DJ LADY ERICA
Lady Erica is one of Australia’s most revered and respected DJs, since relocatin
g from the UK to
Australia
in 1995.
Having pioneered two underground sounds in the southern hemisphere – Jungle and UK Garage. She was one of the first DJs, alongside Greg Packer to play Jungle/Drum & Bass in Western Australia.
However it was the UK Garage sound that brought success and recognition in 1998. Dubbed ‘Lady’ by UK Garage legend MJ Cole for her impeccable taste, the Australian music industry has acknowledged her as their greatest proponent of UK Garage, “as she has the knowledge, clout and talent…and brings unique and underground dance music to our audiences.”
Lady Erica is an experienced DJ who has performed alongside legendary producers like MJ Cole, Roots Manuva, Stanton Warriors and Freq Nasty. She established, promoted and DJ-ed at one of the longest running UK Garage nights in the world – the legendary Double O and hosted the most successful and longest running dance music radio show ‘Underground Flavas’ on Australia’s oldest independent station 3RRR FM – www.rrr.org.au
A true pioneer, Lady Erica has premiered most UKG producers and tunes in Australasia, she was the first to broadcast on radio and in clubs, players like Dizzee Rascal, MJ Cole, Mr Rumble, Jeremy Sylvester, Digital Mystikz - the list is endless...
In 2005, Lady Erica successfully launched a music distribution company Show Pony Music which imports UK Garage, Grime, Dubstep and other subgenres directly from producers in the UK and retails them via the website www.showponymusic.com.au and via music stores in Australia and
New Zealand . Totally business-minded she holds a Masters Degree in Business from the Australian Graduate School of Entrepreneurship!
Lady Erica is a pioneer, an innovator and the quintessential quiet achiever, boldly mixing and blending whilst inspiring audiences and DJs wherever she plays.
TECHNICAL INFORMATION
Lady Erica, is not only Australia’s First Lady of Garage, but also the Queen of the Long Set! She works optimally with a 3-4 hour long set time, but is also happy to play shorter times. The longest set she’s ever played was from 10pm-5am at Double O, when her DJ partner was on holiday, "it was probably one of the best sets I’ve ever played - it was a total journey from Soulful House, to Vocal UKG, onto Bassline and Speed Garage, getting darker and grimier by the tune with a bit of Old Skool Rave and Jungle to get the party REALLY lively and then finishing with cool, clean ambient deep house sounds and mixed with minimal 4x4 tracks!"
As a professional, experienced DJ, she is also to able to read the crowd and intuit their tastes. Whether they are usually into UK Garage or other electronic genres such as Techno, House, Drum & Bass or Electro she weaves her musical magic and is able to get them dancing to her own inimitable style. Lady Erica is here first and foremost to entertain (and not educate) the crowd; hence her dance floors are always jammed!
In addition she produces soundscapes to create the perfect ambience for art exhibitions, fashion shows and other corporate events.
FAST FORWARD TO 2008
Now in 2008, Lady Erica is based in London, still working as the Buyer for Show Pony Music and with UK based producers but also sidestepping into television presenting, you can catch her on your screens:
Presenter, ’Bleeding Me Dry’ - Mockumentary about menstruation; its environmental and financial impact
In Kris Baya’s new music video ’Ain’t The Same’
As a participant in BBC2 Science Programme ’ Mind Masters’
As an injured passenger in the film ’ Eight Minutes’
For bookings and enquiries please email djerica@hotmail.com
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PROFILE SUMMARY
Style:
UK Garage (4x4, Speed Garage, 2-step, Grime and Dubstep)
Location:
London
Production Work:
DJ Mixed CDs – Double O 3, Underground Flavas Vol.1,
Live at Double O with MC OJ
Remixes – Atari Baby, Greg Packer
DJ Gigs – UK, USA, Australia,
France
Radio – Radio 3RRR Underground Flavas (1999-present), Fantasy FM under the moniker DJ Venus (1991-1993)
Club Residencies - Double O (1998 – 2002) Winner Best Dance Bar 2001,
Sama Sama (2004 – 2005), Body Groove (2000 – 2001)
Crews – Member of the BOSS 8 Crew, Partners In Grime
Soundscapes – Fashion Shows: NIC Clothing, Su, Philip Boon, BooHew,
Melbourne Fashion Week. Exhibitions: Nature Is Nice, Chapel Street Festival.
International Support for/Headline with – USA’s DJ Rolando, Underground Resistance, UK’s MJ Cole, Roots Manuva, Stanton Warriors, Freq Nasty, Dee Kline & Ollywood.
Owner / Founder – Show Pony Music, Music Distribution Service and Retailer in Australia and
New Zealand
Promoter – Double O, Nice One Parties
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DJ name & why
DJ Erica or Lady Erica. MJ Cole told me I was “such a classy bird, a real lady” so
he started calling me Lady Erica.
What was the 1st ever tune you bought?
I can’t remember the first tune I ever bought, but I was always given records when I
was a kid. So I remember a 70s K-Tel compilation and a whole load of Two-Tone 7”s
- The Specials, The Beat, The Selector - which I still have.
What’s the most played tune in ya’ box?
The How It Was EP – from Paul Benjamin & Jeremy Sylvester
What album do/would you enjoy cooking to the most?
Any Bob Marley or Speed Garage compilation – depending on whether I’m slow
roasting or doing a quick dish
Which toy or game best describes you & why?
Mastermind – I have an above average IQ.
What’s the biggest myth about DJing?
That it’s all about the mixing. You need to consider the programming/track selection,
vibe,what the crowd is expecting, the venue, the sound system etc. Nothing worse
than someone thinking they’re a wicked scratchmeister whilst you’re enjoying a quiet
drink in a small bar with no dancefloor.
What do you dislike the most about DJing?
Carrying the record boxes.
...& like the most?
When everything comes together, the crowd, the tunes, the vibe – it’s almost spiritual.
When n’ where was your 1st gig?
As a kid, back in 1991 on Fantasy Radio 98.6FM a pirate station based in Wolverhampton, UK.
Your ultimate DJing gig would be?
Outdoors, summer breeze, lots of champagne, with smiling, happy people dancing
and going off to the tunes…
Musical Influences
UK Garage, UK HipHop, Drum & Bass, Dancehall, Classical Music & Indie.
Influential DJs/Producers
Producers: Matt Jam Lamont, Grant Nelson, Qualifide, MJ Cole, Youngstar,
Jeremy Sylvester & Digital Mystikz
DJs: Greg Packer & Derek Martin.
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