BABY MONET is a deejay from Adelaide/Kaurna, South Australia who has proven their skill and versatility throughout 2021. BABY MONET has been a noteworthy fixture in some of Adelaide's biggest events, including supporting Berlin icon Cinthie, Partiboi69, X Club, Foura and Motez. Excitingly versatile, BABY MONET is equally as capable playing energetic house numbers and she is dirty techno thumpers.
Hi Em! Could you tell me a bit about yourself?
I am a practising sound artist and dj, living and working on Kaurna Land. I deejay at clubs, festivals and have recently developed a live show which uses vocal loops, soundscapes and hardware exploring identity in the face of the void, ideas of femininity, experiences of euphoria, and the relationship between nature and technology.
What was the catalyst for your interest in music, and becoming a dj?
I have been singing since before I could talk, and music was always a huge part of my life in school and was involved in everything music related from big band, choir, musicals, and smaller ensembles. I began deejaying for fun after attending raves and club nights and being overwhelmed by the underground club culture that had such a power to move me through beat, groove, and essence. I remember the first time I ever played in public was at a park picnic hooked up to the BBQ electricity to no more that 20 people, a month after that I was asked to play at a friend’s rave and then 2 months after that hearing about my set, I was booked for my first real club gig by Neat Collective and the rest is history.
Who are your idols and inspirations?
I have too many to mention but I am inspired by so many women in production who also sing on their tracks, the likes of Caroline Polachek, Grimes, Pretty Girl, SOPHIE, FKA twigs, yeule, Lyra Pramuk etc. I also cannot forget all the iconic women pioneers of electronic music from the 50s and 60s, Wendy Carlos, Delia Derbyshire, Daphne Oram. I keep my inspirations on a revolving door, fluid, like myself. I am constantly finding new styles and music and my listening habits rarely remain the same. One day I’ll be listening to the blissed out progressive house of Small Hours, then the ambient sections of Priori and the next I’ll be blasting Chippy Nonstop.
How did the name Baby Monet come to be?
I always had an affinity for the impressionism art style of the mid 19th century and loved the ambiguity and abstraction that came from the style rather than realistic representation. One of the head honchos of the style Claude Monet was always a figure that ran through my childhood. My full name also has the word ‘monnet’ in it if you squish all the words together, so Baby Monet felt right.
Could you tell us a bit about your sound?
My sets have been described by bookers as “unpredictable” before so I wish I could just leave it at that. However, I would say my sound incorporates, melody and groove in what some call “progressive house” or “bush trance”, however it would not be a Baby Monet set imho without some cheeky breakbeat. Breaks, littered through a trance or techno set has become a bit of a signature for me.
For someone who’s never been to Kaurna Country (Adelaide), could you describe the local electronic music scene? And, how does it compare to Naarm?
I will always have a soft spot for Adelaide, being my home town. There is so much talent in this small town and I am constantly in awe of the creative output of those around me. There are so many community based events in Adelaide that are foster the talent and tastes of the scene. While the Kaurna sound is influenced somewhat by the Naarm scene they’re are also so many heads who have been consistently outputting a sound that is uniquely their style. The snake pit parties come to mind. A good friend of mine and dj, Hans (Transition Records, Visitors) told me that to have a thriving underground electronic music scene you need good record stores, good radio, and good venues. While there are less record stores in Adelaide than Naarm, the ones we do have are quickly becoming some of the best places to hang out on a Saturday and that’s amazing to see in our community. I am also involved with Three D radio, a local community station down here in Tandanya (Adelaide) which has produced some amazing electronic shows such as Dreaming Daisies, Strange Rampage, and Raw like Sushi. We also have some amazing crews and promoters, big shout out to Small City Systems who only began a consistent club night in 2022 yet have quickly become a must see.
What has been the most exciting project or event you’ve been apart of? And why?
Being asked to put a live show together to support icon Matthew Adey (House of Unholy) and Brett Davis (Spririts) in the Illuminate Adelaide Festival has definitely been a highlight this year, it really got me out of my comfort zone in creating something through voice that was experimental but also able to transition into something that people could dance to. It opened a whole new world in the live electronic realm that I am excited to explore more. Supporting Cinthie this year with the Front Room was also a highlight.
As a woman in the extremely male-dominated arena that is the music industry, what have been your experiences? How does it affect your work?
Sometimes it can be hard. Not so much as a dj but as a promoter trying to book shows etc or even just working in the industry, being taken seriously as a young woman can be an uphill battle. I once waited at a café for a business meeting that had been planned weeks in advance and confirmed over text that day due to the certain male (who is younger than me), getting caught in a different meeting that went overtime and telling me 45 minutes after the time we were meant to meet.
And, what would you like to see change?
I want to see more women booking shows and owning venues. I am so glad Kaurna land has venues such as Ancient World and Gang Gang Social which are fully or partly women owned.
What’s next for you? Any exciting upcoming projects?
Following Baby Monet’s successful Naarm debut at Section 8 for FOURA’s Off License, they will be back for a second Naarm show on the 14th of September for Inertia at Colour Club alongside Natural Selection’s Ed Kent. Keep an ear out for an Area 3000 and The Sound Gallery mix during October and out in the sticks on the weekend of the 30thsept -3rd October they will be closing the Friday night of 3-day camping festival OZERO Music and Arts at the stunning Lake Alexandrina, tickets still available.
Upcoming gigs can usually be found on instagram!!
