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Misstress Barbara Rocks Piknic Electronik

from DJ Times October 2018, Vol 31 No 8

from DJ Times October 2018, Vol 31 No 8, page 30

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Montreal – Boasting global talent like A-Trak, Tiga, and Snails, Montreal has earned its reputation as a haven for top DJs in a variety of genres. Still, for all its music-related accolades, Quebec’s main metropolis may have no bigger hometown booster than Misstress Barbara.

Although born in Sicily (née Barbara Bonfiglio), the longtime Montrealer represents her home city with a raging enthusiasm. And for good reason – she’s grateful for all the blessings that the Canadian city’s deep music scene has afforded her. Before becoming an in-demand DJ/producer spinning underground flavors all over the world, Misstress Barbara scaled the local ladder in the late ’90s, eventually becoming a fixture at venues like Sona, Aria, and Stereo, plus Piknic Électronik, the city’s famed outdoor party.

Her music-making career has been fruitful as well. Since 1999, she’s released underground-club music on respected labels like Bedrock, Tronic and Intec Digital. In addition to creating remixes for acts ranging from Umek (pulsing techno) to Lara Fabian (French pop), she’s released a pair of artist albums – 2012’s Many Shades of Grey and 2009’s I’m No Human, which was nominated for a Juno Award, Canada’s most-prestigious musical honor.

After Two Decades as a Global DJ/Producer, Miss tress Barbara Maintains Her Hometown Allegiance

So, when we recently visited Montreal’s Piknic Électronik for this issue’s ClubWorld segment (please see Page 22), we thought that no other DJ/ producer could fly the city’s flag higher than Misstress Barbara. We were correct. Ms. Bonfiglio was very open and honest about her 22-year musical career, her particular tastes and, of course, the city she loves.

DJ Times: Montreal has a long history of DJ-driven entertainment and, especially, underground venues like Sona, Aria and Stereo. Pretty fortunate to grow up in that scene, right?

Barbara: I consider myself extremely lucky that I was part of the DJ scene in the ’90s. Because as much as we have amazing events right now, it all started back then in those truly underground events and clubs – that really shaped the Montreal scene. I can guarantee that anyone who is in charge of the best Montreal electronic music clubs or festivals today was most likely a regular at Sona or the 514 events that existed even before that awesome club that Sona was. DJ Times: As rising DJ, how did that environment help you develop? Barbara: I had the chance to experience it, and taste it all, and I’m pretty sure it helped me a lot to develop myself as a DJ. I would imagine that an upcoming DJ that doesn’t have access to playing quality clubs or events, alongside quality talent, would have more of a hard time developing his or her style, compared to another one who is regularly exposed to all of it.

DJ Times: Over the years, you’ve become a regular DJ at Piknic Électronik. In your view, how has the event evolved?

Misstress Barbara: Piknic Électronik started quite small and has turned into a very established and respected Montreal summer event. Montreal has always been synonym to the very important International Jazz Festival that we have here, or synonym to the Just For Laughs Festival, or to Cirque du Soleil, but I think that for many years now, in the electronic music scene, we can say that Montreal is also synonym to Piknic Électronik or Igloofest.

DJ Times: And you’ve played the version that’s expanded beyond Canada…

Barbara: It’s an event that became world-renowned and, yes, there are a few Piknic Électronik events around the world now that are doing very well, too. Yes, I played twice at the one in Melbourne, Australia, and I found the same type of vibe that’s proper to the original event, which is a sign that the brand is well developed and quite successful.

DJ Times: For the DJ, what makes Piknic special?

Barbara: You feel a very special kind of magic. The audience is amazing. I think people in Montreal are just happy to be outdoors, partying on good music, and they do it whether it’s sunny, rainy – or even when it snows! That’s one of the many qualities we can attribute to Montrealers. And on top of that, thanks to the music scene in Montreal, with events such as Piknic Électronik, Igloofest, MEG, Osheaga and many more established events that have been feeding the locals with enormous amounts of quality international talent, on top of the incredible amount of local talent we already have, well, we can say that Montrealers are very well-educated music wise.

DJ Times: That’s always been my experience when visiting Montreal. Also, there seems to be a unique maturity in the Piknic crowd.

Barbara: They know good music. They’re aware. And many people that used to go out years ago, they know when it’s time to come out again, which makes a public that knows and can enjoy classics. That’s the maturity you feel from the crowd. Another thing I absolutely adore about Piknic is the fact that it’s during the day. So you get families sometimes, with kids, and it’s really nice.

DJ Times: Montreal’s been your home for a long time now. When you play Piknic, do you feel a responsibility to your hometown audience?

Barbara: When I play at home, compared to elsewhere, I am still nervous as if it was my first DJ gig ever… especially at Piknic Électronik because there’s a history there. I can’t even explain how stressed I get. Yes, my artist name is a play on words between Miss and Stress – hence, why the extra S – but I don’t get as nervous anywhere else as I do get here. And that’s because I love my city so much, and the most important thing for me is to never, ever disappoint the people that I love the most and who love me the most. There is a very special relation between the Montreal crowd and myself, and I don’t ever take it for granted – even though I easily could, I don’t.

DJ Times: And the content of your Piknic sets?

Barbara: I usually play longer sets, so it’s that time of the year where I can pull out older records, old vinyls, and where, thanks to the length of my set, I’ll play old classics from the mid- ’90s. I won’t feel bad at all for playing older music, and I know that people actually enjoy it. I wouldn’t play like this in any another gig where I only play the regular two-hour set, but at Piknic it’s always a mix between new and old, and maybe that’s why it’s so magic. It’s like if time didn’t exist anymore, nor the age difference among the people in the crowd, nor any musical style or trend. Everything is OK, everything is welcomed, and I really think it’s an enormous sign of love and respect, that makes me cherish this event a lot.

DJ Times: Piknic’s had two unique locations. For a DJ, any difference in the vibe of the two venues?

Barbara: Both amazing. Perhaps the actual one now is more like a real set-up for a musical event. It’s a real stage, a real dance floor, and what I really like is the fact that it’s in the middle of so many trees, and it makes it even more nature-oriented. But then, you look up and you see the Jacques Cartier Bridge, the downtown Montreal skyline, and you remember you’re getting all this greenery and breath of fresh air just two minutes away from the city. It’s just amazing.

DJ Times: What’s your DJ set-up now?

Barbara: Simply, [Pioneer DJ] CDJs with a USB key. I really miss vinyl and I want to stay away from computer screens, so I can really focus on the basics which, for me, is reading the crowd and giving them what I feel they want. To me, a DJ behind a laptop, who is not making music live, is not really appealing.

DJ Times: And you still play vinyl sometimes…

Barbara: I do. As I mentioned, when I play longer sets there are chances I’ll pull vinyl out again and throw in some old classics – but usually that’s at Piknic Électronik. Even when I play four-hour sets at Stereo, for example, I don’t necessarily bring vinyl. I think it has more to do with the type of event. Maybe with Piknic being a classic gig for me, I bring out classics.

DJ Times: Moving onto the studio, what’s your DAW?

Barbara: Depends on the type of music I produce. If I make techno, I’ll use Ableton Live, no questions asked. If I make pop or a more song-oriented project, in general, I’ll use Logic or Pro Tools. I really love Logic to work with vocals or any live recording because of how easy and enjoyable it is to comp. I also love mixing down on Logic. But to make tracks, Ableton is really easy and fast. DJ Times: Favorite plug-ins? Barbara: Lately, I use less and less plug-ins and more hardware, but I really enjoy some of the FabFilter plug-ins, Arturia, Applied Acoustics and Native Instruments. I know it’s not very specific, but the list is way too long.

DJ Times: So what vintage gear do you use?

Barbara: I use my [Roland] TR-909, as well as the [Roland] Juno-106 a lot.

DJ Times: I’ve read that you seem to take on the responsibility of being a strong woman in a DJ/production field dominated by men, number-wise. You’ve obviously succeeded in this field, but does it remain something that drives you?

Barbara: It has never been a goal or a driving force for me to fight for women rights in this business. Rest assured that it’s not a pleasant activity for me. I do it naturally, just because I know how tough it is. I’ve been there, dealt with it and still deal with it regularly – even though nowadays I might deal with that more as a producer than as a DJ. Believe me, if I could just focus on music without having to deal with that or fight for that at all, life would be much simpler. It is not a subject that pleases me, but unfortunately it’s a reality that we shouldn’t be oblivious to.

DJ Times: As a global DJ, what’s the biggest challenge in bringing out your best at each gig?

Barbara: What’s important is to stay alert and aware of new music, new releases. It can be a challenge if you suddenly stop liking all that’s new. It’s happened to me a few times throughout my career, where I felt lost and didn’t like anything new anymore – and I actually started wondering if maybe I didn’t love my job anymore. But it always comes back. I think it happens to everyone, especially when you’ve been doing this for so long and you’ve gone through a few generations of DJs. We can’t love everything at every moment.

DJ Times: So what are you digging now?

Barbara: I feel lucky now because I really enjoy the new techno that’s being made and released at the moment. It’s very old school, raw, hard and back to the roots. But a couple of years ago, I wasn’t into the new releases so much and I was struggling in my DJ sets because there was nothing much that was new that I liked – and that’s tough. I know that same feeling will come around again – it’s inevitable. It’s like fashion. Some years, we go shopping and we hate everything that’s on the shelves, and some years we could go broke because we want to buy everything. Everything is a cycle. Everything constantly changes, thankfully!

DJ Times: Which producers are you feeling these days?

Barbara: There are a lot of producers I really love at the moment! Thomas Schumacher. Anna. Wehbba. Petter B. Coyu. 2pole. Drumcomplex, and the list goes on. I think it’s a really exciting time for techno. I don’t know where it will be going, but it will change again. Old styles will come back again and then be gone again.

DJ Times: Which DJs most influenced you?

Barbara: To be brutally honest, I’ve always been more inspired by producers than other DJs. I’ve rarely been mind blown by other DJs. No one quite ever has the groove I like or does things the way I would. And by that, I’m not saying I am perfect, but simply that music is something we feel. If at a precise moment, I feel like I want something, in particular, but the DJ doesn’t give it to me then, or brings me somewhere I wouldn’t have gone, or maybe not yet… then it means we’re not on the same wavelength. It’s a bit like lovemaking… I find many DJs lack subtleness, lack telling a story, or perhaps they tell a story that I simply don’t follow or understand, and I’m sure it’s the same for me with some people. It’s the nature of tastes, and it’s OK.

DJ Times: Any advice for up-andcoming DJs?

Barbara: The only advice I have ever given since the beginning of my career, 22 years ago, and that I still give today is: Do what you love! Don’t play the music you think will make you popular because it’s trendy right now, simply because if it’s not the music that moves you, you won’t be convincing and authentic. Don’t ever do anything just to be popular or successful as the ultimate goal. Do it because it touches you and it moves you. Only then will you be able to move other people, and people will buy your story and they will want to come back for more.

DJ Times: What’s next for Misstress Barbara? Any new music on the horizon?

Barbara: I’ve been making quite a bit of music this year that I’ve been sitting on for months. But now it’s time I send it all out and start releasing it. So you can expect new releases from me in 2019. Also, I’m very excited to have recently joined Analog North America Agency, so I’m hoping to start coming back to the U.S. in 2019, as it’s been a while that I haven’t toured there and I hear things are getting exciting again for techno in the U.S.

By Jim Tremayne

Misstress Barbara’s Top Montreal Venues

Piknic Électronik (2003-present):

I’ve been playing for them for 15 years, on the same date every year, and it’s a true, ongoing, love story.

Sona (1996-2004):

That’s where I played my first nine-hour, DJ set – on my birthday. This very special something between the Montreal crowd and myself was born right there and then, and then got carried on through other clubs and events afterwards, like Aria and Piknic Électronik.

Aria (2001-2006):

It was my home after Sona, and that’s where I’ve done an even longer set on one of my birthdays – 11 hours!

– J.T.

This article is from:

DJ Times October 2018, Vol 31 No 8

by DJ Times Magazine