One-Woman Industry

Russia’s DJ/producer Lady Waks (aka Alexandra Seregina) is a longtime visitor to Perth – and she’s back to drop her Baltic breaks at Breakfest 2014. She’ll also hoping for a sneaky vacation after another frenetic year. The Saint Petersburg native juggles an events company, booking agency, record label, radio show, music production, graphic design work and a clothing line. Indeed, Seregina prides herself on being “a multi-talented one-woman industry”.

Seregina won Best DJ at May’s 2014 Breakspoll Awards – as voted by fans globally. “That’s wicked,” Seregina admits. “I was nominated for Best DJ the last three [or] four years, but never got the award – but I had been dreaming about it. I got the award for Best Producer, Best Track [and] Best Radio Show, but I wanted to be Best DJ! Actually, this year I had given up hope and I didn’t expect to get it.”

Because Seregina hosts a weekly radio show on the Russian dance station Radio Record, she has a wide perspective on the ever-changing scene – the DJ conscientiously listens to hours of music. However, her sensibilities haven’t greatly changed. “I’m still the 100 per cent broken beat lover. I need some lyrics and melodies. I’m not into all the ‘distortion’ sound that the kids love so much. I love the funk vibe and breakdance beat drops. I have always been playing freestyle, so it’s still going on. I can play from hip hop to R&B, but my favourite speed is 132bpm.”

"I’m still the 100 per cent broken beat lover. I need some lyrics and melodies...I can play from hip hop to R&B, but my favourite speed is 132bpm.”

Seregina concedes she’s put production on the backburner in recent years due to her other commitments, but lately aired Shock Out with (Breakfest co-headliner) Marten Hørger plus Nu Jam on her own label, In Beat We Trust, the track supported by the Rudimental and Crystal Method DJs. She now has more new tunes – among them a track, Soundboy, with her “Spanish homies” MutantBreakz and MC Kathika Rabbit from the circus-like Slamboree. Seregina has been clocking up studio time in her second home, Berlin, where she and old collaborator Hardy Hard have reunited. (The pair infamously issued the techno parody, Minimal.) “Hardy and I did lots of music back in the days – [but] the last track we released together was in 2008. After this, we decided to go our separate ways. But now in 2014 we got back again and are working on some new bombs.” One of them features vocals from their ol’ Afro-futurist ally Afrika Bambaataa.

What can party-goers expect? “Expect new tracks and lots of edits, as usual. And, because I know and love the Australian crowd, I will give them what they want!” As a diplomatic gesture to Russian President Vladimir Putin during the G20, Australian officials allowed him to hold a koala. The peace-lovin’ Seregina has already had her turn with our iconic marsupial. “I even have the picture from the zoo with the koala. I looked like a happy schoolgirl in it! Maybe this time someone will take me back to the zoo – I actually would love to do it again.”