For February of 2000 our fifth interview was with Alley Cat, a longtime SISTER supporter who is greatly missed since she left San Francisco for London at the end of 1999.

SISTER SF: So, why and when did you begin DJing?

Alley Cat: I began DJing at home in 1997. It was after I had been collecting drum and bass records for several months (among other styles) - some guys in the shops asked me if I was a DJ. I said 'no,' but later I thought, 'why not?' - and then I started buying the equipement when I graduated from San FranciscoSU. Several months later I started playing at The Top in San Francisco on Tuesday nights. I never expected it to lead to anything.

SISTER SF: Any classical music training?

Alley Cat: Yes. I got really into music class as a kid. I tried flute at first and that didn't work too well. Two weeks later I traded it in and got a clarinet. All of a sudden, I was making music. Me and my parents were both pretty shocked, but it was exciting. I went on to be 1st chair in every band I played in and later switched to saxaphone which I also excelled at. Unfortunately, the pressures of being a teen and moving around a lot left me quite unmotivated and I quit before High School.

SISTER SF: Alley Cat - where'd you get the name?

Alley Cat: Me and some friends came up with gangsta rap names for each other in the early 90s. It was all a result of goofing around and boredom really. Since my name is Alicia Catherine we just shortened it to Alley Cat. My friends always called me this, so when the DJing came, it was a given I would use my nickname.

SISTER SF: Who inspired you to begin spinning? Who inspires you now?

Alley Cat: So many people! I have to say it was all the great DJs in San Francisco. People like Andrew Jervis and Tomas, who both play very eclectic sets, started dropping drum and bass tunes, and I was immediatedly attracted to the sounds. I was hooked. I also started going to the Phunkateck parties and watching DJs like UFO! and Sage. I never imagined someday I would be working alongside all of these people. I feel lucky though that I was living in a city with so much talent and so much inspiration. I think that really helped to motivate me.

The one DJ I admire most of all is DJ Storm. She plays without compromise; plays tunes that she thinks deserve to be heard, and forms sets that are flawless. She is also one of the kindest and most professional people in the business. She and Kemistry (RIP) once said, 'We are all about the future.' That motto has since stuck with me and I think it is the best philosophy a DJ can have: to bring the freshest and most boundary pushing quality tunes you can to an audience. I thank them for helping to bring drum and bass to the world.

SISTER SF: How has drum and bass changed since you began?

Alley Cat: I think it is getting faster and harder than it used to be - but I think there was a certain soulfulness in the music of a few years back that is not always present anymore. Two-Step seemed to dominate over the last few years but I think people are going back to more funky breaks and Amens or at least are trying to mix it up a bit more.

SISTER SF: Where is it going?

Alley Cat: I think drum and bass is always evolving. I am curious to see what happens. What I like about this music is that most of the producers are always trying to push the boundaries...on the other hand...I was listening to an old school set recently and I have to admit I really like the old sounds of the mid-90s! I think the beats were a lot more complex and layered, the tunes were so ethereal.

What got me into drum and bass is that it sounded new; like something from the future. I think as the music gets to be more recognized by the masses the producers are going to have to keep trying new things to keep that 'forward moving' ideal that attracts people to the music...

SISTER SF: I know you recently moved to London - tell me about the scene there.

Alley Cat: The scene here is inspiring. I don't feel the sense of community I felt in San Francisco, but I love being able to go out any night and hear the top calibre of DJs on the best sound systems in theworld. I was at the Reinforced 10 Year Anniversary party recently and it was so amazing to see DJs like Roni Size, Goldie, Stretch, Storm, Randall, Fabio, and Grooverider all in the same evening, and see people of all ages, races, and walks of life going nuts for the music.

SISTER SF: How do you think women DJs are faring in this male dominated scene we love so much?

Alley Cat: I think female DJs are equal to male DJs once they get behind the decks - but as far as the media or marketing world is concerned, the female aspect is definitely something that sticks out and catches people's attention.

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

Alley Cat: Most of the activities I do are centered around drum and bass. When I am not DJing I spend my time planning future bookings (for example my US Tour took about 3 months to arrange), searching for tunes, visiting labels, cutting plates, practicing, mailing out tapes and promotional material, talking to producers, etc. It is constant running around in search of the best music I can get for my gigs, but it is my passion so I don't mind doing it. I also help manage the label Skunkrock Productions here in London. On the private side, I spend my free time at home or at the movies rather than going to clubs, because it is > nice to get a bit of distraction and relaxation.

SISTER SF: What has been your favorite gig so far? Got a dream gig?

Alley Cat: I have many favorite gigs, but I think the two that stick out most are: with Kemistry & Storm on their DJ Kicks Tour in Frankfurt, March 1999 and with Storm in TŸbingen, Germany September 1999. Both crowds were so amazing, and the energy really showed in my sets. I just danced for hours afterward, listening to my favorite DJs.

My dream gig would be to go to the far corners of the globe, say for example, Australia & New Zealand, and play outside in a warm climate, and watch the sun come up - otherwise it would be a dream to play in London alongside some of my favorite DJs.

SISTER SF: What about a gig horror story?

Alley Cat: I think it was when I travelled 6 hours by car to play 3 songs before the club was shut down because there was no one there. It got even worse when myself and the other DJs had to wait in the parking lot for the promoter to return with our fees, after he has disappeared an hour earlier. Another time myself, Siren, Sage, and some other lady DJs got flown to play somewhere and we waited in the hotel room all night and the promoters never sent a driver to pick us up and take us to the party.

SISTER SF: What equipment do you use? What about that badass track you released recently?

Alley Cat: I have the standard Technicss turntables and a gemini PS 626 Pro 2 mixer. I have produced two tunes with Tha Countamen which were recently released on Skunkrock Productions one which was remixed by Konflict. We used Cubase, an Akai sampler, a midi keyboard, and a 16 channel mixer.

As far as future productions goes, I am definitely planning on it - I don't have my own studio so I am currently looking for an engineer.

SISTER SF: The future of Alley Cat - where does it lie?

Alley Cat: After Touring in Germany in January 2000 I will begin a US Tour in February and March to promote my release on Skunkrock. When I return to London I will be playing at one-off gigs in the UK and Germany during April before going on tour with DJ Storm in Austria which is sponsored by IQ/GQ Magazine. I hope to DJ as much as possible in as many different parts of the world that I can.

Other than that, I will help to bring Skunkrock Productions further as a label and hopefully get another track released by Fall. As long as I am working on drum and bass, I will be happy!

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