Goa’s vibrant party scene has always been enlivened by DJs especially flown down, but now they are facing competition from homegrown talent taking up the profession.
Male-dominated over the last few years, some bold, smart and talented women DJs from Goa are bringing a fresh perspective and oomph to the dance floor. Among them is young Mazel Boneiface Faleiro, from Margao, who has broken the glass ceiling and started DJing when she was still in her teens, at the age of 17 years.
Moving from small gigs to international performances, DJ Curly M as she calls herself, has honed her skill at various levels. She has performed for Coke Studio Bharat, celebrity parties and shared the stage with artistes like Lucky Ali, Raftaar, Sunil Grover, Neeti Mohan and others.
Curly M’s journey began when she was in grade 8. “I saw a DJ perform at a function and that sparked the curiosity in me. I went up to the DJ and asked him innocently if I could someday do it too. He replied, ‘Yes! of course’. There it became clear what I wanted to do. I was a small girl with challenging dreams. I always wanted to stand out, I craved something unique, fun and challenging, and something that was out of the 9 to 5 space.”
DJing wasn’t her first choice and she did explore other career options in the entertainment industry. “I thought of being a part of the entertainment industry and then I was with a music band but my interest drifted,” she says, as she explains how she came up with her stage name. “The name ‘Curly’ comes from my natural curly hair, which makes me stand out, and the ‘M’ is the first initial of my name Mazel.”
Her DJing career was started off by watching tutorials on YouTube. “Sometimes, concepts flew over my head, so I sought help from my DJ friends to get clarity on them. Recognising the need for advanced skills, I enrolled in a DJ course, eventually being certified as a professional DJ and launching my career in the field,” says Mazel, who recently was in Qatar-Doha and performed for two events.
I would get to hear comments like ‘She’s a female DJ, what can we expect from her?’ and people trying to indoctrinate my parents saying ‘Why did you allow your daughter to become a DJ? It’s only meant for boysDJ CurlyM
It might sound simple – but the struggle was real. Though there are many female DJs, they always face certain stereotypes and prejudices regarding their abilities and expertise, with some assuming that they are less skilled than male DJs, says Mazel.
She adds, “In the music industry, I have overcome discouraging language and attitudes from some of my peers. But I stood firm and just followed my passion. ‘She’s a female DJ, what can we expect from her?’ ‘Why did you allow your daughter to become a DJ? It’s only meant for boys’, are some of the comments I had to face.”
Mazel is blessed to have parents who are always rock solid behind her and always encouraged her in this DJing journey. Her father even purchased DJing mixer for her.
She adds, “It hurt when some people cast doubts on my dreams. I knew that women can be industrious, zealous and talented too. Without a godfather, it’s just my endeavour and my work that can take me far.”
Mazel, who also performed at Sunburn – one of the biggest platforms for a rising DJ – got the opportunity after three years of DJing, and not just once but thrice!
In Goa, as tourists flock from all corners of India and beyond, DJ CurlyM had the chance to delve into various music genres, honing her skills and enhancing her performances. This experience hasn’t just been limited to entertaining Goans.
“I’ve had the privilege of performing for audiences across India and around the world. DJs in Goa specialise in particular music genres of their preference. To ensure each genre receives due attention, club owners and event organisers curate specific, themed events, such as tech house parties, Bollywood nights and commercial nights.”
Though the journey hasn’t been easy, DJ CurlyM knows how to make people groove to the beats of her music. Her journey sounds inspiring and her hard work and talent make her a rising and shining star in the Goan party circuit.