inthemix | Features | Virginia Le: Dropping in to Brissie this weekend

If you want to experience what passion, drive, determination and a whole lotta heart and soul can look like behind the decks, then Melbourne’s pocket dynamo Virginia Le is your woman! And her story is not one that took decades to write, as she quite proudly has achieved DJing prowess at the tender age of 22, while many others didn’t reach their peak until many more years practicing away at the art of spinning vinyl. Over the past 5 years Virginia Le has become one of the most booked techno DJs countrywide, continually pushing the musical boundaries in her hometown of Melbourne.

Labeled as the “DJ’s DJ” for playing the kind of tracks on the dancefloor that punters have never heard before, her mixing style is unique so that DJs of all calibers are impressed by her technique. And you’ll be able to scrutinize, analyze and idolize it at the upcoming Drop gig this Friday 16 May where Virginia will play her Brisbane debut along with seasoned German siren Sabine Christ and residents Mag00 and Scotty Walker. Virginia spoke with ITM to give us an insight into her world, just prior to her visit to sunny Queensland to flex some female muscle at Empire. She admits that that over the past 7 years she’s been sneaking out of the house to watch her idols play at the old rave parties.

“I still get excited thinking about my first party, that experience totally changed my life. I was given a few raised eyebrows at school when the other kids were collecting Hanson posters, and I was collecting early techno records from labels like Superstition, Deconstruction, Perfecto, FFRR, R&S, Music Man, Renaissance and Rising High. Going back even further, there were probably a few banging eighties 128bpm disco tracks playing when I was kicking around in the womb too…”

Virginia pursued her love all things musical, learning to play the turntables at the age of 17 while making ends meet by working in various record stores in Melbourne since her school days, still holding down a position at DMC Records every Saturday. With her hand on the pulse of all the up-and-coming new tunes, it’s no wonder that Virginia has claimed cult status as an underground music queen, being booked by a cross section of gigs including the Earthcore and Hot BBQ festivals, Sunny, Blow Your Own Way, Chinese Laundry in Sydney, Nano, Hi Tek Soul and even a once-off gig at Mint Bar in Koh Samui, Thailand! And that’s not to mention supporting some of the biggest names in techno including Joris Voorn, Sven Vath, Aril Brikah, Steve Bug, Marc Romboy, Nathan Fake, Vince Watson, Gui Boratto, John Tejada, Spirit Catcher, Stacey Pullen, Trentemoller and SuperMayer. So what does underground music mean to her?

“To me, underground music has a much deeper meaning of communication than just the typical ‘dance and have a good time’. There are so many things you can feel through music without the use of words. It’s something quite special,” Virginia says. “As for my real influence? It’s the crowd I’m playing for. Nothing else has a bigger influence on my track selection or passion for DJing!

This eclectic taste in music, coupled with Virginia’s years of working in the record industry has obviously paid off. At the recent SOS gig in Melbourne she received rave reviews for her support of the uber-popular DJ alliance of Demi, Desyn Masiello and Omid16B. She was described as “spinning a progressive-laced sound to a small gathering crowd. Virginia has been the consummate professional at every gig I’ve seen her play, and she didn’t disappoint tonight. She bounced with enthusiasm and was clearly enjoying what she was doing behind the massive setup”. This sort of reactions are causing Brisbane to salivate from the mouth in anticipation of hher upcoming visit.

So if you can get down to the Moon Bar on Friday – you will be in for a treat. Virginia Le will fulfil all of your underground heart’s desires. And if you are most unfortunate to miss what I predict will be a very electric set, then keep your eyes peeled as Virginia will be supporting Stephan Bodzin, Phonique, Oliver Koletzki, as well as warming up for Lützenkirchen in Sydney in the not too distant future, so keep an eye out for this madam of the underground.

Drop feat. Virginia Le and Sabine Christ hits Moon Bar at the Empire Hotel on Friday May 16.