In Conversation with Alien Izz

I first met Izzy when she had a DJ set at Future Yard last year. Although we didn’t have the time for anything other than a passing hello, I was excited to see a female DJ in the space. Ever since then, I’ve seen Alien Izz crop up on almost every DJ line-up in the city and then more recently, as the lead for the DJ workshops for underrepresented genders. 

On January the third, I had the pleasure of chatting with Izzy properly. Ever since, I have felt inspired to find myself some decks and learn to DJ (although I am making no promises there so don’t hold me to it). It was a pleasure to dive into Izzy’s experiences and I hope you enjoy reading about them as much as I did listen. 

How did you get involved in the scene, in the music industry, and all of that?

I never really saw myself as ‘in the music industry’, but I was always going to gigs and music was my obsession. I never thought that I was someone that could be in the industry because that just wasn’t really what I did at school or at university. It was only a couple years ago when I was thinking what I wanted to do after university. I was doing my masters at Glasgow, and I had wanted to learn to DJ for ages. In the end, it was just before lockdown that I was at a house party in Glasgow, and I was chatting to a guy that did radio up there and he said, “you should just give it a go”. And that’s the first time someone had said it and I was like “uhhh really… ok”. And then I thought, God I’m 22, if I don’t go for it now, am I just going to regret it for my whole life?! 

I had some decks at home that I was practising with, but I wouldn’t say I was particularly good. I looked into courses and ended up studying at the school of electronic music in Manchester. There, I was doing electronic music production and DJing. Two separate courses, but really linked. And that was amazing, just fun. The DJ side of it ended exactly a year ago, and then I launched as Alien Izz and started putting out mixes, not really thinking it would go anywhere. 

Then it was Griff, who you interviewed from meraki, that messaged me in April saying that meraki was opening up for the sit-down gigs, and that they knew that I mixed drum and bass, and would I like to come on one? And I was like, UH YEAH, obviously! That was super scary, I was playing first on the line-up, it was sit-down. To anyone else it wouldn’t be a big deal, but to me I was shaking, and it was genuinely scary. But at the same time, it was fun and from there it was a mixture of meeting people at gigs, people seeing me play and then booking me and it kept happening. People like Joe Mac got me involved with RRR and it’s been a networking thing. From going and playing stuff and then being invited to other stuff. 

When that started to happen, I thought, gosh, this could be a legitimate thing. Maybe not a full-time job, but at least part time! A job at Melodic Distraction came up a week after I quit this horrible 9 to 5 job in North Liverpool, and it seemed perfect. In the space of four months, I went from not being in the music industry at all, to having radio as my full-time job and having a part-time job DJing as well. It’s just taken off. It was having the confidence to go for it, which took a long time. That was just under a year ago. It feels like longer!

Do you DJ at Melodic Distraction as well?

My main job is Behind-The-Scenes, radio production, and communication with all the hosts. We have over 180 different hosts so it’s great meeting all these lovely people in the music industry who are all very different. Some are amazing DJs, some are more selectors, of all different ages and walks of life, it’s quite varied. I have a wake-up show every Tuesday, 9-10am which is just playing tunes and talking. So, I don’t DJ that much at Melodic Distraction but I did on New year. It tends to be more club-based places where I DJ. 

Is that how you met Max and Joe from RRR? The places where you DJed? 

I knew of Max and Joe, and I used to go to all of the RRR sit-down gigs. I don’t know how they found out that I DJed. They must have been asking about female DnB DJs, or new people on the scene. At one of the RRR events, Joe came up to me and was like “do you wanna get involved with RRR”. And of course, I said yes. They ended up putting me on the line-up on the 3rd of June at Camp and Furnace, closing with PJ Bernard (I think Distant is his DJ name). We did a back-to-back together and it was so much fun. But again, like every gig I do, I was so scared. That gig was in a big room, and we got there early. We were on last, so I was there drinking the nerves away…. when I got on, my confidence was maybe even too much because I was dancing around, absolutely going for it! But luckily since then, they’ve booked me for quite a few things. RRR has been the most consistent promoter that has supported me so far. 4 or 5 gigs with them now. … maybe even more haha. 

Has there been a standout set for you that you’ve done, and enjoyed the most? 

I have done quite a few back-to-backs with one of my best mates who is also a DJ, Ross Robertson. We did New Year together which was fun, and it was nice to bounce off someone the whole time. From my own sets, it would have been at Kitchen Street opening up for DJ Hype. My mum doesn’t know who these people are but even she had heard of him. And as well, in DnB, it is rare to get a long set, and it was a 2-hour set which is unheard of. It was great, because I was able to do loads of skanky 2012 jungle, and lots of really heavy DnB that I really like to play. And then there was lots of 90’s old school, hardcore jungle just before he came on. The crowd was just so great, and we had fun! I felt proud of that because I did a good job. I knew what I was doing, and I was like woah!!! I feel like a real DJ!!! 

You say ‘real’ DJ. Do you feel that then? That sort-of Imposters Syndrome?

A little bit but I try to fight it. If I ever think it, I have to say, STOP THINKING THAT! I think everyone does to some extent. The only people I know that don’t are really big-headed so… I think it is good to be a bit on your toes about these things. 

There’s not many women DJing. Do you think it’s linked to that?

Maybe. It is a weird one because, even in my sets, I’ve had people come up and request to get on stage to play a tune or to go back-to-back with me whilst I am playing. I have never seen anyone do that to a guy. I don’t know if it’s just catching a vibe and wanting to get on it, or if it’s that they don’t respect me enough to not interfere while I am playing. I don’t know. The woman one is interesting. 

I obviously went and was taught DJing before I really got into it. I didn’t have a group of male friends that were really into it. It is really intimidating. But at the same time, if you play a good set… everyone that has seen me play a good set takes me quite seriously after that. I don’t think it is constantly having to prove yourself and that you’re legitimate, at least in the local scene. I think it’s just at the beginning. 

When I was thinking of questions, that felt like the obvious one, because although Liverpool is good for underrepresented genders DJing, it is crazy that it’s still only about 10% of people!

We have people like Girls Don’t Sync now who are doing very big things in the more mainstream. I think in the underground scene, it is still very male-heavy for sure. I am starting a series of DJ workshops for women which starts next week. In some ways – you know, the scene here is so small – I’m creating my own competition. I am also quite new to DJing, so it is quite an interesting thing to be doing from that perspective; it’s not the same as a 50-year-old wise DJ who’s made this their life career and has the experience and reputation to talk of. I also think it is important because I want to see more girls involved, and around, and feeling like they can do it. And for it not to be a token thing, where it’s “we need more female DJs”, it’s more like, “we need more DJs, and they just happen to be female and happen to be good”. That’s what I want. 

Diversity is important. I guess the way that I see it, the problem is getting people to that level where they are good enough. Once you’re good, it’s not as much of an issue. You have a reputation. But when you are starting out, it is very difficult, so that is definitely where it comes into play. Making sure it’s diverse from the roots – having that initial opportunity. That is what it is all about. Someone saying, we will give you a go. The boys are good at that and take it really seriously. A lot of the up-and-coming talent are provided with a platform to which I have noticed throughout all that they’ve done this last year. It has been great for me, and I know a lot of other people too. 

How many people are doing the workshop? 

It was difficult because 42 people applied and we were only giving 5 spaces. It was such a difficult thing to be like “who can go on the course and who can we not give an opportunity to at this time?”. The people we have on the course, we prioritised low-income backgrounds, areas of intersectional diversity, ethnic minorities. We tried to give a broader opportunity to people that don’t have these opportunities that often. It’s still the hardest thing because you feel horrible saying no to people. But having said that, the 5 people that are down for it, are all people who have wanted to do this for a while but have felt very intimidated by the scene. So, you can tell that the passion and interest is there. They’re all super keen just to get started. And I’m also excited. It will be fun and a challenge for me to get across everything I have learnt. 

Who is your biggest inspiration in the scene?

I am one of those people that writes everything down, and I love mind maps of inspiration. For anything like gigs, DJs, producers, events, labels… I have a mind-map. People at Hessle Audio like Ben UFO. Those kinds of DJs that are multi-genre. They’re not ‘mainstream’ like in the world of tech-house, but they are super well-known whilst still being deeply rooted in the underground. They are always pulling out tracks that you have never heard of, and you’re like wow, that’s amazing. Or like “oh, I would never put that with that!” 

I love going out and seeing people play live. I was out in Outlook, Croatia, in September and there was this DJ that lives in Berlin called Yazzas, and out of nowhere, in this DnB/ garage/dub festival, she just appeared with this thumping pop remix techno of Gwen Stafani, and it was great. So, the DJs that surprise! The ones that do the unexpected is quite a big thing for me. I remember certain sets in my head, and I would love to replicate that energy or that shift in mood. There are loads from Boomtown and different festivals where I think that there was a real moment that I’d also really like to have in my set. E.g. My Nu Leng closing the weekend with a heavy dnb set only to end with an edit of Brazilian jazz- Baiana- absolutely banged.  Multi-genre, with surprises, that take risks. 

It must be mad being a DJ because you must learn to read the room…

Yeah, and it can go wrong! I find it hard to read other people. It’s not one of my skills knowing what other people are thinking. I almost have to learn how to watch the crowd and see how they’re reacting. It sounds stupid because either they’re jumping around or ‘woo’ing. Sometimes before I play, I will stand in the crowd, and every new song I will watch and see what people do and how they react. I 100% overthink it a lot. That’s just how I do stuff. 

It really annoys me when you see DJs who come up to the CDJs and they look down, do an amazing mix, but the whole time they are looking down, and they don’t acknowledge the crowd. It’s annoying because they could just be in their room! They’re not responding and seeing what works. I definitely try to read the crowd, but I wouldn’t say I always can. I reckon the more you do it, the more experience you have, the more that it becomes instinct. 

Would you say your favourite thing about DJing is having a response with the crowd?

For sure. For me, DJing is a way to connect with people. I am very introverted. I’m not really a people person. Usually, groups aren’t really my thing. I obviously want to connect with people, so it’s just magic that you can do this through music, and you can have this unreal emotional and physical connection with people. That makes it special. The headspace you are in when you are playing a set is so different to the headspace you are in before and after. It is almost like you forget everything else. You are just in the moment. That is really nice – it’s just you and the adrenaline. You get lost in it and when it ends, it’s almost like… what just happened?! 

Does anything stand out to you that you weren’t expecting from DJing. A ‘I didn’t think it was going to be like this’ moment? 

I didn’t think I would get so lost in the moment. I genuinely thought that I would be too anxious to do it. So even when I was offered a gig, I told myself that if I got up there and I couldn’t do it, that I wouldn’t beat myself up. Even though I do get anxious before, I was quite surprised that usually when I get up there, it disappears. That’s quite unusual! It feels like a safe space, even though you are in front of a crowd and it’s a loud, overwhelming atmosphere. It feels quite natural. I feel very comfortable in that space where I wouldn’t usually feel comfortable which is quite weird. So that was a good surprise! Also, the number of hours that go into it beforehand. 95% preparation, 5% the actual thing. I don’t think I realised just how many hours I would spend doing all the prep. To me that is the bulk of DJing. 

You’ve lived in lots of places for being just 22… Oxford, Glasgow and now Liverpool?

I am from Leeds; I went to Oxford University for my undergraduate and then went to Glasgow for a year for my masters. I moved here not knowing what I was doing really. I had a few ideas. But yeah, I have been South, North, then really North! 

So, were you studying music at Oxford and Glasgow?

History! Completely different. I loved it but I never did it because I wanted a job afterwards, I just did it because I enjoyed it. Never at university did I think about what job I was going to do afterwards. Maybe I should have but I just wanted to see how it would go, and what would come up. In those years, it was a lot of essays and a lot of writing! 

I was going to ask if it’s different DJing in these different places, but you started in 2021, and we’ve been in lockdown! 

I would love to DJ in Glasgow or Oxford. I was just a ‘partier’ in both of those places! Going out and making moves really. The scene in Glasgow is crazy. The DnB scene isn’t all there… it’s very small. Whereas you go for House or Techno or Garage and it’s heavy! The people are pretty mad as well so it’s always a fun night. 

Do you listen to the kind of music you DJ outside of DJing?

I listen to a lot of noughties Pop and RnB. You know – nice listening – where I know the lyrics. Or Hip-Hop. So much of that. And more recently going through a drill obsession. But that’s if I am walking to work, or the gym. 

I guess in some ways, I do listen to all my ‘club’ DJ music because I practice most nights for a particular set. I’m constantly playing and listening and finding new tunes. If I have a set in my head coming up, then I might just listen to loads of DnB and walk around imagining playing it. Like, what’s it going to go with, what will people think of it. I sometimes will be quite aggressive in my listening. I will skip through 10 songs in seconds until I feel like it fits the vibe I’m after!

My Spotify is fairly different. There’s some overlap but I’d say it’s different. It just depends. Hip Hop, hyper-pop, Rnb, rap, Indie, from the 60s to now. Lots of different things. 

What’s your favourite things going on in Liverpool in general? Doesn’t have to be music!

One thing I have been sad about is that being here for 2 lockdowns, I feel like even now, stuff is open but it’s restricted. There’s just so much that didn’t happen last year. But Music is obviously the big one, and the fact that there are lots of small venues – Kitchen Street, meraki – where it’s a good crowd and it also has that intimacy. 

I’ve been around the galleries when my grandparents came but definitely not all of the ones that I would like to go around. I know there is so much culture that I haven’t seen but that I want to see. So, at some point I need to do that. 

Liverpool is also so green! All the parks! I live 20 minutes from Sefton and close to Wavertree Park and it’s just so nice to walk around. There are also obviously the docks. I used to skateboard down there. And it’s amazing, especially if the sun is out. It’s like a European city! 

Also, a weird one but…. The purple bins! My favourite colour has always been purple. I visited a friend here a few years ago and we went on this night out and on the way out, there were so many purple bins. And I thought no way, it’s meant to be! Honestly for a while before I moved here, I was just loving that. It just felt so right to move here. 

Is there anything you want to say or shout about?

I have a festival in June. The ‘One in the Woods’. That’s Liverpool based so should be good. I am also learning to produce but haven’t released anything yet. I think that is what I want to do. I would feel so much less impostery if I was bringing out my own music as well. If you look at 90% of the top DJs, they are also amazing producers, so I think that is something that I want to do, because otherwise I think I’m limiting myself. But yeah, it is something that I am working on so watch this space!