DJ Tigerlily Wants You to Know It’s OK Not to Be OK
You might know DJ Tigerlily as a DJ and style queen, but did you know she’s also a budding activist?
She recently ran the NYC Marathon with the Charity Lifeline, a charity about decreasing suicide rates in Australia. We talked to her about this new passion of hers.
What are you here to tell us about today? Give us your elevator pitch!
I’m here to talk to you about an Australian charity called Lifeline that works to prevent suicide amongst the Australian population and support people on their journey to develop positive and healthy mental health.
Why is it important to you?
Mental health is an issue that effects everyone, even if you don’t want to admit it, and the rate of suicide among Australians is only growing, that’s why I think it’s very important that we as a community continue to talk about it .
Australia’s suicide rate is the highest it has been for at least ten years. In 2015, 3,027 people ended their own lives in Australia. That’s 12.6 people in every 100,000. That’s more than eight people every single day. One person every three hours
How’d you get into music?
I’ve always played music from a young age. When I was 4 my parents put me into piano and singing school which I absolutely adored. I suppose it was a natural progression to be interested in dance music after having a classical upbringing. I remember listening to DEADMAU5 for the first time when I was about 15 and absolutely falling in love!
What’s been your favorite part of the process so far?
The beautiful people I meet and friends that I’ve made along the way. Playing shows is amazing, but nothing beats making life long friends!
What are the three things everyone should know about this marathon?
The NYC marathon is the biggest in the world. This year there were over 50,000 people running with over a million spectators! It is also the marathon with the highest finish rate in the world, when you have so many people cheering for you, it’s hard to stop running!
What’s the biggest misconception about your work?
The biggest misconception about DJs and producers is that all we do is sleep all day and party all night. My favourite thing to do is get a good nights sleep and wake up fresh and early for the day.
Have there been any times when you doubted or had second thoughts about this project? How’d you overcome that?
Of course. Doubt is so common, especially in today’s age of instagram and snapchat where people seem to constantly be comparing themselves to others!
What’s the biggest thing you hope people learn from this cause?
That it’s OK to not be OK. And that there are people and programs out there that can support you during your tough times if you feel that you can’t reach out to anyone else.
What’s next for you?
2017 will look a lot different for me than 2016. A lot less touring and travelling, more focus on my health, on passion projects (like charity), and a lot of time in the studio! I’m excited!
If you could only pick three items from this list, what would you pick: Your favorite takeout food; A leather jacket; a guitar; your best friend; a full season of your favorite TV show; glitter boots; your makeup bag; your dog.
My favourite take out food, my best friend, and my dog! EASY!
What is the weirdest most disturbing thing a fan has done for you?
Got my face tattooed on their arm!
Who are some of your favorite fashion designers ever?
Dyspena, Discount Universe, and I love the girls from Tiger Mist and what they do!
Tell us something interesting about the way/process that you create music
I like to start with either a vocal melody, or chords. A lot of DJs I know start with a beat, but I find that un-original and boring. Melody is KEY!
Where do you hope to be in a year?
In Australia, happy and healthy!
What bands/music do you find inspiring?
So many – this is such a tricky questions. Porter Robinson, Coldplay, Deadmau5,
Are you obsessed with any specific YouTube channels or YouTubers?
I love a girl called @rawalignment – she lives in Hawaii on a fruit farm and is super inspiring about her health and lifestyle!
What’s your #1 pet peeve?
Ignorance.
What’s the #1 thing you can’t live without, excluding air, water, and food?
Vegemite and avocado on toast.
Who’s your celeb lookalike?
I want to say Scarlett Johansson but everyone would know I’d be lying haha.
What’s your sign?
My star sign is Aries — stubborn and fiery, I think that’s quite accurate.
All photos courtesy of Tigerlily
