Alison Wonderland launches Pure Ivy Radio

Pure Ivy Saturday's have become a mainstay at Ivy and they are now launching Pure Ivy Radio with Pulse. Make sure your comfiest dancing shoes are on for this Pure Ivy, as they open the stage to Alison Wonderland. This Alison didn’t fall down anything; she jumped head first down the rabbit hole and landed straight on the decks with Annie Mac recently tweeting that Alison plays "the best party set i've heard in a long time". Pulse catch up with Alison to see what she's got prepared for her mix which is also the launch show of Pure Ivy Radio's channel on Pulse. 

Pulse: You'll be taking on the first Pure Ivy Radio Show to be streamed on Pulse Radio, what have you planned for your mix? Alison Wonderland: I recorded it live. I wanted it to have the flow of an actual show live. I didn't want to plan it at all. I was just having fun, making sure that I play songs that I love and tunes that I think others will enjoy.

The Pure Ivy Radio Show has been modelled on an idea popular in Europe of broadcasting mixes to accompany live gigs. Do you see this taking off in Australia? I think it's a fantastic idea. I know about it happening in Europe and I think it's really awesome to see it happen in Australia. I think it's great that the Ivy are doing this for the artists as it gives them a lot more exposure and a wider audience for their music. People hearing the radio show not familiar with the artists or Ivy can get an insight into what's playing on the night and this will hopefully bring in a larger audience as well.

You recently won a contract with EMI through the She Can DJ competition. Run us through the journey since being signed? Well I went to London and Ibiza with EMI to not only meet the global heads of EMI but to also play some of the Ibiza closing parties which was an amazing experience. I played Pacha, Mambo and the Ibiza Rocks Bar. All places I've always wanted to visit in Ibiza so to get the chance to play in the closing parties at them was a massive honour and I loved every minute of it.



Since then I've been putting together a compilation album which will be coming out in a couple of months. I'm also producing an originals album. I've been producing for a while and it's really good to be able to spend time on the Alison Wonderland project and put some releases together.

The finalists for the She Can DJ Comp were quite an eclectic group as far as taste and experience, have you stayed in touch with any of the others? I stay in touch with all of them. I didn't really know any of them before the competition and doing the comp with them meant I got to, they are such talented girls. We all learnt so much from each other because we all came from different corners of the dance music spectrum.



It's really nice to meet intelligent, women who are motivated and hard working and after the same thing I am. I just really respect that. I hadn't taken the time before the competition to really get to know them and I'm glad the competition gave us that opportunity. Love them to death, they are incredible women.

What other doors have opened to you, that previously weren't, by being signed to EMI? I've had the chance to do a lot of larger gigs and expose my work and style to a lot more people. In doing the bigger gigs and having a wider audience has given me the chance to meet people I wouldn't have had the chance to.

For example; I actually got to play mainstage Field Day ahead of Moby, which was really amazing. I was having such a great day my energy and the energy of the crowd we were really working off each other. I was able to really push my set and the crowd was responding so well to it, I didn't want to stop playing. Then Moby came on the stage and it was like "wow, is this actually happening?!"

You played before Moby?! Was that surreal? I couldn't stop smiling. I didn't want to get off the stage. I said nice to meet you, he nodded and we shook hands. I don't think I'll wash that hand for a while [laughs].

Stereosonic 2011, which you played, broke records for the amount of people attending, what was it like? Yes, it was such a huge crowd. I played the Sydney and Brisbane shows. I didn't get to see that many acts in Sydney but in Brisbane I was able to work my way around a lot more and I really want to mention Drop The Lime. Their show blew me away. They were amazing live. By far my favourite set at Stereo.

You were recently in support of Smokin' Joe Mekhal's World Record attempt. Assuring everyone on facebook that he's 100% healthy and not on drugs? I was so in awe of what he was doing that I had to go support him with all my friends. I actually have a Smokin' Joe shirt I'm such a supporter. I don't know any other DJ who could have done that. I went to see him with mates a few times and he was there totally sober just drinking water, eating fruit, so many people were questioning him and it just made me mad as he was completing something that I don't think anyone else would take on.

Any plans to try and break the record yourself? I really don't think my stamina is quite up to scratch. I'd probably start drinking too many redbulls too early and end up curled up in a little ball in the corner after two days. So good thing I was signed, I'll have to go another way about getting recognition.

What's your DJ set up like at home? I usually go into clubs to practice. I do have a couple of CDJ 1000's at home and a Nu Mark Mixer, which is a scratch mixer. Then a new and very tasty synthesiser, my computer, monitors and a couple of other gismos so I can produce.

If you could name one artists to watch for 2012 other than yourself who would it be? I reckon Azaelia Banks is going to blow up. She's a rapper from New York. I actually featured her in this mixtape [for Pure Ivy Radio]. I went across about six or seven music genres throughout the mix everything from Rap with Azaelia Banks to Red Hot Chilli Peppers and Azari & III.

Does that make it more fun? I actually love listening to DJs who just play one genre, I just learnt playing in little clubs where I could play whatever and I just kind of tested myself and learnt that way. Just going, I want to mix this in to that, and finding a way to make it work; which has developed a habit of genre hopping. Music ADD I guess [laughs]. I hope everyone enjoys it.

Alison Wonderland is set to turn the world upside down when she headlines Pure Ivy on the 14th of January 2012. For more info go to the facebook event page here.

Listen to Pure Ivy Radio on Pulse Radio

Listen to Alison Wonderland on Pulse Radio