Name: Rukmini Mukherjee aka Mixtress
Occupation: DJ, producer
Nationality: Indian
Recent release & event: Mixtress teams up with Pete Cannon for their take on The Streets's classic “Blinded by the Lights,” out via Pure Groove Limited.
Recommendations: The album Kids fill the Floor by Freescha, and the Virgin Suicides book of the same name as one of my favourite films. (It is as bleak as it says on the tin, by the way)

[Read our Pete Cannon interview]

If you enjoyed this Mixtress interview and would like to stay up to date with her music and current live dates, visit her on Instagram, and Soundcloud.



What made it appealing to you to DJ yourself? What was it that you wanted to express and what, did you feel, did you have to add artistically?

DJing appealed to me primarily as a conduit for sharing music with people. I'm not the most extroverted person, so the dim, somewhat obscured environment of DJing allowed me a comforting background from where I could be in the background.

Through my sets, I try to share the musical memories that defined my upbringing. I connect deeply with certain tracks that remind me of cherished moments from my past. While I often lean towards heavier, evil tunes sometimes, I really enjoy bringing in the gaps in between.

Which other DJs were important for your development and what did you learn from them?

Several DJs played a pivotal role in shaping my musical journey. Growing up, I was deeply influenced by the hardcore vibes of Colin Faver. However, I also really love DJ Koze, Trentemøller, Floating Points, Four Tet – particularly his older stuff from the early 2000’s, Mala, and LCY, especially when they ventured into the 160/ jungle stuff. From a technical standpoint, my approach to DJing has been significantly influenced by these artists.

But beyond that, one profound lesson I learned was the importance of crafting your own sound. They taught me, both directly and indirectly, that in the world of mixing and playing, there's no definitive 'right' or 'wrong'.

What does a great DJ add to the clubbing experience?

I've reflected on this quite recently with mates. A great DJ elevates the clubbing experience not merely by playing a sequence of popular tracks but by cultivating an atmosphere and energy that resonates with the crowd. They possess the ability to guide and steer the crowd's emotions, taking them on a journey.

While it's tempting for some to chase viral moments with trendy songs – which might work well for platforms like Instagram or TikTok – a truly outstanding DJ can wow the folks on the dancefloor enough that social media apps are the last thing anyone is thinking about while they’re dancing. They make you feel a spectrum of emotions, captivating you with the music, and ensuring that the entire set feels like a roller coaster.

Do you think that DJing creates a new form that can take on the qualities of a composition in its own right? Is this something you strive for?

Absolutely. I believe DJing can be similar to composition.

Drawing from my background as a violinist, I often view DJing through a similar lens of musical arrangement. Especially when I'm juggling multiple decks, it's like layering together tracks into a mesh. It becomes a process of, a bit like "arts and crafts" with songs.

You're not just playing a singular track; you're combining, rearranging, and overlapping parts of different tracks to make something wholly new. While it can be challenging, the outcome is gratifying.

When digging for music to play at your sets, what do you listen for?  

When I'm sifting through music for my sets, I'm drawn to tracks with emotion, groove, and the genuine sounds of analog instruments. In genres like jungle, I'm especially captivated by tracks that maintain the authentic production methods of the 90s. It's not just about high-energy moments for me; sometimes, a track's power lies in its ability to make everyone stand still or hold hands.

Given my background and preference for analog music, I seek out its distinct qualities in potential tracks. Whether it's specific synths or particular musical elements, I find myself gravitating towards sounds reminiscent of the music I grew up with. Genres like dub or trip-hop hold a special place in my heart and act as foundational pillars in my music selection process.

How would you describe the experience of DJing, physically and mentally? Do you listen – and DJ - with your eyes open or closed?

DJing, to me, is a multisensory experience that's both physical and mental. Over time, DJing has evolved into a visual spectacle, and I often find myself closing my eyes when listening to others. This allows me to fully immerse myself in the music, atmosphere, and overall vibe, rather than focusing on the technical blending happening before me.

While I may have observed more keenly in the past, driven by curiosity and the desire to learn, these days I prefer to absorb the sounds from the background.

When I'm the one behind the decks, I DJ with my eyes open. However, my attention isn't so much on the equipment but rather on the crowd. Maintaining eye contact might seem unconventional to some, but it's my way of gauging the energy and seeing how different individuals are connecting with the music. It provides a real-time feedback loop.

How does the decision making process work during a gig with regards to the inclusion of key records, the next transition and where you want the set to go? How far do you tend to plan ahead during a set?

The decision-making process during a gig largely depends on its context. Sometimes, I lean into a heavy jungle set, especially when I sense the audience craving heavier records. At other times, I might be in the mood for a dark, menacing bassy vibe, and I let that guide my selections.

However, when I have the liberty of an extended set, which I'm always grateful for, I allow myself to explore a broader range of tracks, spanning various vibes and genres.

While there are occasions where I meticulously plan, especially if I'm transitioning from one specific genre to another or if I'm working with a vinyl set where I've pre-selected the white labels, most of the time I embrace spontaneity. I tend to be an agent of chaos on the decks, so more often than not, I just wing it and let the moment dictate my choices.

When you're DJing, does it actually feel like you're inventing something on the spot – or are you inventively re-arranging patterns from preparations, practise or previous performances?

When I'm DJing, my sets are always evolving. While there are certain tracks I lean on repeatedly, it's often driven by my own passion for them rather than anticipating the crowd's preferences. I hope my selections resonate with the audience as much as they do with me.

Interestingly, I don't practise as much these days (although I probably should). Sometimes, I find thrill in discovering a track in real-time, much like the crowd does. It might seem unconventional to some, but I envy the crowd's experience of hearing something fresh.

To keep that novelty alive, I often preview only snippets of tracks, preserving the full surprise for both the audience and myself. It adds an element of spontaneity and chaos to the experience.

Describe how the presence of audiences/dancers influences your mixing. How do you engage with them?

The audience plays a significant role in shaping my mixes. Their presence and reactions can strongly influence my track selections.

While I was more reserved in the past, I've grown to truly appreciate the energy and feedback they provide. Seeing them happy and engaged brings me genuine joy.

I make a conscious effort to connect with them, often through eye contact, to ensure we're on the same wavelength. It’s sharing this energy that keeps the night going for me.

Online DJ mixes, created in the studio as a solitary event, have become ubiquitous. From your experience with the format, how does the experience and the way you DJ when you subtract the audience?

When I produce radio shows or compile a podcast for a mix series, I find it a uniquely meditative experience. Without the immediate feedback of an audience, I tend to reflect more deeply on my music selections. This introspective approach contrasts sharply with, say, energising a crowd at 4 a.m. in a club with tracks.

When creating a mix or podcast, I often find myself revisiting the music that influenced me a decade or so ago, reminiscent of the tracks on my iPod Classic in my younger days.

Subtracting the audience introduces a liberating dynamic. You're no longer tethered to their immediate reactions or inclined to maintain a specific energy level. It grants you the freedom to choose tracks purely based on personal preference, turning the process into a more deliberate composition. I find a lot of joy being able to play around a bit more - Can’t be getting away with playing Goldfrapp in the middle of a set at Corsica can I!

I'm also aware that listeners are consuming these mixes in diverse settings: working from home, exercising at the gym, going for a run, or just accompanying their everyday activities, rather than dancing away at 3 a.m. in a club.

Technology has continually taken on more steps of DJing, producing and other "creative" tasks. From your point of view, where does "technology" end and "creativity" begin? Especially in the light of advances in AI, where do you see the role of humans in DJing versus that of technology?

I don't think that AI will really -- (this might be really optimistic of me) replace DJing. Selection and digging is such an emotional and intuitive task, and it’s so temporal and subjective as well. Selection comes from upbringings and stories and those being so inherently personal and intimate mean that we are in certain ways irreplaceable.

Technology has meant that playing out has become digitised, which is great because it means that more people are able to access equipment as vinyl / turntables have become more inaccessible. Commercial DJs are already using AI to make their playlist because they need their tracks to sync up with the pyrotechnics at mainstream EDM festivals.

When it comes to the actual underground I think that the ritual of coming together and dancing and having someone orchestrate a crowd - I sure hope we don’t automate it.

Collaboration is a key part of almost every aspect of music making, but it is stil rare in DJing. Do you have an idea why this is? Tell me about your own views on back-to-back DJing, interactions with live musicians or other forms of turning DJing into a more collective process.

I think that collaboration is becoming increasingly popular in dance music. I’m seeing people from different sides of dance music form connections, which I think is fantastic.

I personally like going back to back but especially when the other person plays noticeably different stuff to me. I think we should definitely have more of it, because it’ll drive us all to explore sounds we would have otherwise maybe not looked at.

DJing requires empathy, focus, time management, patience, and vision, among others. Are you finding that the way you play influences the way your life your life and vice versa?

Absolutely, DJing demands significant time management, given the late nights and constant traveling, leading to physical exhaustion. While the way I play doesn't directly influence my day-to-day life, my lifestyle has shaped how I approach DJing. Lately, I've been more selective about gigs, prioritising ones that truly excite me rather than feeling like I'm just going through the motions.

Patience is crucial in this field. Many of us have felt the urge to give up at different points. I often find myself questioning my career choice, despite the immense rewards and opportunities I've received. The demanding bit of DJing can be draining and even demoralising, especially when you pour your heart into every set.

Do you feel as though DJing is inherently different from something like making a great cup of coffee? What do you express through music that you couldn't or wouldn't in more 'mundane' tasks?

Absolutely, DJing stands apart from mundane stuff, like making coffee, due to the communal experience. When I play a song, it might make each punter have individual memories of that track, or collectively resonate with a group, triggering shared memories from past parties or raves. Such moments create a magical moment, a connection that a simple, albeit delightful, cup of coffee can't replicate for me.

Music is a gateway to collective memory and emotion in a way that most mundane tasks aren't.

Let's imagine you lost all your music for one night and all there is left at the venue is a crate of records containing a random selection of music. How would you approach this set?

Wow, that’d be hard! I know some places where people dive into random record collections, and this sounds like one of those moments.

I'd hope to spot a few records I know, but if not, I'd try to get a feel from the album covers or any names I recognize. It’d be tough, but I'd go with the flow.

If it’s new to me, then we’d all be hearing it fresh, and that could be a cool shared experience.