free DJ workshop for BIPOC + trans! (pt. ii)

ALWAYS WAS, ALWAYS WILL BE: this event is produced and hosted on the traditional lands of Wurundjeri and Boonwurrung peoples of the Kulin Nation.

***SPOTS ARE LIMITED***

What to expect:

The 2 hour workshop will be split into two blocks: the first 20 minutes, Marli and I will be exploring the foundations of DJing which typically include some theoretical knowledge on: 

• Sound and music.

• rekordbox.

• Genre/track selection and finding a narrative for your set.

• The hardware and its functions.

• What to expect out of DJing in a professional capacity.

We will be following a slideshow which will be available to be sent to you after the workshop at your request however, bring a pencil and/or something to write on as there will be questions and pieces of information which won’t be covered in the slideshow. We will then answer any questions and have a quick break before jumping into the second half of the workshop, which will consist of our hands-on DJing experience!
We will break into two groups, one facilitated by Marli and one facilitated by Girl Whatever. The groups will be separated by levels of experience. If you would like to play your own music, please ensure you have it downloaded and synchronised to a rekordbox compatible USB. MP3 (320kpbs) files are ideal for DJing however, Marli and myself both have our own USB’s with extensive playlists that span multiple genres, so don’t feel like you have to do this. Hopefully we will be able to guide you through the process, help you consolidate previously learned skills or expand your technical capabilities. Headphones will be provided, but again, feel free to bring your own! Both decks are Pioneer consoles. Also joining us will be the wonderful bbsanii (she/ella - @bbsanii), who will be able to share her own vast knowledge and experience with DJing/music production!

Where it is:

This event will be held at Pride of our Footscray Bar, in Footscray on Tuesday the 19th of May, 7pm - 9pm. The bar will be open for this event. Pride is accessible through public transport (Sunbury, Williamstown and Werribee train lines, as well as the 82 Tram and a plethora of bus options), with public parking nearby if you choose to drive. Sadly, there is limited venue accessibility as the venue is on level 1, in a building with no elevator. If this is a problem for you, send me an email and we can potentially sort out an alternative for you! 



Who’s facilitating this:

This is an independently run collaboration between DJ FRESHXPRINCESS and Girl Whatever.

DJ FRESHXPRINCESS is a queer Melbourne-based powerhouse selector transforming the local queer scene.

The mind behind @rnbside.naarm, an R&B party for lovers of underplayed and under appreciated tracks from across the decades, FRESHXPRINCESS is known for their signature throwbacks, b-side deep cuts and genre blending mixes that fold in R&B, house, afrobeats, jersey and more. The people’s favourite princess has shared their magic across a multitude of venues and is guaranteed to get you hype and shaking throughout the night!

~
Girl Whatever is an emerging Naarm multidisciplinary artist known notably for alchemising classical and contemporary music worlds, Girl Whatever encapsulates the trans artist experience, appealing to both the mainstream and underground with her developed musicality, expansive taste and boisterous stage presence. 

Her mixes seek to turn dance floors into portals, peppered with iconic pop hooks and nostalgic deep cuts to craft sonic realms coloured with elements of bass, club, house, jersey club, garage, baile funk and percussion. She has played at many events (both domestic and international) over her 7 year long career— notably Bush Music Festival, Midsumma, Mardi Gras and for Mucha Events in Berlin. Girl Whatever has recorded sets at 4zzz in Brisbane/Magandjin and Radio Tempo Nao Para in Amsterdam and has opened for acclaimed pop star Slayyyter. She has previously played at venues such as Miscellania, Colour Club, The Toff in Town, Abbotsford Convent (+ many more) and enjoys an artistic residency with chamber orchestra Forest Collective as a vocalist/music producer/DJ. 

Our motivation:

Marli and I both experience intersectionality in our identities and have noted the lack of diversity in a lot of the spaces we navigate. Having respectively opened doors for ourselves in our own careers, we wish to keep the door open and share our knowledge with anybody who might come after us. We seek to build a DJ community through collaboration and empowerment, which is why non-white and non-cis people will be prioritised but allies are welcome-- just be mindful for who this is helping! We will go more into depth about our own experiences in the workshop. 

I would like to reiterate that you will need to bring something to write on and your own USB if you wish to play your own music library. Headphones will be provided and water/soft drinks will be available at the bar. This is not an alcohol/substance event. Feel free to reach out to either Marli or myself if you have any questions (her email is djfreshxprincess@gmail.com, mine is girlwhatevermusic@gmail.com), otherwise can't wait to see you!

Kind,

GW x FXP

(graphics by @chnh.svg)