21One of the newer inductees into Oslo DJ circuit, Loveshy arrives at the Jaeger Mix with melodic House mix touches on a nineties aesthetic and ambient moods. The DJ has started making appearances around Oslo’s clubbing institutions over the course of the last year, playing Jaeger amongst others as with a sound that is already defined.
Recorded during the annual DJ Marathon with Jaeger Mix in situ, Loveshy picked up from Boring Crew Records DJs tunnelling a bit deeper into House music’s foundations and expressing a penchant for atmospheres. Mostly new tracks, but some old, tap into a collective nostalgia for dance floors a where a hedonistic pursuits subvert cultural anxieties.
Shy in name and in life, Loveshy appears like something of an enigma in the scene, one we’re eager to know better. We talk about her origins and more as we settle into Loveshy’s ethereal mix.
Where does the name Loveshy come from?
It’s a bit random, but a part of it comes from my former shyness and introversion. For me, the hardest part about DJing was feeling very exposed. All I wanted was to share music, preferably in a corner. It became an inside joke within my friend group, and they started showing up early to my gigs to make sure to hype me up and put the attention on me. Even though I hated it at first, it made the situation feel less intimidating for me.
What’s the earliest memory you have of a piece of music?
I do not have a memory of a specific piece, but I do remember growing up with my dad collecting a crazy amount of CDs and vinyls. There was always music playing in the car and at home. On the other hand, a CD that really made an impact on me, was The Hits for Kids Vol. 4. Consisting of the most popular music regardless of genre, I remember loving being able to enjoy listening to Eurodance, trance, German pop and RnB – all available on my Walkman.
What was your introduction to electronic music and how did that lead to DJing?
When I was a teenager, meeting up with my friends at parties, I always ended up being the one connecting the AUX to my phone. I found it so exciting to share music, that I often ended up sitting alone in the corner, queueing up songs all night. It quickly became a habit, and I started curating a playlist beforehand every time meeting up, just in case I was asked to play. The reactions and ongoing positive feedback was definitely what started a spark. Since then, I’ve been exploring and discovering new genres over the years. When I first started DJing, I played mainly Hip Hop and Garage. By seeking out DJ sets in the Oslo club scene, I started to fall in love with electronic music.
How would you describe your sound as a DJ for the uninitiated?
I’d say the music I play reflects my wide range of musical influences, and that they all come together in my DJ sets. My sets have always been very dancefloor-oriented. I´m not the kind of DJ who tries to challenge or provoke the audience too much, but because my sound and influences are so diverse, the sets still end up feeling a bit eclectic.
It seems in the last year I’ve seen the name Loveshy often on lineups. What’s been the evolution for you as a DJ leading up to this point?
It started out as a hobby after moving to Oslo, mainly to have fun and to play for friends in my living room, at afterparties and so on. A few years ago, some friends asked me to play at their event, and after hesitating for a while, I said yes. That’s what really got things started for me. But it was mostly about the sense of community. The club and electronic music community in Oslo is pretty small and tight knit, and it has a real community feeling. I really appreciate being a part of that.
Give us an introduction to this Jaeger mix. It was recorded on the 2nd of January. Was there anything about the date and the context that set the scene for the records you wanted to play for it?
I would say this mix is me not going too deep into things. You know, it was the 2nd of January, and I was still very tired from the New Year’s Eve celebrations. This collection of songs just felt natural for me, flowing with the crowd and room. Also gigs usually end up being even more fun when you’re open-minded and embracing whatever comes your way.
For the most part this mix lives in the broader House spectrum. Where on that spectrum would you place the mix and yourself as a DJ?
As pointed out earlier I’m not the kind of DJ that focuses on trying to challenge and provoke. House is the foundation of my sound, and I like to keep that as a base and move around from there. This specific mix is me tapping into a lot of the tracks I have been playing lately and just flowing where I’m the most comfortable. I love exploring different genres depending on my mood. This mix I would say lives in the more subtle and floating part of house music, made for the club, but not really the peak hours of the night.
There’s this floaty ethereal mood to it, very nineties, almost ambient. What particularly draws you to this style of music?
I’m really inspired by ambient and ethereal soundscapes. To incorporate that kind of warmness was particularly fitting to showcase my more moody and atmospheric sounds for this early January night.
And when you do branch further out as DJ, where do you usually see yourself going?
Playing more abroad would be fun. I really love my 9-5 job, so just having DJing as a side hustle gives me the perfect balance. I wanna keep on evolving and improving, but most importantly always make sure to keep on having fun doing it.
Is there any intention to start making music too?
Been thinking about doing it for many years. I get a lot of ideas and feel very inspired when exploring music. I know I need to get an outburst for that type of creative energy. I´m gonna start producing this year. Since it’s now manifested here it has to happen.
What would that sound like?
Hopefully it would sound a bit like “Music has the right to children” by Boards of Canada. If it ended up being 1% as good as that album, I would be pretty happy. I have always been very fascinated by the whole 90’s IDM sound. Lately also into the more loop-based and experimental ambient stuff. I have been listening to a lot of Anna Roxanne. She has this beautiful bridge between more accessible pop influences and experimental ambient soundscapes. That’s a direction I would love to explore.