Before Russia's first lady of breakbeat hit Australian shores to deliver what she has become famous for, killer breaks and basslines, and Belinda Roberts caught up with Lady Waks to to chat about her, her music and so much more.

You started out in the industry at quite a young age. How did you get into it and what was it that made you choose to become involved in the industry?

I didn’t plan to work in this industry. I was interested in break dancing and graffiti and got involved in these things as more of a hobby. I also studied graphic design and intended to become a designer. Eventually I found myself in a situation where I was able to do all the things I loved for a living.

Most people in Australia would know you as a DJ and Producer – with tracks like “Listen”, “Minimal” and now “Shake It” – but there is a lot more to Lady Waks than just DJing and Producing. Can you tell us a little bit about the other projects you’re involved in?

I promote and organise parties. I’ve been running the IBWT (in beat we trust) monthly parties for 8 years now. I had worked with the biggest event company in Russia organising festivals for five years until this year, since I no longer have the time. However I still do work with them on certain projects. I run my own booking agency, and represent a number of international DJs from various genres, including Westbam, Atomic Hooligan, Ctrl-Z and many more. I also do graphics design for all of the parties I promote and also for all the music releases on Recbag (My new label with Hardy Hard), Bass Planet and many other including the preliminary artwork for Atomic Hooligan’s new album. I also design clothing (jackets, belts, t-shirts etc) that promotes our parties. However the clothing is fairly exclusive and is not available for the general public.

The Breaks Arena festival is quite a big deal – the largest breaks-only festival in the world and the first event outside of the UK to have ever been nominated for a Breakspoll Award. Can you tell us a little bit more about the festival?

The last one was in summer at a new outdoor location. In the past it has only been hosted indoors and in the winter months in Russia, but the last one was at the Black Sea (Ukraine) and was one of the events at the Kazantip Festival, which goes on for two months. We’ve had Krafty Kuts, Deekline, Slyde, Hyper, Superstyle Deluxe, Access Denied, 4Kuba and many IBWT residents play at Breaks Arena in the past.

In 2006 you were invited to join Westbam and Hardy Hard on their Electric Kingdom Tour – how much did that change the course of your career?

In many ways. I was able to establish a good relationship with both guys and that has led to many projects together in the production, performance and radio realms. And it also furthered my profile in Germany. Before this, I had only played at Hip Hop and Drum n Bass styled events in Europe. But since, I have played at more electro and techno styled events (however I don’t play either of these two styles at all, I only play breaks).

You toured Australia in 2007 – is there anything that you missed on the last time that you’d like to see or do this time around? And what are you looking forward to about your 2008 Australian tour?

I’m looking forward returning to audiences and a scene that I now better understand, having learnt so much about the state of the scene and what the public liked and didn’t like from my last visit. I know this time around more people will know who I am and 

understand my music style. Away from music, I’m looking forward to learning how to surf, picking up an Australian tan and doing some random activities – I already had the opportunity to bungee jump from a TV tower in Auckland just on Friday!

What can Australian fans expect from your shows here this year?

I definitely have some new exclusive unreleased tracks to drop that I think will be well enjoyed.

And finally – what can we expect from Lady Waks in the future?

More of the same. But my focus is not just on my own solo career but also on pushing the scene that I’m involved in and the music that I love. However I’m very excited about my new record label with Hardy Hard, Recbag. We have a new upcoming release on the label featuring Afrika Islam, whom also appeared on “Minimal”. The track is called “Records Back” and will be released with two remixes from Germany producers Electrixx and Robosapiens. And we also have a new track due out on Westbam’s label, Bass Planet, called “Planet Breakbeat” featuring MC Flipside from the US, whom also features on a lot of Deekline’s tracks.