Lockhart
DJ
Lockhart is a London-based DJ who has played almost every club and afterparty in the UK capital counting Corsica Studios, FOLD, The Cause, The Glove That Fits, Bussey Building, Grow Tottenham and a heap of secret locations for illicit after-hour sessions. She first came onto the scene in London via her show on the now-defunct Radar Radio which featured a range of guests including Akito, Ani Klang & more, covering a myriad of sounds from experimental to dark and dubby techno.
As a regular attendee at Jaded parties, it wasn’t long before Sian aka Lockhart soon started to play at the Sunday morning event and it was here that she crafted her sound and road-tested a range of hammering tunes built up over years.
Lockhart has a strong presence behind any booth she has played and has been known to entice people into an empty room and make them stay there for the duration of her set. Along with steadfast mixing, an ability to read and engage even the toughest of crowds and a well-tuned ear that leans towards UK techno and playful but heavy classics, Sian throws herself into every set and is the epitome of focus in the chaotic environments she is booked to play.
It’s no surprise that promoters outside of London soon added Lockhart to their bills and over the last few years, she has played in Berlin with No Shade, Sheffield with More Pussy 3mpire, Manchester with Dualpower, Switzerland for Montreux Jazz Festival & more. Upcoming bookings in Poland and Glasgow have been put on hold for now but this hasn’t dampened Sian’s work ethic and commitment to building her collection of tracks twice-fold.
This image was taken at her second home and resonates with Sian for more reasons than meets the eye…
Photo: Unknown
Where was this photo taken and why did you pick it?
This photo was taken at a Voight-Kampff takeover of Jaded that Ceili and I played B2B.
I chose it because Jaded is home and because it sums up my last year in a really palpable way. I had a bit of a rough time of it midway through 2019 - a really emotional breakup which completely uprooted my entire life for the previous two years, financial worry for all the changes I had to face + stress and pressure from my job which was getting more and more intense with each day. The big, big positive that helped me through all of it were my friends - old and new. I spent a lot of time over the past few years feeling sort of disconnected from people because I was letting anxiety rule me at the time, fell away from seeing friends, speaking to people etc. Was in a self-perpetuating lonely bubble at the time. Then I started meeting new people on nights I was playing, friends of friends that then became my friends. Going out completely alone and coming home feeling part of an entirely new family is such a warm feeling.
What are you listening to at the moment if you’re working from home?
I’m currently making my way through March downloads - I’m really quite obsessive about how I consume music. I have to listen to an EP/album in full, categorise each song and then that’s how I organise my Rekordbox library. The best I’ve listened to from this playlist are the latest Clouds EP on Headstrong and the latest D. Dan EP on Lobster Theremin. Both are heavy as shit, I love it.
To be honest the pandemic is having quite the positive effect on my music career vs my professional. Alright all my bookings have been cancelled, but I’m able to put a full day’s time in each day to listening to and discovering new music - something I was struggling with due to my 9-5. I’m flailing a bit professionally though, it’s so hard to focus when you’re working from home!
If you’re feeling overwhelmed or anxious, do you have a go-to track or style of music that significantly lifts your spirits?
I listen to a lot of 80s music if I want to feel good. A fave at the moment is Samantha Fox - ‘Touch Me’. Fucking amazing track. Wham and Madonna etc. are also helpful to curb anxiety. Just instantly feel good whenever you listen.
How do you intend on celebrating once we’re out the other side?
I’m going to Amsterdam or Berlin when this is over, I need to get away! I had plans to be in Paris for April, Berlin for May, and Amsterdam for Dekmantel in the summer. And now none of that will happen. So yeah I wanna go all out when this is done with - have a lot to make up for.
Any tips on how to look after your mind and body during this slightly stressful time?
In terms of keeping sane - stay busy, channel your restlessness into whatever output you can - be creative if you want, or not - eat good and work out.
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