NEWS - WOEI FM #46: RICHELLE SOIGNI

Since opening its doors to the public for the first time in 2007, WOEI has left its mark on the international sneaker and streetwear community with several collaborations including Asics, Patta, and Stüssy along the way.

But the interests and passions of the WOEI crew reach far beyond just shoes and apparel; Besides providing the streets with the latest from Nike, Adidas, and Co., music has always been at the heart of the store. Considering the highly curated playlists and mixes that can be heard in the store and hosting some of Rotterdam's most notorious parties, the belief that music unites is deeply ingrained in the WOEI DNA.

For edition #46 of WOEI FM, we’ve invited no one other than Richelle Soigni.

As always let's start with an introduction: could you please introduce yourself to us?

My name is Richelle Soigni, and I'm 45 years old. I’ve got a passion for a lot of things but one of my biggest passions obviously is music. That’s why we’re doing this interview of course!

When did the love for collecting records start for you?

I started collecting records early on already. One of my first records was one I got from my mom as a child during a visit to the Bijenkorf. She usually said no when I wanted stuff but suddenly when I asked for the record she said yes! It was one of the first albums from the Jackson 5. My mom used to run a music school from home so music was already a huge part of my daily life growing up.

Soon after I quickly started to collect a lot of records. Later when I was around 8 or 9 years old I used to hang out with Frans Dietvorst, we used to skate and hang around with the local skate scene here in Rotterdam. He also used to love music and his cousin (Paul Du Lac) was also heavy into collecting and even playing records! He used to make these cool mixtapes and this one time when I went away with my parents on holiday I asked Paul if he would be down to make me a mixtape to listen to on my walkman. From that moment on when I started to listen to what Paul made me I started to get introduced to the sound and artists from Warp records.

When I heard these productions from Warp my mind couldn’t really comprehend what I was hearing. I was already familiar with synthesizer music but what these guys were making was on a whole other level. Besides synthesizers they also used drum machine computers, the way this sounded was incredible. I started to get addicted to this computerised sound and started asking Paul to make me a mixtape whenever my parents were planning on going on holiday.

What was your first experience in DJing, or getting the hang of mixing techniques?

Paul Du Lac used to have this studio/house back in the days with a souterrain. He used to have a whole setup installed to mix and play records. In those days I could just listen and watch for hours how Paul used to play. The way he mixed and played was really insane and inspirational. Soon after another friend also bought a set up and we also used to hang out at his place and just watch and listen for hours. Until this time I still haven’t started mixing yet but I'm already passionate about discovering/collecting music.

Soon after I discovered that these guys used to shop at this local record store called Clone Records. So I started to hang out and dig at this shop and ofcourse my addiction grew even more. I started to discover more labels that used these electronic sounds. My addiction grew even more so all my money used to go to collecting records!

After a few years I started to get in touch with a guy that worked behind the bar at Jazz Cafe Dizzy. Besides working behind the bar he also used to do some programming there. After a good talk about music and the stuff that was playing there he noticed how passionate I was about this, and asked me if play records. With me answering immediately: “Not yet!”. Of course he answered me directly “Would you be down to maybe play some records here then?” Of course I didn’t know what I was doing after a few records but could already feel what people would and wouldn’t like to hear. Feeling and watching the crowd what they wanted. After a few times they kept booking me and putting me on posters that were spread all around the city. So after this I just asked Frans to teach me how to mix properly. After a few times practicing I took up his advice on how to control the pitcher properly and from there I started to pick up more gigs during the years.

You also know Woei from back in the day right? How did you guys meet?

Back when we were young in 1995 we used to hang out in the same scene in Rotterdam. Whenever we were hanging out somewhere he was also there skateboarding and hanging out. David Vunk and Woei are also old friends so later on at DJ gigs I used to see Woei still hanging out in the scene. I think the passion he carries for sneakers and Rotterdam is the same one I have for music.

Some people's love for things never change and it's good to see that it hasn't dissapeared completely. I can clearly see some newer/younger people in the scene that share the same passion and view, which is important for the city because it's through people like them the scenes we've got left are kept alive!

When it comes to DJing, you’re known for a distinctive style and approach. Could you maybe explain how and where this unique way/taste comes from?

When you know so many people in this scene that share the same passion and taste in music you will keep finding each other. Whenever I hang out with people such as Paul, Alden and Ference etc. you also discuss a lot of music. Everybody has their own taste and way of playing and listening to music but you always keep having these same interfaces with some tracks. That taste and style just developed organically throughout the years.

For instance, back when I used to hang around and play a lot with Monica Electronica we always used to travel to Belgium to dig for a lot of new beat records because she used to be heavy into that stuff. The other people I hung around with not so much. Everytime we went to Antwerp we used to dig at every local record shop and market for the best new beat tracks and compilations. ~Back in the days~ you didn’t have this internet thing where you could just search and hear everything you wanted, whenever you wanted. You had to go with your gut feeling and hope for the best. At this moment I still have a lot of shitty records from that time, but I've also got a lot of gems because I never really sold or put away my collection!

"Some tracks can't just be thrown into a set willy-nilly. I'll be dissatisifed if the track is not used to its full potential during its peak moments."

When was your first real official gig?

The first real one I’m still very proud of was when I was on the bill with Legowelt, David Vunk and Alden Tyrell I think in 2009? It was also the time I really felt proud of the collection of records I used to carry around with me. It was at Waterfront I think. It used to be this very underground party with just the heads and freaks gathered in one space. It wasn’t this fully blown scene with a totally packed venue but the sound that night all together was perfectly fitting. Of course there are some other bigger gigs I've had but some line ups I just couldn't really see myself fit in between because either my sound wasn’t fitting or they just booked me because I’m a female DJ…

You have been affiliated with a few of the top underground organizations known in the scene (Bordello A Parigi, Clone Records & Intergalactic FM). Where did that match come from?

Later on when I was 23 I started to get these bigger and more serious gigs: Nighttown, Off-Corso etc. I already used to hang around with names like Paul Du Lac, David Vunk, I-F etc during these parties. These guys were and still are big inspirations for me until this day. Promoters see and hear this so of course there have also been a few times that I shared the same line up with these big names!

But since my early days of DJing I used to get anxiety attacks whenever I had to play these big gigs. Sometimes I just couldn’t handle these big crowds. So during the years I took a break and didn’t focus on doing gigs (just like the last few years).

Because you sometimes take a break from DJing you have a clearer vision and view of how the scene is developing throughout the years. How do you think the scene is now compared to a few years back?

Some years back there used to be this hype of booking female DJs no matter the sound they have, but for the sole reason of them being women and being able to say that you've booked a female DJ. I remember being booked by promoters for that reason and because I "played only italo". I remember thinking "Of course I don’t only play italo, and I don’t really have a set online somewhere so where have you seen me play this?"

These days I've noticed that the general youth doesn't really get triggered anymore by new music or tracks they took the time to discover, but just by DJs prioritising fast and loud tracks. Ofcourse DJs have to keep exploring and discovering new tracks they like, but if you don’t know when to play the right track at the right moment its magic won’t be done any justice!

I’ve also got this thing with Shazam... It feels so dishonorable when I dug my ass off somewhere in Belgium for a certain gem and some fella called Jeroen just Shazams that track within a second! That’s why while searching for tracks I'll also be checking if they’re Shazamable or not. However, if someone is so kind enough to personally message me on Instagram (as opposed to comment sections being filled with "Track ID?") for a track I've used in a set, I’ll just DM them back with the track ID. Just ask for the track and of course I’ll give it to you haha.

I’m not a gatekeeper at all but some tracks can't just be thrown into a set willy-nilly. I'll be dissatisifed if the track is not used to its full potential during its peak moments.

If you can’t handle the track, and it doesn’t fit in your set: don’t play it!

USB or Vinyl?

I'm a vinyl head for sure! These days I do record/rip most of the older records I buy or receive because after a few years you're just sick of carrying record bags to gigs back and forth.

What can we expect from your Operator Radio set?

Because I know Woei from the 'streets' it’s gonna be a more soul-based Chicago street sound set!

Any future bookings we need to be watching out for?

I'm personally really looking forward to Het Festival at NAR Utrecht. That's a gig where I’ll able to actually play anything I want!

Anything left to say to the readers?

For every moment in existence, there’s the perfect record to be played.