Two time winner of "Best Female DJ" at the Perth Dance Music Awards and regular behind the decks at Ambar, Mono Lisa is known for her energy, her smile and most of all her ability to tame any breakbeat.

1. Name
Mono Lisa

2. Describe the style of music you play?
I play predominantly breaks with a bit of 4/4 featuring every now and then.  I love playing the later slots of a night so my sound is pretty tough and heavy, but I also love to funk it up as well.  I’ve also started playing a bit of dnb in my closing sets too so hope that continues!

3. How long have you been DJ’ing for?
Since 2005, so 4 years now.

4. How did you come up with your DJ name?
I have no idea to be honest but I wanted to use my first name somehow so it worked out well.

5. If I took a look inside your fridge, what would I find?
Always beer, tonic water for gin, eggs and tsadziki dip.

6. What was the first record you bought?
Stanton Warriors – Slanty/Jiggle Dat.

7. Who is your biggest musical influence?
I am influenced by so many different things.  I’m always downloading and listening to all sorts of different mixes and podcasts, I spend hours reading up on and listening to different artists and producers, I talk to friends and strangers about the music they rate and why they rate it; it really depends what mood I am in! 

I also learn a lot by watching and playing with other DJs – I love the challenges and fun that comes from playing back to back sets.  My peers are my biggest inspiration!

8. What/Who inspired you to start DJ’ing?
I met a boy and he taught me how to mix.  They were fun times.

9. What DJ have you met that turned you into a tongue tied stuttering silly billy?
I haven’t met either yet but I reckon I would be pretty tongue tied around Meat Katie or Elite Force – two of my favourite producers at the moment, especially Shack <3.

10. Vinyl or Digital?
Vinyl! Vinyl! Vinyl But yeah I play CDs too… some clubs don’t even have turntables set up anymore!  I’ll always pick a record over a CD if I think the mix will work though.

11. Tell me about the first time you played out?
I played at a competition at Ambar called The Punters Choice at the end of 2005.  The club was packed and I had a half hour set and was pretty nervous but as soon as I got up into the booth I knew I had found my niche!  All my mates were there to support me – it was awesome, I’ll never forget it!

12. Do you have a message for the bedroom DJ’s out there?
Just play the music that you love.

13. Where can the Perth punters see you play?
I’m a resident at Ambar’s regular Saturday night ‘Japan 4’ and play there a few times a month.

I also run a night every few months with two of my mates called ‘Force Majeure’ which is a mix of harder-edged breaks, dnb and anything cool.  I play there with DJ Philly and we also broadcast a Force Majeure radio show every Wednesday on www.nsbradio.co.uk from 8pm to 10pm Perth time.

14. What are you doing after you finish this interview?
I’ll probably procrastinate on Teknoscape or ITM for a few hours.  How exciting.

15. Open mic - 25 words or less.....
Ooooooooooooooowwwwwwwwwwweeeeeeeeeeeeeeeoooooooo!!!!!!!!