Interview: Elevating EL0V8

At a time of change and redefinition within the male dominated Techno scene, how does Manchester born female DJ ‘EL0V8’ navigate her way and what helps her steer…

From the enigmatic depths of underground clubs in Berlin to the spotlight of global festival stages such as Tomorrowland, a new energy is electrifying the heavy techno scene.

Once overlooked in a scene historically dominated by men, female DJs are now more than ever stepping confidently into the spotlight, bringing with them unmatched raw talent and innovation whilst chiselling a fresh sound. These female warriors are doing more than just playing tracks- they’re transforming the culture, shattering stereotypes, and paving the way for a more inclusive and diverse techno movement which is breaking barriers.

None more so than ‘EL0V8’, the 22-year-old female DJ from Manchester, who’s been captivating audiences since she embarked on her DJing journey a couple of year ago. She honed her skills practicing on decks bought as a Christmas present by her biggest fans - her Mum and Dad. Locking herself away in her bedroom for hours on end, shaking the plaster off the walls until her Mum would eventually tell her to turn it down a bit so they could get some sleep! Like most home grown talent, she watched and learnt the skills she would need by observing mates and other DJs. With a distinctive sound characterised by vibrant and bouncy beats, ELOV8 has quickly garnered attention for her innovative style. Her ability to connect with the audience simply though her energy and sound will leave you wanting more.

On a rare sunny Manchester afternoon, EL0V8 is feeling a bit worse for wear after a late night following her two-hour set at Stage and Radio, a night she describes as “buzzing, everyone was on good vibes, everyone brought the energy, there were so many good characters there”. She’s looking forward to future events and confident and optimistic that things are going from strength to strength for her and her future.

Late nights go hand in hand with the rave scene, and for DJ’s like EL0V8, although a beast on the decks, she’s only human and, like the rest of us mortals, taking care of her health and wellbeing to cope with the graveyard shifts that come with being part of the Techno scene are a priority for her. We all know that Red Bull gives you wings, and ELOV8 could be compared to Icarus with the amount she puts away to give her an extra boost during performances. Good food and plenty of sleep both before and after a gig is what she relies upon, plus planned down time the day after to relax and recoup some energy, not to mention catch up on her sleep.

The lack of gender diversity and inclusion in the techno scene means that the visibility of women, especially less well-known DJs like ELOV8, are often overshadowed by men, due to the sheer number of male DJs working in the genre. ELOV8 believes that when it comes to DJing, gender alone has no limitations to success. “To be honest, it’s hard to compare any DJ in general, as everyone sounds so different. One song may sound different played by one DJ to the next. There are so many amazing females DJs, there’s just more male DJs in general and that’s why they dominate. If more females were to decide to be a DJ then it would be a more even playing field.” It was attending her first festival that got her into dance music, she loved everything about it; the people, the vibe, the party, the scene. She started to realise that her passion could become a viable career.

Since starting her journey, ELOV8 has herself faced some barriers to being included on set lists, mostly not being taken seriously, not necessarily because of her gender, but about the problem of gaining the trust of promoters and venues when you are new to the scene and haven’t got a following. “But this comes down the line, the more events and gigs you have under your belt, the more their doubt fades and they know you’re in it for the long term.”

In Techno Music News’s article ‘The Role of Women in Techno: Breaking Barriers and Shaping the Scene’, author, Oliver, acknowledges that woman in Techno music have now evolved from pioneers to powerhouses, especially in recent years, making significant contributions and shaping the scene. Techno history is dotted with female DJs, with contemporary artists such as Sara Landry, Amelie Lens and Cloudy poking their heads above the parapets to become names synonymous with the genre. The ironic juxtaposition is that in this male dominated environment, it is these women who are headliners – even though there are fewer females working in the Techno industry as a whole. Their success highlights the perseverance, talent and innovation they bring to the scene - their influence is an important one, continuing to inspire emerging female DJs such as EL0V8. Horsegiirl is her own stand-out inspirational DJ, because her sets are ‘just mental’ and she admires the way she blends the spectrums of Techno together – from hard and raw style to donk and bounce, but just seems to effortlessly make sets work – ‘it’s so weird but I love it’. But it is the ‘high priestess’ of Techno, Sarah Landry, whose shoes ELOV8 would choose to step into. “She is just next level, what she has done for herself, she’s got her own record label, how successful she is, how open about how she manifested her success, she’s sweet with fans, I watch her Boiler Room religiously, and if I could be half the DJ she is, I’d be buzzing with that”.

Sarah Landry is indeed one of the female success stories within the Techno genre. How do other aspiring female DJs mirror her success? What barriers lie in front of them and what’s going to help them thrive in the male dominated environments associated with the music industry. Some might argue that funded, targeted diversity policies such as female: power and Discwoman, that support female DJs are the way forward. There has also been an influx of women DJs ‘doing it for themselves’, with all-female communities carving out their own safe spaces through collectives and playing at alternative spaces, making it possible for them and other minorities to thrive, despite the scene’s male dominance.

Constantly working on new mixes, ELOV8 displays a necessary trait for females in the industry - determination. Having set up her own business at the age of 15 buying and selling horses, she’d already shown her perseverance and will to succeed, now directed absolutely to her DJ career. Spending at least three hours a day sourcing lesser known tracks in order to stand out on the decks whilst helping emerging producers get recognition and build relationships within the industry.

ELOV8 has her eyes firmly set on the prise – her dream venue being Factory International “it’s unreal, crazy, and to play there with a sound system that good would be a privilege.” Her end goal is to DJ as a full time career, travel the world, and “just be happy doing what I love, get my music out there, meet good people. Creamfields would be the ‘I’ve made it!’ moment.”

Being a female in the male dominated Techno industry may feel quite daunting; pressure to perform well, ‘look the part’ and be taken seriously are all aspects that must be considered. With the growing number of female DJs in the scene, more and more women are feeling confident to start performing. Soon, ELOV8 will herself appear on an all-female line up with SonicFlux at Mint Warehouse in Leeds, in the company of High Voltage, a great opportunity to accelerate her career. “As long as I can be myself, stick to my sound, be kind to people, and network, it’ll all help me grow and grow. If I can achieve this and remain myself on the journey ill be happy".