The DJ making waves: DJ Little Missions

SouthEast15 music contributor and DJ/producer J.Umeme (Edgar Ndazi) interviews up-and-coming DJ Little Missions, AKA Kate Walker

J.Umeme (Edgar Ndazi) a multi-instrumentalist and DJ/producer who is studying a Masters degree at the iconic Goldsmiths University as well as being President of Goldsmiths DJxEMS - a long-running student organisation that features and highlights all the best DJ's emerging from the rich musical heritage of Goldsmiths, University of London sits down with friend and DJ Little Missions.

Words by J.Umeme (Edgar Ndazi)

Little Missions, AKA Kate Walker, is a supremely talented up-and-coming DJ and someone I’m happy to call a friend. I first met her last year at Goldsmiths DJ x EMS as she sought to craft and develop her DJ sound, when she came down to South-East London, after graduating from the University of Edinburgh, to study at Goldsmiths. I sat down with her over a delicious breakfast at Blackbird Bakery to discuss her musical upbringing, her increasing DJ profile, and where she sees her musical career going next.

As you start to make in-roads in your DJ career, how do you think your instrumental background has influenced your style of DJ’ing?

Initially, I used to think that my background (as an accomplished trumpet player) was completely separate, but now thinking about it, I can see that they are related. With the trumpet there are times where you are counting for 300 bars rest, then suddenly you have to come in, and counting is such a big part of DJ’ing. I spent a lot of time in big bands, where you have to separate the parts of the brass section to make sure your part fits, and you really have to “feel” the music. Now I love to play disco music in my sets and I guess I have been drawn towards records with prominent brass sections.

I also got used to regularly performing in front of a crowd, and not feeling nervous about it!

What drew you to the SE15 area?

Goldsmiths! I didn’t know about London in general until I came here, but now I love South-East London! I definitely want to stay. The combination of the student presence with a vibrant community is great. Plus musically there are loads of really great spaces to access and promoters who just want to get really good events in their spaces.

How does your Scottish heritage influence your DJ’ing?

DJ Little Missions. Image from Kate Walker

Now I think about it I used to love going to cèilidhs (traditional Scottish dances). And also in school in Scotland, we had to do lots of dancing in PE lessons. And then when I started to get into electronic music more, I spent so much time dancing with my friends having a great time, I wanted to be the one who is making my friends dance!

You've played Rye Wax before, in one of your early bookings? How do you think you have grown as a DJ from that day until today?

I’ve started teaching one of my friends at Pirate Studios, Greenwich, and I’ve found that teaching someone a skill, explaining it clearly and thinking about what I’ve found hard has really helped. It made me remember DJ’ing is hard! But it’s like learning an instrument; it’s all about muscle memory.

And when I listen to new music as time goes on and you grow as a DJ, you think about how it’s going to work in your own set. One thing I am really looking forward to is DJ’ing with vinyl, finding those obscure records and really getting into crate digging.

The Goldsmiths community has always had a presence around Peckham. But it seems to be expanding now. Coming from Goldsmiths, is that something you see and feel? Can you feel the connection in terms of spirit/ethos?

Well as I am new to London, it’s something I’ve come into and seen it grow. The connection makes sense. There’s a nice DIY feel to it – that’s cool! My first time at Rye Wax was for a zine launch, and there are so many local artists and so many connections in the area. For Boiler Room to play at Rye Wax is awesome as they are so big. Also, the Ormside Project has a cool underground feel.

It’s different to Edinburgh because there you have lots of historic architecture and the licensing laws are really strict there. There’s a lot more freedom in South-East London in terms of licensing and spaces.

Do you feel that producing your own music is the next step?

It’s the next logical step. With DJ’ing you pick apart the track, in the same way, you do producing your own music. Something that’s always fascinated me about music is the fact that it’s very corporeal (to do with the body). Like what is the part of music that makes you move your hips? What can make you raise your hands? Now I’ve graduated (MA Popular Music Research) it gives me more free time, and I can’t wait to make some music!

As a woman on the scene, where do you feel the presence of females in electronic music is? Where does it need to go to get closer to equality?

That’s big ‘ole question! It’s changing rapidly. There are several women DJ’s who are blowing up. Seeing someone like me visible on the scene is really encouraging. But, there is still a long way to go. It’s interesting how it impacts me. DJ’ing used to be something I always thought of as technical, and then unconsciously I always told myself it’s not my domain. But there’s no reason women should be bad at using DJ equipment!

I’m optimistic. If you look at bills now it’s really unusual to see an all-male line-up. And you have female DJ’s I love like Peggy Gou, Black Madonna, Shanti Celeste, Peach, Saoirse and Dr Rubenstein who are just blowing up.

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J.Umeme (Edgar Ndazi) a DJ/producer who grew up in Reigate, Surrey, with parents from Uganda and Tanzania. He is a multi-instrumentalist, with a classical background, having grown up playing the viola. His productions and DJ sets incorporate his East African heritage in combination with British electronic music, with acts like Basement Jaxx, Chemical Brothers and Lil Silva and the UK funky scene being a particular influence. He is now studying a Masters degree in MMus Creative Practice at Goldsmiths, and is the President of Goldsmiths DJ x EMS, running a number of initiatives to encourage more people from a diverse range of backgrounds into the world of DJ'ing/electronic music.

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