WWOZ may be where jazz, blues and world-music-heads get their music fix, but WTUL based out of Tulane is where the prog and alternative cats get their tunes. Enter: DJ faeriegothmother who currently hosts bi-weekly Tuesday night showcases of alternative local music from 8-10 p.m. CST. And although their name is goth-centric, one never knows what might show up on the broadcast.
“My show sometimes takes a life of its own, and completely changes from what I envisioned going into recording it. Because most of this year our shows have been pre-recorded as access to the station is very limited, it’s really given me the chance to dive into a whole bunch of genres in a single show. One almost can’t expect anything in particular be’cause I’ll find a natural flow from Trip Hop legends Massive Attack, to country queen Loretta Lynn, and then around to something that’ll pull at your heartstrings like The Postal Service,” explains the DJ.
“I always have a strong focus on local music, because it’s what keeps this city moving, and I truly wouldn’t be who I am right now without my connection to the scene. The same sort of trip sonically for locals too, the 80s dance club revival of Delores Galore, indie house fusion of Island Days. to art rock Primpce, heavy weighted moments of Thou, and the airy tones of Kelly Duplex. I love a bit of everything, I love to share it, and WTUL provides me with the home to showcase a progressive and diverse mix of stuff,” they add.
Before pandemic, DJ faeriegothmother was all over the alternative music scene in New Orleans. From bouncing and working the door at Banks Street Bar, which had a ton of local shows, to organizing and curating their own local showcases of the musicians the New Orleans mainstream scene often overlooks. Bonus to the bouncing gig: it gives you more time to chat up people than slinging drinks.
“I have been known to DJ on a near weekly basis between a few different venues, as loud and as late as they’ll let me. Really being out in the thick of the underground stuff, away from the beaten path that everyone already knows, is where I flourish and fall in love with new local music. Currently I’m at Sisters In Christ, local alternative record shop, every Saturday, listening to new stuff and selling records,” states the glittery eye-lined multi-potentialite.
Most recently, DJ faeriegothmother, in true empathic Pisces fashion (bornday is March 5), has partnered with Strange Daisy Records to promote Cash For Uhuru, a compilation for Uhuruverse, who they describe as “a black trans man, an integral part of our music scene, with limited mobility.”
“He and I were talking and he was telling me that he’s been trying to save for an electric wheelchair and a vehicle outfitted to his needs. My wheels started turning, and I asked so many locals if they wanted to do a track as a fundraiser for him. A little over two months later and it’s released. There’s a bunch of artists from Strange Daisy on the compilation, which was why I reached out to them to see about promoting the release. They really came through and made up five swag bags of things for me to give away in this fundraiser, so we’re giving them to the top five highest donations that came through in the pre-order week.” (Note: The fundraiser is now closed but those interested in donating can donate here).
The curated Cash for Uhuru album has tracks from Delores Galore & Pearce, Thou (covering a song from local music producer James Whitten’s high school days), Primpce, Leafdrinker (doing a doom heavy cover of Nirvana’s “Smells Like Teen Spirit”), and much more.
Musing about their own influences, djfgm speculates, “I guess I’m influenced a lot by the musicians I play, I’m a really big fan of Nina Simone, Loretta Lynn and Wanda Jackson for being women who stood up to men in and out of the music industry. I really love what goth, punk, and post punk stood for in the ‘70s and ‘80s, and what those scenes stand for now, too. I’m a big fan of innovators like Gary Numan, Gang of Four, The Clash, Siouxsie Sioux. I’m in love with people who stand up for other people.”
At the moment, djfgm is putting the finishing touches on Gallery, an “ambient soundtrack I’m making to play during an exhibit of my visual work at Gloomy Eulogy Gallery. As The Foe I get these musical whims and experiment with them, creating different textures and layers through loops and messing with their time. Most of these sounds are coming out of a theramin and then I do a lot of work in post, really emphasizing stereo, playing with channels and sending the sounds whirling through. I have a tendency to listen to ambient music through headphones almost exclusively, and it gave me the idea to make sure a listener of my music can hear those independent channels. The art show opens on my birthday (March 5) and focuses on a recent shoot I did of Flora and Fungi, printing them really large so you can see the tiny details.”
Follow DJ faeriegothmother on Instagram here. Upcoming DJ faeriegothmother shows will be February 23, March 9 and 23 from 8-10 p.m. CST on WTUL New Orleans 91.5 FM which can also be streamed at https://www.wtulneworleans.com/
