From small town girl to international DJ stardom, DJ B Traits is back on the move. If you’re a dance music fan of any kind I’m certain you’ll hear about DJ B Traits in the coming years; if you haven’t already. In between her sets across the pond in Europe and Asia, the very first Digital Soundgirl took some time to chat with Killahbeez about her start, how she became part of the internationally known Digital Soundboy Recordings Group and her respect for music as a whole.
KB: You’re a small-town girl! When did you know you wanted to be a DJ and when did you make your move to the bright lights and big city?
B Traits: I was born and raised in Nelson, BC. When I was 14 my friend sparked my interest in DJing and electronic music. I started messing around with turntables and officially began to DJ at age 16. As soon as i graduated from high school i moved to Vancouver. I had originally decided to pursue a dance career but as fate would have it I fit right into my local music scene and soon found myself playing gigs all over the city. I started opening for big name international DJs and began to make a name for myself internationally.
KB: You’ve been doing a bit of a global circuit in the past few years (playing shows all over Europe, North America, and Asia) how’s that been for you, and where is your favorite place to perform?
BT: Amazing, really who could ask for more? I love my job, i couldn’t imagine doing anything else. I get to perform for people all over the world, dancing is an international language! There are also so many places I haven’t been to yet, Japan, Australia, and New Zealand are all in my 2009 wish list. The UK is one of my favorite countries to perform in because they are open to hear anything I play. I feel like people there are eager to hear new tunes they have never heard before, which makes me feel confident they will be into whatever I feel like playing. When I’m home in Vancouver I feel like there is too much repetitive TV-Radio stuff, everyone wants to hear familiar tunes they can sing along with.
KB: You played Drum & Bass music for most of your DJing career, why have you jumped into different genres?
BT: I still play Drum & Bass music and I always will! I have always had a love and admiration for all genres of music. I started out DJing playing Speed Garage and Hip Hop and slowly got into Drum & Bass, but all my life I’ve collected different types of dance music. Breaking through in the DnB scene seems to be a sort of an uphill battle for me, although I absolutely love the music, at times, I feel totally discouraged. It seems there are not as many fans of DnB music as there used to be. There is some amazing electronic music being produced these days and I can’t help but get into it! I’m playing a little bit of everything right now from breakbeats, to electro, fidget house, dubstep, funk, hip hop and of course drum & bass. I always play a little DnB at the end of my sets, to kind of educate people who may have never heard the genre before. I feel very fortunate to be on Digital Soundboy where boss Shy FX encourages us to produce/DJ all types of dance music.
KB: How did you become apart of Digital Soundboy Recordings?
BT: The first official time I met Shy FX was when we were both performing in Germany at the NYE 06/07 event “Kings of the Jungle”. I gave him a mix CD and although polite, I could tell he wasn’t at all interested in taking the time to have a listen. While on tour with the World of Drum & Bass in 2007, Shy joined us for the North America side of the tour. I remember he would come out early to catch my set, I didn’t know it at the time, but he was paying close attention, doing his homework. He commented on my style and stage presence and claimed I was refreshing compared to the boys lookin’ like they didn’t really want to be there. He asked me if I was making any beats, I told him I had been working on a few things but no way did I have the confidence to show him anything. After the tour I went back home to Canada and actually ended up sending Shy a few vibes over Aim. I got a phone call a few days later and he offered me a spot on his label Digital Soundboy! To be the first official Digital Soundgirl!! I was honored, Shy, T Power, Marcus Visionary, Benny Page and Breakage are all people I look up to.
KB: Technology has drastically changed DJing in the past few years. Can you tell us what you are using now and what’s next for the evolving DJ?
BT: Currently, I am using Serato and messing with Ableton. With Serato, the possibilities are endless! I play whatever I want and loop, cut, and sample just about anything! The newest Serato software has a built in sampler which I’m using with the M-Audio Trigger Finger. Video DJing seems to be the next step; visual audio entertainment. Creating videos to correspond with your tunes
KB: What do you have planned for the next year? Where will you be?
I have actually decided to jump the pond to London, UK for 6 months! I plan to finish some things in the studio and really focus on making beats. I’m really excited to hear what my DJ sets will be like when I am ready to return to Canada. The UK is SOO inspiring for me! I’m looking forward to being able to go out every night and hear something brand new!
KB: If you could pick 5 artists who you could make an album with, who would they be?
BT:
1. The Cool Kids
2. Breakage
3. Jack Beats
4. DJ Premier
5. Feiststrange i know, but all of these artists have heavily influenced me in some way.
KB: You mentioned you have some news and wanted to wait for it to drop before doing this interview. So… Spill It!!
BT: The project I just completed with clothing line Hellz Bellz is out and ready for the world to hear! Its a mashed mixtape of all genres from everything including breaks, electro, dubstep, hip hop, funk..the works! Neck breakin’, booty shakin’ dance music.
Hellz Bellz is pleased to present DJ B.Traits’ exclusive eclectic mixtape “Belle of the Brawl”. Hailing from Vancouver, Canada, B.Traits made her mark in Drum & Bass on Shy FX’s Digital Soundboy label, as the first Digital Sound Girl. In an industry that is dominated by male DJ’s/Producers she reflects a woman deeper than the hyper-feminine stereotype, confronting conformity, tearing down boundaries and rewriting all the rules. With a love and admiration for all genres of music B.Traits switches it up in this mix to bring you everything from electro, to breakbeats, dubstep, hiphop, and funk.
B.Traits – Belle of the Brawl by B.Traits
KB: Thanks B Traits. Best of luck in the UK this year.
October 15th, 2009 at 7:19 am
B.Traits is the shit!
can’t wait to hear you play again!
maybe in London
October 16th, 2009 at 2:57 pm
Big ups the one like B Traits! Representin’ the Canadian west coast!