A turning point occurred for Perth DJ Needlenurse when she attended her first ever Major Break and fell in love with the sound of Breakbeat. After learning, practicing and playing for friends at home Needlenurse debuted at the inaugural Spank party at Gilkinsons and has since gone on to play every year. She is now heavily involved with Babybeats and is an avid supporter of getting women behind the decks! Needlenurse’s sets are driving and funky and the energy she projects from behind the turntables is bound to get anyone up and dancing.

1. Name?
Col Rogers aka Needlenurse

2. Describe the style of music you play?
It can range from my first love which has always been Breaks through to electro house…dirty sexy grinding House through to Nu Jazz… Funk and Soul and loungey stuff.

3. How long have you been DJ’ing for?
4 or 5 years

4. You discovered a love for Breaks after a long period of hating electronic music. What was the turning point for you?
Going to my first Major Break and hearing Drumattic Twins “Mind the Gap” and Krafty Kuts “Tricka Technology”. Hearing sampling from old funk tunes I knew just really got me to look and listen to electronic music in a different way.

5. What would be your ultimate gig to play at?
For me - Breakfest I think.

6. How did you come up with your DJ name?
One of my housemates just pulled it out of the air when I was trying to figure out a DJ name that wouldn’t sound silly or run of the mill. So she thought about my love of vinyl and what I do as a career and she fashioned Needlenurse.

7. If I took a look inside your fridge, what would I find?
Cat food.. endless condiments.. lactose free milk..cheese…some lettuce a carrot and some Agrum.

8. What was the first record you bought?
That depends on if we are talking ever in my life or first DJing record? The first ever record I had was a hand me down from my sister of ABBA’s Arrival album. My first DJing record was Dove something or other By Gully I had no clue what I was looking for.

9. What equipment do you have and use at home?
Two Numark TTX USB vinyl deck, a Numark FX 5000 5 channel mixer and a CDJ 400.

10. Who is your biggest musical influence?
To Be perfectly honest DJ influences have mainly come from locals, it would be people like Micah, Mona Lisa, Mr and Mrs Wish & Mali although my musical influences would come from the RnB/ soul/funk era plus I love the music of UK80s .

11. What/Who inspired you to start DJ’ing?
Watching DJs at Ambar and wanting to know what and how they mixed their sets so fluidly. Plus I wanted to make my own remixes and mash ups.

12. What DJ have you met that turned you into a tongue tied stuttering silly billy?
Lisa Loud, Feisty, Mandy Rollins, Kelly Lynch, Sveta

13. Vinyl or Digital ?
Vinyl although I am having to expand to digital

14. Tell me about the first time you played out?
My debut came at the first Spank Fetish ball. I had practiced and practiced and planned my set and still I was so nervous. Mostly due to all my friends attending the night. As it turned out my set was well received and went off without much of a hitch. I was on such a high at the end and ordered a very large glass of red wine.

15. You opened at Pride XES in 2007. That must have been an amazing experience?
Well I never thought that I would play for my community. They didn’t really know breaks etc and I was really honoured that they chose me to open the night.

16. You are quite passionate about encouraging more female DJ’s to get out there and have a go behind the decks. Why do you think this is important for the scene?
I think women can add a flavour and diversity to the scene. The guys love the technical side of it yet I find that for myself I love the emotions that it makes me feel.

17. Do you have a message for the bedroom DJ’s out there?
Just do what you enjoy because in the end that’s what matters. Not the money or the notoriety. Play for the love and enjoyment of it. Stay true to yourself and for god’s sake have fun and enjoy! Don’t take yourself too seriously.

18. Where can the Perth punters see you play?
I have regular gigs at Spank Nights and Babybeats continues to let this old bird play! If you want to hear me you can find out on facebook and myspace where I am playing.

19. You’ve now taken a major role in the running and promoting of Baby Beats. What are your plans for this night?
I want it to grow into a collective where the DJs come together and learn and grow from one another. We have such a great music scene out there and we should share and learn from one another.

20. What are you doing after you finish this interview?
Oh catching up on some well earned sleep.

21. Open mic - 25 words or less.....
Look if I can take up DJing at 35 and still have my hand in it now that I am 40 then there is no excuse for those younger than I to shy away from doing something you love. If you want something you gotta go out and get it!