Vancouver, BC has always been a hive of talent in the electronic music world. Mega-watt stars The Funk Hunters called it their home base for years, and it’s even become a place where international DJs come to experience that West Coast lifestyle and end up staying for good. Either way, the city knows music, and it’s evident by the tons of amazing venues and so many shows that you end up having to make tough decisions most weekends on where to go!
Now Vancouver has been known for bass music for the last little while, with clubs like Red Room Ultra Bar being dominated by the low end, freaky sounds. But there’s also a smaller, yet dedicated and passionate set of folks who are all about the house beats and treats. One of these folks is a lady we had a chance to meet for the first time at Snowbombing Canada this year, and we knew we had to get some words from her. Her set that weekend at the Crystal Cave was one of our favourites of the whole weekend (check the link below!) and we know that this one’s gonna be rising fast.
Dance Music Northwest: Where did you really get your start in music?
Sara Sukkha: Music has always been a major part of my life. It began with singing with my sister growing up, being in literally every single school band, to spending 6 years in extracurricular marching band. As a teen I was really into indie folk/rock stuff (shoutout Modest Mouse, Death Cab, Radiohead), and then I got into electronic music in 2010 when I was living in England. A friend brought me to a show at our school bar, which turned out the be High Contrast, so my first experience of electronic was 4 hours of jungle drum and bass. . . from then on my water level was set pretty high. I started to dive the electronic spectrum and moved through UK dubstep into trap, and in the last few years have come into house and techno. I began djing after I met my partner at Shambhala Music Fest 4 years ago. He taught me how to DJ, and from then on it was like finding the thing that had been missing in my life.
DMNW: Was there a specific artist that really turned you on to electronic music?
SS: Com Truise. I discovered him in about 2012 and fell in love with his unique sound, which I call “80s space travel hip hop.” I found it so interesting that he could evoke so much nostalgia, while making something that sounded so fresh and unique.
DMNW: The West Coast scene has so many neat avenues when it comes to festivals. After seeing you at Snowbombing, and rockin’ the decks at smaller venues in Vancouver, what sort of atmosphere is your favourite to play in?
SS: I really love playing intimate venues where you can see the faces in the crowd. The backroom at MIA is one of my favourites because it has a boiler room feel; you can look up from the decks and be face to face with someone. It’s amazing to see someone absolutely loving the vibe you’re playing, and you can share that energy with them on such a real level.
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26 years old, with a voracious appetite for bass, dancing, all things art, and a flair for the dramatic, Jamie Gib grew up in the rave scene, having been introduced to electronic music in the late 90s as a small child from his cousin and he joined the rave scene in 2004, and never looked back, A DJ, Promoter, Go-Go Dancer, and writer, Jamie has made his mark on the Vancouver Island scene and beyond, having worked or attended 90% of the festivals on the Pacific North West and has no plans on stopping there. If there's dirty house, drum n bass or glitch hop to be heard, you can bet he's not far behind.
