Growing up in North Wales, electronic musicianKelly Lee Owensdidnt have a lot of immediate access to live music.
The problem with North Wales is you had to leave to even go to a club.
The nearest one was a 30 minute drive.
Samuel Bradley*
Owens found herself taking the train to Liverpool or Manchester to see more underground acts.
What a shame you have to leave your own country to find venues, she says.
Access is part of a multi-layered struggle of entering the music industry that Owens has been highlighting lately.
So along the way, the venues that are the smallest are the literal stepping stones.
This is that kind of grassroots shit.
I had to very much prove myself that I could DJ, Owens explains.
Whereas, as a woman, I felt like if I did that I would just be ridiculed.
(They would collaborate again 2022.)
Honestly, after that, things seemed to open up quite a lot.
I started being asked to play festivals, both live and as a DJ.
That felt like a big step up.
Theres been a hunger for dancing, especially from younger people.
Especially in the tough times, thats when some of the most interesting stuff appears.
