Larger than life, Lady Shaka, pays homage to her Islander ancestors in an exclusive mix
Words by Noor Palette
Lady Shaka is not someone you would ever forget if you’ve had the chance to see her play. With a larger than life aura, Lady Shaka is known for her upbeat sets that make you rage, twerk, vogue and wine. She is IAMDDB's official DJ and has has played across Europe, Asia and Australasia. Here, Lady Shaka talks to us about DJing during a pandemic, her mixed heritage and ancestral linkages and gives us an exciting introduction to her new mix ‘Tupuna,’ meaning Ancestors, which you can press play to enjoy below.
1) Who is Lady Shaka? Give us 3 top fire facts about you
I am apart of In*ter*island Collective which is London’s only Pacific Island Arts collective. I have been fortunate enough to have my work featured at the Royal Academy of Arts (UK), Raven Row (UK), National Maritime Museum (UK), British Library (UK) and Musee De Quai Branly (Paris)
When I was 14 I became a 2x World Hip Hop Dance Championship Gold Medalist under the guidance of Parris Goebel with the Royal Family and Sorority.
I am the official DJ for IAMDDB and will be performing in a space near you so keep your eyes peeled on my Instagram for more information.
2) You're a multidisciplinary artist, immersed in many areas from writing, film to dance. How did music begin to hold such a special place for you and what pushed you to learn how to DJ?
Since I can remember, my Dad would always be playing the guitar singing songs in the kitchen, in the lounge, in public, basically everywhere we went so music was very much around me at all times. My family is very musical from my siblings, to my cousins and even those that have now passed on, so I grew up playing the violin, ukulele, guitar and drums as we all learnt how to play instruments. Music speaks to my body in ways that I can’t even explain and for such a long time I had wanted others to feel that burning energy in the pit of their stomach just like me. For me being able to create the energy and vibe was something that DJing gave me and rather than being the twerking friend in the DJ booth I was like you know what? I want to be the twerking DJ in the DJ booth.
3) Your taste in music stretches far and wide, playing music from many places and in many languages, how did you build such a beautiful library and are you intentional with what you listen to and mix?
When I was in primary school I was absolutely obsessed with Bollywood music, percussion and music from all around the world. I was fortunate enough to grow up in a multi-cultural society where I was constantly surrounded by culture and music from all walks of life. As an indigenous person paying homage to our ancestors with our traditional music is important, hence why I feel so alive when I hear music in one’s mother tongue, whether it belongs to me or not. I am very intentional with my music choice, basically how ever I feel is what is going to come out. When I DJ, I see myself as the creator of the energy and the vibe and I don’t like to limit myself by genres. My style is very fluid and continuously develops just like a plant.
4) As a fellow DJ, I’ve been missing playing live music and receiving energy in return. How has it been for you during this time and with playing virtual events?
I have been very fortunate to be able to have performed at some pretty amazing virtual gigs engaging with people from all around the world. Sadly, it has begun to slow down due to the fact that things are opening up and all these cute parties are popping up left, right and centre. I really do miss DJing for large crowds and being extra in person. Lockdown was super hard for me, but Leo season came the fuck through and saved my sanity.
5) You’re the director and curator of Pulotu Underworld. What is Pulotu Underworld and why is the club night close to your heart?
Pulotu Underworld is London’s first and only Pacific club night that celebrates Pacific Island culture and artistry. It is an event that is for and by people of the Pacific and a safe space for QTIPOC to engage with our unique sound. ‘Pulotu’ is the name of the place where our ancestors rest and we wanted this event to pay homage to that and celebrate our ancestors. Pulotu Underworld is super important for the UK’s Pacific Island community as we are such a small minority with limited to no connections amongst our community. Pulotu Underworld is my journey home to the Moana (ocean) to my turangawaewae (place of birth) and will always be that magical place for myself and our community.
6) You spoke about the idea of home with UK Black Pride. It resonated with me when you said “Home is a feeling I take with me wherever I go.” How would you say you’re able to achieve this?
When I first moved to the UK back in 2014, I was young, excited, naive but also very homesick. My environment was completely different, the people and way of life was the polar opposite. I spent so long missing my family. Over the years I realised that my home is my family and no matter how far away they are from me I carry them in my heart wherever I go in this world.
7) What has been your experience navigating the music industry so far? Tell me one thing that you wish could change and one thing that you think should stay
When I first moved here the struggle was real! I was working at Deliveroo trying to survive and at the same time trying to make it as an artist in London. I was literally the stereotypical ‘young, struggling, artist’. My main goal was to create art and make it as a dancer without realising that one day I was going to end up becoming a DJ. I am so glad to have a lot of support from the UK’s QTIPOC community and been able to share my magic with the community. I am a very driven person and when I want something to happen I push myself and try every which way to get my foot in the door. I am very fortunate to have the opportunities that have come my way over the past year and I will say that I did not expect to have broken into the music industry the way that I have and so soon into my career. If I could change on thing it would be for DJs of all walks of life to big each other up and support one another to continue to grow in their sound and artistry.
8) What has been your favourite DJ moment and why?
Hands down ‘Beat Festival’ Switzerland was the sickest gig I have ever done! It was the biggest crowd who were moshing and screaming the lyrics to every song I played and on top of that it was my first gig with IAMDDB in front of 10,000 fans of her music. I can’t even explain how electrifying it was to be on stage twerking for a screaming crowd and then changing the track from one banger to another. I will never forget the joy and tears in my parents eyes when they called me from New Zealand to say how proud they were.
9) What can someone expect from a set from Lady Shaka?
Love, sex and magic, so in other words you are either going to wanna make love with someone in the club; put your heels on and feel like a sexy bitch or feel that indigenous, extra, high energy, crazy magic that flows from my ancestors through me like the ocean. All my sets are made for someone who loves to dance, as a dancer if it doesn’t make me want to groove or go full out then I am not doing my job. I play so many genres, but what I do love is a good throwback. I also rep my hood West Auckland and bring that energy to my sets so I never forget where I came from, my roots.
10) Finally, please give a little intro to the mix you made for us. What energy are we bringing with this one?
This mix is called Tupuna which means Ancestors. It pays homage to my Māori, Samoan, Tokelauan, Tahitian and Cape Verdean ancestry with a main focus on music from the Pacific Islands. This mix celebrates Pacific artists (Melanesian and Polynesian) old and new and the music that our aunties, cousins, mums and dads blasted in their cars when we were growing up. It also has elements of music from the African diaspora more in particular Cabo Verde to pay homage to my Kriola side. All in all, it is islander as fuck and I am here for all of it. To all the people who mocked us for our FOB music that blasted out of our phones at the back of the bus, ya’ll can kiss my ass bitch and that’s on perioddttt.
Find more of Lady Shaka: @ladyshaka