- Work Hard
- 11th Oct 2024
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This North East female DJ has released her debut single – listen for instant party vibes…
North East rising star Ellie Scougall hopes to make her mark and champion fellow female DJs as she releases her debut single, Keep it Tight (feat. Mizbee).
The 21-year-old, who grew up in Whitley Bay and attended Dame Allan’s Schools in Fenham, showed an early love for music, spending her evenings as a schoolgirl creating playlists to entertain her classmates. After time spent playing piano and violin at school, it was dance music where Ellie found her true passion.
“It’s an absolute dream come true to release my own single, music production is a skill I’ve been learning over the past year, and it feels surreal to be putting my own work out there”, said Ellie, “I’ve been DJing for a while and trying to promote myself on Tik Tok and other social media platforms, so I feel fortunate to get this opportunity. Knowing industry heads are backing my music is huge for me; the support really goes that extra mile”
“The North East has so much amazing talent in the dance music scene. It’s a great community, but there is a definite lack of female role models; I’m passionate about changing that. I have had fantastic support from local radio stations, and I hope that young girls who, like myself, have a love for dance music from a young age, can be encouraged to also follow a career in the music industry.”
Inspired by the likes of electronic duo Gorgon City and DJ Sam Divine, Ellie has become a mainstay of the dance scene in Newcastle. She has now performed for crowds of more than 1,500 people at leading Newcastle music venues like NX – where she supported Hannah Laing in March of this year. To further prove Ellie’s love for the North East, she filmed the music video for her first single at The Hoppings earlier this summer.
“I do think that female DJs have to work harder to earn respect. Sometimes I feel the need to work to a higher standard than male DJs because there’s a higher expectation.” Ellie reflected. “Growing up in the North East, I am lucky to have had a really supportive community. From my Dame Allan’s teachers who helped build up my general confidence, to my school friends who encouraged me to take the leap and DJ as a career, all the way through to those who have given me a chance to DJ with icons like Hannah Laing, and appear at events such as the iconic Greggs Rave.
“I’d say to other women and girls who want to follow in my footsteps, just do it. There’s no right time to explore a career in the music industry, so start now! Make sure you network and reach out to people via social media. We need more women in dance music and, especially in the North East, I’ve found that people do want to support you.”
As well as her music production, Ellie also hosts a podcast all about the dance music industry, Inside the USB. With a particular focus on women in the industry, she has now created more than 40 episodes and cracked the top 20 of the podcast charts, with fans tuning in to hear her chat to music icons such as house music producer Sam Divine and BBC Radio 1’s Arielle Free.
Ellie also works as an A&R (artist and repertoire) at a division of Warner Music, helping to discover the next big stars in music. Ellie is the first woman from the North East to work as an A&R for ADA, Warner Music.
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