Femmixx.com Interview DJ Suzanna Zustovich

DJ SUZANNA ZUSTOVICH: BRINGIN' DOWN THE HOUSE

Interview By Tachelle "Shamash" Wilkes

Born in sweden, Suzanna Zustovich's passion runs deep for Dance Music. First Finding her creative niche as an aerobics instructor - she later learned that she'd rather spin the music than dance to it. When she went to London to explore the world of house in 1999 she bought her first 12" house record and it hasn't stopped since. Listen on as Suzanna Zustovich turns up the volume on life, love and house music.

Tachelle: Express who you are as a female DJ is in your own words?

Suzanna: Born in the Swedish landscape with 29 years of life, with turntables, a pair of headphones and a mixer. Feeling the excitement of the experience rushing through my body when the crowd is feeling bouncing tunes which lifts them right off their feet. To be honest and loyal to the crowd gives me confidence and trust for the music.

T: What are three words that express your style as a DJ?

S: Originality, arrangement of records and structure are key elements that set a DJ. It's hard to mention only three words 'cause the main thing is the mixing which includes those three words.

T: How did you get into the world of djing?

It started 3 years ago when i thought my husband had great skills in beat mixing, and I thought well I should try that, he made me a genuine "housewife". If it wasn't for him I wouldn't be a DJ today.

T: How long have you been djing?

S: It's 2 years now.

T: What artists have inspired you?

S: To mention two who are very good and inspired me into the world of house music is Mark Knight and Barbara Tucker.

T: Tell us a little bit about your background.

S: The passion for electronic music started when I began to work as an aerobic instructor a couple years ago. Then it was very important to put up different kinds of music for every class and the structure how to build the aerobics class with the music. It wasn't just to pick something, it had to be good - making the students jump. But then all of a sudden my studies came along at the university and I didn't have much time for my aerobics classes anymore, still I had this passion for music.

T: What styles of music do you DJ?

S: I like all genre of music actually, but the style I produce is house music.

T: What sets you apart as a DJ?

S: A genuine housewife I think.

T: Explain how can female producers and DJ's change the images of female artists?

S: I don't think it's possible to change an artist's image but to get to know other genres / styles of music could have an impression to change an image. There's nothing but advantages since there are so few women DJ's out there.

T: How do you create music? What inspires you?

S: Creation of the music I play is coming from how open minded my crowd is, how they make me feel for the music. It's not only to stand there in the spot and play a record, I really need to feel and to get to know the crowd, 'cause if I don't have that feeling it's hard to stand there in the light and no one cares about what I put on the next turn. Of course it's the crowd who is my inspiration on what record I will play.

T: Are you an activist in any form? If so, how?

S: The importance for me is to be mentally and physically prepared for every show, because you never know how the event , night will turn out. Every time I play it gives me ambition and new thinking for how I could do the next show better. How the future will be it's difficult to say - I develop after every show I make. Just to stand in my studio and play my records is developing. For now I don't have any intentions on producing, but I hope I could get there some day.

T: Where does your creativity stem?

S: My husband is producing music and he inspires me to create my music.

T: What projects are you currently working on?

S: Funky tunes.

T: What else or who inspires you to create?

S: The inspiration comes from clubbing to famous DJs / producers of course, listening to what they have to offer the people out there, all the reactions, and listening to mixtures from all kinds of genre / style of music makes me find more of a perspective on what kind of music I like and what could be good for the people on the floor.

T: Where do you want to be in five years?

S: In five years - hoping to see my name together with some of my favorite artists...

T: Tell the world what else do you want them to know about you?

S: Music is my passion and without passion there's no djing. Having the respect of my crowd is important for my development in the future as a DJ. It's hard to be in a man's world, 'cause there's still more men in the DJ world than women. Everything is a question of time. Someday I will fulfill my mission. My thinking of how a DJ should be, not egotistic I should say - to get the crowds' vibe, trying to touch their soul a little bit. Of course you should know something about the music, and love what you do. It's not just to stand there and play a record, you should know how and why you do it...FOR the people of course.

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