Learn to Spin, Grrrl - P.A.W. Print - Philadelphia Arts Writers

Learn to Spin, Grrrl
Girls' DJ 101 at the Rotunda
by Stephanie Durann

Carolyn Chernoff and Rashida Holmes are an example of how shooting the breeze can fuel the fires of the next big thing, bringing the art of the spin to the sisterly masses in the City of Brotherly Love.

Girls' DJ 101 is a free program offered at The Rotunda to girls and women on the art of house-rocking, and, according to Chernoff, "to make DJ-ing more accessible to women of all ages."

Working in a usually male-dominated field, Holmes and Chernoff, who both hail from Chicago, didn't cross paths until they reached Philadelphia. They met while working for the University of Pennsylvania Center for Community Partnerships. One fateful conversation in 2003 about Chernoff's side gig and Holmes' desire to train the next generation of turntable divas, resulted in the birth of Girls' DJ Collective.


DJ Lisa Love.

The first session, which was offered to girls aged 13 to 16, taught basic skills on professional equipment. It was held during spring of 2004. "We focus on basic DJ-ing skills, from cuing up record segues, and "beat-matching," to more technical skills like setting up equipment," said Chernoff, who added, "DJ-ing was always the focus of the course because women and girls are underrepresented in the music scene, particularly as DJ's."

A veteran disk jockey who has spun the Tritone, The Khyber and Silk City, Chernoff--who is also the frontwoman for The Motherfucking Clash, spins under the name Miss Meow. She has also spun on Chicago airwaves and has taught radio journalism in Chicago schools. The 27 year-old has also produced broadcast specials for WBEZ-FM, Chicago's National Public Radio affiliate. Chernoff's spin of choice? A mix of garage, punk, rocksteady and old school hip hop.

Holmes, is described on the Girls' DJ website to be "a Chicago househead from back in the day." The 33 year-old community educator and size activist who is also known as "DJ Giggles," prefers a deep, soulful house blend. It was Holmes' dream to teach the art of DJ-ing to women of all ages, all in the spirit of skill-sharing, empowerment, and the opportunity to steer younger women in a more positive direction.

Many women who are interested in DJ-ing may have known someone in the business, who was usually a male relative, friend or significant other, Girls' DJ and websites such as Shejay.net (an online magazine for female DJ's), are working to show that turntable boys' network how to rock the house with a woman's touch. Established DJ's such as Lisa Love and Chatty Cathy are on the advisory board for the DJ 101 program, as well as Sara Sherr of the indie music promoters, Plain Parade. Rotunda staff member Gina Renzi is also on the board.

DJ Chatty Cathy

The 18-and-over women's session, which started on October 4, is a ten-week program kicked off by the turntable stylings of Lisa Love and Chatty Cathy. The class, facilitated by Chernoff, Holmes and Love, works in the heady, incense afterglow of Empress Thandi's Monday night yoga class. On the third class session, students went on a "shopping spree," a field trip to The Marvelous, an independent music store and west Philly institution, devoid of the corporate pasteurization of Tower Records, Borders, and Barnes and Noble.

The students filed into basement dwelling, a sanctuary for used vinyl that is far from gone, but which is sometimes forgotten by the MP3 generation whose members have grown used to scratch-free music.

Armed with gift certificates donated by the store offering free and discount used records, the students gleaned through the crates of dollar-bin and used vinyl carrying the residue of time. As they searched though rows of classic tunes, and back-in-the-day staples, Chernoff advised the students on finding the quality of the record as well as considering blending together different genres of music. Too many crackles and scratches? Leave it in the bin.
Class space is limited to 8 to 10 students. The Girls' DJ collective will alternate between teenagers and adults throughout the year. One-day workshops will also be offered as well as the ten-week sessions. Participants will be chosen on a lottery basis, due to the increase in interest. However, the public can get a sample of the next Lisa Love and Cosmic Cat during December, at the Girls'DJ brunch at the Rotunda and Marbar (above Marathon Grill.)

For more information on the program, visit the website at www.girlsdj.com. To keep up on Girls'DJ events or sign up for the next class, e-mail Carolyn Chernoff at carolyn@girlsdj.com. The Rotunda is located at 4014 Walnut Street.