ELLES Mix
Here to take #63 on our Tapes series is ELLES, an artist, DJ and producer from London with a catalogue of releases and appearances on acclaimed labels including Naive, Naivety, Love On The Rocks, Dark Entries and Super Drama.
ELLES is a resident host on Rinse FM with a show that focuses on spotlighting female, non-binary and queer talent, and is also a regular on East London’s Netil Radio. In DJing as in production her influences are eclectic and far-ranging from pop, experimental and ambient to post-punk, UK garage and acid.
Tracklist
Anthem - ELLES
Le Soleil Levant - Smagghe & Cross
No Body - Photonz
Only Love Can Break Your Heart (Andrew Weatherall Mix) - Saint Etienne
Cure Water - Russell E.L. Butler
Theme from The Gay Men’s Guide to Safer Sex - Coil
Plum Plum Paradise- Maara
Deep -E17
Danger- Alegria
It Feels Weird- Machine Woman
Arcade- Chris & Cosey
Sex- ELLES
Where Are You? (Instrumental) - 16 BIT
Musica para contemplar a natureza - Violet
Doot Doot (12“ Mix) - Freur
Hey ELLES - how are you? Why don’t you start by giving a little intro on who you are and what you’re up to at the minute?
Hiya. I’m an artist, producer & DJ and I’m on my way to Glastonbury.
Talk us through the process behind this mix - what was the inspiration behind it?
The last mix I did was a full on rave moment, so wanted this to be more calm but still summery. Balearic via N. London. Soundtrack to your garden/ park/ looking out the window sesh.
Your debut album “A Celebration Of The Euphoria Of Life” on Naive is the first LP release and marks the 5th anniversary of the label - tell us more about the album and your relationship with the label?
I met Violet who runs Naive on Twitter many moons ago and encouraged her to move to London by offering one of my mum’s fave sayings ‘leap and the net will appear’. That’s *possibly* overstating the role I had in her moving, but it was the start of a beautiful bestieship nonetheless. We did a bunch of collabs and then I coyly sent her my first EP emo_ecstasy_everything which she put out on naive sub label naivety, which was followed by summers_of_love on naive proper. The album was always intended to be an expansion of the themes of the latter EP, and during lockdown(s) when I eventually made it, those ‘love letter to nightlife’ themes took on whole new significance, not least down to a great deal amount of personal reflection, soul searching and, tbh, misery at the time.
I made it alone in my flat on pretty much my laptop and not much else with the intention of creating something that went beyond just club trax that had a tangible DIYness to it. Many of the vocals and lyrics are improvised first takes. Some of the sounds were stuff I’d recorded on my phone etc.
Favourite track on the album and why?
No favourite children. I love them all equally.
Your productions seem to draw from a wide range of influences from post-punk to UKG; who or what are some of the artists/genres that have helped shape your unique sound?
Yeh you mentioned two of my faves. Lots of other refs: grime, pop, ambient, shoegaze, glam, acid house, RnB, electro, psychedelia etc. A magpie-like approach. Was listening to fair bit of ‘comfort’ music when I made it too- shout out Fleetwood Mac. Actually the title is a quote from another artist from a book I read while making it. Answers on a postcard if you know who.
Tell us about your Rinse show and the importance of spotlighting female and non-binary artists - who have been some of your faves?
Yeh highlighting artists who are women and other marginalised genders is important still - only 1 in 10 festival headliners are women in 2022, so there’s plenty for everyone to do in making sure things are a bit more balanced. They are by no means the only marginalised groups or imbalances in this industry ofc. Lots of work to do everywhere.
And while it’s a factor in re-bookings it’s also incidental - everyone is invited because I admire them for their talent at the end of the day. No faves tho, just vibes. And much love for them all.
Favourite club in London?
There was a spell a while back I was in Dalston superstore so much it felt like my living room so honorable mention to them. Venue MOT in the south is pretty fun. We’ve lost so many good spots in London tho. Tough out there but the rave always finds a way I guess.
Shout out the best club in Lisbon too: Planeta Manas - proper warehouse vibes, non-profit community-centric, immaculate programming and vibe.
Thanks for being a part of the Tapes series!