Words by Jessie Smith
If you’re like me when it comes to Brighton nightlife, you’re ready for something different— something other than the roves of indie boys chucking their beer into the air to a drum and bass remix of an Arctic Monkeys song, or reality TV stars who press a play/pause button for an hour at £15 per head.
Frankly, the current music scene doesn’t seem to do much to reward or highlight originality from DJs. The club nights in Brighton have become a hellscape for those who pioneered these sorts of spaces; women, queer people, and people of colour no longer feel free to dance and be themselves. Thankfully, here in Brighton, something fresh is emerging in the shape of Spotlight Events: a collective of queer, female and marginalised DJs seeking to diversify the DJing scene.
DJ Rach, self-proclaimed ‘head honcho’ of Spotlight, describes what led them to set up their own platform:
“I wasn’t really getting booked in Brighton, and when I was, it was to play music I’m not really passionate about; a lot of house and commercial. I’m more passionate about dubstep and jungle, which is a difficult scene to break into. Even in queer spaces, I just wasn’t being booked.”
“I thought, f*ck this, I’m going to do sh*t for myself.”
Having attended some of Spotlight’s events myself, you get the sense that Rach and their resident DJs truly revel in the freedom Spotlight gives them. It’s infectious, and you can’t help but reciprocate the energy. Sets are electric and convivial, but never pretentious or aggressive.
“It’s really important to me that Spotlight brings a safe space for people to come to, but also to play. A space for marginalised DJs that is not entirely focused on them being marginalised, but on the music they play.”
“That is the most important thing for me: the music.”
This philosophy has been extremely successful for Spotlight. Tickets are selling really well and the operation continues to expand with new residencies and sets, proving that wherever the music is, the people will follow. It’s something that feels entirely instinctive but hasn’t always been encouraged by those at the top.
“It’s so much about who you know… It’s easy to put on people they’re mates with and who play the same kind of music, who look like them. It’s hard to break that mould.”
But since starting Spotlight, Rach has had some promising experiences with people in the industry.
“I’ve even had male promoters saying that we’ve helped them understand the impact they have when curating a lineup. This is really good because for real change to happen, unfortunately, it needs to start with the men, who have the most influence in the scene.”
“I now have resident DJs: 5 people who are helping me out with Spotlight. It’s taken a while to find people with similar thoughts and experiences to me, and who are passionate about the same music I mix.”
“I’m really excited to play more sets, involve more DJs, and branch out up north. We’ve also now got a residency on Subtle Radio every third Sunday of the month starting in October.”
“I just want to keep platforming and creating space for people like me and the other residents.”
And Spotlight is doing it brilliantly. During my time living in Brighton, I’ve never partied in a space so welcoming, vibrant and free. With regular events at The Oculist, Patterns and other Brighton spots, as well as weekly mixes on Soundcloud from spotlighted artists, it truly is a space for everyone: the girlies, the gender non-conformers, ravers, non-ravers, and, most especially, music-lovers.