Story: Angelina Abel
I met local DJ Liz Searle aka DJ Legaliz for a chat about being a DJ in the Sheffield scene.
Sheffield-born, Burngreave resident, Liz, works with people with learning disabilities during the day and becomes a music ‘feeder’ in the many Sheffield venues at night. Liz fits in her DJing around work, and performs once a month, but summer will be busier with good weather and time to relax raising the demand for good music. Liz says:
“I like the classics, old ska and reggae. People enjoy recognising the tunes. But I also play Reggae breaks, I like putting old and new together.”
As one of the valued members of DubCentral, Liz has performed at the Everyone Centre, Plug, Cactus Club, The Earl and many others.
“I think about where I’m playing, if I’m on early I’ll start quiet and bring it up to get people’s attention. I like to interact with the crowd and respond to what they like. It’s not always easy as sometimes there’s people asking for a certain tune but, for some reason, they can’t remember the name of what they want.”
When asked about being a woman DJ, Liz says she feels respected for the good job she does and gets support from other women and men but she reveals she was once stopped from getting to the decks by a bouncer who couldn’t believe a woman could be a DJ.
Sheffield’s music scene is getting bigger and better with new DJs and venues emerging all the time. Liz is a resident DJ with DubCentral, but also plays as part of the great reggae parties organised by Sequoia and Riddimtion Sound Systems. DubCentral has a regular night on the last Saturday of the month at Club Shhh.
For those curious about what vibes these DJs can bring you, get ready to dance at Club Shhh at the Wicker Arches on Saturday 31st of March 2007. The Disciples and DubCentral with DJ Legaliz will play the main room, with Centralsound and Junglist Alliance in ‘the Catacombs’.
