When Sally Doolally played an epic set at last year’s Boom! Festival, a few uneducated festival-goers were left wondering what had hit them and who this new DJ was. In fact, Sally has been DJ’ing well over a decade, having played at festivals and events in over 20 countries, and as well as being Label Director of Plastik Park Records, she’s also heavily involved behind the scenes, managing stages at festivals in addition to producing alongside husband Goetzlich as Beauty & the Beat.
With Sally bringing Plastik Park to London’s Lightbox this Saturday 19th February, which includes the world launch of Riktam and Bansi’s new album ‘Constructor’, we asked her to answer a few questions for the HarderFaster crew…
Sally @Freedom Festival, Portugal
You DJ, produce, run a record label and are also heavily involved behind the scenes, running stages at events and festivals. Which of these roles came first? And when did you start playing and producing music?
In London during the ’90s I was working in venues and with promoters. In addition I was also involved in some really cool underground party crews dating back even earlier. My experience behind the scenes has always been varied and this led me to jobs on dance music events such as the prestigious Vuuv (formerly known as ‘Voov Experience’) which is such an inspiring team to be a part of!
I had been collecting music and having a little mix as a kind of hobby for quite some years, but only started to play on parties when organising my own night called Doolally, hence my name! Running Plastik Park Records came later, and as a progression for me which started out with simply representing the label as one of their DJs. When the opportunity came up to be more involved I jumped at the chance. I’m really passionate about Plastik Park – it’s my baby! Producing music came much later and is still somewhat on the back burner, as I also became a Mum four years ago and the journey into motherhood is a full time job too.
You’re originally from the UK but have been settled in Germany for a good few years now. Why the move the Germany? What’s the music scene like there?
Germany first attracted me because of some great festivals here in the summer, and I very quickly fell into some really good friendships. The combination of good friends, good festivals and good music kept me coming back for more every summer until I decided to give it a go and stay here permanently.
How would you describe the Sally Doolally sound?
The music which I play tends to have a lot of power behind it, with strong bass lines and big productions. Sometimes I also go for the more feminine touch of combining elements of melody and a bit trance – something for the girls! I totally support the music we release on Plastik Park, so you will often hear some of my favourite past releases, as well as forthcoming unreleased stuff of course.
You also DJ and produce with your husband Goetzlich as Beauty & the Beat. How does the music you play together differ from what you would play solo – if at all?
When Goetz and I play together we meet in the middle of both of our styles – our sets when we play solo are very different to each other’s. The combination of us behind the decks always brings up something fresh and different. These days we don’t get the chance to play together enough, as we have a four-year-old son to care for, but when we do some kind of magic spark ignites!
Beauty & the Beat
You’ve DJ’d in over 20 countries over the last 13 years, from Portugal’s Boom Festival to Rainbow Serpent in Australia. What’s the favourite place you’ve played and why?
You just mentioned two of my favourite places in the world to play, Portugal and Australia. Both countries know me for who I am and have known me as a DJ for almost the whole of my career, so both audiences accept my sets very well. Both have grown into much more than just a festival as both moved forward and evolved with the times musically and ethically. I am very proud to have played at them, especially Boom which is the most inspiring event I have ever been a part of; I always grow as a person after Boom.
Following on from that, if you won Euromillions tomorrow and could plan an event or festival anywhere in the world, where would you have it? And who would you book to headline?
Millions might be too much for just one event, so I would want to help out people less lucky than our selves by setting up something sustainable for a community that needs it. This would be a great reason to celebrate, and in that case I’d have Infusion headlining along with the musical faves of my closest friends… I know this would make a really round fat musical journey, oh yeah!
You’ve been Label Director of D-Nox’s Plastik Park Records since 2006. What’s the ethos behind the label?
We only release music that both Christian and I stand behind. Plastik Park has always been a platform for all types of progressive sounds, and we have some really great artists working with us, so we support them as much as we can and continue to push our homeboys in their quests for success.
Plastik Park is about to release the first techno album from Riktam and Bansi, ‘Constructor’, which is being previewed for the first time at the Plastik Park party at the Lightbox next Saturday. With this being the first time in ages that Riktam and Bansi (also known as psy trance outfit GMS) have played in London, this is shaping up to be a special event indeed! Why are you launching ‘Constructor’ in London first?
‘Constructor’ will be released in the beginning of March so this will be an exclusive preview. It was never really planned that it would be presented first in London, it just happened like this, as life does. Because it’s in London I am very excited and proud to be bringing Plastik Park and Riktam & Bansi with me.
Working with Nick from BamBam Parties (he is also behind Gouranga parties) and the Lightbox fits like a glove for Plastik Park, it’s the perfect home for us in London. Riktam & Bansi have a huge following worldwide so I’m expecting that it will be a really mixed up and interesting crowd who turns up on Saturday, I can’t wait!
Riktam & Bansi aren’t the only artists who’re moving towards the techier groovier side of things. Do you think this is a bigger trend in the dance scene as a whole?
I think it’s a healthy progression to change one’s taste in music and open one’s minds as to what can move you, otherwise life would be extremely boring, don’t you think? Riktam & Bansi still produce and tour all over the world as GMS, which is another reason we are so lucky to have them in London – these guys are very hard to tie down!
What other artists have caught your eye recently, and where do you see the scene going in the next few years?
John Monkman is someone you can look out for, a fellow Londoner producing some super classy minimal stuff with a lot of power! Also keep your eyes and ears out for anything from FM Radio Gods, they are absolute legends hailing from Montreal, Canada – I absolutely love love love these guys! And don’t forget Switchbox, a project from my husband Goetz and our mate Nuke, very underground groovy sick stuff!
Riktam & Bansi, aka GMS
It’s no secret that the dance music scene is a little bit male dominated; why do you think this is and how do you deal with it?
It’s never been an issue to me, it just seems that men are more interested in twiddling than women, lol. Dealing with it isn’t hard, as I have never had a problem being around men.
If we were to come to Germany for a weekend, what clubs do you recommend we visit?
I guess you would go to Berlin if you were coming to Germany for a party, because everyone is going to or moving to Berlin these days. You should probably head straight for ‘Berghain’ – a crazy club with lots of crazy stories! If you’re feeling a little adventurous and you’re near Cologne on March 5th, I would recommend coming to a party I’m involved with promoting – ‘Techno Con Carne’ with music from Boris Brejcha and Kane Roth (plus heaps more), it’s at Odonien, an underground venue which is really down and dirty and very cool. It’s happening over Carnival weekend here in Cologne – it’s going to be great!
Finally, why should readers come and check out the Plastik Park party next Saturday night at the Lightbox?
Because they will get to hear an exclusive 2 hour live act from Riktam & Bansi, previewing their new album as well as a few of their already classic hits! Their live act alone is going to be epic!!!!! Can you imagine? These guys are explosive!
The supporting DJs are also all very good, across both rooms and there are a lot of people whom I know involved in the party who are celebrating birthdays this weekend too, so there will be a very special party vibe for sure! And if you haven’t been to the Lightbox before, well Saturday is definitely the time to come down and check it out! This is the first PLASTIK PARK label night in London, ever!! See you on the dance floor!
Photos courtesy of Joern Meisterjahn and Sally Doolally. Album artwork by Goetzlich & Nuke. Not to be reproduced without permission.
Bam Bam is born to redress the imbalance that exists in London and we are making it our duty to bring banging, dancefloor orientated tunes to the capital.
Our first party at the legendary LIGHTBOX sets the tone - Plastik Park Records will be showcasing their extraordinary talents on February 19th.
They have not played in London for years but to celebrate their new techno project R&B are coming to town. This is the first preview anywhere in the world of their first album - Constructor. Their early EP releases resulted in 4 tracks in the beatport top 10 including the biggest selling prog house tune of the year.
Riktam & Bansi have come to have been known under a variety of monikers over the last decade, however have achieved their greatest success under their Growling Mad Scientists project. With a total of eight artist albums, their tracks appearing on over 150 releases and more than 200,000 album sales, their studio wizardry is unquestionable. Normally known for a more driving sound, the "Riktam & Bansi" project sees them embark in a different direction, towards a style which encompasses a slower more groove-oriented techno backbone. While retaining all of their flavor for the dancefloor, this release shows the breadth and diversity of their studio skills without losing any of their unique take on melody or sound construction.
SALLY DOOLALLY (Plastik Park/Boom Festival/Vuuv)
Played the most talked about set at Boom Festival. Since leaving London she has been masterminding Plastik Park's rise to power as label director. She has played at every festival you can think of and built a killer record collection in 11 years in the game.
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