Comics

Over The Edge Page 10

December 2 2002

ANNIKA, WE NEEO
TO INCREASE BRAND
RECOGNITION
AND READERS UIP!

NO, NO,NO!
YOu WANT
MEAT CoRTANS !

YES, You CRave
LUScious aaensts |!

WASN'T
TRAT YOUR

lll-Esha: A Ray of f Light in ‘a Wormhole of Despair

By Phil Lowry

When one thinks of the word
“rave” one most commonly
thinks of drugs and other frivo-
lous activity. Raves have
become very much an avenue
for anything of a degenerate
nature. Even many of the DJ’s
nowadays seem to lack energy
and enthusiasm. This is why |
find Ill-Esha and her music to
be such a ray of light in this
wormhole of despair. When Ill-
Esha _ spins, people take
notice. People crowd tightly
around the DJ booth hang off
every note. Amongst the
crowd | could hear multiple
people saying “Wow, this is
AMAZING’, and other words
of amazement and praise. So,
after her marvellous set | had
the chance to have a quick
question and answer session.

Over The Edge: What was

it about electronica that
attracted you?
lll-Esha: | just started

playing in live bands, and | just

heard these DJs one day and
they sounded really good to
me and different. | was playing
pop music and it was getting
really stale to me. | began

going to parties and meeting |

the people and they were
friendly and accommodating. |
was a bit of an outcast during
school. | tried the punk scene,
but it seemed that they were
too stuck up for me. | found
that the people in the rave
scene were like “Hey, you
know what?” “We’re here mak-
ing music and we don't care
who you are and what you look
like. This is who we are and we
accept you.”

OTE: | read that you
become weary of the rave
scene? Can you tell me what
brought about these feelings?

I-E: Well | found out that all
the bad press that raves were
getting in the papers was only
making the situation worse.
Kids were going “Oh, sensa-
tional! Drugs! Raves!” It

sounds rebellious to them.
Before, people were as young
as maybe 17-25, they all held
down jobs and they all had
responsibilities. They all had
fun and making and enjoying
music was an outlet for them.

OTE: How would you classi-
fy your style?

I-E: | like to call my style of

ee os,

Photo by Phil Lowry
lll-Esha mixes it up while people
take notice

music “vocal drum and bass”,
but | just like to play anything
with soul, funk, and anything
with a broken beat.

OTE: | really love how you
incorporate live vocals into
your music. How did that
come about?

I-E: | started off as a
vocalist. | began singing with
other people and | found that
most people (other DJs) were

limiting themselves. | want to
do everything.

OTE: Thoughts on
Madonna... ...

|.E: The thing | admire
about Madonna is that she’s
always breaking barriers. She
stays on top, not because
she’s riding on her fame, but
because she doesn't hesitate
to try something innovative.
Funny you mentioned her, she
actually happens to be one of
my role models. Madonna
reminds me that whenever |
begin to feel stagnant, the only
way to keep evolving as an

artist is to take chances.

OTE: What do you think are
the necessary ingredients for a
good rave.

I-E: Well, as much as |
don’t like age discrimination |
think people under 16 just
don’t have the capacity to think
of what is acceptable and what
is not. There should be a min-
imum age limit.

Also there should be a good
variety of music. A lot of par-
ties only feature one style of
music. Decorations are also
important. Lately parties have
just become a room and a DJ.
If | go to a party and | see a7
foot tall mushroom | would
think. Wow, this person really
cares. Whereas a lot of the
time you pay 40 bucks and you
get a warehouse.

OTE: Where can we find
your music?

I-E: -www.ill-esha.com

www.the-dj.com