It was definitely like peach the fruit. But I also use Mario’s Peach in the NTS chatroom, where my Discord picture is Peach driving a car.

Everyone has their own foray into dance music – especially into becoming DJs or producers. I’ve always been a party girl and I still prioritise the dance floor. But back in Toronto, I was that girl who always went out often and threw after parties. I went from playing in university to playing some of my after parties to playing at this sweet but short-lived independent radio station. And then, my first gig as Peach was opening for Kyle Hall.

I wasn’t always striving for that, as in: I didn’t always think I would work, work, work and then somehow get into music. But it was a big and special turning point, which included an adjustment period. It was about learning what a productive work week looks like for me – beyond the rat race of the 9 to 5. It was also about setting boundaries. Probably, a lot of DJs who are getting more gigs can relate: You just say yes to everything in the first year(s).

It’s challenging under capitalism, but make sure you’re financially comfortable enough to have your creative freedom. Before I quit, I had a crossover period when I was still working in advertising and DJing. Yes, I was burning the candle at both ends. But I needed that financial security before jumping – so when I did, I wouldn’t have to take gigs I didn’t want, purely to pay my rent. When the pandemic hit, I took out a loan. But that’s okay because it was for something I care about. So, don’t purely base your creative choices on financial needs. Yes, this is a job, and you have to be professional and make money. But it’s also about having fun and creating a space where you can thrive creatively.

I just got the master’s back for a new EP on Psychic Readings! It’s a three-tracker.

I’ve been dropping it into a lot of sets at peak time. The A-side is fast and emotional – but with a dance floor focus. The B-side is a bit deeper, contemplative and slow. It feels emotive, nice and dreamy.

I wrote the first version of Ms Cookys (the EP’s B-side) about three years ago. Eclipse (the A-side) was part of another project I’d been pushing along. Both tunes, I was really happy with. It felt like a breakthrough, musically – where I’d found my own sound and space. After Eclipse, I toyed with starting my own label – a place for me to explore creatively, put out productions and have the power to make it exactly how I wanted it to look and feel.

During a trip to New York in early 2021, I was seeing all these psychic reading signs. When I came back later that year, my best friend and I decided to get a tarot reading. I’d been thinking about the label for some time and the reading said I had some ideas I wanted to get out there and a project that would soon come into fruition – which was weird because I hadn’t mentioned anything about a project.

I’m spiritual in that I believe things happen for a reason and I let them. I prefer to go with the flow. However, I’m also controlling somehow. Perhaps, that's why I appreciate astrology. It allows you to logically interpret life events through the stars. Like, I’m that person who asks for the birthdate of her best friend’s fling. I saw this TikTok, which said: “Yeah, I’m into astrology. You’re not? What do you believe in then? The stock market?!” That really sums it up for me (laughs).

I don’t plan, but I prepare for different outcomes or sets. I’ll have a master list for club stuff, organised by a few different ideas like sassy, rollers, energy, emotional bangers, and landing tracks – stuff I feel makes up a Peach set. But I decided what to play at the moment. These days, more and more of my sets are half made up of records. And I just love bringing them! I try to rotate those, but the good ones always make it back into my bag somehow.

My top three in no particular order: Maricas in Barcelona – which has a small dance floor and is tailored to femme-identifying queer people. At Rainbow Disco Club in Tokyo, the crowd was very excited, interactive and fun. The interaction doesn’t have to be verbal, it’s also about dancing. And I really care about the queer camping festival Honcho Campout in the United States. But some honourable mentions include New York, London and last year’s Lente Kabinet. I wasn’t ready for that tent size, haha! I’ll be the first to admit I’m not a big stage girly – I like to go deep.

I’m a big stage girly for Dekmantel, indeed. And since I’m not usually, I’ve been thinking a lot about what it means to play the big stage, what that sounds like and looks like. I’ve been looking forward to it and have set a bunch of tracks aside. Dekmantel feels like a big deal for me too. My first visit to Dekmantel was my first time in Europe and my first festival visit in general.