INTRODUCING: MINCY

We speak to Australian DJ and producer Mincy, a powerful voice in the underground bass scene, about her journey to music, her experiences running a label, and why she’s passionate about the Australian dance music scene.

Interview by PORTIA BRAJKOVIC

Hey MINCY, HOW ARE YOU?

The ongoing humidity in Sydney is really pushing my sanity at the moment but apart from that, all is bless in my world!

first up, why music?

Huge question - I don’t think I ever really chose to focus entirely on music. I originally was focused more on photography and dance. Music had always been a part of my life because of this, but since I really started to delve into the world of dance music, I’ve never been able to get enough of it. I was an avid raver for many years before deciding to have a crack at DJing, and then a DJ for a really long time before I decided to produce.

can you describe the mincy universe and sound in three words?

Energetic, euphoric, and heavy.

inspiration can be sought out or it can find us. what inspires you?

At the moment, I’m pretty heavily inspired by some of the earliest music I was really into and leaning heavily into the nostalgia of that - grime cyphers, pirate radio shows from the early 2000s, early jungle documentaries. I mostly get my inspiration from the way I feel reabsorbing this stuff.

WHAT DOES YOUR CREATIVE PROCESS USUALLY LOOK LIKE?

Recently, a lot of the music I’m making starts from voice notes I leave myself right before I go to sleep. So, there’s no real system or process when I’m writing music. Each session starts with something totally different depending on what nonsense I’ve left myself to decipher the night before.

you’re self-taught. tell us about the inspiration for and process of learning to produce and dj?

The decision to start DJing isn’t a very glamorous story. Truly, I started because I wanted to be able to play tunes at after parties! I honestly never expected it to go any further than that, but the universe had other plans. I taught myself to produce during lockdown. I’d always wanted to be able to create my own music to play, but between a full time job, DJing, and running a label, I just never had time to learn. So, lockdown was honestly a bit of a blessing for me as it completely changed the trajectory of my music career once I started producing. I couldn’t bring myself to focus on or understand any of the tutorials online, so it really has just been a trial-and-error learning process ever since. I have zero music theory background. I use my ears as the best guide to what sounds good. 

TELL ME ABOUT YOUR RECENT EP, FALL DOWN GO BOOM.

I’m feeling super happy about this EP. I love both the tracks on there and am super proud of them. One of the tracks, Silly Roller, is about 3 or 4 years old, so I’m really stoked to have it land on planet earth and out of my hard drive. It’s my second release on EC2A, and it’s about 3 years between releases. We’ve been going back and fourth throughout that time just waiting for the right tracks to fall into place. Once I made Fall Down Go Boom, that was really the missing piece.

you also run sydney-based label, extra spicy. why is it important for you to champion aussie artists within the bass scene?

When I started the label, Australian dance music was known for listener-friendly EDM/easy listening type of thing. But my friends and I were making stuff that I knew had more substance, and I knew I could do a good job of getting it out into the world. It’s always been about pushing the more underground side of what Australian artists have to offer, especially from smaller artists.

 

WHAT HAVE THE BIGGEST CHALLENGES BEEN, AND YOUR BIGGEST ACHIEVEMENTS?

The biggest wins for me are the smaller ones - stuff like helping a bedroom producer release their first-ever EP or watching one of our artist’s tunes get picked up and played by a huge artist overseas. Just playing a part in the early days of someone’s career. There’s also been bigger moments from the label I’m really proud of too - releasing Club Angel’s first-ever tune and some of his earliest DJ bookings, and then watching his career explode. Running the first-ever Australian Keep Hush was another big moment for the label. 

The biggest challenge with the label will always be keeping focused on our ethos and not getting lured into releasing whatever is popular at the time. It’s a conscious decision to go against the grain sometimes or to push a sound that might be in its early stages, but I am super passionate and proud of everything I’ve ever released on Extra Spicy. 

"I started DJing right towards the end of my time in London, so the majority of my time there was spent absorbing as much of the culture and scene as I could. In terms of DJing, I learnt that you need to start from the very bottom and work your way up, and I’m so glad I did. My earliest sets were the graveyard slots of Mode FM in London - kicking off 1am and finishing up about 6am. Very character building! But, I also made a lot of great connections with other artists there and was taught a lot in those late night lock ins.”

— MINCY ON HER FORMATIVE TIME IN LONDON

what are the biggest differences between the DANCE MUSIC SCENES IN THE UK and AustraliA

It’s kind of difficult to compare the two now as it’s been a few years since I lived there and was fully immersed. I do wish Australian punters would dig a bit deeper on some of the history of the music they enjoy - both in terms of the actual history, but also the tunes that came before the ones that are popular now. One thing I love and miss about playing in UK and Europe is dropping a really early pivotal tune and the huge reaction you get because everyone just knows the history. I’ve played some real classics in sets in Aus and looked up from the decks to a lot of very confused faces. I try to do my part in educating, but it’s a bit of a battles sometimes! On the flip side, we do have a super unique scene here - nowhere in the world does bush doofs like us, and it’s a pretty special type of festival to play and be a part of. Our ability and access to be able to combine nature and raving is pretty amazing. 


What would we find on your spotify playlist?

A lot of UK rap and hip hop - I’m pretty heavily into Lee Scott, Black Josh, Sniff, Trellion, Cult of The Damned, that sorta sound. There’s a fair bit of experimental electronic and trip hop - Relaxed Muscle, Puscifer, Tricky. Topped off with a shitload of Deftones and Type O Negative. 

What DO YOU DO FOR PEACE?

Spend time with my pet chickens, cook, buy strange furniture off Facebook marketplace and slowly turn our house into some sort of wacky museum. 

WhaT’S NEXT FOR YOU?

Another collaboration EP with Killjoy is on the way next, plus a huge single that I can’t talk about too much yet, but I’m really proud of. Another Australian tour incoming, and then a UK/EU trip around November for a couple shows there. Apart from that, just writing as much music as possible!