“Beta Librae is the only greenish star visible to the naked eye.”
Beta Librae aka. Bailey Hoffman is well known in Brooklyn’s underground club scene. Co-founding the Technofeminism parties alongside Discwoman’s Umfang at the Bossa Nova Civic Club in 2013, and an on-going residency at Nowadays NYC since 2018, she’s had releases on Allergy Season, Lillerne Tapes, 1080p and Incensio, and a live show debut at Panorama Bar. The Kansas born, NY based DJ/producer is extremely talented with many composite elements shaping her wide-ranging sound.
Can you tell us a little bit about the energy behind this mix?
My idea was 5am tracks, a whole mix of them. What would sound great at this unusual time? It’s rare for people to play music at that hour. A fun challenge of heady, pretty and deep. I was digging and finding songs I’ve had for 10 years, sometimes I forget it’s fine to go way back and not worry so much about if the tracks are current and nobody has heard them. I caught a groove and the energy of the mix picks up in the second half, but hey that could happen at 5am, anything is possible!
Can you tell us a little bit about how you and Umfang met and started the Technofeminism parties back in 2013?
We met freshman year of college in a painting class and bonded by sending mixes we’d make once a month. When I came to the city she asked if I’d like to help book and play shows alongside her. It’s like we kept those mixes going but now they’re real. I’m so lucky to have those years where we got to explore, learn and bring other djs in. It’s a blur of music and insanity. Makes me happy thinking of all the djs we were lucky to have early on, to see the trajectory these women are today.
Your debut LP ‘Sanguine’ released on Incensio in 2018 really showcased your eclectic ability and experimentation with melding different sounds to produce “An extremely singular ambi-tech-no-house album”. Can you tell us a little bit about the influences behind the album and if there will be a follow-up in the not too distant future?
I feel like a different person from when I made those songs, and have only made tracks for compilations since then, but my influences have stayed the same. Not sticking to one sound, one method, genre. Letting the song write itself, letting each song be totally unique to the next. Being ok with imperfections and not being hard on myself. Always keeping it light, never over analyzing. Letting myself be ok with having no solid or distinct sound, I love no rules! I have a handful of finished songs, would be great to have them come out this year!
Where do you currently find yourself drawing inspiration from when you’re making music and planning your live sets? Do you find yourself exploring a particular avenue of sound at the moment?
Always inspired by the feeling of a song as opposed to how polished or technical it’s made, simple stuff. Keeping an unusual groove in mind while making songs is key. Really enjoy a dj set/album or mix that explores one or two moods, that could be anything. I’ve been enjoying using elements from music genres that some might call cringey, but also really fun like tech-house or dub-step, but a fusion of this makes for a freaky baby. There’s something fun in a fast beat that you feel as a slow groove and flow.
How are you finding the NY underground scene re-opening after the pandemic?
There was a long period deep in the pandemic where I didn't do much with music, being on a computer made me feel more lonely. I would do a music stream or radio show, but I was making a lot of jewelry and crochet. I couldn’t stop. That shift to a different creative outlet was healing for me, I found a lot of peace, didn't let myself get upset with a bunch of canceled shows. Now that we are getting back in the groove I’m really enjoying playing out again, I need to be with people to find that joy and I’m feeling more connected to everyone.
Finally, where can we catch you playing this summer?
Wow summer, what does it feel like, it’s been so long!
Montreal in June for Shift Radio, Detroit for Movement & weekend for a Sunday event with Elixir, something in the works for July in Seattle.
An August resident night at Nowadays and a few shows in Europe in September.