[April] Downe Girl of the Month - Ms Angel

My favorite memory of DJ Ms Angel, Malia Lyons, was from last year, when the DowneTowne parties were still at E&O Trading Company. There was a song my friends were obsessed with, after hearing it a DowneTowne party before, but they had no idea what it was called. In fact, they only remembered about four notes from the song itself and alcohol consumption probably effected the actual melody.

I went up to Lyons during her set and asked if she recognized the song, singing out of key, the four notes my friends could remember. I sang it twice because it was loud and she listened curiously, with such focus that you could almost see her going through the music library in her head. “Let me think about it,” she said, and off I went to take pictures of the crowd.

Then a few songs later, the familiar melody pumped through the speakers, distinct, while still cleverly mixed with the song before it. My friends went crazy from their table and rushed to the dance floor, drunkenly singing along and bouncing with excitement to hear their song. I caught Lyons expression as she watched my friends. She was smiling at them, watching them get lost in a song they wanted to hear, while bopping her head along. When our eyes met, I shot her an enthusiastic thumbs-up, letting her know that she nailed it perfectly.

She didn’t have much time to enjoy the moment, however, and before the song was over, she was back to work again.

So tell me how you got started into DJing?

I started going to parties and I dated a boy in college who was a DJ. He wanted me to DJ and used to take me to record stores. Then a friend of mine taught me how to beat match. My boyfriend gave me his turntables and I taught myself from there.

What type of music did you start off with?

I've always been interested in music--my family is very musical. In fact, I'm the only one in my family that CAN'T play an instrument. But I was always around music.

When I started DJing, everyone I knew that was a DJ played something different. I used to go dancing a lot and I picked house to spin because it was my favorite to dance to, and because none of my other friends were spinning it. I chose music with melodies and I especially liked soulful house (deep house) and songs with female vocals, especially soul and R&B vocals. I also liked songs with jazz riffs and horns (sax, trumpet, flute, etc).

What was it about the turntables that interested you?

I really think of myself as more of a music geek than a DJ. The attraction to me was not the turntables, but the chance to play songs I really liked and hear them on a big system and see other people enjoy them as much as I did. I really like collecting music and "discovering" for myself new bands or groups or artists. Plus, when a song is well made and well-pressed on vinyl and you play it on a loud system, it just sounds great. Nice and warm and the melodies kind of surround you like a hug. Hehe, or maybe that's just me that feels that way!

I love that imagery! What other types of music do you listen to?

Oh, I like all kinds! When I was in high school I was super into ska (not reggae) and rock. I still listen to ska sometimes and I love to listen to rock. Like I said, I really love RnB and soul, and I love the blues. And I really like vocal jazz too. I listen to all that stuff, but I don't necessarily drop Diana Krall into a dj set!

When I was growing up I heard all kinds of music - pretty much anything BUT pop. We listened to a lot of Christian music when I was growing up. My parents still sing in church and they did that all while I was growing up. I always liked to sing, so I would sing with them and they encouraged me to sing in church. I also sang in choir a lot too. I had a lot of fun singing in choir.

Tell me about Sisters in Sound?

Sisters in Sound got together in 2003 or 2004 I think. I was underage at the time so I couldn't go to their parties. At the time, I had a late night KTUH radio show and I had started spinning sporadically at raves. One of the Sisters used to call me on my show while she was getting ready for work (that's how late my show was). Friends and people I knew would ask me about SIS because there weren't too many female DJs in our scene at the time. The girls coordinated their crew on quadmag.com bulletin boards and since they were having difficulty getting booked for other people's nights, they just decided they would band together and throw their own. Once I turned 21, they invited me to play at some of their parties. Then when Zita moved to SF, they asked me to join the crew.

It's been a really great experience, most importantly because I gained some amazing friends. The Sisters all have their own distinct style, but we get along really well.

How do you think the scene has changed for women DJs since then?

I think you always think that by being out there and doing your thing, you are making it easier and more acceptable for women to DJ and I don't think I've ever felt "discriminated" against. If anything, the worse thing that could happen is that someone looks at you like "wow, that's interesting" like you're a curiosity. But mostly people are REALLY nice and appreciative. Although, if I show up at the club and my bf is carrying my records, people always assume he's the DJ, haha. But I don't blame them, and I'm thankful to have help with my records!

Hahaha! After all, that's what boyfriends are for! Anyway, are you still doing stuff for KTUH? I always like listening to your shows online via your blog. The tracklists are particularly helpful when I like a song--because then I can look at it and go, “ooooooooh!”

No, I quit 2 years ago. I graduated and then hung on for about 2 or 3 years taking classes, but it was time for me to move on. I was super anal about tracklists. It was funny because I would have guests every week and when they would come on I would lay down the rules, one of which was that I had to have them right down what they played as they played it and I needed the artist, track name, LP/EP name, and label. It helped because sometimes we would play obscure artists and they would google themselves and my site would come up first and I'd get a thank you email.

See! That's why tracklistings are essential.

Yep. It was a lot of work, but I think it was worth it.

Okay, one more interview related questions. How do you like DJing at the DowneTowne parties? How do they compare to your other gigs?

Well, the crowd is no comparison. DowneTowne is my favorite crowd. The girls are really sweet, and they know how to PARTY! And let loose. Everyone looks like they are having the time of their life and it really gives a lot of energy. Even when I'm not scheduled to DJ, I am always looking for songs that I think the DowneTowne girls will like.

Before DowneTowne, I never played pop music out really. It's
weird, with underground dance music, if you play pop it's sort of looked down on. Anyways, Ruby was looking for a new DJ for DowneTowne and we were discussing different names and I said "you need a girl" and she said, "I know, right!"

And I said,” well, I know I could do it if you want me to.” She was the first one to give me a chance to play to a totally different crowd and with different music. I think I played rap, hip hop, electro, and indie. The tracks are way shorter than with house and the way you mix is different too. But I like trying new things so it's lots of fun for me. I really like to play new music, though I know sometimes people want to hear something they've heard before. So I try to spread it out and get people to hear different styles and songs and artists.

DowneTowne can be a tough crowd in that people come for the party and not just for the music so you have a lot of people expecting different music to be played and it's impossible to please everyone. But if I can get into a nice flow of what I like, I find that works best. It's about making a fun atmosphere so that people are mingling and talking and having fun no matter what song is playing.

I really look up to veterans like KSM and Eskae. They have so much skill and experience, but I think everybody brings their own flavor to it, and you can learn and pick things up from everyone. One thing I will say about being a female DJ in HI, and this is just my experience, is that the male DJs have been really nice to me, as a whole. There is definitely competition, but there is camaraderie as well, and the guys are more interested in your skill than whether you're a female or not. Like, if you can rock a party, they acknowledge that, and we all give each other props. I don't think it's like that everywhere.

I think it’s awesome you guys can all support one another like that.

I think if you are nice to people, people will be nice to you, and so far that's been true.

LINKS

*The So Very Show
*Sisters in Sound

*Ms Angel Mixcloud