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Sinéad is a Berlin based DJ from California. We met at Houghton last year for the first time, but I’d been aware of her for a while - a friend of mine does her bookings, and I’d been told she had great taste in house music by a few friends. When we became friends, she instantly showed me music I’d never heard of - Hipp-e, a West Coast classic. I don’t know if I’ll ever know everything about dance music, and one of my favourite things about not knowing everything is when new friends can show me something I haven’t heard before.
There are a number of labels which emerged in the late 90s/early 2000s from the West Coast of America that carry a distinct sound, feeling and energy. They’re not necessarily deep in a traditional sense that you might find from Chicago or London, but it is a specific strain of deep house which is undeniably groovy, melodic, and driving.
Sinéad’s mix captures these feelings perfectly, and while likely unintentional, I think her sound embodies some of the best of this era. There is a neverending groove which I think is one of my favourite parts about a good mix, and this one is accented by bongos, and feelings of sassiness and euphoria. It maintains momentum, yet a depth of emotion which is perfect listening for just about anywhere. I hope you enjoy it as much as I do :)
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Peach: Hi Sinéad :) Thank you for being part of the Sixth Sense mix series. How are you?
Sinéad: Hiiiiiiiii Serena :) I'm actually pretty good right now. I’ve managed to escape the dark depths of winter in Berlin and am currently in Mexico City. It's so nice to see the sun again :’) I nearly forgot what Vitamin D can do to your mood LOL
I'm so glad you asked me to be a part of it! I’ve been listening to this series since you started it, and then you asked me shortly after we became friends soooooo thank you thank you!
P: Where are you based now?
S: Currently living in Berlin, which has been a big change up from living in Santa Cruz, California - whenever I tell people where I moved from, they’re gobsmacked! Sometimes I feel that way too..
P: What made you move to Berlin?
S: Honestly, playing Fandango in Berlin last year was a highlight for me - plus how much cheaper Europe is compared to California seemed like a no-brainer. I was going to move to NYC, but I had that meme moment where the girl is doing all the crazy equations, and I realized that pursuing something artistic made more sense to be in Europe. I also wanted to be close to my agent and not live out of a suitcase for months at a time throughout the year. Touring in Europe from the US is so brutal esp when you’re still trying to build your career. Luckily, I have family in Dublin, so they let me stay there when I was coming to Europe and used that as a home base to fly out of. (Thanks fam <3)
P: When did you start DJing?
S: I started dj’ing in 2016 - I bought CDJs from eBay and got a boyfriend of mine to help me buy my mixer… and then the rest is sorta history lol. But I think I really only started taking it seriously 6 years ago, right before COVID, which was really frustrating, but I started doing a radio show on Hyde Fm during that time, which pushed me to put mixes out every month. I was living in a small studio in San Francisco when COVID hit, and just needed human interaction, so I moved home to my parents' place in San Jose for a while, where I brought my CDJs down and set them up in the garage. I had so much time on my hands, so I was just digging and playing constantly, and then High Hoops out of Manchester found one of my radio mixes > asked me to make a mix for them, and then a European agency picked me up from there, which was kind of the silver lining of Covid!?
P: What was the scene like back in Santa Cruz?
S: Honestly, there really isn’t one - I moved there at the end of Covid after 7 years in SF// after my stint at my parents' place in SJ, and was lucky enough to be introduced to my friend Erik (Rik Vinegar), who started a party/ collective called Tide Swing there. It’s a mostly vinyl party that has sorta moved around due to the city's restrictions on music and dancing. Santa Cruz is a tourist/retirement town, so it’s become increasingly complicated for them to find a venue. It’s a small, laid-back beach town, so loud music with people having fun late into the night is so rare, but they’ve done an amazing job and have persevered and brought some really awesome DJs to play.
Thanks to Rik - he’s also managed to weed out all the dance music heads in Santa Cruz and created an amazing friend group that I’m so grateful to be a part of. I owe him a lot - from inviting me over every week to practice playing records and creating the community of friends we have now that spans across different crews in Sacramento and San Francisco.
Even though I'm not originally from Santa Cruz, my friends really make it feel like home.. so I’ll probably end up back there at some point. *Not to be emosh but I’ve never had a group of friends like I have there, and I miss them every day.*
P: What do you feel like Europe could learn from US dance music culture?
S: Being in San Francisco for almost all of my 20s was so influential. I went to the legendary Sunset Sound System parties started by Galen and Solar before I was even 21. Almost all of their parties take place outside during the day. I find that being in Europe, I really miss the community that a DIY party inherently creates. I “grew up” dancing on the grass with a phat sound system in the sun - I think Europe could use more of that. I find clubbing sometimes cold and lacking heart. Not all of them - but sometimes they feel more about selling tickets than building a community around them. Also, being outside with just a sound system in a park with your best friends is honestly unbeatable. Renegade culture will always have my heart.
ALSO - clubs in Germany go for soooooooo long, not many people have afters… I’m always the one who wants to leave the club to hang out with my friends on a couch listening to chunes till the sun comes up LOL this happens a lot in California as the clubs close at 2 am.
P: What are you passionate about other than music?
S: What do you mean? LOL
My friends, clothes, making steak, weightlifting…? :P
No, but really, I’ve been asking myself what I want to contribute to this community that doesn’t revolve around me, just Dj’ing. I actually really want to help other women succeed in the industry, and I really feel like djing for 10 years, I have a lot to share (also still more to learn). No one really taught me or mentored me - a lot was trial and error in my bedroom, and feeling like I had to work hard to prove myself to the boys. I never had a supportive female mentor until recently - and I hope to be that for others. I hate the gatekeeping nature that the previous generations of DJs instated. I’m hoping to start a series of workshops for all different levels of female & queer DJs in NYC later this year and impart some things I’ve learned to get them jump-started.
P: Describe your sound in 3 words.
S: Squishy, Sexy, and Rhythmic?
My friend called me a “Bongo Baddie” the other day after listening to the mix - but that’s only 2 words LOL
P: What did you use to record this mix?
S: I recorded this mix in Santa Cruz at my friend Andrew’s house while I’ve been in NA for the month. My place in Berlin doesn’t have CDJs, just turntables, and I wanted to do both digital and vinyl, but because of logistics, I was only able to record this on CDJ 2000’s and a Xone 92.
P: How did you approach this mix? Did you have any tracks you needed to play? Any inspirations in particular?
S: I really wanted to make something that showed the breadth of my taste - I’ve been picking up deeper, more emotional tracks lately, but also wanted to show off some things you might hear me play in a club. I tend to oscillate between really deep emotional sounds and fun, kitchy tracks. Nonetheless, I’m a sucker for a fun vocal sample, textured whooshy noises, and a bongo/ drum, which I think is pretty obvious in this mix LOL. I called this my “little pocket mix” because it’s only an hour, but it kinda has a little of everything in it for me.
After recording it and sending it to a couple of friends, the consensus was that it felt very inspired (unintentionally) by the old school SF sound. But that shouldn’t really surprise anyone lol
P: Who are your favourite DJs and producers at the moment?
S: For DJs, the first that come to mind are Shanti Celeste, Dj Sweet6teen, and Daizz!
I’m lucky to have become really close with Shanti over the last couple of years and love not only playing with her but seeing her play - she truly is one of the best to do it! She just makes it look so effortless!
Lea [dj sweet6teen] is also one of my favorites - I found her set from the Lot radio a while back and was like - “Who is this girl?!” We also have so much overlap sound-wise, and we had a lot of fun playing together for the first time in the fall. She is also just an absolute weapon on the turntables, and I love every mix she’s made!
Daisy is my friend who only started djing a couple of years ago, around the time she met our Santa Cruz crew, and has quickly grown into such a sick DJ! I’m like low-key jealous she’s so good for how short a time she’s been playing! I’m always amazed by not only her skills but also her taste and selections. She’s just got that undeniable groove and deserves to be on lineups globally imo!
As for producers, I played two tracks from my favorite upcoming producers in this mix.
Huw Shipps is a 21-year-old from the UK making the most classy dubby west coast-inspired tech house. Everything he makes I play, and they always go off!
Additionally, Philip Chernikov from Bulgaria is making some of the best and most fun tech house at the moment, and someone who’s just really passionate about sharing music!
P: Can you tell us where we can see you DJ over the next while?
S: I’m playing this weekend in LA & San Diego, then San Francisco the last weekend of Feb!
In March, I'm playing for Shanti’s party in Manchester at The Loft!
I also have my residency again this year at Public Records in NYC, so I’m there every couple of months for that.
Lots more coming through that hasn’t been announced yet though xx
Tracklist:
Rithma - Adventure
Jose De Devina, Evanz D, Lima - Driven By A Nite Revolution (Lime & Evanz D R8 Deeper Mix)
Habersham - Sometimes I Dream (Dub)
Vinyl Assasins - Tribal Milkshake
Huw Shipps - Siren Night (unreleased)
Rob Pearson & Simon Copleston - Just Add Water (Rob Pearson Remix)
Eastern Strategy - Adventures In Blue
The Riviera Pimps - Sound Generator
Synthetic Funk - Ice Dragon
Bonsey & Drakey - Feel Up (Patrick Turner Mix)
Harold Heath - Makes You Feel Right
Philip Chernikov - Can't Hold Back (forthcoming)
Kelvin K - Dirty Basement
Seafoam - More Delight
Different Noodles - Banana Resort
Cue, Dj Amalia - Closer ft. Amalia