SONOS CLUB : HOLY C
Proudly rooted in both Yorkshire and the Caribbean, HOLY C explores their mixed identity through sound - Influenced by a love of bass-fuelled raves and diasporic rhythms, their sets are dark, mysterious, and charged with intent. As well as being a DJ and photographer, CC is Creative Director of FLINTA+ DJ and activist-led collective, Sisu. HOLY C is embedded in London's queer underground scene, with expressive, genre-blurring sets that are as unpredictable as they are queer.
INTERVIEW
What first drew you to DJing, and how has your sound evolved over time?
HOLY C: I was first introduced to DJing as a struggling teen… a decade later I came back to it when I was looking for an avenue to express myself creatively again. Since then, I’ve been hooked. My sound has definitely got darker and more experimental as I’ve grown in confidence. I have more audacity in terms of the variation of sounds I play for sure.
How would you describe the emotions or energy you try to bring to your sets?
HOLY C: It varies. The sounds I play are usually quite sensual, but recently I’ve been feeling so furious at the state of the world… that ferocious energy is definitely translated through my sets. I bring in a couple of hopeful, euphoric tunes when the journey allows.
Are there any particular artists, cultures, or experiences that have shaped your musical identity?
HOLY C: Raving in London and Berlin’s queer scene heavily informed my relationship with the dance floor. Having been privileged enough to experience the complete freedom that lives in LGBTQ+ spaces, really transformed my idea of what a DJ is. Now I see a DJ as more of a facilitator for dancers to experience a sense of release. So yeah, I guess HOLY C is a blend of lived experiences, from being in the queer rave scene, carnival culture from my Caribbean heritage, plus my inner child feeling like an outcast growing up in Christian school.
What’s your approach to curating a mix - do you follow structure, or is it more instinctive?
HOLY C:I used to be very structured… Recently I’ve been putting together playlists based on mood, then using these as a guide for what feels right in the moment
How do you balance playing what you love versus what the crowd expects?
HOLY C: I like every set to be full of surprises, so hopefully I won’t play anything the crowd expects haha. I gotta just gamble and hope that what I love, they’ll love too.
Is there a particular genre or sound you're currently exploring or excited about
HOLY C: I’m thoroughly enjoying listening to artists like STATE OFFF, Mina and T.NO who are pushing Gqom into a more electronic space, also Lamsi bringing Caribbean flavours into electronic music has got me really giddy about starting my own production journey.
What keeps you inspired and motivated when you hit creative or personal challenges
HOLY C: Being part of Sisu as a FLINTA* collective keeps me motivated. I have depression, which can really take hold sometimes, but having a responsibility outside of myself, to represent powerful women and gender-diverse artists keeps me passionate about making positive change in this industry.
Have you faced any challenges in the industry that shaped the way you approach your craft?
HOLY C: I had a negative experience last year playing at an established club in London, the sad reality is that female DJs experiences behind the scenes can be pretty horrendous. Your craft isn’t taken as seriously as male DJs, with staff and sometimes audiences thinking they have a right to approach and intimidate. Since then, I only play in spaces that feel safe, inclusive and focused on the music.
Do you think electronic music is becoming more inclusive? What progress do you hope to see
HOLY C: I would love to see techno-focused spaces become more open minded to global electronic music. After all, queer black people created the sound originally. There seems to be a reluctance to diversify lineups in the ways they should be. I want to be part of a scene that celebrates female and gender diverse DJs equally. That’s the progress I wanna see!
How do you navigate spaces where you might feel underrepresented or overlooked
HOLY C: Spaces where I feel underrepresented can feel uncomfortable and at times, dangerous. I’ve been bringing my male-presenting friends to those kinds of gigs so I can be in the right headspace to perform (which is a sad reality). With Sisu, our goal is to implement positive change in these kinds of spaces so FLINTA* artists can grow and thrive in safe spaces.
If you could create your dream lineup for an event, who would be on it?
HOLY C: Cheza Lucina, HEZEN, Mia Koden, Ki Pharaoh, Shy One, Surreal Sessions, STATE OFFF, ERNA, … can I put myself on there?! Yeah, I’m gonna. Plus HOLY C.
What’s a festival, venue, or city you dream of performing at and why?
HOLY C: It’s such a huge goal of mine to play in Berlin and or Durban, South Africa ASAP! Berlin has such a rich history of finding refuge in techno sanctuaries. Queer clubbing is imbedded in the city’s culture, plus, the sounds are dark, which I love. Durban has been pioneering sub-genres such as Gqom since the 2010s, there are so many talented artists there that I’d love to collaborate with. (Check out Surreal Sessions and TDK Macassette if you haven’t already).
Outside of DJing do you have any creative or personal projects you’re passionate about?
HOLY C: My radio show ‘Sweat Service’ celebrates global electronic sounds, while platforming artists within the queer nightlife scene. I’ve been building this concept for over a year, there’s a namesake party to come over the next few months, so stay tuned. As well as being Creative Director of Sisu, I’m a photographer in my daily life, check out my work www.ccmorgancreative.com
SONOS CLUB is an initiative from Sounds of Craft Records, designed to highlight the eclectic electronic music scene through the perspectives of the BIPOC diaspora and marginalized communities, while being open to all.
