Interview with DJ Barely Legal ahead of El Dorado

Club party, after-party, boat party, field festival or warehouse rave, you name it, DJ Barely Legal is likely to be at the centre of it. Summer 2016 sees her hit up the coolest festivals in the UK & overseas, including a slot at Glastonbury Festival.

Here for the good times and the long haul, DJ Barely Legal is also one savvy music industry member. Chloe recently launched her own label, Pretty Weird Records and has some big plans.

We caught up with her ahead of El Dorado Festival 2016 for some good old life advice.

El Dorado is Cirque Du Soul’s very first festival, what are you expecting and which sets will you be raving to?

I played a Cirque Du Soul party in Birmingham before with Toddla T and there were fire dancers, people hanging from the ceiling, the most flexible girls I’ve ever seen in my life – you name it, it was there! I’m expecting to relive that night but on a bigger scale. I’ll definitely be catching Kano, Basement Jaxx, Rodigan, Toddla T, Shy FX and My Nu Leng – standard!

What’s involved with running your own label Pretty Weird Records?

Finding the music, developing the artists, making sure all your releases are consistently sick, scheduling releases… test pressing vinyl… pressing vinyl… Basically, a lot.

What inspired you to start the label in the first place?

When I first did BBC 1xtra in 2011 I found so many new artists who were sick and that was a side of radio I really enjoyed – finding new talent. After a couple of years I feel ready to give it a go which is what I’m doing now.

What artists are you properly rating at the moment?

There’s a couple, in terms of artists with a unique new sound Ivy Lab have just released an EP on their label 20/20 by an artist called Shield – fully rating it!

How does playing a festival compare to playing a club show?

It obviously depends on the capacity and the festival, but club shows for me personally tend to be a lot more intimate. New unheard music tends to go down better in a club, and at festivals its all just party party party, so the crowds tend to want to hear more familiar music, with a few new bits wedged in.

If you could stage a rave anywhere in the world, where would you choose?

Somewhere with an unreal setting… Maybe a jungle in India, and then import some insane sound system and strobes (lol).

Take us back to your very first experience as a festival goer?

My mum took me to some trance festival on an island called Samathraki (Greece) when I was 9, her friend was DJ’ing. I was one of the only kids there. I didn’t actually mind it too much but her friend Daz did jump on my tent one night tripping on acid whilst I was asleep (lol).

What’s your best festival memory from summer 2015?

I played my debut set at Bestival last year which was one of my favourite festival sets! I was on in the early afternoon, the sun was out and everyone was there partying from early – just how a festival should be.

What’s the most trouble you’ve ever got into at a festival?

No comment!!

When the partying is over, how do you like to chill?

Who said anything about chilling? The party is never over… on to the after party!

What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever been given?

If something is bringing you down in life, sack it off asap. If you remove everything negative, everything else is instantly better.