Move over fellas. DJ Zinaida Mascarenhas’ just made Goa’s party scene hotter! Ethel Da Costa tunes in.

She’s more than just a hot chick on the block. With the right kind of grooves, a doting papa to back her career moves, alabaster skin and tight curls, a shy but confident gal behind the turnstiles, 20-year-old Zinaida Mascarenhas’ a girl in a mighty hurry to make it big. Chances are, she will.

Focused on have-music-will-spin fundamentals, you’ve got to see to believe her style of music mixing. No wonder, when Zinaida plays in a cheek-by-jowl disc, people stop and stare.The dancing is left to lesser mortals.

Homebody Turns Funk Queen
Zinaida’s house in Chicalim, Vasco, is frequented by wannabes, guys included. While neighbours call in for express music brush-overs for kids at the local piano exam, and sure enough, two grand pianos occupy place of pride in the living room and attest this budding DJ’s love for the grind. A regular college kid at first glance, Zinaida gets into a roll when you talk about music.

Currently, a third-year business administration student, Zinaida plans to study mass communication after graduation. Also on her list of priorities is preparing for the Grade 8 piano exams from the Royal School of Music, London, besides taking Western classical singing lessons (she’s already into her fourth grade) at the Kala Academy under Goa’s famed yesteryear soprano queen, Mercedes Lobo.

“It was my zest for music that allowed me to do so much. But I never thought I’d have the option of becoming a DJ,” says Zinaida, who won third place at the All Goa Women’s DJ competition last year.

That set the ball rolling. Today, she’s slowly carved a niche for herself, and is being invited to spin at some major parties and events around town.

She’s Got The Moves
The young debutante is all praise for her local mentor-cum-DJ. “Troy, the in-house DJ of Club Tito, Baga, and arguably Goa’s best, was a tremendous help. He inspired me no end,” she gushes.

“He even taught me how to deal with technical fiascos, like how to fix a loose plug.”
Needless to say, her debut show at Angels Resort, Porvorim, was a turning point. The icing on the cake? The crowd’s spontaneous approval, that even had her parents rooting.

Head firmly on her shoulders, the girl with a finger on the beat would like to think she’s got her act together.

You’ve gotta agree we simply don’t have girls taking to DJing. Zinaida is quick the defence.

“Yes, late nights have a major role to play in this, and there is also a lot of pressure. There are times when you might have to stand and play continuously for about five hours, and that can get very taxing. People also have this notion that once you become a DJ, bad habits follow. But If you have your head on your shoulders, no one can force you to do anything. You also have to be very straight forward when dealing with people from the industry, and stand up for what you believe in.

“When I sign a contract, I know what I want. Unfortunately, people have it set in their minds that DJing is only for guys. In fact, when I finish graduation, I’d like to organise an ‘All Woman DJs Night’ to prove that we women are as tough as the men and can handle all the pressures that come with DJing. Actually, it’s a challenge to perform in an area that has been totally male-dominated. It gives me a real high,” she yaks non-stop.

They come tougher these days, don’t they?

Hey Ms DJ
However, the confident girl off-stage is a bundle of nerves before a show. She pins it down to ‘studying the crowd.’ “There’s a lot of pressure, because people (DJs included) come to check you out, to see what’s so different about you, and if you’re as good as them. That helps me because I work even harder. I don’t want people to think that I’m getting a lot of gigs because I am a woman.

“I want to prove that I’m as good or even better, and that gender had absolutely no role in it. Though I cannot deny the fact that some people from the industry were ready to hire me, without even listening to me play, only because I was a woman DJ.”

Now, that’s one sincere DJ-in-the-making. But before you have her all figured out, she throws a parting shot, “I definitely want to go to the UK and train at my skill. I love being a DJ, it’s a great hobby. But I don’t see that as my profession. I want to make advertising and event management my career.”

Now where did that come from? Head on her shoulders? Some cool cucumber, huh?

FIVE TIPS A WOMAN DJ MUST REMEMBER:
1. Don’t let your head bounce off your shoulders!
2. Be friendly, but not over-friendly.
3. Never drink and play.
4. Give it your best shot everytime
5. Get paid!!

SHE’S GOT DA GROOVE
Fav DJs: Oakenfold, Paul Van Dyke, Norman Cook (of Fatboy Slim fame), John Digwood, Sasha. In India, DJ Ivan definitely rocks. DJ Nasha is undoubtedly one of India’s best, and of course my guru DJ Troy.

Fav Music: Depends on my moods. But Hip-Hop/R&B are all-time favourites. I usually never get to play my kind of music/tracks at shows, because I have to play what the crowd wants, and sometimes what it wants could be something that I don’t like. Another interesting thing about playing at clubs is that often I have to play what the crowd doesn’t like, because if I always play what they like, then they’re always gonna be on the dance floor. That means the bar guy won’t do any sales!

DJ Schools in India: We don’t really have any Board that recognises DJ schools, but usually DJs help you learn the ropes. Of course, there is Jo Azaredo’s School of DJing in Borivali, Mumbai, DJ Nasha trains two students at a time, Ryan Beck has a school in Mumbai, and DJ Troy also trains in Goa.

It’s Showtime: Debut show at Angels Resort, where I played with DJs like Ivan, Ajit and Troy. The Channel V show at Paradiso, Anjuna. I have also been getting offers from some big hotels in Goa, which I am still considering. Apart from this, I freelance and take up shows that I think are worth playing at. Will soon play at Ten Downing Street, Goa, every Friday night.

Club Scene In Goa: Even though Goa is a small place, this depends on what part of Goa you’re playing in. At Anjuna, you’d probably have to play hard core trance. In Panjim, it’s commercial music or even retro. But on the whole, Goa demands a lot of house, and hip-hop also seems to work really well with the crowds

Photographs: Raphael Das
Make-Up: Arlene