Our interview for November 2001 is with Bay area DJ Ariel Cybana.

SISTER SF: OK, first off - mini bio: Where do you live, and what residencies or crews are you part of?

Ariel Cybana: I live north of San Francisco. The crews I'm with are Global Energy Musik, Spin Knowledge and Dubcoast Music.

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

Ariel Cybana: I got into DJing cause I've had a longtime curiosity coupled with my desire of being a singer. I had a hard time getting producers/musicians working with me prior to my DJing and in a way I used DJing as a way for me to get into the producing and singing side. I did practice on friends decks occasionally til I bought my own decks on May of 1998. No, I did not have a mentor. I taught myself how to spin.

SISTER SF: What styles of music do you play?

Ariel Cybana: Progressive tribal house with a bit of a trance and techno twist to it.

SISTER SF: Have you had any classical music training?

Ariel Cybana: I took flute lessons as a child and had singing lessons.

SISTER SF: How did you choose your DJ name?

Ariel Cybana: I got Ariel from the 80's cartoon Thundarr the Barbarian and I made up the Cybana part.

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

Ariel Cybana: Clubwise it's progressive and house & at raves it's NRG/hard house and fluffy trance. Well for the clubs it's cause the crowd is older and they want music that is more sophisticated and deeper. At raves, the kids like their music hard and fast or real foofoo with not much substance to it.

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

Ariel Cybana: In raves it's gotten cheesier, way cheesier. Clubs are still cool though. Musically I see so many new genres and sub-genres being born it's getting harder and harder to keep up.

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

Ariel Cybana: That's a real hard question to answer cause music changes so much and so many sub-genres to boot. I do believe there will always be some quality music out there no matter what.

SISTER SF: Where is your favorite place to DJ?

Ariel Cybana: So far, most of my out of town gigs and 21+ clubs.

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

Ariel Cybana: Having to not only overcome the gender issue but also the appearance issue. It's like if you're a girl and especially on the feminine side (or attractive), people expect less of you yet scrutinize you more.

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

Ariel Cybana: Just stand up for what I believe in when the time comes. When I do promote myself as a DJ, I focus on the music and let that speak for itself. Being a female DJ alone brings novelty so in my bio I focus on what I do as a DJ as opposed to saying "female DJ this and female DJ that."

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

Ariel Cybana: That's really tough cause there are some women who I truly respect. I've admired women from Marilyn Monroe to Queen Noor.

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

Ariel Cybana: I dont have a problem with them as long as it's promoted in a way that celebrates female DJ's. The all-female events I played at so far have been good experiences and I got exposed to female talent I would not have known.

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

Ariel Cybana: Bedrock, Hooj, Plastic Fantastic (and their offshoots), Baroque, Polyester and Automatic.

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

Ariel Cybana: I work and check out the internet.

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

Ariel Cybana: I got two Technics 1200's and a Gemini 626 mixer... when it dies I'm getting the Pioneer 600!

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

Ariel Cybana: To be able to DJ, produce and sing. I'd like to have my own label too and travel.

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

Ariel Cybana: I played in Peru and Anchorage, AK once. Both were exciting in their own way.

SISTER SF: Where would you most like to DJ in the world?

Ariel Cybana: Tough question... I just like to visit the world!

SISTER SF: Gig horror story?

Ariel Cybana: My worst one was a gig where I had to play after a well known female DJ and the mixer was from absolute hell. I did not know it was one of those where one channel is one side of your headphones and the other channel was the other side of your headphones. I freaked out thinking something was wrong with my headphones. It was like right from the beginning, things went straight to hell.

Basically everything that could go wrong did. Within 20 minutes into my set, I had another DJ being rude to me telling me it was is turn to play. I didn't know he was supposed to play so when he got his way I was glad cause my nightmare gig was over. I forgot to mention the set times got bumped back. After the whole fiasco gig, I had a gig out of town 2 days later so I had to get over that whole gig nightmare and I ended up playing better at that gig.

SISTER SF: If you could steal anyone's record box and get away with it, whose would you run off with?

Ariel Cybana: Sorry John Digweed, but it's gotta be you. If no luck then Steve Lawler or Danny Tenaglia's will do.

SISTER SF: Give me 5 pieces of advice for beginning DJs out there:

Ariel Cybana: Practice, patience, persistance and my last two things I'd say is to try DJing at a friends decks first to see if it's something you want to do and lastly more practice.

To contact Ariel Cybana for bookings email her at DJArielSF@hotmail.com For more information see her website at www.arielcybana.com

Ariel Cybana was interviewed by XJS