‘I will never forget the experience of virtual clubbing’: DJ Olly Waldron talks moving LGBTQ+ spaces online and turning quarantine queer
If someone had told you a year ago that an online DJ set would be the highlight of your week, it may have been hard to believe. But, Olly Waldron is proving that it could be something we continue to enjoy long after the world returns to normal. Conor Clark spoke to him about adapting to the pandemic and the importance of using his platform for good
Hi Olly! How long has it been since you first started out as a DJ?
Hiya love! Nice to chat to you. I taught myself how to DJ in my late teens, and took the plunge into nightlife in March of 2019, so just fresh into my twenties. Since I was tiny, music has been my sanctuary. I would spend hours making mixtapes for my friends and family, designing sleeve artwork – even recording my own angst-ridden album at one point, which thankfully is forever lost in the ether. I remember when my mum would take me to get my haircut at the local barbershop, I would bring a plethora of CDs for them to play over the sound system – which my boyfriend has just described as “the most ‘you’ thing I’ve ever heard”.
How have you adapted to working virtually during lockdown?
It was tricky at first. I had so much planned for 2020; not only to bring my Girls Night Out event further afield, but I had a ton more event ideas buzzing around. When lockdown began, I had moments of feeling really disillusioned and uninspired – I missed my friends, nightlife was on its arse, and there didn’t seem much point in planning an event when there’s no hope for group gatherings on the horizon. This is where Queerantine came in. I had the idea to start recording an LGBTQ+ podcast – in which I could play some tunes and have frank discussions about current affairs and protecting mental health during lockdown. I soon realised what everyone needs right now is escapism, so this idea turned to streaming live DJ sets on Instagram. The momentum picked up, and before long I was hosting a balls-to-the-wall live weekly party on Zoom. I have been able to see everyone’s faces, everyone dancing and luckily, the feedback from the community watching has been rapturous.
What can we expect to hear during a typical set of yours?
I have quite an innate skill of knowing what an audience will want to hear, and have always kept my ear to the ground with new releases and what’s happening in more ‘underground’ scenes. Most of the lovely lot that come to my sets are LGBTQ+, who like to hear a majority of female pop artists – Madonna, Beyoncé, Britney, Janet, Kylie, Gaga… to name a few. My main branch of music is what’s hilariously referred to as ‘alt gay’ – meaning I do selfishly slip in as much Kate Bush, Björk and Robyn as possible.
The majority of my friends are bang into music, so I also learn from them what everyone’s into, or what the favourite tracks on a new album are. I’m also really passionate about championing queer artists, so love to play music by upcoming or unsigned artists to give them a glimmer of exposure.
Tell us about the recent Queerantine Pride Month Special you hosted.
Although my platform is still tiny, I wanted to invest as much energy in the Black Lives Matter movement as possible. There is colossal power in both unity and solidarity, and I think no matter your presence or number of followers, just one share of a post, or one interaction can trigger an important conversation or protest. I was really inspired by the work of UK Black Pride – which is Europe’s largest celebration for LGBTQ+ people of African, Asian, Caribbean, Middle Eastern and Latin American descent. They produce an annual celebration during Pride Month, as well as a variety of activities throughout the year in and around the UK, which also promote and advocate for the spiritual, emotional, and intellectual health and wellbeing of the communities they represent.
I held a fundraiser to run concurrently with that week’s Queerantine, and was genuinely humbled and proud to raise over £220 on behalf of UK Black Pride, especially at a time when they may be having financial cutbacks from the event being pulled this year.
How would you explain what Girls Night Out is and your part in it to someone that has never heard of it?
The event was originally coined by my friend and local DJ legend Christopher Dresden Styles. I would frequent the nights he hosted and pester him with my ideas, mainly born from frustration of not hearing the music I wanted outside of his events. I am a die-hard fan of the record label and art collective ‘PC Music’, which is known for its surreal or exaggerated take on pop music. Artists within their roster include Charli XCX, SOPHIE, Hannah Diamond, LIZ, Danny L Harle, Caroline Polachek and Carly Rae Jepsen. Christopher came up with the idea to encompass and celebrate this genre with our ‘Girls Night Out’ event, named after the Charli XCX song. This gave me a huge leg-up to Manchester nightlife, and I was employed to DJ the event with my gorgeous friend, the recording artist and drag queen Monopoly Phonic.
We play music by the aforementioned artists and whatever is hot in the LGBTQ+ community, but also delve into the ‘not-as-mainstream’ pool of pop – artists like Kim Petras, Slayyyter, Tove Lo and Pabllo Vittar. I’ve also been known to whip out Blackpool legend Millie B’s ‘Soph Aspin Send’, which has been a contender for the best two minutes of my life. We have been lucky enough to host Girls Night Out over fifteen times across Manchester and London, received support from the artists we play, and got to know a wonderful community of people that come along.
Are there any upcoming projects you’re working on that we can look forward to as the UK eases out of lockdown?
I have lots of ideas for real-life events to host in the future, but am still investing as much energy as I can into Queerantine. Dressing my living room up with pride flags, tinsel curtains and disco lights every Saturday has not only been incredibly fun for me, but the feedback I’ve had from those who join the Zoom has been priceless. It’s such a warm, community-led celebration, and I feel really proud to host it every week.
Even though lockdown is easing, our nightclubs are still in dire straits. Therefore, I will be doing my best to continue Queerantine as long as people keep enjoying it. It has not only been great practice and kept my passion for DJing alive, it has strengthened my bonds with the community at a time when we all feel apart and without the support net that sensitive queer kids need. I will never forget the experience of virtual clubbing, and you can follow me on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter @QueerantineLive for all the updates!
