The Lady Machine Crate Diggin

A major reference amongst the Brazilian techno scene now based in Berlin, The Lady Machine unveils the Crate Digging tracks that have shaped her ahead of her set at Berlin Berlin: Halloween Edition where she takes over the decks as part of the boundary-pushing Pornceptual collective alongside Norman Nodge and Projekt Gestalten on Saturday October 19th. 

She’s gained a solid reputation for her deep music selection and mixing skills even incorporating an old school Roland TR-707 in the DJ booth. As well as racking up an impressive array of festival dates and clubs across Europe and both North and South America including Unter NYC, Tresor, STAUB, Feel Festival and Buttons, she’s a fledgling producer. Her new release ‘Unterwegs 2’ co-produced with Amanda Mussi is due at the end of the month. 

What track first made a major impression on you growing up and what can you recall about that time and how you heard it? “Ashes to Ashes” - David Bowie

It has to be anything by Bowie, he's my total hero! I feel fortunate to have grown up in the 80’s listening to amazing music. David Bowie “Ashes to Ashes” is a winner and I remember it being super haunting back then. Sadly not much recollection of when I first heard it when I was a child, but it was remarkable.

Which track first inspired you to get into music seriously and think about it as a career? ‘Jeff Mills – Live at The Liquid Room’

For me it wasn't a particular track but instead it was a DJ mix by Jeff Mills – Live at The Liquid Room. (1995). The first time I heard that mix was a real turning point in my life. I had finished secondary education at school and didn't feel like I wanted to join university. I had so many friends telling me that I should try mixing since they thought I had a great musical knowledge. Eventually I worked at a clothes shop to save money and buy a pair of technics SL1200's. This mix inspired what I am today, how I learned to develop my mixing skills. Plus it refined my musical taste in techno too. It still sounds amazing now. Track selection, skills, simplicity, rawness, totally unpredictable and timeless.

What’s your favourite dance floor track right now and what makes it stand out? ‘Sense Shock’ – Decka

It's coming out on my label Unterwegs early next year. It sounds huge on the dance floor and there's this immense build up of intensity throughout the track, pretty amazing. It really gets the crowd going every time I drop this one and I can’t wait for it to be released! 

What track do you wish you’d produced and why? ‘Magneze’ – Surgeon

It's such a simplistic track and it delivers! It shows you don't need a lot to produce a good track and stand out. This track has stood the test of time and it still sounds current to the present day. In fact, I believe that the more simplistic a track is, the bigger the chances are of it standing out over time.

What track never leaves your bag and why’s it close to you? ‘Flowerchild’ - Dan Morgan 

This track is an absolute classic and the first time i heard it was on the Jeff Mills mix live at The Liquid Room. I have been playing it ever since I first started djing. It still has a place in my record bag every time I travel to a gig. It's one of this tunes I always feel comfortable playing because I know how it sounds and how it gets the crowd going. Perfect track for playing half way through a banging tencho set!