Australian born and raised in the tropics of Laos, Thailand and Bali, Sophie McAlister, currently located in Naarm (Melbourne), is a DJ, writer, and a regular fixture in various music scenes in Australia and overseas.
A deep selector, seemingly immune to passing trends, McAlister remains attentive to the cutting edge, while still sporting the art of vinyl mixing, demonstrating an unwavering respect for the old school in her swift, ears-only technical ability.
Equally comfortable in the realms of house and disco as she is in the sounds of jungle, bass and techno, McAlister is an ambassador for stylistic pluralism. Her outputs of guest mixes vary from her Rinse FM Mix for Ben UFO’s Hessle Audio show and Floating Points’ Melodies show on NTS.
In 'Sooky La La', the first mixtape released on Best Effort (Naarm/Melbourne label), Sophie explores melancholy, heartbreak and longing through a tapestry of MPB, Psych Folk, Middle Eastern Jazz and Soul, in what is a most heart-warming and sentimental exude of the palpable feeling of Saudade, a Portuguese word that can be described as ‘a pleasure you suffer, an ailment you enjoy.’
She’s in Sydney this weekend for Carhartt WIP presents "Keys to The City", a special day to night dance with Planet Trip & Beat Kitchen Records, featuring a heavyweight lineup of local heads & game changers plus some special crew from (melb/naarm) up for the dance.