The fourth SISTER interview for January of 2000 is with the charismatic and unpretentious Amber, a Bay Area DJ of unclassifiable humor and genuine love of all things music.

SISTER SF: I don't even know how long you've been at this DJ game: why and when did you begin DJing? Have you had any classical music training?

Amber: My first turntable "lesson" was in May of 1997. I didn't really use them much after that, and I wasn't sure if it was for me, but before I knew it in November of 1997 I had a set of turntables in my apartment. That was the end of me! I definitely had a musical upbringing. I played trumpet, performed in musicals, tried to learn piano without even owning one - I've always needed an outlet in the performing arts. I also started dance classes when I was three years old and only stopped recently when I graduated from college. My training is primarily in ballet, but in college I took mostly modern dance and my whole realm of movement and time exploded.

SISTER SF: What styles do you spin, and why?

Amber: Ha ha. :) *deep breath in* Technoacidtrancebreakbeatjungleambienthardhouse. But I'm mostly known for acid trance and, more recently, techno. I never could spin just one style. Now, people never know what I'm going to spin. Often, neither do I! Early on I was told that I wouldn't be able to overcome being categorized as a single-style DJ, I'm really proud of the fact that that hasn't been the case.

SISTER SF: So who inspired you to begin spinning?

Amber: Yipe! Everyone and no one in particular. I actually had a circle of "closet DJ" friends who had great tracks and skills, but chose to never play out. They were the ones who really got me started. The music was too amazing!

SISTER SF: How has the scene changed since you began?

Amber: They sell "rave clothes" at Mervyn's. I remember when they hit the junior's department--that said something about how big things were getting. Now, junior high and high schools everywhere are awash in glitter and tiny stickers. All in all, though, I think I've changed more than the scene has. I'm really at home in it - it's comfortable.

SISTER SF: Where is it going, then?

Amber: I think a backlash is imminent. Like the backlash to disco, though probably not as intense. I think when the economy takes a downturn, the optimism of raves will go out of style and they'll be ridiculed. That's exactly why disco fell out of fashion as well. Though our scene may change, the idea behind it never has. People will always want to get together and share music. Especially "bass-y" music!

SISTER SF: Played any gigs away from home that we might like to hear about?

Amber: Oct. 16, 1999. Toronto, Canada. Man, what did I do to deserve THAT?! Talk about living the superstar lifestyle!

SISTER SF: What about the female DJ phenomenon, then? Does it affect you?

Amber: I think the male v. female thing is only really a prevalent issue in the club scene, where money and status are a little more upfront. In the rave scene I don't really care about gender and I don't think anyone else should, either.

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

Amber: Not DJing??

SISTER SF: Hehe! So what was your favorite past gig?

Amber: Friends and Family campout, July 1999. My slot ran one hour before the full-campground ceremony I played the last hour after the ceremony. It was the only time where all 700 people the campout were at one place and I was blessed to be the one on the turntables. After the quiet ceremony, I got the drop the first big beat of the looooong night in the forest. That was awesome.

SISTER SF: And your dream gig, if you could choose any?

Amber: The one that moves me to tears. I know it will happen.

SISTER SF: Gig horror story?

Amber: I haven't had a gig from hell bad enough to recall offhand, luckily! But I have had: Feather boa knocking the needle Water bottle on the "stop" button Beer on my records and headphones Records play to the end without mixing (not recently...) A dancefloor cleared in 0.5 seconds flat (which isn't always a bad thing, really.)

SISTER SF: What equipment do you use? Any producing in the past, present or future?

Amber: Two turntables and a microphone. Really. I'm just starting to devise plans for the mic... As much as I would love to produce, I sit still all day at work and I really coudn't do that at night as well. That's really what's keeping me from producing - computer over-exposure.

SISTER SF: Come on, I want to know exactly what equipment you use and how you rate it!

Amber: Oh man...Um. Well, Technicss 1200s, of course! What else would I use? The baby Numark mixer, the three line one with the kill switches. I got that as a package deal with my coffin. It's the best mixer little money can buy, and does it ever last! My needles are Ortofon DJs, the top of the line blue model. These came with the turntables when I first bought them used. They've been fantasic, though the Ortofon Nighclub (yellow model) will do most people just fine.

I bought Sony MDR-7000 Professional headphones off of Ebay, got a great deal and they work wonderfully. If you need small headphones and earpieces to keep them on your head that model is great. My mic is a Shure, a classic among mics.

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

Amber: Following the true path of any cliche artist, I am getting more experimental. My "bag of tricks" while spinning has grown exponentially. And, well, I already mentioned the microphone. Unfortunately, I have already seen this experimentation alienating some party-goers. When I spun acid trance it was all cut and dry, now they aren't sure what I'm doing. I feel a lot better about it, though, and those who do appreciate it I feel are moved for the right reasons. I'm no longer just playing songs, I'm manipulating noise.

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