WHO Newcomer Alicia Hush has quickly been embraced by Toronto’s techno scene since moving here last summer and throwing her first party, Mary Had A Little Jam. The Kitchener, Ontario native and her manager Sarah Lamb launched HushLamb Productions after deciding the only way Hush could really play her brand of techno would be to throw their own parties. In just over a year, the duo secured a string of residencies: Flop House at Toi Bar on Wednesdays, Unwind Thursdays monthly at Jolly Bar, and Saturdays monthly at Acid Lounge.
Hush first honed her skills at friends’ parties before landing her first big gig at Waterloo’s Revolution Nightclub in 2002, where she sidestepped the mainstream and played minimal cuts in the back room. Most recently, HushLamb have taken on Friday nights at Toi Bar. Calling the minimal techno and tech house night Pawn Shop, the girls plan on featuring local talent and special international guests. Meantime, Hush admits she’s a “late bloomer” to producing music and is making that her priority right now. “I have so many ideas of what I’d like to do and the sound I’d like to make,” says Hush. “So I am becoming familiar with the programs and equipment right now so that I can start creating.”
WHAT Minimal techno, microhouse and tech house. “I don’t like using genre names, but this is the sound I was drawn to early on and am still in love with today,” says Alicia, who also loves to play “a song you’ve never heard before that makes you dance like you’ve never danced before.”
WHERE May 23 with Noah Pred and Robin Porter at Toi Bar (577A College) and with Greg Gow, Sydney Blu and Deko-Ze at Footwork (425 Adelaide W).
FAVOURITE RECORD OF ALL TIME Greenskeepers, “What’s Your Man Got To Do With Gan?” (Classic).
FAVOURITE RECORD RIGHT NOW Fabrizio Maurizi, “OK, Switch On” (M_nus).
WHAT IS YOUR MOST SURREAL DJING EXPERIENCE? “Playing in Taiwan. I lived there for a year and a half [in 2004] and was lucky enough to get some residencies in Taipei. It was unreal because I didn’t know how my music was going to go over in a part of the world where I had no clue what kind of music was being played in the clubs. It was a success though, and I feel as though I was able to introduce some new sounds.”
DIGITAL OR ANALOG? “I’m very much living in a digital world right now. I used to play vinyl but financially I just couldn’t keep up anymore. I also noticed that many clubs in Toronto just weren’t catering to DJs playing vinyl. Ideally, I would like to play right from my computer, but again, these are all stepping stones and good equipment has a hefty price.”
WHAT IS VITAL TO YOUR DAILY ROUTINE? “Quiet time, good food and fresh air.”
WHAT GLOBAL ISSUE CONCERNS YOU MOST RIGHT NOW? “Our awareness of what’s going on around us [and] the need for us to recognize that we have the ability to change each single moment.”
WHAT IS YOUR RING TONE RIGHT NOW? Ricardo Villalobos, “Baila Sin Petit.”
WHAT IS THE LAST GREAT FILM YOU SAW? “I haven’t seen a great film in a very long time. Something I never get tired of? Waiting for Guffman.”
WHAT ACTOR WOULD PLAY YOU IN A BIOPIC? “A cartoon character for sure. Is Stimpy still around?”
WHAT ARE YOU READING RIGHT NOW? Awakening Intuition by Dr. Mona Lisa Schulz.