Our interview for late March 2001 was with DJ Barbarella, a recent transplant from San Francisco to Los Angeles.

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

Barbarella: I live in LA. The residencies I have are 'Bomshell Entertainment', in SF, 'Girl Power', and 'Spin Knowledge Records'.

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

Barbarella: I began playing records when I was a junior in college. I was working at a night club in Boulder, Colorado. The staff usually hung out after work to kick it and drink, I didn't drink so I started screwing around on the turntables to entertain myself. The manager seemed to think I was alright so when our afterhours DJ moved to Florida, I took over.

SISTER SF: What styles of music do you play?

Barbarella: Deep Progressive Trance

SISTER SF: Have you had any classical music training?

Barbarella: I was trained in classical ballet very intensively for 12 years, I played the violin and the piano, and I sang in various choirs all of my life.

SISTER SF: How did you choose your DJ name?

Barbarella: It's always been a nickname and besides, Jane Fonda is a goddess.

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

Barbarella: I just moved to LA.... in SF, it seems to be pretty divided between house, jungle, and cheesy trance.

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

Barbarella: I think on the whole, the scene is getting too big. There are too many kids, who are too young, doing too many drugs. I mean, look at Colorado, promoters who have been doing events since the beginning are throwing in the towel because it's next to impossible to get stuff going anymore - the crackdown is ridiculous. The scene has a horrible rep and it's sad. There are too many people who are just there to get fucked up and party. It doesn't seem to be about the music anymore.

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

Barbarella: If we're lucky, it'll get forced back underground and we'll have to do it old school style. At least it'll be about the right stuff though.

SISTER SF: Where is your favorite place to DJ?

Barbarella: Iowa, Kansas City, St. Louis, Progress in SF

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

Barbarella: People thinking I'm the DJ bitch.

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

Barbarella: I try to be as frank as possible with promoters who book me. I try really hard not to back down, people think they can intimidate you because you are a girl...

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

Barbarella: My mom... she's the most clever, smart, beautiful, strong woman in the world.

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

Barbarella: Word. Celebrate it.

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

Barbarella: Sumsonic, Bedrock, Fluid, SOG, POD, Rhythm Syndicate.... I could go on and on.

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

Barbarella: I manage a record label (Frequency 8) and I'm an editor for a magazine. I love to hike and run on the beach, read, write, bake.

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

Barbarella: Technics 1200MK3 turntables, Vestax PMC17a mixer, tannoy studio monitor speakers...

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

Barbarella: Let it flow. It comes where it will.

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

Barbarella: I played in Honolulu right before Christmas.

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

Barbarella: Twilo, in the UK, or at the Miami Winter Music Conference.

SISTER SF: Gig horror story?

Barbarella: I played a show where the sound was not working in the room I had to DJ in, so they used the monitor to run the whole room. Right in my ear... my Eustachian tube was swollen to my collarbone for two days. I can't believe I didn't blow my eardrum.

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

Barbarella: Digweed's

SISTER SF: Got any words of advice for DJs just getting started?

Barbarella: Play as much as you can and don't be afraid to try new stuff. Don't date another DJ, you'll get really sick of the music.

To contact Barbarella for bookings email her at DJBarbarella@yahoo.com

Barbarella was interviewed by XJS