Our interview for July of 2001 was with Toronto house DJ AMtrak, who flew into town with DJ Krista from Montreal and kept our crowd at SISTER dancing all night.

SISTER SF: OK, first off: mini bio - tell us where you live and why, and what residencies and collectives you're part of.

AMtrak: I currently live in Toronto, where I grew up. I lived in Vancouver from '94 -'99, which is when I started to DJ, so my style definitely has a west coast flavor. I have residencies in both cities. In Toronto, I play at Element Bar on Saturdays, and Fez Batik on Sundays. In Vancouver I have monthly residencies at the Drink on Fridays and Element Sound lounge on Wednesdays. I belong to SisterDJs and also a crew called Deep Six - a collective of female DJs in Vancouver.

SISTER SF: Why and when did you begin DJing? Did you have a mentor?

AMtrak: I think I was always a dj, making mixed tapes for myself and my friends since I was about 10, playing CDs at Kits on Broadway in about '95 and then finally buying TT's and taking it seriously since '96. I was inspired by a set played by Donald Glaude in Vancouver at a party called Summer Love. he was so energetic and his music was so funky and full of soul. I decided right then and there that I had to get up there myself.

As far as mentors go, I always admired the women who started doing this years before me like Little T (Van), Dazy (LA) and Krista (MTL).

SISTER SF: What styles of music do you play and why?

AMtrak: I play house, all styles ranging from deep to pumping and bumping- as long as it's funky. I think I play this music because it makes me happy and it makes me dance. And if I'm dancing, it usually means that the crowd is doing the same...

SISTER SF: Have you had any classical music training?

AMtrak: Yes, I played the clarinet and saxophone for 10 years.

SISTER SF: How did you choose your DJ name?

AMtrak: I wanted a change from the name I had first used - Peaches - which was a nickname, but I don't like my last name...too hard to spell...and my first name is too boring on it's own...but I wanted to use my real name...it was a real dilemma...then one day it came to me...AMtrak...My initials were in there, plus it was a catchy name....I asked a few friends what they thought and we all agreed that it was a great name and I've been using it ever since. I really like the fact that it's androgynous and I still get people who after approaching me and finding out my name, are surprised that "AMtrak" is a woman.

SISTER SF: What type of music is really popular where you live right now? Why?

AMtrak: House is its many forms is most popular in Toronto, but so are techno and drum and bass. Toronto is a fairly big city and most musical styles are well represented. You don't see that many "raves" here anymore as it's a mainly club-oriented city, so the amount of trance has greatly diminished...

SISTER SF: How do you feel has the music scene where you live has changed since you began DJing?

AMtrak: More clubs, less parties....more house...less trance.

SISTER SF: What do you think it will be like in the future?

AMtrak: More of the same.

SISTER SF: Where is your favorite place to DJ?

AMtrak: Vancouver. It's my home away from home and I have so many friends there that it's always fun to play there.

SISTER SF: What problems have you encountered as a woman DJ?

AMtrak: Actually, not that many. I have been supported from day one by most of my peers (except for a few jealous catty ones) and the last few years have seen quite a few positive "female only" events such as "Take back the Decks" and "Girls on Top" which I was involved with. I have been featured in documentaries on female DJs as well as magazine and newspaper articles. I suppose the only negative thing is that after all this positive publicity for "female" DJs, how do you suppose we're ever going to be given the title of "DJ" instead of "female DJ"?

SISTER SF: What do you do to make sure you're given and equal opportunities as a woman DJ?

AMtrak: My name gives promoters no indication of my gender and I like that. There are even a few of them here in Toronto who only recently found out that I was a woman when I was voted best female DJ in a local paper! I do not play female only events that are promoted with the wrong focus. I support my fellow female DJs as best I can and I throw my own events called "Girl I'll House You" with Krista (MTL) where we feature other talented females in their home city along with ourselves as guests.

SISTER SF: What woman (in general) do you admire most, and why?

AMtrak: Madonna - without a doubt. I have always admired her ambition, drive, tenacity and ability to reinvent herself, not to mention her marketing skills. She's brilliant and once I meet her, I will be able die happy.

SISTER SF: How do you feel about "all female" music events?

AMtrak: I have no problem promoting them or playing at them when the focus is on talent, rather than the T&A aspect of the female DJ. I guess at this point, I'd really like to be appreciated as being a "good DJ", rather than a "good female" DJ.

SISTER SF: What labels do you look for in record stores?

AMtrak: Shaboom, Wax, Drop Music, 20:20, Maya, Doubledown, NRK, Classic, Elektrik Soul, Leaf, Dufflebag, there are so many...I'm a total vinyl junkie......with really good taste in house music!

SISTER SF: When you're not DJing, what do you do?

AMtrak: I work four days a week at an IT market research firm (IDG) and work part time running the music division of Point Blank Network. I also help promote a Sunday afternoon party on a great patio here in TO, and do DJ bookings for that as well as for Element Bar where I DJ on Saturdays. I'm starting two new businesses in the near future as well as over seeing the startup of my own label, Buck-O-Five Records. When I'm not running around doing all of that, I'm hanging with my two fav people - Chris and Oscar.

SISTER SF: Exactly what equipment do you use for DJing (Technics 1200 turntables etc)?

AMtrak: 2 Technics TT's, one Roland DJ-2000 mixer, one Pioneer CD mixer, Technics 1200 headphones and Ortofon DJ cartridges and needles.

SISTER SF: What are your goals for the future in regards to DJing?

AMtrak: Production and lots more traveling. I've played in the US and almost every city in Canada in the last year and now I'm starting to get some international bookings which is great. I hope to see most of the world in the next few years!

SISTER SF: Have you played anywhere abroad or anywhere weird or exciting?

AMtrak: I had an offer to play in the Philippines on June 29th but as you know I decided to stick with my original booking in San Fran with you and Linzee at 26Mix! I do have upcoming bookings in Peru and Australia/New Zealand and I'm sure they will be very exciting!

SISTER SF: Awww!!! I would have gone to the Philippines! OK, where would you most like to DJ in the world?

AMtrak: Fabric in London.

SISTER SF: Gig horror story?

AMtrak: My business partner(and friend) was shot and killed at our after-hours club in Vancouver two years ago...I'm sorry but you asked.....

SISTER SF: Yikes! Sorry...*sigh* OK, If you could steal anyone's record box and get away with it, whose would you run off with?

AMtrak: I'm pretty happy with my collection but I would probably steal Doc Martin's, Mark Farina's, and Francois K's.

SISTER SF: And finally, what are the top five things you'd tell a new DJ that are important to learn?

AMtrak:
1. You can do ANYTHING you set your mind to.
2. Stay true to the music you love.
3. Learn how to self promote- but don't get an ego.
4. practice, practice, practice!
5. Don't be too critical of yourself...no one judges you as harshly as you judge yourself.

AMtrak was interviewed by XJS. Want to know more? Read the AMtrak bio in our Guest DJs section.

Contact AMtrak for bookings at djamtrak@hotmail.com