Threads IWD - Fèmmme Fraîche Takeover w. Kim Lana
Kim Lana is a house DJ, and proud Trans woman from Todmorden, near rural queer utopia Hebden Bridge (It’s the Lesbian capitol of the UK if you didn’t know). Co-creator and curator of Valley Fever, her regular monthly queer party in Todmorden she runs with Esme, which also gave birth to Iconoclast, a new queer Electronic Music event now in its second year attracting people out of the city to party in the Cuntry. No stranger to the decks, as well as DJ-ing at her own parties, Kim is also a regular for famed queer clubnights up north, Homoelectric and Love Muscle. Kim’s been on our radar for some time and when we were asked to host a two-hour takeover show on Threads for International Womens day, we invited her to send us a guest mix, as one the first of our three DJ’s we wanted to platform on the show. Her 40 min mix, is a blissful journey through bumpin, pumpin house, which aired on Threads FM on International Womens Day. Tuesday 8th Feb 2022, 22:00 - 22:40 GMT. - and you can listen back below. Get to know Kim Lana with our quick-fire Q&A below.
QUICK Q&A WITH KIM LANA
What is your DJ Name?
Kim Lana
Where are you currently based?
Todmorden
Where are you originally from?
I was born Inverness, grew up in Leeds, moved to Todmorden 18yrs ago
Describe your sound in 6 words?
I try to make it feel
Tell us a bit about the mix, how did you curate it?
I’ve bought so many records over lockdown times and loads of stuff I didn’t have, gone through loads of old collections so this is made out of that. It’s quite steady by modern standards. a breakdown and a deep moment. It’s got a tune at the end (Violet- Burn the elastic) I’ve played loads recently and played this speech over it at Homoelectric was a real moment from last year.
How long have you been DJ-ing and how did you first get into it?
I started to learn to DJ in the youth club... as a youth worker, 1) so I could help the young people and 2) who doesn’t to want to try and mix a record? 2009ish. But actually playing out since 2015. I think it was upstairs in the a Golden lion. I honestly knew nothing about the roots of house music, but feel stupid saying that now... but anyway me getting into house music and transitioning at the same time and discovering Honey Dijon made me feel proud.. and when I wasn’t feeling proud I could stay in and mix tunes. Ask any trans woman, transitioning isn’t easy so I held onto Djing and made a little world in it.
Do you have anything music-wise you're particularly excited about this year?
At the moment Kiya, Amy and myself are working hard to be ready to announce this years lineup for our festival ICONOCLAST in Todmorden. Where we’re running 15 hrs of queer clubbing across 3 venues in the town. Centred around the Golden Lion pub, it’s a really unique event, I still can’t believe we’ve pulled off. Last year went better than we could have hoped. I can’t wait to host it again.
Personally I’m just looking forward to all the bookings I have this year. Meeting new people, going to new places, just can’t wait!
You can also catch Kim Lana playing on our Fèmmme Fraîche stage at Wilderness festival on 4th July.