Interview: G FREQUENCY
File Under: ALL THINGS DNB, DNB, JUNGLE, LIQUID, MINIMAL DNB, HALFTIME, BREAKS, DARK TECHNO, DEEP HOUSE (MIAMI, FLORIDA).
The Turnstyle crew is super excited to get a fresh drum and bass mix from one of our Florida faves for this week’s Frequency radio show. Big love to Ally G Frequency out of Miami for answering a few of our fave questions ahead of her exclusive guest mix too. She’s been making waves in the MIAMI DNB community through her current events and shows. Ally is a vibe! and we cannot wait to share her fantastic sounds with the listeners. Read on!
JOANNA: How long have you been mixing, and how and when did you get started?
ALLY: I started mixing around 2010. I had a pair of technic 1200’s. It was a huge learning curve and technology for dj’ing was advancing rapidly at the time leading to Pioneer CDJ’S being cutting edge. I was clubbing a lot in several sub genres of dance music. At that time I knew this chick who had a guest suite with the perfect club deck setup. Two Pioneer CDJ900nxs and a proper 4 channel DJM900NXS mixer. I locked myself in that booth for three weeks until I could seamlessly mix for at least an hour with no trainwrecks. I was using CDs at the time. Beat matching and EQ controls were the most important concepts to grasp so I started with 4 on the floor beats like hard techno and deep house with the intention of returning home to my first love, DRUM AND BASS. I made the switch to mix dnb one early morning, while hosting an after hours party at my house. Instantly, the rush of mixing at 170 and above was electric and I remember feeling particularly ecstatic i was mixing dnb.
I began collecting used equipment I found for good prices at Guitar Center, private online sellers and Sweetwater. They’re the best. I turned mixing into a daily practice for soul therapy. Finding the best blends which ignite the senses and liberate the soul is my #1 passion in life.
JOANNA: Who are a few of your current favorite artists and labels?
ALLY: There are so many artists producing really juicy, lush dnb these days. There are several record labels that have consistently reigned supreme for some time. The biggest ones who have not only influenced my taste and style but have captured my heart with the work/message they put out to the world are V Recordings, Metalheadz, Hospital and Shogun, Spearhead, 1985 and DNB Allstars. Lately, I’ve been loving all the goodness coming from Critical, Dispatch, Crucast, The North Quarter, Renegade Hardware, Fokuz, SofaSounds, Jungle Cakes and Playaz. So much respect and love for everyone doing their thing like never before.
As far as producers go, currently experimenting with blending a myriad of styles to keep things interesting. So been using a lot from JUBEI, KYRIST, ALIBI, BENNY L, PHENTIX, GLXY, DRS, KINGS OF THE ROLLERS, ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE, BREAK, S.P.Y., THINK TONK, UNGLUED, SEBA, TOKYO PROSE, BASSTRIPPER, BLADERUNNER, SNOWTEK. I mean the collective is in a very expansive creative space right now. There’s so much to be inspired by!
JOANNA: What equipment do you mix with?
ALLY: Currently, I mix on a Pioneer XDJ-XZ. I’ve always prefered Pioneer but have played around on lots of different equipment to include numark, technique, rane, xone92 and native instruments. The XDJ-XZ feels like a perfect club setup with all cool fx to keep me excited and learning!
JOANNA: Tell me about your best gig ever.
ALLY: I cannot say what my best gig, ever, was. I sort of find each one so special for its own reason. Probably my best gig is the one I have yet to play. I really appreciate those moments while I’m mixing. I feel so alive and connected to the world. So honestly, the best gig will always be the next gig, so I stay busy.
I do love my monthly residency in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. ALL YOUR BASS is every 4th Saturday of the month we host a dj from outside of our community, myself and rotate the talented local artists. We have such a great time and NOME m.c.’s. He really creates such a fun atmosphere. I love building the story in my sets, progressing through various genres, watching and engaging with crowd response, seeing the organic growth of our community who come for the music and stay for the love. It’s a real vibe to test music in real life and evolve with the future of the sound through people’s tastes while being able to continue to influence people with my own flavor and sound manipulation.
I get really excited when I play outside of my local area. If I had to think back, I had so much fun playing Globalmixx radio station and several clubs in N.Y. back in the day. Playing Beatcamp was such a huge highlight for me as well. I have been a huge fan of CRAZE since I was a teenager, being born and raised in the the county of DADE where MIAMI BASS was created and found its way into my 5 yr old heart and soul forever. He always had the greatest parties with the dopest underground sound down here in the 305. So to play a gig he sponsors was ultimate happiness. It was really a full circle moment for me when CRAZE gave me some hype on some tracks I dropped. The crowd was wild that night.
I do have to mention UNITED DNB was the first to give me a spot in Miami to play DNB for the seasoned heads. So I am paying homage to them for being renegades and making the DNB scene in Miami, FL so strong for so long.
JOANNA: Can I get a tip or word of advice for the younger dj’s on the scene?
ALLY: If I had to give any advice to a younger generation of dj’s, I would say lose yourself in music to find your soul forever. Go outside of the box with all things art for inspiration and vision. Play what moves you energetically! Have the curiosity and creative freedom to try anything and everything! Never stop learning. Never be afraid of challenges, be yourself unapologetically. Never be afraid to reach out and connect to anyone who inspires you! Don’t hesitate! Protect your space to create, limit distractions, visualize your wants and figure out what you need to do to get there! Keep going no matter what! Your future self depends on your investment in yourself today! Lastly, feel free to reach out and start a conversation with me.
Tune in: Saturday, October 26th, 9-11 PM EST on WRIR 97.3 FM Richmond, simulcast on WRIR.ORG, with archives at Turnstyle after FM Broadcast airs. Watch this Space.
SOCIAL MEDIA:
INSTAGRAM / THREADS: @GFREQUENCY33
FACEBOOK: ALLY GLASS
SOUNDCLOUD https://soundcloud.com/gfrequency33
MIXCLOUD https://www.mixcloud.com/gfrequency33/