MLE: The 'Shine A Light On' Mix

Music

London-based DJ MLE has an intiuitive and inquisitive nature that's well beyond her years. Through her DJ sets and radio shows, formerly on Balamii and now on Worldwide FM and Noods, she has been navigating the darker experimental corners of dance music, from coldwave and electro to deconstructed club music and experimental pop edits.

By day you can find her behind the counter at one of Soho's leading record shops, Sounds Of The Universe, and as a longtime member of the Rhythm Section team she helps to steer their sister label International Black.

We invited her on board for a mix that sees her connects the dots between broken club rhythms, acid, electro and bass…

Please introduce yourself… Who are you, where are you and what are you

My name is Emily aka MLE

What does your music sound like? Can you draw what you think it sounds like for us (an image from the old internet is acceptable)?

Everything… I go through periods of what I enjoy playing most UK Funky, bass-y bits, jersey club through to techno, electro and ebm as my mainstay sounds

Where was the mix recorded?

In my laundry room at my house 🙂

What would be the ideal setting to listen to the mix?

I made all my housemates listen to this on their commutes home – so maybe on your commute or in the garden enjoying last mins of sunshine before autumn fully closes in

What should we be wearing?

Well your in your garden so anything that your comfortable in

What would be your dream setting to record a mix: Location/system/format?

I genuinely hate recording mixes despite how often I sometimes pump them out – I get soooo frustrated so ideally somewhere pretty zen – or just record a set I’m playing out out (I would have recorded my one from knee deep)

Which track in the mix is your current favourite?

Eliphino’s track "IG Messenger" from his forthcoming EP – it's been pretty extraordinary to watch him to develop as an artist over the last couple of years and now he is back with a vengeance

What’s your favourite recorded mix of all time?

Anu recorded her discwoman mix at my house and I was sooooo impressed with her selection so probably that, but also bruce’s Dekmantel boiler room was insane – such a lovely lovely man. Alsooo maybe debonairs RA mix – debs is such a legend – unable to pick a fave so I’ll give each one of these my number one

If you could go back to back with any DJ from throughout history, who would it be and why?

Probably Helena Hauff – been a massive massive fan of her for years only magnified by the fact she can fly planes

What was your first DJ set up at home and what is it now?

I have had a few over the years but when I was in uni I bought myself a really old pair of numarks which I struggled to use on the regs due to usb formatting but now I live with five boys and three of them DJ so we have three mixers in our house one Rotary DJMS, one two channel Xone, and my own pioneer DJM250 with a built in sound card – we also have a pair of technics and 2 XDJ 700s.

What’s more important, the track you start on or the track you end on?

I struggle with finishing mixes – I’ve noticed it in myself that the beginning always feels more planned and towards the end it gets a bit more wayward so I would say the beginning. This is a track by Si Begg which I started my dimensions set with but abstract vocal sample meaning I can go anywhere I want

What were the first and last records you bought?

First record I ever bought was Prince "Lets Go Crazy" and the B side was "Erotic City". The most recent record I bought was butterfred LP2

If this mix was an edible thing, what would it taste like?

Halloumi – cause thats my favourite food and it's a lil salty

If it was an animal what would it be?

Something hectic like a bushbaby scurrying around at night

One record in your collection that is impossible to mix into anything?

Too many records I own I find impossible to mix.. so soo many noise tracks

Upcoming in the world of MLE?

I’ve just finished my first summer of festivals – playing at Dimensions was a massive highlight as well as Knee Deep with my Noods family. I’ve also just started a monthly show on Worldwide FM which is pretty exciting & gigs toooo – some fun ones in the mix I’m pretty excited for, as well as an exciting project I’m putting together at RS HQ.