The indispensable Kingsland High Street hang-out, Dalston Superstore, is taking over Skate Lates on Wednesday 12 December.
We spoke to Goldsnap DJs Gin and Mwen ahead about what they'll be spinning on the night.
It’s great to have you joining us on the ice for Skate Lates this winter. First things first, how are you skating skills?
Mwen: I haven’t skated since I was a tween... but I’m still quietly confident I’ll be bossing the old cross leg turn in no time!
Gin: Terrible! I tried inline speed skating when I was a kid and fell over way too many times to ever try any kind of skating again. I’ll probably be jittering around the sides of the skating rink while everyone overtakes me.
What can people expect from your Skate Lates set?
Mwen: I like to play dance music from across Africa like AfroHouse, Gqom and some Afrobeats as well as House, UKFunky and Garage.
Gin: I’ll probably bring a funky & upbeat set to the skating rink - ranging from House, R&B, Garage and a few old 90s house hits!
Could you name one song/album/DJ that had a particularly formative experience for you growing up?
Mwen: I bought this jazz compilation album called ‘Jazz After Dark’ and I think that really had an intense effect on me growing up. There was all this stuff on it that really spoke to me spiritually and musically but I couldn’t really understand why. Still don’t really.
Gin: I can’t remember an exact album but growing up but my dad was obsessed with music. We listened to reggae, rocksteady, lovers rock, dancehall, house music, classical music, cumbia, banda, mariachi, and bashment.
And finally, what was the best piece of advice you’ve ever been giving about DJing?
Mwen: “You should be having fun!”. I reckon once you know what you’re doing and have your technical game locked down, that’s what it should really be about.
Gin: “It’s your set, your vibe, your dancefloor”. Once you get into a groove, everything else can flow so easily.
