Kim Ann Foxman Interview

Kim Ann Foxman's rough and raw mix of rave energy, classic house and more experimental electronics reflects her mixed up-bringing. Raised in Hawaii, her musical mindset was shaped in San Francisco's buzzing club scene before she took up residence in New York, a city in the midst of a major resurgence in nightlife.

It's from here that she runs her own Firehouse imprint, recently putting out a four track 'Energy' EP heaving on acid and breakbeats. Also a vocalist, first coming to international prominence working with Hercules & Love Affair, Foxman joins Catz 'N Dogz (on whose Pets Recordings label she recently appeared) in the house room of Sabajaq on Saturday April 29th.

Check her recent mix for FACT below and read our interview with after it. 

Get tickets for info and details of the full line-up, which includes Jay Lumen and Pleasurekraft, here.

Growing up in Hawaii and thrown into the world of beauty pageants in your teens, how did you discover underground music?

I grew up in an amazing island culture, with plenty of waterfalls and beaches. My mom and aunt forced me to enter one pageant, but it was very outside my world. Pageants were not my life at all as I was such a tomboy, which makes it even funnier to me now.

I discovered underground music when someone gave me a techno compilation in 1992. Pop club tracks were already hits on the radio by then, but I didn't know there was a whole underground rave scene. Throughout high school I started to go out a lot, and there was a very tiny scene on the island which was influenced a lot by what was happening in California at the time. I started collecting DJ mix apes, and whilst I was in high school I got a job at an all ages club which was one of the few places we were able to listen to house and techno. They had DJs and acts like Deee-Lite came to play there and working there was my loophole to stay out late at night, since it was my job. Then I moved to San Francisco in 1995 where I really got into the underground scene properly and that’s when I started buying underground records. Those years in San Francisco really shaped who I am as an artist today.

Your latest EP ‘Energy’ is adorned with a photo of a teenage Kim in full blown pageant gear. At that point, did you ever envisage yourself as the DJ and producer you are today?

I never knew that I would be really having a full career as a DJ and producer. I was in a small, local, two man electronic band in the late 90's in San Francisco, which was my gateway into drum machines and samplers and making electronic music. However, I would have never guessed that I would come so far and get to travel the world.

Do you think you will continue to focus on your own projects and productions or collaborate with more artists in the future? Any of the Hercules and Love Affair guys maybe?

I always do both. I like do do my own thing, and I also love collaborating too! I do have a collaboration with Shaun J. Wright out on Pets Recordings called 'Destination'], and I am also working on another kind of collaboration with two friends under a different name which will be out this year.

At a time when Donald Trump is in the White House, do you think artists should get involved in politics and voice their opinions?

I think it’s good to speak up and help influence others.

As well as your eclectic tune selection and colourful productions, you’re also known for your style. How did you discover and develop your own look?

I always just went with what is comfortable to me. I appreciate unique things and am inspired by things outside the box.

In your documentary with FACT, we’re taken shopping to the famous Brooklyn thrift store The Thing. Are you still playing a lot of vinyl?

I play a lot more on USB these days. It’s simply easier to travel with, but I never stopped collecting records and I do get to play them out sometimes.

What do you enjoy the most about London’s scene and the people who attend the nights you’ve played here?

I like that the people in London have always been open with music, and I always feel a warm response there.

Finally, what has been the most unexpected thing to happen to you in your career of production and DJing?

I showed up to a residency I had years ago in Manhattan and it happened to be a surprise birthday for Willi Ninja. That was a night I’ll never forget and I feel lucky!