Rachel Auburn: Hard House (Or Yoga) For Ever

"I've been playing hard house forever, and fortunately or unfortunately, I'm not that bothered about changes, so I'll stick to what I'm known for. Am I going to be a DJ forever- I don't know. All I know is that I don't see myself as changing my style and buying electro records just because some trendy new fashion is now in."

As well as remaining one of the biggest draws on the still thriving hard house scene, Rachel Auburn has an impeccable pedigree as one of club culture's greatest talent spotters, helping launch the careers of Paul Masterton (aka Yomanda), The Visitor (aka Jon Pleased Women) and Sister Bliss (aka the blonde one in Faithless). She's also a long term confidant of underground operator John Truelove (who's consistently nurtured London's acid tekno scene) though it's her own life she's currently focusing on the most.

"I will definitely be carrying on DJing for the time being, but I also want to expand," Rachel told Benedetta Skrufff this week.

"I'll be going to Kerala in India, to study Shivananda Yoga very soon. I would like to take on teaching yoga and raise an income from that as well."

The principle reason for this week's interview, though, is Rachel's upcoming New Years Eve gig at Brighton's mixed gay shindig The Pussycat, taking place in her home town of Hove (several miles down the coast from Brighton's Piers).


Skrufff (Benedetta Ferraro): Given that you're from Hove, is the Pussycat party planned as some sort of homecoming-

Rachel Auburn: "Oh no, I don't think they even realise it. It would be perfect, but in reality it's just another gig within the really busy schedule I have around this Christmas."

Skrufff: How much do you find the vibe tends to differ on NYE compared to other nights-

Rachel Auburn: "It's totally different. It's a party night and people tend to get more on a mission to have a good time. I think it's less focussed on the music the DJ plays and more on being out with your mates."

Skrufff: What kind of set will you be spinning-

Rachel Auburn: "Well, I always play trash anyway, so it won't be radically different (laughing). It's the sort of time when I'd tend to play more hits, or stuff that has gone down well during the year."

Skrufff: Your old protege Jon Pleased Wimmin (aka The Visitor) told us this week that having ditched house and hard dance music for disco/electro almost 4 years ago, he's never going back, do you see a point when you might do the same-

Rachel Auburn: "No, I don't think so. I've been playing hard house forever, and fortunately or unfortunately, I'm not that bothered about changes, so I'll stick to what I'm known for. I don't want to carry on DJing for the next 20 years, if I decide to, then I suppose I would have to become more versatile. Having said that, I have incorporated some house in my set recently and even some disco at times, especially if I play at friends' parties, but I don't think I'll ever be known as a house DJ or electro DJ in the future. I don't know. Am I going to be a DJ forever- I don't know. All I know is that I don't see myself as changing my style and buying electro records just because some trendy new fashion is now in."

Skrufff: We've often spotted your long term collaborator John Truelove at Nag, Egg, Return to NY, how much has this electro/ 80s new wave scene impacted on you/ energised you-

Rachel Auburn: "John is a Sagittarius, he's very outgoing and always into new trends, he lives for going out and loves it more than anything else. I find Nag and The Cock absolutely refreshing too, because I love that electro sound, and I love that whole dressing up thing. I'm glad clubbers are getting back into dressing up again and using their imaginations more."

Skrufff: I understand the Pussycat is a genuinely mixed club, almost 50/50 gay/straight, how much do you see the scenes blending again-

Rachel Auburn: "Gay/mixed clubs are very much a London thi Tags

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