DJ Sonya Selector

Kia ora koutou, I’m Sonya, or DJ Sonya Selector, resident DJ at Firebird Cafe in Levin.

Second generation selector, inherited from Disco Tex, Palmerston North in the 70’s.

I’ve loved music ever since I can remember, growing up in a musical house with band practice, and 45’s.

I worked in the EMI shop in Palmy in the 80’s. Bought my first vinyl there. Billy Idol, Rebel Yell.

Bought my decks in 2002 and moved to Melbourne. Attended the DJ’s United Mixing School. I learned to scratch from world DMC champion DJ KC who owned and ran the school. Seems a long time ago.

I love all kinds of music. We listened to Opera and Classical for 2 years straight at Design School and so I have a fondness for that genre, and I like ensembles like 2 Cellos who bring something extra to it. Love a good orchestra too.

I like to play Break Beats or Breaks, my fav are the Stanton Warriors when I want to have a good dance and turn it up loud, and chuck in a bit of liquid DNB by DJ Marky or MC Tali, now she’s awesome.

I’ve been resident at Firebird for about a year and I get to play Old Skool because that’s what the people want, they can relate to it, it’s familiar and it brings back memories and nostalgic who doesn’t like a bit of Dire Straits, 'Once Upon A Time in the West, with a good flat white. There’s lots of good feedback because people are almost shocked when they see me DJing on a Sunday at 10am if they haven’t been to the cafe before, others know I’m there and come back with a record of two for me to play, if it fits the vibe of course.

I keep it pretty simple, I like playing dinner service and brunch at the cafe, it’s a cool vibe, it’s chill and it suits me. It’s makes me happy to see the punters tapping their toes.