Culture / People

Meet the DJs setting the mood during Sydney WorldPride

WORDS Jasmine Pirovic    PHOTOGRAPHY Instagram    PUBLISHED Tue, 28 Feb 2023 - 10:45 am

sydney worldpride djs

We're knee-deep in WorldPride, three weeks of euphoric nights and blissful days spent basking in queer love and community. Steering you through those moments of elation and joy, are the DJs in charge of curating a good time. Below, RUSSH spoke to Ayebatonye, HAAi and Deepa Alam about their MO for WorldPride and how they hope to make audiences feel.

 

Deepa

DJ, Radio Presenter, Event Producer and Music Programmer (she/her)

 

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A post shared by Deepa / BYPASS (@omgdazza)

What’s the first thing we should know about you?

It's hard to pick one haha – I'm the queen of doing too much (I'm also a libra). I'm a DJ, radio host and events producer. More specifically I'm one half of jazz loving duo Honey Point, mother of Bypass, a host of Saturday Sunset on FBi Radio and co-founder of South Asian creative collective Kerfew. Before all that, I like nice things and feeling nice.

During WorldPride you’ll find me…

Trying to manage my energy!!! I'm playing a bunch of gigs throughout the month that are going to be super dumb cute. Me and my collective Kerfew are curating a night called Out Past Kerfew at The Abercrombie on March 4; a party for our queer South Asian family and friends which I am sooo excited for. I'll be working on it up until the day (thus the energy management). Between all that, you'll find me covered in diamantes (I'm obsessed with them at the moment) and shaking ass!!!

Introvert or extrovert?

It's what I decide/feel that day, but I remember my friends saying that means introverted extrovert??

How do you hope you make audiences feel?

DJing is storytelling for me. It's so intentional; the art is in the selection and it's responsiveness to the space. I've always thought of it as energy flow or a conversation between me and the audience. Every set I play sounds very different; some can be ambient, or jazzy or ravey – it's dependent on the party.
If I'm playing a Kerfew party, I want people to feel seen and want to express themselves (that means I'll probably play something emotional). If it's Bypass where I want people to feel comfortable as they are (a bit silly, a bit darker) or Honey Point where I want people to feel joyous and dance all smiley with their friends (leaning into the neo-soul side of things), or Heaps Gay (poppy vibrant sexy fun music to make people feel loud). It changes though with what I'm going through and the things I'm learning and the feelings I want to share.

What’s your MO for WorldPride?

"Say it Valentina!!!! ALLY!!!!!"; given it's forecasted to be the biggest WorldPride to date, I'm really excited to see how all these organisations are going to continue their support of the queer community post Pride. It's so nice seeing people who have fought to have their stories heard given such a massive platform to do what they've been doing for years and fingers crossed people keep listening. What we've seen from Pride is the potential for a lot of funding to go into queer art and music, and to see it keep going would be so tight. This city doesn't have to feel fun and busy just for this month, it can be sparkly and shiny all the time with the help of that. It's lots of work but it's so special seeing the city come alive like this.

I feel most myself when…

When my eyeliner is perfect. When I'm DJing in my flow state. When I take time to catch and remember my breath. When I'm laughing and dancing with my friends.

Any last words?

See you on the DF x

 

HAAi

Producer and DJ (she/her)

 

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A post shared by HAAi (@haaihaaihaai)

What’s the first thing we should know about you?

I’m a queer producer and DJ, originally from Karratha in Western Australia and I'm currently living in London.

During WorldPride you’ll find me…

Trying to get across Oxford Street (lol), as well as playing the official after party at Liberty Hall with my dear friends Peach and I.JORDAN.

Introvert or extrovert?

Introvert.

How do you hope you make audiences feel?

United, included, euphoric.

What’s your MO for WorldPride?

I'll be celebrating with some of my fave people, hanging out at the Double Rainbouu Party and then playing at the after party. But really, I just want to soak up the celebration of my community whilst I'm home (probably also hug loads of strangers).

I feel most myself when…

I’m with my girlfriend Alice and when I’m making music.

Any last words?

I hope everyone has an exceptional Pride. To the people who may not feel safe, or who aren’t ready to come out just yet, we'll be there, ready to hold space for you.

 

 

Ayebatonye

DJ (she/her)

 

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A post shared by ayebatonye (@ayebatonye__)

What’s the first thing we should know about you?

I’m a lot more approachable than my concentrating DJ face lets on. I’m not intimidating, you’re more likely intimidated... I’m actually a huge (and proud) awkward music dork.

 

During WorldPride you’ll find me…

Paying my respects at Eulogy for the Dyke Bar by Macon Reed, spending time with some of my favourite queer fam at The Bearded Tit. I'll also be perusing art and beautiful things by beautiful queer and trans artists and DJing A LOT! You can see me at Xaddy's Tardi Gradi Big Boat Party, Pavlova Bar by House of Mince, Ultra Violet, Loose Ends and All Day Queer Dance. Phew.

 

Introvert or extrovert?

I think I’d identify more as an ambivert? When I feel comfortable and safe with people I’m very open and can be very outgoing. And I also have a lot of moments where I’m very shy and subdued.

 

How do you hope you make audiences feel?

I hope to make audiences feel all the good feels... I love sharing music I love with others and hope they feel the way I do when hearing it.

 

What’s your MO for WorldPride?

To have a hot time with all my hot friends and fam.

 

I feel most myself when…

I’m with my loved ones who know me and how to hold me, when I’m listening and engaging with one of my oldest loves… music.

 

Any last words?

Hope I see your sexy ass on a dancefloor somewhere this Pride babe xoxo

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Images: @omgdazza @haaihaaihaai

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