Dela Moontribe plays bass music spanning a range that includes drum and bass, dubstep, psychill, glitch, and downtempo. Dub, tribal, funk, hip-hop, tech, industrial, and trance elements infuse her music, joining deep basslines and thundering bottom ends. Dela’s sets are a lyrical and psychedelic experience. She is one of the featured artists at Earth Frequency Festival this year.
What exactly is the Moontribe Collective? Can you tell me a little about the full moon gatherings?
Moontribe is a community of people who come together to honour love and life through a ritual celebration of the full moon. We hold space for each other to explore things such as: who we are, what we believe in, what inspires us, what our boundaries are, who our friends are, how to be a better person, how to love each other – you know, basic hippy stuff.
The DJs and organisers volunteer their time, the gatherings are funded by donations, and the money collected only goes towards making the gatherings happen (equipment, land rental, insurance, etc). The volunteers generally are people who have been inspired/touched/transformed by their experience at the gatherings and feel the desire to help out. Some of those volunteers become integral to the gatherings and end up becoming organisers. It’s a very organic process.
Moontribe will be celebrating its 25th anniversary this June. We’ve had so many people deeply involved over that time, but no-one who was at the organising core at the beginning is still an organiser now. We’ve had to learn how to pass Moontribe – the idea, the ritual, and the vibration – from one generation to another. It’s kind of an amazing thing.
How did you find your way to DJing? It seems to be a very male-dominated arena? Is it? Is there a play gap?
Brad from Moontribe taught me the basics of DJing; some I learned while dancing/listening, and the rest I’ve learned from experience.
Brad and I used to go record shopping together and I would help him listen through the records, giving my opinion along the way. Pretty soon, I wanted to shop and buy my own records. Since he and our roommate Ben Annand had techno, house, and breaks pretty well covered, I chose to focus on downtempo. My interest in downtempo eventually led me to dubstep, which then led me to drum and bass.
There’s no doubt that DJing is dominated by guys, probably because it started that way. There are many talented women around in today’s scene and I look forward to more joining! I’m sure having role models and mentors around will help bring more female DJs into the fold. I’ve been fortunate to have been very well supported by my male friends through my whole journey – I wouldn’t be DJing today without them!
What informs you as a DJ?
Other inspiring DJs, good music, painting, and yoga.
What was the music you first loved?
I had many first loves: classical, new wave, jazz, world, industrial, and funk.
What is the music that you are finding yourself passionate about now?
I’m always passionate about music that pushes boundaries and creates deep and ecstatic feelings.
What should we expect for your
EFF sets?
I’m planning on playing a set of energetic DnB and a set of downtempo/midtempo/halftime bass music.
Del Moontribe plays Earth Frequency Festival 16–19 February. For tickets and info go to
www.earthfrequency.com.au
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