How did you first get into DJ-ing?

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I was actually completely terrified of DJing for the longest time (honestly I lowkey still am). When I first moved to Gadigal country going out to parties was a big part of how I met people and made friends, so I ended up surrounded by people who DJed. I was scared that if I started DJing too, people would think that I was just doing it because everyone else was. The dance scene was much more of a boys club then too, so I was afraid of the ridicule I’d cop from men who wouldn’t take me seriously.

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I ended up starting this radio show over on Surg FM with my friend Gemma called Housewives, which was our own little place to play the music we liked, how we wanted to. We started DJing together, sometimes with our friend Harry, at house parties and eventually played a few club gigs. I think the camaraderie of getting together with the girls and playing sets that our friends loved was so validating and wholesome, and made me feel like I could stake my claim behind the decks.

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DJing as Bocconcini came a couple of years later, when I finally plucked up the courage to do my own thing and released my first listening mix. Getting the radio slot, and having friends support me, mentor me, and book me to play their parties has done a world of good, and even though I still have mad imposter syndrome I definitely back myself far more than I used to.

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Who is your biggest inspiration?

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Someone who inspired me a whole lot to start the Bocconcini thing was DJ Young Kiera. I listened to all the mixes she did for Editorial Magazine and UNIF sooooo many times because at the time I’d never really heard mixes that weren’t specifically for dance floors. No mixing involved, just really well curated tracks. I definitely pinched a little of her vibe when I first started putting my own mixes together but don’t tell her that hahaaa.

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Now I’m much more inspired by the people around me who work their asses off to put beautiful and important stuff out into the world. I’m very lucky to have found a community filled with caring, down to earth, creative people.

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You host ‘Brunch with Bocconini’ on FBi radio, what’s your favourite part about the Sunday morning time slot?

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I love the Sunday morning slot because it’s up for interpretation. There’s a whole lot of different things people do during that time. Sunday mornings can be super lazy and indulgent but also real active and busy. It’s nice to have the freedom with my slot to play a big range of stuff purely because the time of day/week allows for it. It also means that when I get guest mixes on the show it sounds totally different again, because it’s that particular selector’s version of Sunday morning.

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Also Sunday mornings are just sexy and no I won’t expand further on that.

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How would you like to see the local electronic music scene grow and adapt past lockdown?

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GOD I hope this break we’ve all had from the dancefloor kicks some shit into gear. I don’t want to go back to the same old parties once the lockdown on them lifts. I want to see a far more diverse range of people running and being booked for them. I want to see brand new parties and collectives emerging from the Covid rubble, and the old dogs supporting them. I want to see the whole damn formula of parties change. We’ve had to be so adaptive over the past few months, let's keep this energy and innovation up!!!

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Also I think this whole period has been a wake up call for matters around accessibility. Who knew we had the resources to include people who can’t make it out to events, we just weren’t putting in the work to use them??? Keep those livestreams going forever, even if only one or two people tune in, that’s one or two people who feel included in the community who can’t always physically be a part of it.

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Who are you most excited to see once parties are back up and running?

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I’m definitely craving a summer beach dance. Give me a Honey Point or Sittin’ Pretty event on the sand and I’ll be there mimosa in god damn hand.