Features / Bristol Nightlife
Off-Kilter: Championing Queer-Friendly Experimental Music
Off-Kilter is the brainchild of Bristol-based artist and performer Daisy Moon.
Currently a platform for DJ mixes, live music events and club nights, Off-Kilter returns with its characteristically experimental style to Strange Brew.
Ahead of Off-Kilter’s latest event, Bristol24/7 spoke to DJ and producer Daisy Moon about her platform Off-Kilter.
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Off-Kilter has seen Daisy lean into her more unconventional tastes, combining her love for avant-garde club music with championing underrepresented voices in electronic music.
Daisy has lived in Bristol for the past decade.
When she first moved to the city, she lived with acclaimed DJ Shanti Celeste: “I was starting to build my record collection at that time. Shanti booked me to play at her Bristol club night before I actually knew how to DJ. I had 2 months to learn how to mix vinyl before this show.” said Daisy.
The set-up for Off-Kilter’s most recent club night featured a cage, transforming the space of Strange Brew
When Daisy learned to DJ, she became involved in running the club night Housework, which she ran alongside Shanti Celeste, Gramrcy and Golesworthy. Housework events were split between Bristol and Berlin and have been running for over 15 years.
Through various projects, Daisy has been pushing for more diverse representation across Bristol’s electronic music scene. “When I first started DJing in Bristol, there were hardly any female, trans or non-binary DJs on the lineups,” said Daisy.
Off the back of this, she set up Mix Nights alongside DJs Shanti, Danielle and Em Williams. Mixnights is a DJ course and community for women, trans and non-binary people. This was created as a sister project to Saffron Music, these music initiatives work to challenge the gender imbalance in the industry.
Whilst Off-Kilter was created as a platform for Daisy’s experimental music tastes, the club nights have progressed into a queer-friendly space.
Off-Kilter mixes offer progressive music performed by queer, trans, nonbinary and female DJs
“Being a gay woman, Off-Kilter has naturally become a platform to advocate for more queer artists, female, trans and non-binary DJs,” said Daisy.
Daisy wants the focus of Off-Kilter to be the music. The mix series involves a combination of DJs and musicians. “The whole concept of the Off-Kilter mix series was to ask people to perform in different styles. I wanted to create the opportunity to explore putting together something that they wouldn’t usually do,” Daisy explained.
The Off-Kilter club nights are mostly run at Strange Brew, in Bristol City Centre. The most recent event featured the DJs performing behind a cage, with an eclectic light and smoke display.
“Strange Brew is a great venue, which means a lot of promoters run events there. It can be hard to make the space look different. It can feel like people are just going back to Strange Brew, so I make sure to adjust little things here and there to make the experience unique,” said Daisy.
Daisy explained the most recent Off-Kilter club night featuring electronic music heavyweight Bashkka was a turning point. Bashkka’s set combined uplifting techno, fun ballroom beats and bouncy house in a euphoric tribute to the queer community.
Bashkka performing at Off-Kilter’s most recent club night
Hosted at Strange Brew, venue organisers were keen to book Off-Kilter in again as soon as possible due to the friendly atmosphere.
The next Off-Kilter night will be on Saturday 1 June, at Strange Brew. Performers featured include Michelle Manetti, a resident at renowned London queer club nights Adonis. Origins Sound resident Reece Spooner is also joining the party lineup.
“A lot of the queer nights in Bristol can focus on performance, rather than the music. The next event on 1 June will feature some wicked, fun, queer London DJs,” said Daisy.
Talking about the most recent Off-Kilter event, Daisy reflected, “It felt like such a nice vibe. The parties I’ve run before have come close to that LGBT vibe. With this one though, we had a trans DJ, a nonbinary DJ, and myself – a gay woman. It was great to have such a diverse lineup.”
Off-Kilter presents an opportunity to continue her work advocating for underrepresented groups. “It ties into the work I did with Mix Nights and Saffron. It makes sense for me to continue doing that work with Off-Kilter,” said Daisy.
Off-Kilter was asked back to Strange Brew after an electric atmosphere at previous events
Daisy continued, “Everybody that identifies as LGBT can feel like they are in the minority. Carving out a space for people to not feel like that, to feel a sense of togetherness, is really empowering,”
She told Bristol24/7 that it’s important to have events where people can feel free, where they can relax, and can feel like themselves.
“In day-to-day life, even if you’re comfortable with who you are, the outside world isn’t always as comfortable with you. Having spaces where you can go and dance and forget about the outside world is so important. It’s a step towards accepting who you are,” said Daisy.
Off-Kilter presents Michelle Manetti, Reece Spooner and Daisy Moon will occur on Saturday 1 June at Strange Brew. Tickets can be bought here.
All photos: Daisy Moon
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