Issue 86 / March 2018

BREAKWAVE
Promoter, producer, tastemaker and DJ: Jessica Beaumont is using her
music to open up space for innovative new artists and venues, placing
BREAKWAVE at the cutting edge of UK nightlife.
The importance of space and protecting our creative
communities is manifested by Jessica Beaumont’s own
organic journey in the music scene. Noting a lack of
creative events and spaces in Liverpool’s nightlife, as
well as platforms to promote up-and-coming DJs, Beaumont set
out to fill the void herself. Space is an important element behind
her innovative club night, Meine Nacht, which she started with
Or:la back in 2015 – and she has, in turn, provided opportunities
for the city’s grassroots DJs. Her career has naturally progressed
with a bold identity – BREAKWAVE – developing as a result.
Praised for her pulsating sets that have been pumping their
infectious rhythms into venues and onto the radio waves,
Beaumont is currently working on her debut EP that will feature
two tracks on 12” vinyl, set to be released towards the end of this
year.
Informed by the atmosphere she wants to create for her
audiences at Meine Nacht nights, the Breakwave sound is an
extension of what Beaumont has been honing for a number of
years. “It’s mainly breakbeat techno and a bit bassy, that’s the stuff
I’m producing at the moment and the kind of vibe I want to create,”
she tells me when we meet up to discuss her emergence as one of
the North West’s most in-demand DJs. “I get sent a lot of music,
and a lot of good grassroots DJs send me their work, so I’ll include
a bit of that in my mixes. Mostly I’ll just do my own digging, so I’ll
go to record stores and create a mix between ambient techno, the
bassier side of things, breaks and jungle as well. I try to include
a wide variety of genres, so I suppose you could say it’s genrespanning.
It makes it harder to mix, but I think it keeps it more fresh
and exciting for the audience.”
Beaumont’s career started with Meine Nacht, while her own
label (Deep Sea Frequency) and music gradually began to take
shape. The event provided an insight into producing and the
confidence to share her own mixes. “I started making music about
two years ago, but it was just a fun element alongside doing the
event. I didn’t play out back then, but I’ve been DJing since I was
18 when I got my first set of turntables. I was more focused on the
business aspect of it. When I started getting a bit more confident I
kind of launched into my own career: it was pretty steady with the
label, the event was going really well, and I felt more relaxed. That’s
when I started taking my own DJing and producing more seriously.
So, it’s a recent thing with the production that I’m now going into.”
Meine Nacht turns secret, unused spaces into a safe haven
for clubbing communities to enjoy the music they love. Each
event takes place in a different venue, and clubbers don’t find
out the location until the night of the show. Beaumont explains
that she started the event at the right time, when it was apparent
that something was lacking in Liverpool’s nightlife. Her aim
was to create something that would have a secure spot in the
scene, unlikely to get lost in the noise. “There are so many nights
that start up, say in September when all the students are here,
and then 80% of them drop off. With Meine Nacht, I came up
with the concept of live streaming it in Liverpool when no one
else was doing that. I taught myself how to live stream and
then implemented that into the event, so that’s kind of how the
word got out too.”
“It doesn’t matter
whether you’re male
or female, if you’re a
good DJ and you’re
a good producer,
you’re gonna get
somewhere”
Beaumont travels around Liverpool in search of unique
locations to house a more relaxed club night where there are
no overpriced drinks or overwhelming frills. Her experience
of Berlin’s nightlife played a great part in how she set up the
event, describing a “more laidback approach and a happier, free
environment” that she wanted to bring a piece of back home to
Liverpool. “Meine Nacht is a more stripped-back approach. No
intense, flashing lights, you know? I don’t do it to make money or
show off. I limit the capacity for a reason, because some people
go to big clubs and really enjoy it, but others go and they’re really
intimidated and uncomfortable. They have no space to move and
they don’t have a good experience. I want the customer to return
and I’ve been really lucky with that. I do have a loyal fanbase that
attends the parties and that’s what keeps it going.”
Beaumont has quickly become a pioneer of Liverpool’s
underground music scene, catching attention from other events
and venues across the country, as well as worldwide music
platform, Resident Advisor. She is taking part in their Alternate
Cuts Series, which celebrates the UK groups keeping their
local nightlife scene thriving. Sponsored by Absolut, the series
promotes nightlife sustainability and shines a spotlight on the
tireless work done by those at the heart of it.
“They [Resident Advisor] contacted me to collaborate with
them and choose three brands worldwide to take part in this
series. We choose one really big DJ that’s current on the scene
[Roman Flügel], someone who wouldn’t normally play the set.
It’s called Alternate Cuts, because they will be playing music they
wouldn’t normally play, so in this instance it’s gonna be a 90s rave
set. The focus is on the promoter, so Resident Advisor do a short
film to document their process, and try and get an insight into the
event. When I held my last event at a warehouse in Liverpool on
the dock road, with Courtesy and Skee Mask, they came down
to film that. They also filmed a few other locations that I’ve used
including an old supermarket, a disused police station and an old
bakery.”
As if that wasn’t enough to handle, Beaumont has also been
brought in as events programmer at Kitchen Street, and is lining
up a celebration of female musicians alongside The Wonder Pot
for the venue’s event for International Women’s Day in March.
Even though some semblance of balance is approaching, I wonder
what her experience is as a female in a predominantly male music
scene, and if she’s witnessing improvements in gender balance
for line-ups. “I think there’s been a shift and I definitely think it’s
improving. I haven’t experienced any negativity at all. It doesn’t
matter whether you’re male or female, if you’re a good DJ and
you’re a good producer, you’re gonna get somewhere. It’s about
giving people opportunities as well, which is what I’m trying to
do with my night. With places like Kitchen Street giving me a
residency, people are seeing more females playing and performing
and working in the scene, so more and more are wanting to
get involved. That can only get better! There are a lot of female
collectives starting as well, which I notice a lot of, so if I could
give any advice to anyone it’s to start a collective: get together, DJ
together, and that’ll be another way for girls to get out there.”
“The University of Liverpool also asked me to do a
masterclass with them and I’ve been doing a little more to give
back and inspire the younger generation,” Beaumont continues.
“Quite a lot of girls turned up, which was refreshing. I think it’s
important to give people an insight into the fact that you can run
your own night, your own label, you can produce, you can do it
all! You just have to manage what you’re doing well and have the
confidence to go out and do it, which a lot of people don’t.”
Striking a balance between ensuring gender equality and
focusing on talent is something that Beaumont thinks is crucial,
even if she’s not completely sold on the idea of promoting allfemale
line-ups. “I’m trying to push a lot of women this year on
my line-ups, but maybe not saying it’s a ‘female only’ thing. You
have to be careful with how you word it and ensure there is an
equal balance. In those instances [International Women’s Day] it’s
good, but other events that are strictly for females only can put
girls off. It shouldn’t matter if you’re a female: what matters is the
quality of the music you’re making, and your technique.”
As the conversation comes to a close, I can’t help but wonder
the question that’s on everyone’s mind. How does she gain
access to these quirky locations for Meine Nacht?
“It’s about the element of surprise and announcing the
location on the day. People don’t even know where they’re going
and I sell the tickets, so it works! But then again, that’s just the
ethos of my night.”
Beaumont may keep her cards close to her chest, but as long
as the appetite for clubbing in unique spaces remains, her work,
and her multifaceted identity as Breakwave, will be at the centre
of Liverpool’s vibrant nightlife..!
Words: Jessica Greenall / @jessrg1995
Photography: Paul McCoy / photomccoy.tumblr.com
soundcloud.com/breakwavedj
Alternate Cuts takes place at 24 Kitchen Street on 29th March,
where Breakwave will perform alongside Roman Flügel and
Meine Nacht residents.
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