- A cross-genre mix done right.
- Toronto's Cindy Li, AKA Ciel, has a knack for balancing warmth and pressure. Her productions and mixes often feel coated in an iridescent gloss, evoking the trippy stylings of '90s UK tech house and the swung drums of classic New York house. In between that, though, there's lots of vigor via sleek electro, rippling trance, barrelling techno and big, bad breakbeats. Her style may lean towards the atmospheric but it's loaded with moxie, giving her the versatility to close out a main room or kick off the afters.
Her fluid movements between bouncy basslines, spiraling synth patterns and weightless house grooves are just one facet of her impressive rise as a DJ and producer. When she's not behind the decks, presenting radio shows or working on the excellent Parallel Minds label she runs alongside other Toronto acts Yohei S and Daniel 58, Li throws herself into community work. Committed to diverse dance floors, affordable housing and overall equality in the music industry, she's a hard worker in the realest sense of the phrase.
Li's RA mix is a treat. Rolling through scintillating drum work, wonky rhythms and dreamy pads, it feels like quintessential Ciel. In her interview below, she described how she enjoys "the challenge of trying to combine and make cohesive all the diverse styles of music I loved in a DJ set." Judging by this mix alone, it's safe to say that Li succeeded.
What are you grateful for these days?
These days I'm grateful for my domestic life with my partner and our cat, all the unforgettable times I've had with my friends in Toronto over the last two years, movies, making music with other people, DISCWOMAN, being able to play shows again (shout out to my agents!) and all the comrades I do political organizing with in my city.
How and where was the mix recorded? And can you tell us the idea behind it?
The funny thing about this mix is that I actually caught Covid-19 just when I first started pulling music for it. As such, I was really limited on where I could record this while self-isolating and I don't personally own CDJs at home. I wanted this mix to represent the full spectrum of a Ciel club set and decided based on the physical limitations I should put the mix together in Ableton. Before this I had only ever made one mix in Ableton, but after two years of lockdowns, when I didn't do much else except work in Ableton every day, I relished the opportunity to get really granular with the mix and take advantage of the tools I had to really go the distance with it. Back in uni when I first became interested in DJing and dance music, my absolute favorite mix was She's A Dancing Machine by Magda. I had always wanted to make a mix that was more of a collage with really quick transitions than a traditional mix. So that was really the idea behind it.
You recently did an anonymous release for the concept label unknown - untitled. You've since revealed the record so it's public information now but what was appealing about the idea of concealing your identity?
The label reached out to me about doing a release and I just loved the idea! I didn't always love the idea of anonymous releases as I generally prefer when artists are accountable for their work, and anonymity can often act like a shield. But the longer I was working and active in this industry, the more I felt held back by how others who didn't know me perceived me, whether it's through social media, or what they had heard about me from others who didn't know me personally, but who nevertheless had an opinion about me. I didn't want my music to be judged based on elements that had nothing to do with the music itself, so I liked the idea that people in the industry who received the promos wouldn't know who they were by, but that eventually it would be announced, which ultimately still ensured that I was accountable for my output.
Most of your productions are club-oriented but there's always bits of warm, earthly percussion or glistening melody. Why is it important for you to have this balance?
I think I just like them! I grew up playing instruments, singing and hating dance music. Only in my 20s did I come around on untz untz music. So I find I'm usually drawn to analog instruments, hand drums and intricate melodies. They are a reflection of my overall musical education. I also have always liked production that's really warm-sounding, from my early introduction to DJ Premier and J Dilla, and later on when I became obsessed with '90s New York house. I think there is immense pressure for DJs and producers to pick just one genre to play and perfect, but that has never been interesting to me and more than anything, felt like a toxic byproduct of the for-profit nature of the industry. I always enjoyed the challenge of trying to combine and make cohesive all the diverse styles of music I loved in a DJ set. As a producer, I find I am motivated by a similar desire, to meld everything I have ever loved into a perfect piece. I will probably spend my life trying to do this, which is exciting.
You've been hosting panel discussions with the Music Worker's Alliance on issues that artists face in the nightlife business. The most recent one covered relationships with venues. What's one topic or theme that you'd like to explore on future panels?
Music Workers Alliance is an international union of music workers fighting for better streaming rates, wage equity, and better economic conditions for working musicians. We started doing the panels during the pandemic so that we could get the word out about MWA while also offering something positive in return. I would love to do a future panel on how to book your first tour without agent representation.
The truth is there are so many talented and unrepresented DJs in North America, because the dance music infrastructure here is simply not as robust as it is in Europe, and there are far fewer agencies out here to represent underground house and techno DJs. I think a lot of artists think they don't have a chance without an agent, but what the last two years have shown me is that dedication, knowledge, hard work and, of course, talent, can go a long way to propel someone into the spotlight. I would love the opportunity to help people in any way to get there.
What's one social or political cause you want the world to pay more attention to?
Affordable housing and homelessness is a political cause I became completely focused on over lockdowns. I live in one of the most expensive cities in the world. A scary amount of rental properties in my city are owned by Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs)—investment corporations whose drive for profit over people have created horrible living conditions, gentrification, evictions, and a rising homeless population that has very quickly become a crisis.
While I have my own nightmare situation with our REIT landlords and have been working to organize the tenants in my own building, I also have become very active with encampment support networks, which are organizations of activists who provide mutual aid and defend unhoused people from violent policing and evictions in public parks. The sad reality is that most cities in North America during the last two years have experienced violent evictions of homeless encampments. So if this is something you'd like to learn more about, there is very likely already an encampment defence group in your community. In my city of Toronto, I work with ESN Parkdale (soon to be renamed) and if you'd like to donate to our cause, you can do so here.
What are you looking forward to in the near future?
At the time of this mix's posting, I will be getting ready to leave for my first European tour since before the pandemic. Really looking forward to seeing all my friends in Berlin that I have not been able to see in so long. I'm looking forward to making my Panorama Bar debut and bringing my partner along! He does not rave but I'm forcing him to have a good time even if it kills him, hehe. And hopefully making some music during off-days during the week with my friends D Tiffany & CCL.
TracklistWamdue Kids - Dreams
Nail - Cassiopeia (Luca Lozano Remix)
Pure Science - Bakwenas
Terry Francis - Little 'n' Large
Vytamin - Intervilles
Dope Dog - Keep House Unda'ground
Klon Dump - Klon Donor
Evan Baggs - Ziegensicher
Sharaz - Feelin' Hot
Teakup - Staccato Roboto
Escape Artist - Levitator
B From E - Float
Rabbit in the Moon - Floor.i.d.a. (Three AM's A Dub For Strangeways)
Bobby - Sleep Paralysis
DJ Texta & Persian - Play It Deejay
Biodive - Bottles On The Rider
Ferr - Midnight Moods
Titonton Duvante - Lick
Trybet - TB Transit
Ciel - Hide
DJ Slip - Untitled 4
Doctors Pepper - Sgt. Pepper
Boulderhead - PG017
Ciel & Priori - ???
Chris Cowie - Stark
Hooverian Blur - Confusions
Friction & Spice - You Make Me Feel So Good (Spice's Progressive Mix)
Black Rave Culture - Activate
Ciel - Gourd
DJ Chupacabra - Lowrider
Cloudsteppers - Duckstep
Realitycheck - Morse
Vibrant Matter - Gritty
Ciel - Girls Only Want 1 Thing And It's Music!
Nikki Nair - Lemma
Montana Rangers - Electricity
Thorn - Rolling Deep
Blair Sound Design - Orlando
DJ ????????? - Trippin Like Wet
Physical Therapy - 2 Tears
Bassbin Twins - Untitled
Malugi - Stay the Night
Mr. Ho - O$P$
buen clima - AAO
K-LONE - Together
Phantasy & Smooth - Dream On
Ian Pooley - Dancehall Killer
Priori - Impending Bloom
DJ Healer - Protectionspell