Big plans

>> Montreal’s DJ Mini looks
forward to live performance

BANG THE EARDRUM: DJ Mini

by JACK OATMON

No need for a lengthy introduction to one of Montreal’s most respected and hardworking—not to mention kick-ass—DJs. What I will give you, however, is a bite-sized report on what Evelyne Drouin, aka DJ Mini, founder of the weekly Overdose nights at Parking and creator of the Audio Hygiene album, has cooking for the upcoming months.

“I want to start doing live stuff this year,” says Mini. “I’m going to focus on getting that together this spring. It excites me to start doing live shows. It adds a new dimension to things, to be able to get everybody dancing with pieces you make, so that should be a good experience.”

She also notes the edge it gives her on the road. “For touring, it really adds to things to have all your own stuff to take to other countries. There are really a lot of great DJs out there, so live stuff allows you to do something truly unique. It makes me a bit nervous too, because it’s your own compositions, so the feedback is going to be more personal, but I’m really looking forward to it. It’s a bigger risk, but everything went well with my album and it generally works very well when I play my own stuff.”

Mini’s desire to get rolling on a live performance mirrors what she sees as the direction of the electronic dance music industry. “That’s what’s really growing right now. We’re probably going to see a lot more of it. Also, DJs are mixing different music together more and more. People don’t just put one style of music on, they mix a lot of styles over the night, and you didn’t see much of that four or five years ago. It comes with all the new technologies, because you always have a fresh way to work and a new way of going about things. It’s even gotten to the point where the visual art is organized by the artists. I figure it’s only going to keep going in that direction.”

With DJ Cherry Cola at Foufounes
Électriques on Friday, Jan. 11, 10 p.m.,
and at Parking every Thursday