Rebekah
Interview by ROTOR
Photograph by Tim Kent
From Grunge kid to glamour girl to international DJ phenomenon
Rotor: What was the first record that really spoke to you in your early teens and is that inspiration still with you now?
DJR: In my early teens I was listening to Nirvana and really connected with their music, I think I suffered from depression during this period so it’s no surprise why I loved them. Their more commercial album Nevermind was what got me in to them but I do love Heart Shaped Box which is from their later album; In Utero.
Rotor: What did the teenage Rebekah wear and identify with at that time?
DJR: Classic Levi 501s and Dr Martens! I am a teen of the 90s, at the time I felt very uncool and was really following the more popular girls at school who wore those clothes, possibly to try and fit in. A few years later after finding dance music I would bully my mom in to making me clubbing/dj outfits which consisted of matching skirt and bra tops. I also wore the fluffy bra and long skirt combos too. I remember being at a party wearing a matching flare trouser and top outfit and some older people laughing at me, funny now how these styles have come back and are the ones that are remembered over the fashionable 90s clothing.
Photograph by Tim Kent
Rotor: What are your star qualities that make you such a phenomenal success as a DJ? And tell us about your first big gig that put you on the map.
DJR: I don’t think I have star qualities to be honest, I can’t escape myself or put on a show whilst djing, it’s just me! My special me part is how I mix and the technology I use which allows me to create a wall of sound and play with high intensity, sharing my energy through techno to those that connect with it. Career wise to make it this far in the game, at some point I just worked really hard at doing what “the boys” did. Having received so many messages in my early djing days of women not being as good as the men I felt I needed to do what they do and do it as best as I can to even have a shot at making it. That consisted of going back to college to study music production, creating my own label and concepts, getting rid of my perfectionist traits and allowing myself to fail so I could grow and learn. As for doing what the boys do, it’s probably just being self-sufficient and not having to rely on anyone for anything.
Photograph by Tim Kent
Rotor: What made you move to Berlin? Is there something unique there that London and the UK lacks?
DJR: I moved to Berlin almost 10 years ago, I felt I was ready for a change and Birmingham felt so remote for the music I was creating and performing. I had an agent in Berlin and then another offer to join another which had a record label and a roster I could align with in the city which would allow me to do label events with them. The only requirement was if I moved to Berlin. To be honest I don’t think it was fully necessary to live here but as many of the gigs were in Germany to start with, travel-wise it made sense. The bonus being that Berlin had techno parties literally on every night of the week so I could be exposed to a lot more music and inspiration. That in turn gave me more freedom to be even more techno and the true essence of that creativity. In regards to the difference between London, it’s mainly down to working hours, Berlin is a later city and more easier for freelancers and artists, it’s cheaper to have a good life here and there is freedom to create. Where London has an amazing energy, I feel that the energy can be trapped and a little stifling. In recent years though the techno scene has grown in London exponentially.
Photograph by Tim Kent
Rotor: Was there a pivotal moment that made you stand up and talk about sexual harassment in the DJ world?
DJR: The catalyst for me speaking out was when a well known house DJ passed away a few days before he was due in court to face charges of drugging and raping a female DJ. The reaction from a lot of my peers in his passing was to celebrate him as a hero and a legend whilst completely glossing over the fact he was alleged for doing some heinous acts. Furthermore some of the male DJs went as far to say “Bros before hoe’s” This triggered me and my own cases of assault and harassment and if I was feeling this way then no doubt others were too. The timing for this was also during a period were I was mentoring some young female artists and I realized if I was advising them to come in to the DJ world and they would still have to face this kind of sexism and I did nothing and stayed silent, what kind of person would that make me?
Rotor: Has your past as a model in the glamour industry helped or hindered your success as a DJ?
DJR: My modeling career helped me have a small DJ career in the early 00s. I was playing funky house and I suppose glamorous but it only took me so far. I really wanted to be taken serious but the other DJs were not accepting of me. In the end I only have myself to blame, the music I was playing was not really my first love and I sold out to have this short lived career, but at the age of 21 when you get given these kind of opportunities you just take them, your idea of consequences and long term opportunities are not even developed.
Photograph by Tim Kent
Rotor: Do you see yourself as part of the ‘sisterhood’ and have you and other female colleagues rallied round to support each other both in the music industry and during your days as a glamour model?
DJR: In modeling days it was a no, I thought I had friends but it was really cut throat, I don’t have any friends from those days. As for music, it’s taken me so long to stop seeing women as competition, yet another message that was given to me during my early days of djing. When you are in a minority its easy to think that there are only a few spaces available for those minorities and that’s your competition. But slowly I have undone that conditioned thinking and now cherish women in the dance music industry, I love their take on music and how some of the younger ones are completely fearless and are celebrating each other too. This is what progression looks like, with so many female DJs and artists now out there, no longer can the old school sexist narrative work. The way I see the other DJs playing the music I love is that they are my techno sisters, this passion chose them and hating on them would be to hate on yourself.
Rotor: Has any journalist ever written anything about you that made you laugh or cry? Please tell…
DJR: I get super emotional all the time! I think being recognized for my full live sets not just playing other peoples music, after putting in so much time and work for them a few years back via one of the more respected dance music media outlets during Amsterdam Dance Event made me cry. Sometimes I feel like I’m a bit of an outsider or loner and that I’m still not quite cool or credible enough.
Photograph by Tim Kent
Rotor: How did you handle the many months of lockdown? And what was your personal experience of isolation?
DJR: Pre lockdown I was already burning out so in the end it came at the right time as I’m not sure I would still be DJing right now if we’d carried on. The lockdown gave me some time out to address some health concerns, finally relax fully, heads to a meditation retreat and just understand what my body needs.
Rotor: Has Covid permanently altered the dance and club scene? Will people now be more wary of risks germs in overcrowded spaces?
DJR: The older generation of clubbers are more cautious for sure. They took their time before going out but the younger generation seemed starved of social contact so was prepared to jump straight back in. The beginning of opening the clubs again was a strange experience, it seemed the stamina wasn’t fully there, with DJs and clubbers alike but now it just seems to be business as usual. The main change has been an influx of Instagram hyped DJs, the ones who kept things moving through the lockdown seem to be doing very well on the booking front. Which is of course reflected of the new generation of clubbers who just had social media for that connection through lockdown.
Photograph by Tim Kent
Rotor: Who would you most like to do a DJ set for and where would you like that to be?
DJR: I am happy to play for the promoters who still would like to book me and the clubbers who want to hear me with the only exception of playing in Chamonix, it was the one gig that was in the diary and was cancelled but unfortunately has not made an appearance since opening up again. Montreaux Jazz festival would also be a nice destination, both of which are in the mountains and to this day have not experienced gigs in the cold weather surrounded by the peaks.
Rotor: If you had to reinvent yourself professionally one more time what would you like to do?
DJR: There have been so many other things that I have been obsessed with over the years, from Crossfit through to gaming to mountaineering. Any of those on a professional level would be great. But these occupations you need to dedicate your life to from an early age much like I did with djing.
Photograph by Tim Kent
Rotor: Do you have a moto for life?
DJR: As always Im a walking cliché but do the things you want to do before you die whilst you’re still young and fit enough to do them because life is short. Sorry if it’s too cringe!
