Why DJ Marla Believes It's Time to Break Free from Others' Opinions

🎶 Meet Marla - the free-spirited DJ, illustrator, and street artist based in Bielefeld. 🎨 With a love for music instilled in her from childhood, Marla's style is experimental with an ear for details. She's known for her brain dance music sets that are always pushing boundaries. As the curator of the Female DJ series, Marla is dedicated to addressing the underrepresentation of women in the music industry. 🙋‍♀️

🔥 Marla believes that DJing is all about passion, not fame and glory. It's about sharing the joy and excitement of music with others. With a philosophy of freeing oneself from the opinions of others, Marla's neon boots and fun personality shine through her work. She's a true inspiration.

🌟 Read the full interview to learn more about Marla's journey and artistic approach.

Marla is a DJ, an illustrator and street artist based in Bielefeld. I had the pleasure of interviewing Marla to learn more about her life, music, and artistic journey.

„Free yourself from the opinions of others: play your music and wear your neon boots!“

That's Marla's philosophy. She describes herself as a fun, optimistic, and reliable human being who thinks deeply about the world. Her interests in philosophy and psychology are reflected in her artistic approach to music.

„Spending the whole day in a record store listening to music. A dream!“

Music has been an integral part of Marla's life since childhood. Her elder siblings introduced her to different genres, including punk, ska, R'n'B, and hip-hop. As a kid, she spent most of her free time watching music television shows like Yo Raps, Soul MTV, Viva Zwei and Housefrau with DJs Mate Galic und Sabine Christ. „These shows could all be replayed endlessly, so good! My absolute highlight though when I got into a city - I come from a really small town - was spending the whole day in a record store listening to music. A dream!“

Since 15, she has been intensively exploring techno. „I was introduced to electronic music through a friend of mine. His brother had two turntables and owned the first jungle and drum&bass albums. We sneaked into his room and listened to his records.“

Techno came into her life in the early 2000s through such greats as Ellen Alien, Miss Kittin and Monika Kruse, whom she had the pleasure of hearing when she went dancing in the club Stammheim in Kassel.

As I inquire, "So how did you dive into the world of DJing?" Marla reveals, "It all started when I was 19, my boyfriend and I bought our first turntables and a bunch of records, and we practiced day and night. We weren't spinning at any parties, just creating music for ourselves. You see, I'm from a small and traditional town called Paderborn, where DJs are non-existent. We had to leave the town to witness DJs in action. And even among our friends, no one was into DJing. Luckily, we had a tech-savvy friend who taught us a thing or two."

Curious, I ask, "When did you start calling yourself a DJ?" Marla replies with a smile, "It's funny you ask. My big break was when I played at an art exhibition, and the response was incredible. That's when it dawned on me that I could be a DJ. But it wasn't until my brother introduced me to a musician as a DJ at a club night that I started embracing the title. I was embarrassed yet thrilled at the same time."

Marla is a free spirit and a free soul. This reflects in her musical set choices as a DJ today. Her style is experimental with an ear for details -„some people label it as brain dance music“,  she tells me.

"DJing is less about fame and glory and more about passion."

As Marla reflects on her profession, she shares that DJing is not all about fame and glory; it's more about passion. While many people think it's just about having fun and making money, there's much more to it. DJing is about the love of music and sharing it with others. Even though DJs have gained some status over the years, the essence of the craft lies in the dedication and enthusiasm they bring to their work.

But, as Marla points out, DJing is not always glitz and glam. The hours can be unpredictable, and sometimes a set starts at 3 am. "You either need a fantastic yoga instructor or a bag full of stimulants," she jokes. "Or maybe just be young!" Marla's honesty and humor reveal that being a DJ comes with challenges. Staying healthy and fit is essential, and it's not the fame or money that makes the work so wonderful.

For Marla, being a DJ is all about merging with the music. She finds her flow state in the DJ booth and often enters a kind of trance. Dancing for three hours straight is her version of jogging. She believes that if more people went out dancing and let music into their lives, they would be more balanced. Dancing helps to reduce stress hormones and promote mental relaxation, while releasing happiness hormones and triggering fond memories. For Marla, the ideal party is one where a sense of community is formed on the dance floor.

„Music is here for everyone.“

Marla is not just a talented artist and DJ, she's also a member of the Bielefeld nonprofit organization "Nummer Zum Platz" (Number to the Square).Despite the time it takes, Marla loves being involved with the group because, as she puts it, "we can do whatever we want!"

This dynamic association of artists, cultural promoters, and arts advocates is constantly pushing the boundaries with its parties, concerts, film screenings, readings, and exhibitions. With a capacity of 300 people, the events are always a smash hit, and the sound system is second to none in Germany. As a DJ, Marla knows just how critical great sound is to the success of any event, and she's proud to be associated with an organization that takes it seriously.

One of Marla's key contributions to "Nummer Zum Platz" is her role as the curator of the Female DJ series. "Women are still underrepresented in the music industry, and they often get lower fees than their male counterparts," she explains. Marla is determined to change that, one event at a time. And while she admits that there's still work to be done, she's heartened by the progress she's seen. "Take a look at 'Hör Berlin'," she says with a smile, "it's starting to feel like a 50-50 split, which is exactly where we need to be."

Marla tells me that nowadays, starting DJing is much more accessible with the help of technology. Back in the day, the only option was to spin records, and with no internet to discover new music, if you didn't have a turntable or records, it was a costly and challenging endeavor to even get your hands on them. But now, with software and affordable controllers, you can easily get started and create your own sound without breaking the bank.

"I never really thought being a woman would stop me from doing anything fun."

"Why then do you think there still are fewer female DJs?" I asked Marla. “Well," she began, "there's this phenomenon that I've noticed. I'm not sure if it's due to networking or something else entirely, but I think it has to do with confidence. You see, men tend to identify more with the idea of strength and power, and that translates into their confidence levels. Men can identify better with being strong, which is why they dominate certain fields like DJing, as well as subcultures like skating, break dancing, and street art/graffiti. If a girl comes to the skate park, everyone turns around and stares. They're not staring to see her talent, but with the question in their eyes: can she even skate?"

Marla enlightens me about the world of graffiti and emphasizes the importance of status and connections within the scene. "It's all about who you know and the respect you earn. Drop the name of the hottest sprayer in town and you'll instantly gain some serious street cred." While it may seem like a "male" behavior, understanding and utilizing this social hierarchy can benefit anyone. However, if you're not keen on playing the status game, building a supportive community can also be a valuable asset. "If you're worried about judgment or negative comments, hit the streets with your bestie. Suddenly, you're a collective force, and that kind of unity is powerful."

Marla took a sip of her tea and continued. "But things are changing, slowly but surely.“ Gender rules have become more fluid in recent times. "Even people with penises now wear skirts and earrings, even in the hip-hop scene." Marla, herself a sprayer, sees the internet as having had a positive influence on this shift, creating a path towards diversity. "It's a blessing and a curse, but it has brought about change. The gender imbalance will eventually be resolved. There's a lot of movement happening."

„Freedom means not being distracted by anything or anyone.“

When I asked Marla how she managed to break through gender barriers, she simply shrugged and said, "I never really thought being a woman would stop me from doing anything fun." She credited this mindset to her upbringing around boys and men, where she never felt the need for a man to define her life. "Don't get me wrong, I love being in a relationship, but I always do my own thing. Not in a selfish way, but in a healthy way," she explained, flashing a cheeky grin.

But it hasn't always been easy for Marla. She shared with me some discriminatory experiences that left her feeling hurt and tossing and turning at night. However, she also emphasized that she's not one to back down easily. "If something is important to me, I know how to stand up for myself," she declared with a confident nod.

Marla's advice to all the ladies out there is simple yet profound: trust in yourself and never let anyone or anything stop you from pursuing your passions. Whether it's DJing or graffiti or something else entirely, „if it brings you joy, find a way to make it happen!“

Marla strives to be independent of the opinions of others. "Freedom means not being distracted by anything or anyone," she explained. To achieve this, Marla believes it's important to know what you want in life and what your values are.

For her, true freedom means not worrying about what others want from her. She plays the music that she wants to play, even if it's not what the crowd expects or wants to hear. "I can play cranky music and not care what others think," she said.

Marla acknowledged that some people might view her approach as arrogant, but she sees it differently. To her, it's about offering up music and saying, "check it out, try this tune." She believes that everyone has their own taste, and while a certain track might not be everyone's cup of tea, it's still worth exploring and experiencing.

During performances, Marla loves to dress extravagantly, like wearing neon rubber boots with a dress. She admits that she can't always express her style in Bielefeld, as she might be labeled as a freak. She doesn't want that kind of attention when she's going about her daily life as a mom, but during gigs, she fully embraces her unique style, not only with her music but also with her attire. She also appreciates it when other artists do the same, as it adds to the overall performance and makes it more memorable beyond just the music.

As our interview comes to an end, I ask Marla about her aspirations for the future. With a serene smile, she responds in a refreshingly humble way, stating that she feels she already has everything she needs to be happy. She's grateful for the opportunities she's had to play at clubs, her loving family and close friends, and her passion for music and art. After a moment of reflection, she shares two things on her bucket list: first, playing at the Krake Festival in Berlin, which she admires for its unique fusion of art and music. Second, she wants to open a pop-up store, because let's face it, who doesn't love a good adventure?

Marla's carefree and spontaneous nature shines through her simple but meaningful vision for the future. She lives in the present, cherishing the moments that bring her joy and fulfillment. She's a true advocate of freedom, both in her personal life and her creative expression as a DJ. Marla's contentment with the present doesn't mean she's not open to new experiences and challenges. Rather, she's ready for whatever comes her way, with an unwavering spirit and a love for life that's truly contagious.

So let's take a page from Marla's book and embrace our own freedom and self-expression. We have the power to shape our lives and choose how we want to live each day. Let's not be held back by external factors, but instead, let's live in harmony with ourselves and our surroundings. With the right mindset and a little bit of courage, we can all create something beautiful, just like Marla.

Marlas Links:

Listen to Marlas Music: https://soundcloud.com/pampl-baumann

Connect on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pampl_baumann/

Buy Marla’s Artwork: https://www.etsy.com/de/shop/MARLAhandgemalt