Belfast-born, Berlin-based prouder and DJ Sally C has taken the underground scene by storm over the past few years. The multi-hyphenate is widely renowned for her distinctive sonic signature in electronic music ranging from vintage house and hip house to acid and breakbeat, evident throughout her solo releases and remix work for the likes of Obonjayar and DJ MELL G.
Having released a slew of music mainly via her very own acclaimed record label, Big Saldo’s Chunkers—home to a number of personal projects and artists such as Cromby and BELLA—Sally C has just revealed her latest release on the imprint, a collaborative EP with Brit Award and MOBO Award Nominated underground hero Eliza Rose. Best described as a raw-cutting edge club release, DR Pleasure consists of 4 powerful soundtracks combining the pair’s innate talents in production and vocal delivery. The project also includes a scintillating acid-infused remix of title track “DR Pleasure” from Blitz Munich resident BASHKKA.
Following the release of DR Pleasure we caught up with Sally C and Eliza Rose to chat about the collaborative project and more…
How’s 2024 been for you?
Fast! Can’t believe we’re almost at the end of it. I took the first month of the year off, since then it’s been pretty much non stop touring since. I did prioritise dancing this year though, I’m a raver at heart and touring makes little space for this. I had some solid hours on the dance floor at Het Einde, the De School closing party, Nachtiville in January, Love International festival this summer and the mind blowing Sustain Release in New York in September—that was the first festival I’d been to as a punter in 8 years. It was nice to connect with music on the other side again, it’s important for inspiration.
To a first time listener of Sally C, how would you describe your sound and style?
Chunky, raw and energetic.
Musically, who and what have been some of your main influences on your career so far?
I collect a lot of old records, this is where my heart lies. I started over 12 years ago, collecting from US labels like Acacia, DJ International Records, Cajual and UK Junior Boys Own, Phoenix G, Hooj Choons etc, many more, it became an obsession that I never let go of. These early sounds influenced my style a lot. I like old weird tracks with slick drums and percussion. The simplicity in music made in the 90’s resonated with me a lot and inspired my approach in the studio. It’s a key element in my music. If you can make a proper groove with just drums and bassline the rest is easy. Artists like K-HAND, Terrence Parker, Steve Pointdexter, Red Jerry, Fast Eddie, Kenny Dope, Derrick Carter were all big influences on my music.
Can you tell me a bit about the name Big Saldo’s Chunkers? It’s pretty distinct.
It’s actually a bit of a mouthful, I find it funny telling people the name sometimes in person they’re like what? Basically Big Saldo is what my friends call me and when I started producing I saved the first track I ever completed as ‘Big Saldo’s Chunker’ without really thinking and it only made sense to call my label this. I don’t like to take myself too seriously and I thought it would be kinda funny if I just went for it without overthinking. Most labels have a cool one word roll off the tongue vibe but this is not that at all, I guess it does make it distinct.
Why did you decide to set up the label?
I set up the label in 2020 to release my own music. I’d been sitting on tracks for years and wasn’t really up for sending them to other labels probably for fear of rejection for the most part but also because I wanted the first music I released to come from me. I wanted to have full creative control with this next step and it was extremely important to me that I did it right and in my own way as I’d only been known for DJing prior to this. I originally set it up with a limited chunker series in mind but now it’s evolved and I’m very happy to have this creative platform for other artists now too.
What can we expect from Chunkers in the future?
Having other people release on the label has been such a joy, curation is a big part of what I love doing, the release schedule is looking really nice for next year. I never imagined people connecting with it like they have so will keep pushing this sound and roll out the chunkers as much as possible. I’ve really enjoyed throwing label parties in different cities so more of that to come too.
Your forthcoming collaborative project with Eliza Rose, ‘Dr Pleasure’, is a wicked record. Firstly, what’s the story behind the Name?
DR Pleasure, there’s no half measures! Is exactly the energy that went into creating this record. Eliza wrote the lyrics to “DR Pleasure”, she came to my studio in Berlin and started singing over the beat and it all clicked. “I’m the doctor you’re the patient take your pills don’t get complacent” is basically a sassy way of saying we’re prescribing the chunk.
Eliza – The song is a boss bitch anthem, all about the ladies serving up those goodies to elevate the dance floor experience and let loose. Music as a source of endless pure pleasure. It’s a bit of cliche but ultimately music is a bit of drug, it can be to additive dance and who doesn’t enjoy taking their vitamins!!!!
How did the collaboration with Eliza Rose come about and what was it like working together on this EP?
Eliza and I met a few years ago at a festival and have been close friends ever since. It’s hard to find a proper connection with people in this transient job but Eliza is a real one. We always spoke about making music together and we finally got in the studio together in Berlin last summer and bashed out 2 tracks within hours. It was class. It just worked. Eliza’s mind and imagination is so creative it was very inspiring working with her on this record it was such a buzz in the studio that day.
Can you tell us more about the main inspirations/ influences behind the record?
We’re big fans of each other’s music which made the studio session flow so well. We definitely inspired each other a lot in making this record. We have a shared love for early hip house too which was a big inspiration.
Eliza – I wanted to tap into the hip house style alongside empowerment for the ladies on the floor, lyrics inspired by chunk and sass, music wise pump up the jam was a bit of a gateway song for me so i wanted to replicate a bit of taut energy – my music is quite character driven, so it was fun to tap into bad bitch “rap” lol era.
What can listeners expect sonically?
Hard hitting rolling drums, chunky basslines, breaky undertones, sassy vocals. The tracks are designed to make you move and feel confident.
What was the overall creative and production process behind the release? Did you have to overcome any challenges?
Phase one was our studio session last summer. We both came prepared and smashed it out. The bones of DR Pleasure and Hips Yo Thighs were created that day. For the 3rd track I had this beat and I said to Eliza ‘I dunno if you can put anything on top of that’ she replied ‘I can put anything on anything baby’! We immediately recorded that intro and “I Can Put” was born. Eliza is extremely talented, she just kept flowing with the lyrics. Then in the months to follow I spent a lot of time in the studio arranging the tracks and fine tuning, adding various additional percussion, drums, layers, breaks, fills. The process of this with “I Can Put” was the hardest, it took me almost a year to complete. I went through so many different sounds and versions of this one it drove me a bit insane but finally landed on the B side roller that is I Can Put and it’s arguably my favourite track on the EP.
If you had to pick a favourite track from ‘Dr Pleasure’, which one would it be and why?
What I said above because I guess the journey I went on to get to the final point. I usually finish tracks pretty easily and try not to dwell too much on the ‘finishing’ element cus tracks are never really finished. But this one went in all different directions only to return to the classic chunker sound.
You recently went B2B with Eliza Rose all night long at Village Underground. How was it and what were the key highlights from the night?
7 hour bliss! We went on a ride that night. It was super fun. I love all night longs they are my favourite, you get to properly delve into so many corners of your sound and to do that together was very nice. It was also my birthday so was a double celebration!
Can you put us on to some emerging artists who we should be keeping an eye out for next year?
Meilgaarden! NYC-based artist from Sweden. She’s amazing.
What’s next for Sally C?
I’ve just finished up a tour in Asia, Seoul was the last stop on Saturday. I absolutely love it here. I’m heading back for some gigs that I’m really looking forward to including a Chunkers takeover at Club Raum in Amsterdam with Josh Caffé, Ketia and BELLA, and then I will play Bassiani for the first time in December, which I can’t wait for! Then there is an Australia tour incoming end of December. The second half of January I will take off and make music.