Girl Scout Boy Scout is a monthly two-part feature exploring the newest selectors making movements in the world of Underground music.
For our first installment in the series we look at 5 woman who are pushing dance music evolution, including an activist ignoring ISIS, an NTS Radio OG dropping beats in Panorama Bar, Discowoman’s hardest grafter and London based resident taking over UK club land.
Tala Mortada
Animator, Activist, Illustrator, Graphic Designer, DJ.
Lebanonese DJ Tala Mortada is an artist hoping to influence the youth of Beirut through a common theme, raving! The DJ who uses music to spearhead political activism in her homeland is a resident at one of Beirut’s biggest clubs, The Grand Factory. Every week Mortada draws huge crowds who come to listen to her dreamy sound springs, infused with percussive elements, funky baselines, minimal grooves and dazing saxophone trills.
Aware that Lebanon is a country that faces daily struggles, the threat of ISIS, an immigration crisis and a capital city with out rubbish disposal. Tala looks to move beyond each gig and harnesses the power of music to make an emphatic statement on the political scene. She has started a clothing donation programme in the club, encouraging clubbers to bring extra clothing to help refugee families. As well as offering a recycling program, and a competition for local musicians to win a month’s studio time in Berlin, under the title Beirut Berlin Express.
Courtesy
In 2017 Courtesy had somewhat of a break through year. She bought her hard-hitting, nails techno to Panorama Bar, Concrete, Sub Club and De School. Each time the crowd was left in a crazed sweat begging for more. If that wasn’t enough the artist then took the stage at Sónar festival alongside Avalon Emerson and performed arguably the best set of the festival.
The rise to fame of the Ectotherm label boss is of no surprise to those in her hometown of Copenhagen. Naiaarag Vestbirk has clearly been influenced by the scenes high-octane 140 BPM tempos that are apparent in her fast-paced approach to DJing. As an artist Courtesy mixes old and new records always with an emphasis on bold melodies that span a full spectrum of raw and direct to glistening and finessed.
As an artist she is strives to be at the forefront of dance evolution and only recently announced her new label Kulør, translating to colorful in Danish an idea that features prominently in her set lists.
Imogen
Hailing from Southampton and moving to London age sixteen to study music production, Imogen has quickly established a well-deserved reputation as one of dance music’s brightest talents.
The artist who has a weekly residency on Radar Radio regularly welcomes legendary producers as well as the scenes younger talent to the radio waves. This weekly slot provides another insight into how she so successfully captures her audiences, traversing the full spectrum of quirky electro and darker techno. Ultimately building a unique narrative to her sets and carving a signature sound.
We expect big things from this talented youngster and its all looking up with shows at Fabric, Printworks and Shine Belfast all on the horizon.
Volvox
Part of the all-female Brooklyn party collective Discwoman, Volvox aka Ariana Paoletti is fan of hard graft. With shows across the US, Europe and Australia Volvox performed over a hundred shows alone in 2017 and Resident Advisor described her 2018 Dimensions set as one of the years ‘key performances’.
Volvox first became engrossed in dance music whilst on a summer camp in the US, shortly afterwards she admits to teaching herself the entire history of British rave through various file sharing sites and forums. However, the artist and label boss didn’t get into Djing until she moved to Boston where she got a gig at Manray a linchpin of the cities Gothic and Industrial scene. Further stints in Berlin and New York have all influenced the heavy synths and thumping bass found in her sets.
If you want to see this hard-hitting techno goddess then Volvox next two European shows are at Warehouse Elemenstraat at ADE and a Discwoman showcase at Wire in Leeds.
DEBONAIR
Once described by Mixmag as one of London’s best-kept secrets, Debonair is pushing UK underground music forward. Thanks to sets at Fabric, Wire, Patterns, Panorama Bar and Lux DEBONAIRE is fast becoming a house hold name.
Part of the management team at NTS Radio since its inception in 2011. DEBONAIR has risen through the ranks to become the stations Program Director. Thanks to her blend of post-punk, coldwave, EBM, techno, italo-disco and classic house she has gained a loyal following. These days the artist is concentrates on her own show. Plus also continuing her growing momentum as a respected club DJ.
Her next UK show is November 17 at Printworks London following a 4 date US tour.
