Summer is finally here and its arrival was properly celebrated last weekend, or at least so we tried.
On one hand, the night fest of St. Joan on Saturday in Barcelona, with bonfires on the beach, horrible firecrackers everywhere, and many open air home parties, to celebrate the shortest night. And on the other, our contribution to start this first summer weekend as it deserved, with a dj’n session at Psycho R&R club, performed by myself together with my CD soul mate, Verónica, aka Dra Feelgood.
Our last session was a complete success thanks to the Record Store Day, and having in mind that the big night out was on Saturday, we were a bit afraid of poor attendance, something that’s never discouraged from playing the best music possible to people at bars, but of course, being involved in a partying atmosphere is always a great motivation.
Truth is Las Tetis, The Titties in English, were ready and willin’ to rock the night, and finally many unexpected people came by, which was terrific.
Never told you about my dj’n experience in depth. I cannot consider myself a proper dj for many reasons, first I’m not a pro, and second I play CD’s and not vinyls. This is a leisure activity I’ve been given the opportunity since I was 20 in Zaragoza, and have been carrying out sporadically over these years.
Truth is skills have been gently increasing especially in the last couple of years, and the knowledge of new sounds and bands has been a bless in this sense as to find my own style, because it doesn’t matter what you hear, if no obligation nor pressure are involved, you develop your tastes and adapt them to your sessions, providing a kind of trademark. Being a dj is not exactly artistic but, it’s a fact that thanks to the style you eventually attract certain kind of audience, which doesn’t need to be your crowd friends, if you know what I mean.
When I started, Thursday was the day scheduled for the sessions, and were monographs based on the discography of certain bands or artists. My first night was dedicated to Janis Joplin. My former boyfriend and his cousin used to called me Janis Joplin, as I used to sing in a band, loved Southern Comfort and was like a mess of a woman, in terms of appearance. They found these resemblances, I don’t know, perhaps we’re more alike in terms of love failures, hahaha! The funny thing is that I seldom listen to Joplin nowadays, love many songs, but I’m never in the mood nor connect to her at all.
Alice in Chains, Pearl Jam, Guns n’ Roses, Led Zeppelin (!!!) came after, how could I dare? I didn’t have the complete discographies! Guess when you’re young you aren’t afraid and accuracy and professionalism are concepts you’re not very related to.
After my UK days, back in my hometown, I started dj’n creating events, such as Kiss parties and that stuff, because under the influence of new bands and styles, people weren’t ready yet for that, at least at pubs I was hanging out, but eventually I was allowed to have my sessions from time to time.
First sessions in Barcelona were carefully studied and arranged, marking the suitable songs of the CD’s, gathering styles and moments, and following schedules. Let’s say improvisation in a scale from 0 to 10, was 2-3, and was moving upwards as I was more self-confident.
Last stage, which started in November 2010, when Veronica suggested we could try to dj together at The Outsiders, is being the funniest and most interesting one, in the sense that sharing the space and time is lots of fun, enhances improvisation, moving from 3-4 to 9-10, and it’s super dynamic. We’ve been playing at different venues, with different people, and in different circumstances. I’ve gone solo, as you already know, but love when Las Tetis are together. Veronica is more into Southern rock, alt country, root sounds and hard rock, and I’m 90’s, stoner, hardcore, punk rock and other stuff, thus the alliance of strengths, tits, and styles always mean epic nights. I might sound too proud and and vain, but believe me, we’re good, and people rather than complain, congratulate us.
One more time, I’ve created a playlist on Spotify for you to listen to my part of the Combat Night. Hope you like it!
FUN LOVIN’ CRIMINALS | LIVING ON THE STREETS |
DAN AUERBACH | HEARTBROKEN, IN DISREPAIR |
T-REX | CHILDREN OF THE REVOLUTION |
JACK WHITE | LOVE INTERRUPTION |
THE TWILIGHT SINGERS | FLASHBACK |
RYAN ADAMS | NATURAL GHOST |
BEASTIE BOYS | CH-CHECK IT OUT |
NWA | 100 MILES AND RUNNIN’ |
KID ROCK | BAWITDABA |
FAITH NO MORE | MIDLIFE CRISIS |
3 COLOURS RED | COPPER GIRL |
URGE OVERKILL | SISTER HAVANA |
TSOOL | SISTER SURROUND |
HEART | BARRACUDA |
THE AFGHAN WHIGS | UPTOWN AGAIN |
THE HANGMEN | BROKE, DRUNK AND STONED |
VAN HALEN | PANAMA |
THE MONARCHS | 69 MONARO |
THE DONNAS | WHO INVITED YOU |
GLUECIFER | EASY LIVING |
THE HELLACOPTERS | ACTION DE GRÂCE |
DEMOLITION 23 | SAME SHIT DIFFERENT DAY |
THE BLACK CROWES | GO FASTER |
FU MANCHU | MONGOOSE |
AT THE DRIVE-IN | ENFILADE |
MONSTER MAGNET | SPACE LORD |
L7 | OFF THE WAGON |
DANKO JONES | I LOVE LIVING IN THE CITY |
KISS | I STOLE YOUR LOVE |
LOADED | SEATTLEHEAD |
THE STOOGES | DOWN ON THE STREET |
SKID ROW | GET THE FUCK PUT |
BUCKCHERRY | LIT UP |
QOTSA | FIRST IT GIVETH |
DEAD BOYS | SONIC REDUCER |
RIPPERS | UNRELEASED |
SUPERSHIT 666 | STAR WAR JR |
THE WILDHEARTS | SICK OF DRUGS |
ELVIS PRESLEY | AN AMERICAN TRILOGY |