New Girl is an up and coming DJ and Producer from Vancouver, BC, Canada. She first started by DJing on Twitch and became a Twitch Partner within her first year of streaming. Some of her bigger bookings include Electric Love Music Festival, Monstercat Compound, Physical Friends Festival in El Salvador, Bailar and Rise and Shine Music Festivals, DJ sets in events run by Dirtybird Records, Era Records and True Sound Events.
Here she makes her Unlearn Records debut with Time Is Frozen. With rasping synth lines, sultry vocals and a tense, urgent bassline, Time Is Frozen absolutely delivers the tech house goods.
How has your experience with streaming and performing live on Twitch influenced your connection with your audience compared to traditional live performances?
I really value my time performing on Twitch mostly because it’s the only form of performance where the audience can communicate in words with the performer while they are performing. Forming a strong line of communication with my viewers on Twitch has shown me the importance of aligning myself with my audience. This has influenced how much I value my experience connecting with my live audience as well.
In your opinion, what are the biggest challenges facing new artists in the electronic music scene today, and how have you navigated these challenges in your own career?
One of the biggest challenges is letting go of the pressure we put on ourselves, which is brought on by the industry. We constantly compare our journeys to others, especially regarding the consistency of releases. Most new producers (including myself) are aware of the expectation to release music constantly. My success began with streaming and DJing on vinyl, and I was always wary that production wouldn’t keep up. The inspiration for “Time is Frozen” came from letting go of the fear that it would take too long to produce a track I was truly proud of. When I stopped rushing myself and allowed myself to create my own journey in production, no matter how long it took, my creativity started to flow. I made a song that reflected my true thoughts and fears, and to my surprise, I produced a track in a shorter amount of time than I originally imagined. You need to block all expectations out of your mind to let your creativity take control.
Can you talk about the role of collaboration in your music production process? How do you choose collaborators, and what do you look for in a creative partnership?
I like to collaborate with people who are as excited about the project as I am. Usually, it begins with jamming and sharing some track ideas that we’ve started. If I hear something that immediately sparks ideas and new sounds in my head, or they feel that way about one of my fresh projects, it can become a great collaboration! Collaborations are fun because they open up creation to ideas that may have never crossed your mind otherwise.
The tech house genre is known for its distinctive sound. How do you ensure your music stands out in a crowded market, and what unique elements do you bring to your tracks?
I think “Time is Frozen” stands out because it’s a genuine representation of me at that moment. I wasn’t trying to make something that compared to a reference track, which makes it completely unique. I love the tension buildup into that driving bassline. It has a hefty drop that contrasts heavily with the feminine female vocal. That is a huge part of my sound, and creating this track helped me find my distinctive “New Girl” sound.
How do you stay current with trends in electronic music while maintaining your unique sound and style?
I believe it’s important to stay true to myself and make music that sounds good to me. If I make what I love and am excited about it, my listeners will be excited about it too! Trends come and go, but if I’m just crushing my work for me, the trend will find me somewhere along the way. I derive my success from making tracks that I love above anything else. Trends come and go, but they always come back around and evolve.
What advice would you give to aspiring DJs and producers who are just starting out in the industry?
I would tell them to find a way to give to the community of this industry before having expectations. Many DJs start out expecting to be booked or have tracks signed immediately, or they come in with ego. No matter how talented someone is, it’s crucial to be humble and appreciate and protect the supportive energy we’ve created in this industry. I value my place in the Twitch community because it was an amazing opportunity to promote other artists’ music. If you genuinely love music and support the people you look up to, they will support you in turn. I remember the first time someone sent me an unreleased track to play on stream. I was overwhelmed that someone trusted me to show their piece of them to the world before they did. It was such an honor, and I took it seriously. Later, when I started producing, all the people I had helped promote their tracks were so excited to hear that New Girl was producing, and they showed me more support than I could have ever hoped for.
How important is social media and online presence for artists in the electronic music industry, and how do you manage your digital footprint?
Social media is very important because it allows you to share your music with others and discover and promote others’ music as well. It’s also cool that we can find our “people,” no matter who or where they are, with a common love for music. Some of my biggest supporters and best friends in the industry are my Twitch fam, and I was able to find those unparalleled industry relationships because of Twitch and social media. The online world allows age, gender, or distance to be irrelevant when forming connections with people based on a common passion.
As someone who has performed at international festivals, how do you see the global electronic music scene evolving in the next few years, and where do you see yourself within that landscape?
The scene is always evolving. Even though I always stick to my style, it evolves because I’m constantly inspired by the world around me. Firstly, by the music around me, and secondly, by my life outside the industry. The emotional content of my work reflects my challenges, successes, and the energy I surround myself with. I’m excited to see what the future brings for both the culture of electronic music and my musical journey.