Listen to Lil C’s end-of-summer mix

If you’ve been keeping your ear to the ground in London over the last few years, chances are you know all about Lil C. The DJ has been a staple of the city’s independent radio culture, first as a regular on Reprezent Radio, then as the host of her much-loved Pum Pum Power Hour show on NTS. With dancehall at the core of her DJ sets, Lil C knows how to transform even the deadest party into a packed dancefloor within minutes, and she’s refined her expertise as the resident DJ for gal-dem and a member of party crews Prestige Pak and BBZ.

This summer, Lil C got back in the booth for gigs at the Strawberries and Creem festival, Brainchild and a couple of fashion parties – including, of course, THE FACE’s latest issue launch at LFW. The return to raving’s felt a little weird, let’s be honest. But we should be grateful to have been able to party at all. So toast to the summer with Lil C’s Face Mix, a selection of 2021 highlights across genres such as amapiano, rap and Afrobeats.

What’s the vibe and direction of your FACE Mix?

It’s my ode to the end of summer. I felt like this summer was highly anticipated, and then it came and went in a flash. I always try and make mixes that work as a soundtrack for cooking or dancing or travelling or driving, so it’s a mixed bag. This one’s a mixture of tracks that came out recently, which I wish I could have played at some of the parties I DJed at over summer. And some tracks were signature moments from the sets I played at festivals and clubs since we’ve been back and active (Britney Spears proved to be a crowd favourite so I had to drop that blend in). It closes with my favourite track of the year so far: Could You Be by Anz featuring George Riley.

What makes you feel good when you’re DJing to a crowd?

Seeing POC, womxn and queer people at the front dancing with their friends in a space where they feel safe. Dancefloors and clubs have always been physical spaces where minority or marginalised communities come together to experience joy and be surrounded by other people from their respective communities. When those moments happen and spaces in club culture are preserved for the people they are intended to prioritise, the energy is just pure elation. It feels like a privilege to be a part of it.

Parties are back. What etiquette do the ravers need to relearn?

Mindfulness for the fact that everyone is excited to be back out but no one’s experience of wanting to have a good time is more important than anyone else’s. Being mindful of how you and other people are experiencing the process of recalibrating to being back in spaces, packed with people, loud music and alcohol. It can be quite intense and overwhelming, so be honest with yourself and make sure you are going out because you want to be there, not just because all of your mates are going.

Moderation – don’t get too trashed too early and act like a fool from the sheer excitement of reentering club spaces.

And most importantly, men need to have an increased awareness of consent, consensual touch and the different forms of behaviours that are harassment in club spaces. Being waved isn’t an excuse. There needs to be an increased awareness of what constitutes harassment, and how regularly it happens and is almost normalised in the culture of nightlife. Look out for your friends. If you see them acting in an intimidating way when encountering people in a club, go and take them out of that situation immediately.

If you could bring any closed-down venue back from the dead, which would it be?

Club 414 in Brixton!!!!

Who are some up-and-coming DJs and artists that THE FACE’s readers should check out?

Qendresa, an incredible DJ and artist. Check out her show on NTS and her new music. Talia Goddess. Kida. YV Shells is a DJ and broadcaster who has just released some music – the energy in the first video says everything.