INTERVIEW: Ninajrachi to play Party In The Paddock "I want to make people dance and make my set a big party"
Image: Tiff Williams
Australia’s Ninajirachi, real name Nina Wilson, started producing music in her bedroom at the tender age of eight and after she began uploading her music to the internet as a teenager, attention from Triple J took her all the way to the Unearthed finals in 2016. By 2017, her debut single, the icy electronica track ‘Pure Luck’ featuring Freya Staer became a viral hit, notching up over 5 million streams on Spotify and turned the international spotlight on Wilson - all while she was busy studying for her final school exams. Earlier this year she released her debut EP Lapland, a collection of gleaming electronic dance in all its forms from synthpop, industrial beats, melancholy pop through to hardcore techno. Ninajirachi will be performing at the final ever Party In The Paddock festival in Tasmania in February and we recently caught up with her to find out more.
Hi Nina! Thanks for chatting to us. First up, how is everything in the world of Ninajirachi?
No worries and thank you! Everything is great and pretty busy, which is a good thing.
You have had a fantastic 2019, releasing your debut EP, your first headline tour and a guest mix appearance on the BBC. As the year draws to a close, how are you feeling about your achievements over the past 12 months?
I feel really happy. I didn't plan or anticipate many of the great things that happened for me this year and I'm just really grateful that things have worked out.
Next year you are making your live debut at Party In The Paddock in February, have you had any thoughts yet about what you will be doing for your set?
I haven't played a show in Tasmania before so I'm excited to see what kind of music the crowd likes. I want to play really fun music that makes people dance and make my set a big party.
As an artist, what’s the best thing about performing at a festival?
The best thing is that I get to play to crowds that may not have even heard of me before. It's so cool to hear from fans that they discovered my music because they walked past my set at a festival and decided to check it out. I also love it when I get to play festivals where my friends are playing, and we all get to hang out before and after our sets.
The lineup this year is fantastic, what artists are you keen to see perform?
The lineup is so good! I'm very excited to see Hermitude again after supporting them on tour. I also can't wait to see Matt Corby, I'm a big fan!
Out of all the creative elements your job encompasses – writing, recording, DJing, producing, performing live – do you have a favourite part?
It changes all the time. When I'm feeling productive and inspired there is no better feeling than making a song I really like. But DJing in a room full of people that like the same music as me and just want to party is also the most fun thing ever!
There has been so much talk over the last year or so about gender equality and female representation in the music industry, especially with festival lineups. What are your thoughts on sexism in music?
It sucks but it's not something I really think about or focus on. All of the people I work with are amazing and supportive and that's all that matters to me. I feel like focusing on negative things is very draining and instead I should use that energy to think about creating cool things, and how to help the people around me do the same.
Not so long ago it was a novelty for a woman to DJ, but there are so many amazing women killing it now, such as KLP, Havana Brown and of course yourself! What advice do you have for young women or girls who have dreams of DJing?
I would say just do it! You don't have to spend a lot of money to learn, just buy a cheap, small controller and watch YouTube videos or ask a friend. Don't focus on the fact that you're a girl, it doesn't matter and doesn't change your capacity to learn and achieve. Just focus on practising a lot and building confidence so that you don't doubt yourself, even if other people do in the beginning.
What’s up next for Ninajirachi in the new year and beyond? Any career goals you want to knock out next year?
It's always hard to say! I want to finish the EP I'm working on at the moment and release it sometime next year. Maybe I'll do another 2 EPs. I'd also love to play more shows and do some writing overseas, but I'm open to a lot of things!
Ninajirachi is playing Party In The Paddock in Lutruwita, Tasmania from 6th-8th February. Tickets are on sale now.
To keep up with all things Ninajirachi, you can follow her on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter.
