1. What first drew you to reggae music, and how did your journey as a DJ begin?

First of all Thank you for giving me this oppertunity. My brother had a friend, Anna aka Jahlioness. She was listening to Reggae music and infected my brother with Reggae Mylitus. Being around them a lot thought me a lot about the music and also the background of Reggae music and Rastafari. It appealed to me a lot as I wasnt the average teenager ( I was 10 years of age at the time). I found something in reading about Rastafari and listening to Reggae music that I did not find anywhere else, call it some sort of peace of mind. At the age of 21 I met my husband Fritz, as a Jamaican he was suprised how much Reggae music was embeded in my life and he started to encourage me to do something with my knowledge of Reggae music.

I was playing records in my livingroom and in his own words it would bring tears to his eyes seeing this young Dutch woman play the music that he grew up with like it was a second nature. Attending a stageshow in Utrecht at Tivoli Oudegracht we met up with a man by the name of Duke, he was handing out flyers for a party called ‘A Reggae bomb’ and Fritz asked Duke if they where looking for dj’s. Thusfar my only experience with dj-ing was carrying records for my good friend/sister Anna who played Reggae music weekly in coffeeshop Easy Times back in the ninetees. Duke said I could do an audition at a local place called K-Sjot and if he found me to be good enough I was allowed to come try out at ‘A Reggae bomb’. This was back in 2002, the rest is history.

2. Can you tell us about your first ever gig—how did it feel to be behind the decks for the first time?

I do not recall much about the audition in K-sjot but I do remember my first time playing at ‘A Reggae Bomb’. It was in Ekko, Utrecht and I remember feeling really scared to step on stage with all those established DJ’s. I played with CD’s at the time and all I can say is that I had a lot to learn back then, mixing and technical skills and especially reading the crowd are features that you pick up on whilst playing music for a crowd. That can’t be thought by only playing in your own livingroom.

3. Who were some of your biggest musical inspirations when you were starting out?

It all started with Roots Reggae music, I was listening a lot to Hugh Mundell, The Itals, The Abyssinians, The MIghty Diamonds & the Gladiators just to name a few, those are some of the artists I got a lot of inspiration from.

4. How would you describe your style or vibe when you’re selecting tunes for a set?

Unless it is a specific gig like the 420 edition of ‘A Reggae Bomb’ that we did last sunday I never select tunes before a gig. I have so much music with me when I attend a gig to be able to select at the spot. With experience comes the knowledge of what kind of crowd you might expect at a certain gig but I rather select in the moment. Read the crowd and try to anticipate to their needs. I am able to play reggae music from every decade but I do have me preferences.

If I can show those all depends on the demand of the crowd. I do believe we as dj’s should educate the crowd, play new music besides the music that we all know and love and it isn’t always easy to embed new music into a set because people respond quickly and nothings worst then a vibes killer in a set, what I may think is a new big tune might not always be received as such so it is a continues search for what works and what does not. I always try to play music the way I want another dj to play when I go out and especially with reggae music we all know we love to sing along and react to those big tunes that brings the vibe.

5. Is there a particular sub-genre or era of reggae that really speaks to you?

I do love Loversrock, RubaDub, Roots, New Roots, Early Dancehall the most. I love early dancehall because even though the lyrics could be slack sometimes they where mostly funny. Jamaicans have the strength to turn bad situations into something positive by making music like ‘Wild Gilbert by Lovindeer’ which was about hurricane Gilbert which devastated the island back in 1988. I admire that resilliance and when lyrics can make you laugh or you can relate to them it is the greatest. I find that most in these subgenres. Reggae music overall is something special, you don’t only listen to it it is whole lifestyle. Like my sis Jahlioness always says: “Reggae music is the Red, Gold and Green line in my life”it really is.

6. How do you keep your sets fresh while still staying true to reggae’s roots?

I always stay up to date with the latest music. I do love to play riddims and try to pick out the best and the most matching tunes on a riddim. I do want to highlight that I play all types of music coming from Jamaica not only Roots Reggae. Personally I do believe you have to be able to play for everybody, however as a female dj I do watch the lyrics very keenly and will always make sure to keep my sets woman friendly.

A little slackness is no problem though as thats a big part of the Jamaican culture it is just all how far are you willing to take it. The most important part is to make sure the crowd is entertained and feels happy with the music a dj plays. Nothing beats the look on peoples faces when they hear their favourite tune, the energy you get from that is unmatched.

Reggae Bomb Crew & Scene in Utrecht

7. How did you become part of the Reggae Bomb Crew, and what does the collective mean to you?

I would not have been  where I am today without the Reggae Bomb. I described my journey into dj-ing earlier and from the first Reggae Bomb back in 2002 I am a member of the Reggae Bomb Crew. We are talking 23 years. The Reggae Bomb is DJ Dab, without Dab I would not be where I am today. He pulled the Reggae Bomb waggon all over the place and introduced our crew to a lot of different venues and festivals. It feels like family honoustly, we are all completely different, have our own lives but reggae music connects us and when push come to shove we are all there for eachother on stage and off stage.

I am so thankfull to be a part of this crew and I hope we will be playing music together for a long time. DJ Dab, Don Arco, Martial Ard and our latest edition to the crew Rachel who is in charge of our promotion and afcourse yourstruly are all people with a huge amount of love for reggae music and as long as we all feel that the Reggae Bomb will be running parties in Utrecht and anywhere we are asked to play.

8. What makes Utrecht’s reggae scene unique or special in your eyes?

The Utrecht scene is a scene with loads of love for the music. The vibes are always nice and the nice thing is when you have loyal followers once you see them enter the venue you know you should play that one tune for them to show them that you appreciate their support. That interaction I love the most.

9. Can you share a memorable night or event you played with Reggae Bomb Crew?

For me personally that was Lowlands back in 2018. I saw some Amsterdam flags in the crowd and decided to start my set with Three Little Birds from Bob Marley, most of you might know that’s the Ajax anthem. The responce from the audience was unreal and for me it was the first time playing for such a large crowd. After my set I got a lot of compliments and the whole evening with my Reggae Bomb family was one of the greatest in my oppinion.

10. As a female DJ in a genre and scene that’s often male-dominated, what has your experience been like?

It has been a journey. It did not just come to me I always felt like I wasn’t doing as great as a job as my male collegues. Even though the male members of the Reggae Bomb have not made me feel that I am lesser then them in general the main reaction to me being a dj are often disbelieve, people are suprised and don’t believe that I can actually spin tunes untill I do and then they come to me and say that they did not expect me to play music the way I do. I can say it has not always been easy in general but as long as you stay true to yourself you will overcome all obstacles.

11. Have you seen any changes in how women are represented or supported in the reggae and sound system culture?

I do believe woman are building on a firm spot in this male dominated world. It isn’t easy as a woman to earn your spot on that stage but once you do and you continue to deliver they can not go around us woman.There are more and more female dj’s stepping up and I admire them all. We all know where we come from and to keep on building and reaching that stage where you deserve to be just as much as several male dj’s do is a goal that I see more and more woman have. I think it is really important that we woman help built eachother and support eachother. I believe male dj’s have accepted female dj’s in the scene more and more. They can’t go around us, we are here to stay.

12. What advice would you give to young women who want to step into DJing or the reggae scene?

First of all, stay true to yourself, stay focussed and know what your goals are. Don’t settle for less and most important know your worth! Built in silence and make sure you have that handfull or loyal soldiers around you. It takes a village to raise a child they say but I believe it takes a village in everything a person does. DJ-ing is not easy, it is hard work, cost a lot of energy but also gives a lot of energy. Nothing feels better then to be able to share that with a few loyal people.

13. How do you see reggae as a form of resistance or cultural expression today?

I always see reggae music as underground music, even though in this day and age we have huge festivals where thousands of people attend it will still remain the music of the underdog so to speak. I do believe the message in reggae music is timeless and especially the tunes from back in the days still hit home in 2025. Look at the huge impact the One Love movie had worldwide last year. To every situation we go through in life there is a reggae tune that relates to it. I do however miss the militance in the music these days that where represented in the ’90s and ’00s.

14. Is there a particular track that you always carry in your crate, no matter the set? Why that one?

Give Praice by Luciano is one of those signature tunes, I have to give praise to Rastafari because I am able to spread the message through this beautiful music, By his deeds by VC, Love and Hate by Dennis brown, Kingly Character by Garnett Silk those are some tunes that I will play in almost every set.

15. What’s next for you—any upcoming projects, gigs, or dreams you’re manifesting?

With the Reggae Bomb Crew I have the hope that we can continue to play music the way we do for years and years to come, wether it is in Tivoli Vredenburg or at festivals or locations like Ruigoord (which is a magical place to be playing reggae music I have to say). As a solo dj I hope that I will continue to be invited to the festivals and gigs that I always get invited to. I do love to play at Reggae lake mainstage with DJ Rick and MC Martial Ard and would love to play at other festivals such as Reggae Geel and Reggae Jam. play solo loads of times but I do believe having my Reggae Bomb brother MC Martial Ard beside me strengthens me as a dj and makes the experience for the audience better, his energy and vibes and knowledge of music are unmatched. I am greatfull to say the least.

In the future I also hope to continue to work with Munira from Reggae Movement. She has showed constant faith in me as a person and my abilities as a dj. I have played at several Reggae Vibration events over the years with dusfar as cherry on the cake spinning tunes at the Reggae Vibrations stage at Reggae Lake! Reggae Movement is about empowerment for woman and I am Thankfull to be a part of that!