DJ Lowdown - DJ Leanne

Onetime Georgia Straight cover subject DJ Leanne might just be the defining face of house music in Vancouver, repping the sound through thick and thin, outlasting fly-by-night counterparts by the hundredfold. These days, the scene’s golden girl holds down three residencies while operating the Rhythm Institute (www.tridj.com/), the city’s premier instructional school for aspiring turntable wizards. No matter how many technical tricks her students learn from Leanne, they’re all hard-pressed to match her abiding love for dance music—and her infectious spirit, which makes you pine for the days when everyone wanted to be a DJ.

CURRENT RESIDENCIES

Plan B Thursdays at Ginger Sixty-Two

Lobby Fridays at Ginger Sixty-Two

Monthly Believe Saturdays at the Red Room

MOST RECENT MIX TAPE

“The name is Cabana and it’s available at Beat Street and Remix Records.”

CRAZIEST GIG

“Cancun Spring Break 2005—in my humble opinion, nothing compares to playing house music on a beach during sunrise.”

CURRENT TOP-FIVE CHART

Blacksoul featuring Rithma “Not Another Love Song”

Bob Sinclar “World, Hold On (Children of the Sky)”

Christian Alvarez “Holdin’?On”

Martin Solveig “Something Better”

Armand Van Helden “Sugar”

FAVOURITE LOCAL ARTISTS

“I have to give massive props to two local artists: percussionist extraordinaire Bobby James and the ultra-soulful vocalist-keyboardist Sherry St. Germain. Both are truly incredible to catch live.”

WHAT MAKES THE VANCOUVER SCENE SPECIAL?

“It is made up of passionate, ambitious, professional, and creative people—the first-class calibre of talent being put out there from record labels like Nordic Trax, artists like Jay Tripwire, and promotional companies like Element Entertainment. Kudos to all of us!”