that I never tire of, Let it happen by Vangelis is another fave, the true Balearic ethos for sunrises is the vibe for me.

As a seasoned festival person, what’s your top tip for festival survival this summer?

Waterproof mascara, wet wipes, and hydration packets or tablets, a decent bottle of mezcal is always a good idea too.