Thursday 29 March 2012

#Once upon a time - I Was A DJ.

Once upon a time .....


I stood in a DJ booth weaving a musical story to hundreds and sometimes thousands of punters on a pair of technics 1210's. Sometimes I went to work at 10.00 pm, sometimes at 2.00 am or sometimes even at 4.00 am. My office was a dark subterranean chamber impregnated with hypnotic rhythms, pounding bass and punctuated by a kaleidoscope of swirling illuminations, and the camera flashing winks of a dazzling strobe. Before me a swarming throng of misshapen silhouettes hugging, dancing, whooping, gyrating.  Arms swaying like seaweed at high tide or fists joyously punching the air as if a favourite team had scored a hat trick. Hands transformed into angular fish like shapes that carved out intertwining forms in the energetic pulse of the club atmosphere. A flowing togetherness. A community of loved up glowing clubbers sharing the same experience; MUSIC.

This was acid house. A nation of post indie rockers had finally learnt to dance.

It was no accident I became a DJ. I'd always loved music and made mix tapes for friends. I'd gravitated to boyfriends in bands. The arrival of acid house in '88 prised me away from my indie rock credentials and opened my eyes to unadulterated rhythm. And I was a 'keen member' of the, wait for it, Rave Society at University. It goes without saying that I didn't study very much in my third year.

Then I turned 21 and threw my savings and birthday money on a pair of technics record decks which in '92 didn't come cheap. It took me a while to master blending the beats of two records together. The moment I finally accomplished this nimble fingered skill sent a fated lightening bolt down my spine. Intuitively, I knew in the depths of my bones that DJ'ing was my life calling. Destiny.

My DJ moniker was Tantra.

And so it began. My singular vision to become a professional DJ sent a synchronistic wheel in motion attracting a belly full of opportunity; I met other DJ's, played at numerous house parties, and then I landed my first residency on a local pirate radio station. Tantra's dulcet tones transmitted on the airwaves of West Yorkshire but I wisely let the grooves do the talking. Mix tapes went out, club promoters bugged and DJ agencies joined. My first club gig was a night in Liverpool - I rocked it.

I was in the right place at the right time. I was in a minority; a talented female DJ, and I milked this for all its worth. My career snowballed as I played in clubs across the UK and Europe. My music of choice was deep house and techno; everything from Kraftwerk inspired European trance to the disco influenced, funk infused minimalism of Detroit electronica. I built a solid reputation for long, seamless mixes and emotive sets which undulated in musical style, tone and pace.


I spent my weeks making hallowed pilgrimages to record shops. My favourite was Eastern Bloc Records in Manchester. The boys there were great. An assorted pile of 12"s always greeted me when I eagerly rushed through the doors every Wednesday morning. I ate vinyl. I was what was affectionately termed as an anorak. I had a record collection of 1000's organised meticulously into different genres, labels and artists.

The memories are myriad ...

The comforting aromas wafting from Parisian bakeries at 6.00 am as weary street sweepers cleared the detritus from the night before. Racing precariously through a pot holed field on a bear hunt for the location of a very secret party. Bottle green dragon flies on a Southern French hill top hovering unnoticed over bobbing heads, and brightly painted faces in the soft light of dawn.

I played in a bunker in East Germany. I played on a moving float at the Zurich Love Parade; the streets overflowing with dancing, cheering, empty beer cans. I once played a gig in Germany on Christmas day - I can recall the eerie desertion of Manchester airport, the festive dish of rare beef and sauerkraut with the club promoter and her father. The strangest gig was an outdoor rave at 8.00 am. Can you imagine having breakfast and then spinning your best vinyl to, by that time of day, a hoard of messy, unappreciative clubbers? My biggest event was spinning a nerve wracking opening set to 20,000 ravers in Germany. That was a buzz on every level. But my favourite gigs were the homegrown ones, the smaller clubs, and playing to my friends.

And then one year it all crumbled. I met HIM. Not Younger Dad. But a rotten apple. An apocalyptic messenger of heartbreaking change. When I resurfaced a year or so later I found myself at the back end of my twenties with a withering career. Like parched paper evaporating in a flame, the European gigs shrivelled up. I was past my shelf life.

I moved to London. I worked in a grey office somewhere in Aldgate. I tried to revive my career and continued playing at a few select clubs here and there. I even promoted my own night. Then one day, somewhere in my mid thirties, I decided that enough was enough. I'd lost interest in late nights, parties and the must have release. It was time for something new. So I settled back and let life's compass point me in a fresh direction.

I treasure the fun times I had, the friends I met and the cultures I tasted. But I still live with a small handful of sadness. Where would I have been if I hadn't met HIM? But then life seems to have a mysterious trajectory for all of us. Its only when we look back that we can clearly see the road map that led us to this particular point. One thing I can confidently say is that if I'd carried on DJ'ing I wouldn't have met Younger Dad or held Little A in my arms. This is how it was meant to be ..... in the end I was intended for motherhood.

One day I will be able to regale Little A with all my turntable adventures.

Once upon a time her mummy was a cool DJ.

So once upon a time, what did you enjoy (or dislike) doing, seeing or creating? It could be anything. What were you like many moons ago? Do you have a once upon a time story to tell or picture to share? It could be a happy, sad or humorous tale. The skies the limit. I've decided to turn this into a monthly meme blog hop thing. So do Link up below and grab the badge code ... and don't forget to tweet #onceuponatime.

Once Upon A Time
Grab the badge code ...

<a href="http://older-mum.blogspot.co.uk/p/once-upon-time.html" title="Once Upon A Time"><img alt="Once Upon A Time" height="170" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7036/6775563952_fdaee4eeff_m.jpg" width="150" /></a>

42 comments:

  1. Wow! I loved this piece of writing. So delicately worded with bautiful imagery and with the DJ journey... I was gripped.

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    1. Thank you. That was a lovely comment. Took me a while to write it!

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    2. Probably as long as it took me to "prove I'm not a robot" to blooger - 5 attempts! Flaming spam device!

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    3. I know. Its so annoying!

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    1. My keys get very dodgy particularly when rice gets lodged underneath.

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    2. Rice?? Cake crumbs under mine!

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  3. A beautifully written post - as usual. I am in awe! XX

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    1. Thank you OSM! That's a lovely comment. X

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  4. I agree with the other commenters, wonderful post. I think this one might just be my favourite Older Mum post of all time. x

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    1. Thank you!!!! I really wanted to get this post squeezed in before the end of the week - I'm going on holiday tomorrow but won't be staying in anything as adventurous as a yurt!

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  5. I love this! How amazing to have all those memories and what I wonderful 'story of life' you have already set to chat to Little A about as she grows older. Has got me thinking about just what my own 20's achieved (not anything as exciting as your's I tell you!) but this is certainly a thought provoking post and I love the invite to get involved!x

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    1. Yes, I'm very grateful. It was a wonderful opportunity, and I got to experience many cool things. It would be great if you decided to link up.

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  6. What a super idea for a linky. Is it a one off as it is going to run for a while?

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    1. This one has the potential to run on and on and on and on .... I'm aiming to do it once a month.

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  7. This is brilliant, not just your story, but the linky inspiration. Once upon a time, I was more than 'just a mum' and I do get frustrated that people forget the woman you once were just because you have a child. I'd love to join in, but I can't sorry. It's too much information for my blog, which is a shame because I'd love to write my back story. Yours is amazing though and I doubt I can write anything to match a gig to 20,000 people. :)

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    1. Hello! That was a lovely comment. Thankyou. I hope I havent put anyone off with my story ..... I've never really had the chance to tell this tale before .... I thought my blog would be a good place for it!

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  8. Oh I have been waiting for you to write a post about your DJ'ing for ages and wow ... it was worth the wait. I was mesmerized from the first word & became totally absorbed in the prose. You have such a gift. Maybe writing is not too different to DJ'ing... just a different outlet for your creative talent.

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    1. Thank you so much Misha .... I think this is probably the best post I have written so far!

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  9. Oh my god you are so cool! I was hooked from beginning to end through your story. Great writing and a fab meme.

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    1. Kinda cool ... in the right place at the right time ... Thankyou! Please join in if you want to!

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  10. Wow! What a story! That was amazing, what a ride. Such a contrast to being a mum - I've never done anything even half as exciting as that! Polly x

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    1. Ah thank you. I've beem waiting for the right moment to tell the story.

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  11. Hi missus. This is a fantastic piece of writing, really. You are so eloquent when you write about music. Could you not self-publish a collection of your DJ-ing experiences and sell them on kindle - around the world in 80 sets - or hey, i've got it, Tantric Sets! You know what I mean! fab meme too. I will no doubt join except that a) many of my experiences are deeply uncool and b) even involve some full-on happy-clappy evangelical chanting that nobody wants to hear about, i promise. Happy hols tantra x

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    1. Hey Mrs Floss! Thank you, and finding the time to pop over and have a read; I get the distinct impression you are very busy with other projects at the minute. I'll bet you have some very, very funny stories up your sleeve. I wish I'd kept a journal when I DJ'ed, then I would have had so many more memories to write about!

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  12. This is an amazing post! You kept me totally hooked to the very end. I could imagine it all as I was reading. I was a bit of a 'clubber' when I was younger ;)
    I'll have to have a think to link up to your meme. Great idea!

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    1. Hey thank you! Would be great if you decide to link up! Clubbing back in the day was a great laugh wasn't it?

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  13. What a great way to spend your twenties and to have all those memories... Things happen for a reason in life and at least you can look back and think "yeah i did that..."

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    1. Yes, I was very lucky indeed! And yes, all things do happen for a reason.

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  14. It can be so bitter sweet looking back and remembering what you once were, where you were and what you were doing. Who you were with and how it felt. I lived in Hong Kong for a few years in my twenties - did you ever play there? - and it was one of the most amazing times of my life. The memories are so happy that they make me sad. I could never go back. The amazing thing is that I still have my friends from there. It was such an important time for all of us. We still talk about it. Your post immediately conjured up that time for me. x

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    1. Hong Kong - that must have been an interesting stay. No, I never played there, I would have loved to though, as there was such a big techno scene there at the time. Its lovely that you have kept your friends from such a good time in your life. Glad my post brought back happy, although bitter sweet, memories.

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  15. Wow what an experience! Really evocative post and I'm keen to join this linky when you next put it up......there are so many transformations in our lives, it great to remember the times we had and the people we were 'once upon a time'...

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    1. Thank you! Its a monthly one, and the linky runs for a month too - although I've been lazy this month, and I haven't done one - but should be back on form again in September!

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  16. wow what a life and some amazing memories, but a lovely one that came out of it. x

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    1. Thank you, yes they were very exciting times, and I have some great memories. :o).

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  17. I love this post, so well written it had me hankering for my own clubland days, not as a DJ just a participant. I think I will have to join in with this link but will have think first. There is a lot going on in my present at the mo. Great to have found you.

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    1. Thank you! And thank you for commenting on what is now a fairly old post - lovely to know its still being read - would be great if you decided to join in! :o).

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  18. Sigh. I may as well just admit defeat now and schedule a day for sitting in bed reading every blog post you've ever written. They're all bloody brilliant. The Once Upon a Time linky is such a good idea. I so often get the urge to write about something random that happened years ago, but I never quite know how to approach it. I've been thinking about writing a recap of our wedding recently, I'm just worried that it might be the most boring post ever, and completely irrelvant given how long ago it was. Love this though. Love it. A DJ eh? You're a dark horse, you are xx

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    1. Ah, thank you - that's really very, very kind of you. *blushes*. No it won't be boring! I love reading about other weddings - the dresses, the event, the location etc. And not irrelevant at all! This was a big day in your life. Yes, a DJ - t'was a long, long time ago now :o). X.

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  19. Blimey, what a life you led - I read this totally enthralled! It must seem like a world away now. Do you still love music? How cool! Thanks for sharing on Oldies but Goodies this week :)

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    1. Yes I did! And what a life I lead now as a mum :o). It's a long time ago now but I have some fab memories - still love music!

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