Natalia Maus: The 'Shine A Light On' Mix

Music

Natalia Maus commissions music videos for labels like Domino, R&S Records, Island and Greco Roman, as well as working in sync, pitching music for TV, film and ads. Her new project Volumes, matches artists with novels, asking them to respond to the words musically via a mixtape or through original compositions. Aside from her regular 9-5 work she's also a really really good DJ with great taste to boot, something we had already caught wind of when we welcomed her for a guest mix on our R$N radio show earlier this year.

Suitably impressed by her eclectic selections, we decided to get her on board for a mix of squelchy electronics. A perfect soundtrack for your pre drinks this weekend…

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

I describe myself as a music and picture matchmaker. But I have a few fingers in a few pies…so bear with me! I’m a music video commissioner. Essentially I find directors to make music videos on behalf of record labels and oversee each video. I’m also a music sync rep – I represent labels and artists for sync, getting their music placed for films, TV, ads, trailers and games. I’ve just started working with a new music publisher called Mood Gospel on A&R, actively looking for cool stuff to sign FYI! And finally I have a pretty new project called Volumes, curating artists to respond to books musically, via a mixtape, original compositions or a combo.

Where was the mix recorded?

In my bedroom.

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

Anywhere you feel comfortable head bopping or arm flailing.

What should we be wearing?

Ideally some wool slippers, but otherwise anything to keep your feet warm. The rest is up to you.

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

A warm exotic outdoor location with a very engaged audience who are listening to every track intently, but not too intently to notice any shambolic mixing. Always love playing vinyl so some technics and XDJ combo and some nice booth monitors, thanks!

Which track in the mix is your current favourite?

I can never get enough of Glowing Palms’ ‘Ask Me After Midnite’ which is a Caribbean-flavoured cover of Skream’s dubstep track ‘Midnight Request Line’. The video is also great.

What’s your favourite recorded mix of all time?

I don’t have best of lists, but one I have been enjoying recently is Simple Symmetry’s mix for art:cast #29 from last year. Such a brilliant intro.

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

Probably David Mancuso since he inspired the parties I like going to in London like Beauty & The Beat and All Our Friends. And we’d look good together behind the decks (it’s all about how you look now).

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

This is my first DJ setup! Got 2 x 1210 technics and a Pioneer XDJ-RX2 with some lovely KRK speakers that my last housemate donated to me (thanks Dan!)

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

We live in the age of ‘grab them by the balls in the first 15 seconds, or they’ll start scrolling instagram'. So the start, most definitely.

What were the first and last records you bought?

I honestly cannot remember the first record I bought! It wouldn’t have been on Discogs, but my first Discogs record I bought was Nathan Fake – The Sky Was Pink. The last record I bought was German prog band Supersempfft’s record ‘Roboterwerke’ in Red Light Records in Amsterdam and comes with a really cool comic on the record sleeve.