Issue 041

Let’s start with a bit of history. What
was the music that inspired you most
growing up and how has that
influenced the music that you produce
today?
I grew up listening to all kinds of music growing up,
my mum was African and listened to a lot of African music +
pop, my dad European and ONLY listened to classical music
and had it on in the house from morning till night.
When I moved to the UK at around 8, funk, reggae & hip hop
were what I was exposed to mostly. We actually lived next
door to DJ Martin’s of LFO parents house and he would give
me records like Elektro’s which gave me an education beyond
my years. I feel like all those influences are what I draw on
instinctively. I recently made a record with Steve Silk Hurley
which was insane as I remember Martin playing ‘Jack Your
Body’ and me being obsessed with it. I actually appreciate
the classical music now (not that I particularly enjoy it yet)
but I think I know how to compose in layers due to this.
How did you start out as a dj, what
music got you into the dance scene,
what did you start out playing?
I always wanted to DJ, since being. A little girl
watching DJ Martin and my brother & his friends playing
records but I didn’t see other women doing it so assumed it
wasn’t viable. Also, I could sing so I had a place in music.
I went through a period where I just didn’t want to
write or make music and found myself listening and digging
for music. That got me excited and made me fall back in love
with music and also I wanted to share what I was playing. I
asked a friend of mine, Malcolm WeLove who ran parties if I
could do a DJ set (never really thinking he’d say yes) and he
booked me straight away. I didn’t even know how to use a
CDJ lol but I had tunes so I had a go, and it went well. I know
that 212 was on the playlist as was Hudson Mowhawke &
Henry Wu.
I did go on to play live sets as I was more
comfortable with that, coming from a live back ground so I
used an APC40 and did loads of live edits, stuff like that. I
went on to vinyl and digital. My thing was low lung jazz
broken beaty house / minimal and garage haha!
What music do you normally play at
home these days?
My music lol I’m in the process of writing an album
so I tend to listen to what I’m doing and intentionally stay
away from looking for music just in case it takes me off
course. I am about to start doing a radio show on Balamii so
that will force me out of that.
Tell us about the clubs you like to play
in? and what do you prefer…..festivals,
clubs, bars?
I love anything outdoors. I feel you can play
anything you like and it’s a different more open
experience. So yes love festivals. My favs that I’ve
played are Lost Village and We Out Here, both in the
UK. My favourite little underground party was a party called
Hold The Relish. The ethos was vinyl only B2B sets. Was
always the best crowd and such fun to play. I love small
intimate clubs too and mid size, I think I’d be scared of a
huge club environment. I like to have a connection with the
crowd.
So, what are some of your favorite
clubs that you’ve played in and why?
My favs are a few in Leeds Distrikt, Wire, Freedom
Mills and Mint. In all honesty I’ve not played many clubs
outside of Leeds so no offence to anyone lol. Love Distrikt,
they allowed me to put on my 1st party Moonunit booking
Sweely who was pretty much unknown at the time in the UK
so big shout to all they do for the music scene.
Tell us about your next projects, what
does the next 12 months have lined up
for Sara Garvey and the Moon Unit
brand?
So, like I said I’m writing my 1st solo album so that’s
taking a chunk of my year up. Ive just released the 1st
release on my new label Moonunit Records. It’s vinyl 12” with
my friend Sy Sez on the A Side with a amazing track that I
have personally tested on every dance floor called Change The
System and one of mine on the other side called Knights with
is a low slung jazz house tune with (even though I say so
myself) an ridiculous bass solo at the end curtesy of my longtime
friend and sick bassist Hamlet Luton. It’s a very exciting
year!
You have been running a weekly
terrace party during the summer LIT
Ibiza in Leeds over the 8 last year,
how did that come about and what
were the highlights? Any Favourite
DJs
I love LIT! It happened by accident really, I started
to do Sunday afternoons on city centre terrace in Leeds
through summer and it started picking up attention. I then
asked Café Del Mar if I could licence their brand for a summer
Café Del Mar curated summer series and they said yes. It
went from there really and I’m hugely proud of it.
My fav DJ’s is hard to say as there have so many! A
hight light was booking Little Dragon tho (huge fan) Sebb
Junior is insane. TBF all the DJ’s I booked were fav’s that’s
why I booked them. Self indulgent but hey…
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