FEATURE:
Saluting the Queens
Tiffany Calver
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IT has been a while since I last…
PHOTO CREDIT: BBC
did an edition of this feature, though I am compelled to return to Saluting the Queens to recognise the incredible D.J., Tiffany Calver. One of the most talented and respected D.J.s and broadcasters in the country, I am going to spend a little bit of time spotlighting and exploring this amazing human. Before getting to some interviews, I want to bring in some biography regarding Tiffany Calver:
“It’s about supporting what I believe in, the people I’m a fan of,” she says of her mission statement. “I’m more of a specialist, I’m not a party DJ. I’m picky, I’m selective, I’m credible.”
Her impressive list of achievements include her position as the first ever female host of the Rap Show on BBC Radio 1, Drake’s UK & Europe Tour DJ, launching her own record label ‘No Requests’ (via Polydor), performing at Paris Fashion Week and winning a number of awards such as: Music Week Women In Music – Rising Star (2019), DJ Mag – Best of British – Best Radio Show: BBC 1Xtra Rap Show with Tiffany Calver (2020), Urban Music Awards – Best DJ (2017), ARIAS Radio Academy Award – Best Specialist Music Show – Bronze.
Be it holding down a festival stage with an energy packed DJ set, interviewing the world’s biggest artists or tastemaking and sharing new music via her weekly radio show, Tiffany brings an unparalleled commitment to her craft and a unique ability to build strong connections with artists from all corners of the globe”.
You can follow Tiffany Calver through her official website, via TikTok or on Instagram. For those not in the know, she hosts the must-hear The Tiffany Calver Show on Radio 1Xtra Fridays, between 9 and 11 p.m. In addition to recently appearing on cover of DJ Mag, she also has some great gigs coming up. As we can see from her Instagram, there is a pretty big one happening in April:
“Surprise! I’m headlining Earth Hall on April 27th and you need to be there! I’m so excited to bring @norequests back to the ends in London and the first one of 2024 is going to be a real vibe. Jump on the link in my bio to have access to tickets first when they go live on Friday!! 🎉
Dalston is literally where it all started for me as a DJ hustling for gigs and to get on flyers so to be coming back to it with something so special means everything. I’ve been dreaming of playing at this venue. Might have to run a couple 2015-2016 alibi/visions throwbacks just to pay homage!”.
@tiffanycalver Replying to @𝐓𝐖𝐈𝐍 𝐒𝐊𝐄𝐋𝐄𝐓𝐎𝐍𝐒 ♬ original sound - Tiffany Calver
I want to mix in a few interviews to give you an idea of where Tiffany Calver came from, who she is, plus a little about her life away from the decks and microphone. I want to start with an interview from Culted. Published earlier this year, Calver discusses how she became a D.J. Even though she is still so young, her C.V. is one of the most impressive out there. A major talent who is going to go on to be recognised as one of the most import ant D.J.s and radio voices of her generation. I would advise anyone who has not heard her Friday evening show or seen her D.J. to correct that at some point this year:
“I want to take it back to the beginning with you. Was music something you grew up surrounded with?
I always say this but my baby tapes genuinely have the best soundtrack. Biggie, En Vogue, Busta Rhymes, Lil Kim, SWV… My mum and dad were really into their music. They were young and grew up in the rave/UKG era. Dad had a whole DJ set up that I used to drool over. Literally. Everything from R&B, Garage, Jungle and Hip Hop. You name it, they played it to me so I’ve always been into most genres thanks to them.
By the age of 17, you moved to London to experience the city life and its music scene. Do you remember any venues and/or artists you were instantly drawn to?
When I first came to London I remember just having a ridiculous amount of access for the first time to go to an unlimited amount of live gigs. I’d never had that before, so I was pretty obsessed with going out and getting in the crowd at things. I’d manage to get in for free because I’d review them for some of the music blogs I wrote for at the time which at that age, was everything! When I started going out and experiencing the nightlife world it was all about Dalston. Visions, Birthdays, Alibi, then maybe you’d catch a bus to Oval Space for the Livin Proof parties…man. You just had to be there.
It wasn’t long until you made your way into the industry, blogging for MTV and SB:TV. Was there a moment where you realised that music was, professionally, for you?
Oh I knew from around 16 that this was the world I wanted to be in. One thing about me is I always have to know what I’m doing. Serious Virgo. I didn’t know just how far I would go by any means but I just wanted a piece of it. I wanted to be immersed in it, and to contribute to pushing it forward however I had the access to do it. I never in a million years saw just how far back the curtain would get pulled for me, back then.
How did you make that step from being a music writer to music maker, by way of DJing?
I started using Virtual DJ because I didn’t have the money to buy a controller let alone CDJs! I would post mixes I made on my computer to SoundCloud and one of them took off and hit around 50,000 plays which was massive for me at the time.
I really wanted to be on radio since I was a kid. When I came to London I’d tried my hand at getting an internship or apprenticeship at BBC, Rinse FM and all the local stations to no avail. I studied and tried to follow all of the blueprints that you’re taught to follow and it didn’t work.
Having worked alongside massive artists such as Drake and Beyoncé, you still make it a point to highlight and support emerging artists. Who are some artists you would recommend our readers to tune into?
Everyone starts off as an emerging artist and I think people have to remember that. Instead of looking at the shiny things, sometimes look at the diamonds in the dirt. That’s far more rewarding, exciting, and fulfilling and if we want to keep this thing going – we have to pour into the future superstars from the beginning.
The underground scene has always been such an exciting space to listen to and support because it depicts what is really going on in the world as opposed to what “trends.” I think that listeners love to feel like they are discovering someone on their own nowadays – and with more music being released day by day and apps at everyone’s fingertips that becomes more of a reality for the world.
I’m really into Humble The Great, BXKS, Cristale, and P-rallel and watching their individual rises at the moment. I think this year will be the year of the producer/DJs too. It’s going to be a great year for Publishing. Africa is still in such a strong position to hold more and more space.
I’m into artists who add something unique in flavour to their music and don’t follow the algorithm. That’s what the world needs more of”.
Let’s move to GQ now. This takes us back to last year. One can only imagine how hectic and intense it can be for a world-class D.J. Someone who spends a lot of her life on the road or in the radio studio at least. GQ were at home with Tiffany Calver. We got to discover a bit about how she relaxes, and what she does to recharge away from the crowds and the intoxicating energy she must get from her D.J. gigs:
“Let’s begin with the bedroom, sleep, and anything to do with winding down and relaxing in the evening. What do you use?
I think that I’ve come to terms with the fact that, with my job, I’m never going to have the perfect sleep or nighttime routine, because even when I get myself into a good routine I have a 3am DJ set in Bristol or something and it’s completely out of whack again. I’m constantly on jet lag and trying to fight that.
When I come in after a night out working and the adrenaline is high I have to smother myself in lavender spray or something to try and chill out. I have a lot of essential oils and a Neom diffuser, and I just absolutely drench it in lavender oil. I've always wanted to be one of those people that reads a book in bed, but I get stimulated way too easily — I’ve even implemented a no TV rule and we don’t have one in our bedroom anymore. I’ve also started listening to ocean sounds on a timer on Spotify when I can't sleep.
I got a new sleeping mask from Drowsy and it’s insane. When I say it wraps around your entire face…it’s completely black out, you can’t see anything. It’s like a pillow for the face. I have this terrible habit of falling asleep on my stomach and I’d wake up and have lines on my face, but this has been helpful.
I also remember how important it was for me to invest in a good set of pillows and a really nice duvet from Dusk. I love Dusk. I’ve been traveling so much DJ'ing and I just wanted to come home and have it feel like a hotel bed. We also got a new mattress which has changed the game as well: it’s a Nectar Hybrid. I just need all the help I can get.
What is your skincare routine? How do you stay looking fresh after the late nights?
I’m such a massive fan of products that leave my skin feeling well moisturised and hydrated and hopefully getting rid of the impact of the club. I have a lot of fun with my skincare. It was something I didn’t pay much attention to in my early 20s, especially things like SPF.
I’ve just started using and am obsessed with Dr Dennis Gross' Dewy Deep Cream: that is amazing. You can use it day or night, but I use in the day because it has a citrusy smell. I’ll always go in with a serum before that as well. I have a Dr Barbara Sturm Vitamin C one that someone recommended. My favourite serum brand is Skinceuticals: I’m obsessed with the B5 serum. And then for SPF I use SuperGoop SPF50 Everyday Lotion and I really love it; it doesn't hurt my eyes and it doesn't affect the colour of my face.
On my lips, I use the Laneige sleeping mask in lemon sorbet. My face wash is also a constant staple: Zo skin health. I was recommended them by Clara Amfo and Mabel; their skin is great. I also love my new perfume which is Louis Vuitton Spell On You. I did not realise how expensive it was until I got to the till but I'm making it work!
What about the living room. How do you chill out? Are you a home workout person?
I think I’ve touched my Peleton twice…it's so painful! I don’t understand! It’s just not comfortable…but also I’m just making excuses.
I spend a lot of time in the living room. It's the one place where I get complete escapism. I’m obsessed with my Erewhon candle in Neroli Sandalwood, and it is gorgeous. I’ve been back two weeks from the US and it's nearly gone. I’ve always got a candle lit.
We’ve also got this gorgeous Soho Home dimmable lamp, I put that on low with a candle. It’s where we relax and go to the depths of Netflix. I’m loving Disney Plus at the minute, too: they have such good documentaries. Tonight we’re watching the Spencer Matthews documentary Finding Michael. I can’t shout enough at the moment about the Ryan Reynolds documentary [Welcome To Wrexham], it’s the best doc series I’ve ever seen. They did such a great job.
What DJ essentials do you have in your home?
So at the minute I have a CDJ 2000 and a DJ 900 Nexus mixer and that's essentially what I use in the club. It took me ages to save up for that. I think I used the money from the Drake tour, but now I’m dying to upgrade to the CDJ 3000 because the tech on those is unreal. And then I have the classic KRK speakers. They do the job and don't piss off my neighbours too much. I also have an Ableton MPC Push: it’s very dusty right now because I’ve been in L.A., but the plan is to eventually release some original music and remixes. I'm heavily into Ableton and how aesthetically gorgeous it all looks but also the production software and the little accessories that can help with producing.
You always need some Sennheiser headphones too, but I keep it quite simple and cute. On my show I get to play whatever I love… it’s such an incredible opportunity and it's a privilege to be on a station like the BBC and have that freedom where they trust me to be a tastemaker. So I’m making sure I have taste!
What else is on the cards at the moment what with your record label as well?
I've definitely got my head down with the record label: there's some incredible new signings that we’ve got and we’re developing. Being within Universal I’m not trying to have a major label, but something small and niche and boutique that looks after and develops new talent. And that's what I want to provide, something a bit different sonically. I feel that's needed, especially in this world of AI and algorithms. It’s nice to find risk takers who want to challenge themselves and make something a bit rebellious”.
When researching for this feature, I came across this interview from NOTION. They spoke with Tiffany Calver at London’s Tate Britain. She explained how artist influences everything. That it is a universal language. Calver discussed, among other things, the beauty of creativity, and the female artists who influence her. It was another intriguing and arresting side to a major talent and someone who is inspiring a lot of D.J.s and broadcaster coming through:
“Tastemaker Tiffany Calver meets us at Tate Britain to discuss the beauty of creativity, the renaissance of hip-hop culture, and the female artists in whom she finds solace.
“How does art help to inspire your creative process?
I don’t think that a creative process exists without art. There’s always this thing about originality, but I’m not sure originality really exists because we are constantly influenced and inspired by things around us – especially creativity. You can’t escape it, it’s the thing that connects everyone, a universal language. You know, you don’t have to speak the same language as someone else to feel something – and that’s the beauty of art. It’s a feeling. It’s not something you have to say, but something you can project.
How do you think that galleries spark inspiration?
I think that people can find gallery spaces and museums quite intimidating because there can be this seriousness around them. For me, the way I got into going to galleries was through my job and travelling. I’d be in a city and would want to see something different – without the intimidation of ‘this is a serious thing to do’. So me and my friends would go into museums and make it our own experience – it could be as childish or mature as we wanted it to be. We’d make humour out of it, we’d smile, we might cry sometimes, we might have a conversation around a piece of art. And I think that’s the beauty of museums. It’s being able to see something from the 1700s or the 1400s and there’s still something in it that inspires you.
In your opinion, how can art influence and connect everyone?
You have to take the pressure away from it. I think places like the Tate are really special when you don’t look at them through such a serious lens. When you just come here and be, stand, look at something and think about how you feel. It’s also the fact that these spaces are available to us and free. You can come and get inspired in ways you never thought you would. I’m inspired being here today, and you can look back and be like, how would I even connect with a room like this? You know, I’m a 90s baby, I’m in 2023, how can I connect? But you do, and I think that’s why these places are really special.
PHOTO CREDIT: Serena Brown
Is there a specific period of art that you’re interested in?
I’m not really stuck to one time period. I like walking into galleries and looking at all walks of life and all periods of time, because you connect in ways you never thought you would. These aren’t things you’re reading in a history book, or being taught in class. These are reflections of how somebody felt in a moment of time that we will never be able to visit. We get to visit through these pictures, instead, and feel those feelings.
What type of art inspires you?
I love all kinds of art. Everything is art to me. Anything that brings me peace and lets me escape from the world for a minute, whether it’s a song I love, a photograph, a film. There are so many different varieties of art that just help you to breathe for a second and find peace. Or maybe not, maybe it’s finding anger, finding sadness – but you find something in it.
Do you find yourself particularly influenced by female artists?
Oh, 100%. I think that’s literally what has raised me. And in all forms, whether that’s Tracy Emin and how outrageously unapologetic her art is, literally heart on her sleeve. I think that’s beautiful. Whether that’s going back to musicians I was raised on, through my mother, through my grandmother. You know, I love someone like Nina Simone; one of my favourite samples in history is “Sinnerman” and I think that’s something that was passed down to me. That’s art. The art by women that most connects to me is the outspoken art, the rebellious art of the time. The people that chose to stand up or be unapologetically themselves, and do what they wanted to do. That’s what inspires me the most.
How do you think the worlds of art and music collide?
I come from the world of hip-hop. The thing I loved and that got me obsessed with hip-hop from when I was a kid, was the fact that it meshes so many different worlds without meaning to. When hip-hop first started, there was dance, there was street style, there was sneakers. All of these exciting elements make you who you are, and I think there’s been a renaissance of that in recent years.
Like, there’s Slawn, who’s connected to Central Cee – [Cee]’s got Slawn painting a double-decker bus and posting it on Instagram and these kids are seeing it and getting inspired. I’ve got a 14-year-old brother who tells me how cool it is, and it brings art into the conversation in a less forced way – because sometimes it can feel like it’s forced on the younger generation to be interested in art”.
@tiffanycalver I hear this is what u gotta do to get bookings nowadays #content ♬ original sound - Tiffany Calver
I am going to finish off with a recent NME interview. The D.J. discussed why it is important to fail – in terms of some actual constructive and wise advice -, imposter syndrome, and finding her own tribe. When she was being interviewed, Calver was speaking on a panel in celebration of International Women’s Month:
“Tiffany Calver has shared her advice to aspiring music industry creatives, encouraging them to “fail as much as you can.”
Speaking on a panel in celebration of International Women’s Month, the UK rap trailblazer collaborated with Sondr to host a talk with fellow DJs and UK club titans Bossy LDN founder Izzy Bossy and Hannah Lynch of Girls Can’t Sync. The event was held at east London creative hotspot BeauBeaus and was part of the Telford native’s Tiffany Calver & Friends series – in which she highlights her talented peers.
told the audience that the internet has made it so “there is so much at your fingertips” that can give you a fighting chance to succeed no matter where you’re from. “You have the opportunity to really self-promote yourself,” she said, “really put yourself out there.”
There was always a need for Calver to “find [her] own tribe,” and she did eventually in London. Speaking to the panel, she reiterated the importance of community: “Don’t look too high, sometimes look forward, look around you, look at what the people around you are building. Genuinely, those are the relationships that will keep you going, the people championing you now will take you higher and further, they’re just as important.”
IN THIS PHOTO: (From left to right): Tiffany Calver, Hannah Lynch and Izzy Bossy at Tiffany Calver & Friends International Women’s Day panel talk/PHOTO CREDIT: FilmsByEks/Press
Calver eventually learned to DJ on the Virtual DJ app and then had various radio shows on NTS, KISS FM and the controversial Radar. She also put on her events at the London nightclub Birthdays where she flew in international DJs with her retail salary and had the likes of Little Simz freestyle there. “I used to get all these people down to London with my little Topshop money and let them sleep on the floor of my dad’s flat,” she revealed.
All the exposure led to her being handpicked to be the face of BBC Radio 1Xtra’s Rap Show in 2017, becoming the first female presenter to host the show. Calver said the opportunity came from a random X/Twitter DM.
Speaking about when she took on the role, she told the crowd that she felt pressure to excel. “The hosts before were [Tim Westwood] and Charlie Sloth,” she said. “They were just two guys with massive egos and there is that thing, especially in rap, of that bravado you have to put on and I’m some neeky girl.
But she decided “not to create a persona or a character or have this bravado” and sought advice from Annie Mac and Clara Amfo, who both present primetime shows on the BBC. “In terms of me, there wasn’t really a woman to look at in the hip-hop space here that embodied that show,” Calver said. “It was great I had women to speak to who had already started in the career I wanted to get into”.
An undeniable queen of the music industry, Tiffany Calver is a wonderful D.J. and modern icon. Someone who is one of the most important voices on the airwaves. A tremendous D.J. who is among the very best out there, I feel everyone needs to know about her. Countless people do. In years to come, I can see Tiffany Calver going from strength to strength. Worldwide gigs as D.J. More radio opportunities and so many honours will surely come her way. I was very keen to show my respect for…
THE simply brilliant Tiffany Calver.