N.E.GIRL: The ‘Shine A Light On’ Mix

Music

N.E.GIRL is the guise of London-bred, Copenhagen-based DJ, producer and promoter Esther Wanyama.

She might have upped sticks and moved out to Denmark but her UK roots are still ever-present in her musical output. A lover of all things bass, and driven by a passion for UK sound system and underground club culture, these influences feed heavily into Esther’s DJ sets which are full of dark weighty electronics to move your body.

Formerly working as part of Copenhagen-based music label Solumn Records, now you’ll find her manoeuvring behind the scenes at Christiania venue Music Loppen, while also putting on her own parties in the city: Afro-Swing and Jasho Club.

Back on London soil, she’s a resident for collective and party series Co-select – alongside Airali, Will Hofbauer, TSUNIMAN and many more – who advocate for equality and balanced representation on DJ lineups.

She steps up for this week’s ‘Shine A Light On’ Mix to take us on a sludgy ride through deep bass, UK techno and jungle. Let’s go…

Ransom Note · N.E.GIRL: The ‘Shine A Light On’ Mix

Please introduce yourself… Who are you, where are you and what are you?

My name is Esther and DJ under the N.E.GIRL alias. I’m currently based in Copenhagen DJing regularly, producing and promoting club nights, while video editing on the side.

What does your music sound like? Can you draw what you think it sounds like for us (an image from the old internet is acceptable)?

I would say my music sounds like that scene from Blade (or every scene) – the slow motion fight sequence in the bathroom. I enjoy playing dark, bass-driven music, with a splash of some rave classics.

Where was the mix recorded?

I recorded my mix at my friend’s music school here in Copenhagen called Rumkraft.

What would be the ideal setting to listen to the mix?

This mix is best served while relaxed on a long commute, late night session at home, or at an 8am afters.

What should we be wearing?

Something comfortable, and loose. There’s some sneaky high-energy numbers within the melancholy selections, that’ll give you the urge to dance every now and then.

What would be your dream setting to record a mix: Location/system/format?

A small-cap venue that has that pressure room vibe, powered by the Valve soundsystem mmmmm

Which track in the mix is your current favourite?

Definitely Yilan and Ebb – AFADS. The club-bassy-techno crossover is a style I like a lot. I used to listen to a lot of Pinch, Mumdance, Logos. Plus, it sounds wild on a system.

What’s your favourite recorded mix of all time?

It changes all the time! It used to be Sekko set on Get DarkerTV. Technically it’s really good and a showcase of a lot of classic grime riddims. I’m listening to a lot more jungle these days and Skibadee & Shockin’ B with DJ Pressure X set is nicce.

If you could go back to back with any DJ from throughout history, who would it be and why?

Ahh either Pinch, Mantra, Neffa-T, Aux 88 just to think of

What was your first DJ set up at home and what is it now?

It was pretty much a toy haha. Standard 2 CDJ set up (Numark Axis4) and a 2 channel mixer (Numark M101) and a 300 watt pa system. Now, I mostly use the decks at my friends’ music school, or in the venues I work with.

What’s more important, the track you start on or the track you end on?

The track you start on. That’s where people are most attentive I’d say, and you’re setting the pace for where the set will go.

What were the first and last records you bought?

The first CD I bought (lol) I think was DJ Pied Piper – Do You Really Like It

Last record I bought was MA2 – Rollers Music / Hearing Is Believing

If this mix was an edible thing, what would it taste like?

Dark chocolate, with a caramel center haha

If it was an animal what would it be?

A black panther.

One record in your collection that is impossible to mix into anything?

Anything by Blawan. I did a set for a club reopening recently, practiced the transition into his track The Sithe and still failed haha

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