FAST 10: Bella Claxton
Founder of In House Radio and resident at Creatures Events, Bella Claxton gives us the 411 on the artists she looks up to, and words to live by…
If 2020 has taught us anything, it's taught us that life is fleeting, you've got to give the things you love a red hot crack, and when times are tough, it's best to put on a smile and make the absolute best of things. Two of these mantras Bella Claxton has already been living by. Seriously, if you skip to Question 10, you'll find out that Bella got the hard lessons down pat early on, while the rest of us scramble to make some sense of our lives in an *almost* post-pandemic world.
Bella has conquered 2020 in several ways, proving to everyone that she has well and truly got-her-shit-together. Alongside gigs at New Guernica, Pawn & Co and recently The Third Day, and becoming a resident for Melbourne's Creatures Events, she also launched In House Radio. It's a platform to showcase a string of Melbourne's most notable DJ's, and recent streams included mixes from Cassettes For Kids, Heatwave Tommy, and Fosta.
Armed with dedication, passion, and undeniable talent, Bella Claxton forges her own unique sound. Delving between electronic, techno, UKG, breakbeat and interspersed with 90s house vocal riffs, she'll get even the most flat-footed punters dancing. Keep your eyes peeled, Bella is going places.
THREE WORDS TO DESCRIBE MY MUSIC:
Wow, this really depends on what time of the day I’m playing but - fast, vocals and euphoric.
2. A FEMALE ARTIST EVERYONE SHOULD KNOW:
I wish I had someone more underground but Sally C would have to be one of my favourite DJs at the moment. If you’re a fan of breaks, ghetto and hip-house - she's your girl.
3. A TRACK I’M EMBARRASSED TO LOVE:
The whole 9 minutes and 30 seconds of Boys Town Gang - ‘Can’t Take My Eyes Off You’. Or anything Kylie Minogue.
4. THE LOCAL INDUSTRY NEEDS MORE:
I would love to see a “homegrown” stage at all the major festivals, that has exclusively local people playing. Similar to the busking stage at Bluesfest - for those that don’t know what that is, it’s a small stage between the two main stages. You send your submission to the festival and they hand pick artists to play. It gets natural foot traffic and people end up staying because they like what they are hearing. Given the current climate, if we want to nurture/show off the new talent coming through, I couldn’t think of a better way to do it.
5. MY DRINK OF CHOICE AT A GIG:
Anything in a can, but normally beer.
6. WHAT EMPOWERS ME:
Having friends or complete strangers getting around you at a gig - also a good pair of sneakers to dance in comfortably is key.
7. THE BEST GIG I’VE EVER PLAYED:
One that sticks in my head would actually be the first time I played in Melbourne when I opened up the infamous New Guernica. Coincidentally, my good friends at Palace Trax were running the kitchen that night, so I found myself playing B2B with a friend, with all of our mates jammed into that small room.
8. IF I WASN’T IN THE MUSIC INDUSTRY I WOULD BE:
I would love for the music industry to pay my wage, but until then I’m stuck at my 9-5 desk job.
9. SOMEONE I LOOK UP TO IS:
Peach!!! I was lucky enough to stumble across her at the forest stage at Melt 2019, and I don’t think I’ve ever had more fun during a set since. She had the whole crowd up and about for the 2 hours she played. If I can make my sets half as entertaining as hers, I’m on the right track.
10. THE BEST PIECE OF ADVICE I’VE EVER RECEIVED:
Extremely cliché, but the 3 things i’ve had instilled in me by my parents would be 1. If you’re interested in something, give it a go 2. Make the best of a bad situation, and 3. Always ask, never assume.