BOOBY TRAP
SETTING A MOVEMENT IN MOTION VIA COLLABORATION
SETTING A MOVEMENT IN MOTION VIA COLLABORATION
By Airika Dollner
By Airika Dollner
I had my first Booby Trap experience on their second night in existence, and
I was hooked… or shall I say Booby Trapped? Their now weekly event is
located in a non-trendy part of Hollywood, with a non-descript exterior. But
immediately after walking in, I was struck by how distinctly different the
music and the crowd of women was.
As an artist, a self-professed “music snob,” and a lesbian who tends to think outside
of the status quo, I felt like I had found a place designed just for me. I quickly became
acquainted with the beautiful and undeniably talented trio of women behind what has
become an overnight success. As I got to know Anna (DJ Anon), Kim (DJ Kim Anh)
and Daisy (DJ Daisy O) better, I was struck by their immense support of each other,
their realness, their wide range of talent, and their sincere drive to broaden the
image of the LGBT community.
They each have a unique interpretation of a wide selection of music they adeptly mix.
It is immediately clear that these ladies have a genuine passion, respect, and
understanding of their art form. All three take DJing a step further by mixing in their
own creative sound as they spin. They often invite other great talents from the
community into the shuffle to broaden the selection even further. I was fortunate
enough to be in attendance when Chromeo made a guest appearance!
I have been deeply inspired by the experience, but even more so by the stunning
trinity creating the magic. I am grateful that they have exposed me to a new crowd,
new music, and their innovative take on nightlife for women. As for their original
music, I have only had the pleasure to hear Anna’s personal work, and I was blown
away by her vocals and her discerning production value. I look forward to any and all
tricks up their fashionable sleeves, and always walk away feeling like I’ve been a part
of history somehow… as if I could see Booby Trap in a future Behind the Music.
Now let’s get behind their music, and ask Booby’s Angels some questions!
What generated the whole idea to start Booby Trap? Who was the brainchild,
and what brought you all together to make creative magic?
Kim: The idea of Booby Trap started with a desire to create a lesbian-centric night
driven by the independent arts, music and fashion. I would see certain lesbian
women strewn throughout LA nightlife: familiar faces at an art opening, industry
parties and Hollywood hotspots. The original thought was to create a place where
these women could congregate and be surrounded by women like them. Booby
Trap is meant to be a place for women to go and not be judged by either the straight
or gay community, a place for them to celebrate their passions with like-minds.
Booby Trap was originally my concept, and I created the name, however Booby Trap
would not be what it is today without the partnerships of Anna and Daisy. I knew them
independently and approached them about putting this together. From day one they
were 100% on board, ready and willing to take on the task of launching (what we
hoped to be) a small revolution. We all come from different musical influences and
we all bring very distinct contributions to the night.
Anna: Ultimately we came together because of the music we like and we wanted to
give something back to the lesbian community and LGBT community as a whole.
Thank God there are quite a few clubs in LA to choose from! We respect them all
and consider what we bring to the table to be another option. We love and usually
play a combo of disco, electro, and house at our nights. We try to reflect that in the
imagery we use too. We also enjoy playing at other gay clubs as a DJ collective.
Daisy: Kim was the one who initially brought this group together. She frequented the
venues I DJed, and we learned quickly that we had a mutual love of obscure,
electronic music. I was familiar with Anna as an amazing talent. We played an event
together, but I never had the opportunity to know her well before Booby Trap was
created. I feel very fortunate that this group got together. It is rare to find people who
you are so compatible with artistically, professionally and personally. Everything that
has happened thus far has been completely organic. The original idea was to start a
night based around the kind of music that we want to hear or play. We never
intended to promote. We simply wished to create a place where we, and like-
minded women, would want to be.
Each of you have such an immense knowledge of music… what started your
passion, where has this love taken you?
Kim: I've loved music for as long as I can remember. I grew up hearing my mother
tell me that when I was a toddler she could always tell when I had awoken in the
morning, because I would stand holding onto the rail of the crib and sing... it wouldn't
be words, but there would be a melody. I learned my first instrument at the age of
eleven, and from there went on to learn several other instruments (mostly selfj-
taught). Music has allowed me to travel, touring with Grammy-award-winning musical
acts. I've worked as a composer, scoring for films and television. This has allowed
me to share the music and passion that I love so much with many and I’m very
grateful for that. I've been able to contribute musical talent and curate for charitable
events and fundraisers. It feels good to give back by doing something that I love so
much.
Anna: My response to this could easily get lengthy, but to keep it short and sweet…
what inspired us at a young age still comes through in what we DJ as well as what
we write as musicians. We actually just started a blog on our website (www.
clubboobytrap.com) to share new and old music we love, among other things.
Perhaps this will give people a better idea of where we come from musically.
Daisy: I am a self-professed music nerd, daughter of an audiophile, and have been
obsessed with music for as long as I can remember. I grew up in Toronto, and lived
in London and New York before settling in LA. My passion for music is way too
complex to explain in a paragraph, or novel for that matter, so I'll keep it short. I have
a constant soundtrack playing in my head, and feel incredibly fortunate that I can
share that with the world, both through DJing and the creation of original music.
You mentioned creating an album of original music together. When will this be
available, who does what on it, and how would you describe your sound?
Kim: Yes, we are currently working on a cover that should be released by
September. We will have several tracks to follow that will complete an EP. As we
are in the process of putting this project together, please refer to our website for
more details.
Anna: The entire album probably won't come out until later in 2009 but you will see
singles and remixes start to appear this fall. I am already an established recording
artist (singer, songwriter and musician), and because I have the studio tools to bring
it all together, the ideas and initial recordings start here. Kim has been in bands for
years now singing, playing guitar and keys, and Daisy also sings. The song we are
working on right now (a cover) spawned from a night of wine and brainstorming. We
have a lot of fun in the studio together. We are in the process of refining the style, but
it's definitely rooted in disco and electro.
Daisy: I would describe our sound as nu-disco.
Tell us more about Booby Trap radio! How and when can people tune in to listen?
What can we expect to hear?
Kim: Booby Trap Radio is on air every Tuesday from 2-4 pm PST. It is a radio
program that is aired on Little Radio (an internet streamed radio station that
broadcasts from downtown LA). You can tune in by going to www.littleradio.com, or
from our website www.clubboobytrap.com. There are links on both sites where you
can tune in. I think the better question is what won't you hear! We play all kinds of
music - some stuff that we play at the club, some stuff that we are obsessing over,
some of our all-time favorites. We often do themed shows that allow us to play many
different genres of music revolving around the same kind of idea or message. 95%
of the music is independent and/or obscure.
The number one item of feedback that we receive from our partygoers is that they
LOVE the music. We are constantly approached at the DJ booth with questions
about who and what we are playing. So we thought that the radio show would be a
great way for us to tell everyone what we are playing, create an open forum for
discussion and the introduction of new music. We Instant Message during the show
with listeners and tell their stories on air, along with their likes and dislikes. The
whole thing is highly interactive.
Anna: Daisy and Kim are currently doing this project without me.
Daisy: Kim covered the essentials on this one. Each week we select a different
theme and play music that we feel correlates. It's totally subjective and totally fun.
Are there any causes that you support or would like to generate attention for
(i.e. environmental, art, political, humanitarian, etc.)?
Kim: Personally I feel a strong affinity for women's rights and women in the arts. I
encourage women to take time to educate themselves on candidates and to VOTE.
On a global level, I have a strong desire to contribute to the women of Africa. They
continue to face many obstacles and injustices. It’s hard to imagine a life where
women are treated this way and it’s important to remember that these things are
happening in the world.
I also believe in the protection of children, not just in the U.S. but around the world.
They are indeed our most vulnerable and valuable gift. It pains me to think of the
terror and abuse inflicted on them because of war and poverty. I have been an
advocate of AIDS prevention and sex education for about a decade now. I've been
the girl on campus, handing out condoms and dental dams and continue to
contribute in the fight against the AIDS epidemic.
And lastly, gosh so many,... going green! I have a huge interest in green design and
sustainable resources. I've spent a lot of time over the last couple of years learning
and studying new concepts in design, construction and architecture that support
green buildings and structures. San Francisco is getting rid of the plastic bags and I
hope we follow! My new thing is bike riding. I designate one day a week where car
use is not allowed… its biking or walking only.
I don't want to mention specific organizations, because there are so many. Ones that
allow you to adopt a sister in another country, allow you to contribute to the building of
small businesses in third world countries. These allow individuals to generate
income over and over again to support their families and contribute to the growth of
their communities. It’s up to the individual to choose the specific organization they
feel best suits their desire to give back.
Anna: There are several political fights we are involved in individually. I think
collectively we are concerned about the state of art and music education for the youth
here at home. I am getting involved with teaching kids how to use music production
software in 2009.
Daisy: This is a very nice question. I really appreciate you giving us the opportunity
to discuss the causes that we support. Obviously LGBT rights are a big one,
Hollywood Arts (www.hollywood-arts.org) and LA Works is an amazing program too.
They make it really easy to help out our community (www.laworks.com).
What is your vision for the future of Booby Trap?
Kim: We hope to continue hosting events in Los Angeles as well as other cities in
the U.S. We are moving towards hosting our events internationally - combining with
other icons, muses, and movers and shakers. We hope that people hear our music
and it makes them want to dance like banshees. We've just started a blog that can
be found on our website too. We wish to inspire and share our passions with other
women around the world. We hope that our night will continue to grow and that our
supporters will continue to support us. Being a weekly event, it can be challenging to
keep things fresh and exciting. We are always bringing new acts and talents, that we
love and may interest our partygoers. We want to keep them happy! Ultimately the
success of Booby Trap depends largely on their excitement and support of the night.
We want to continue to give back to them. No matter how long our run lasts, we hope
to look back and know that we made a difference-- whether small or large-- in the
nightlife and arts community.
Anna: We want to travel with it. Take it to Berlin, London, Paris, and Prague! We are
really having a good time putting these parties on and playing music together, so why
not take it on the road?
Daisy: We want to take over the world! Just kidding. (Kind of.) We do want to take
the show on the road. I look forward to collaborating with these inspiring women for
many years to come.
I had my first Booby Trap experience on their second night in existence, and
I was hooked… or shall I say Booby Trapped? Their now weekly event is
located in a non-trendy part of Hollywood, with a non-descript exterior. But
immediately after walking in, I was struck by how distinctly different the
music and the crowd of women was.
As an artist, a self-professed “music snob,” and a lesbian who tends to think outside
of the status quo, I felt like I had found a place designed just for me. I quickly became
acquainted with the beautiful and undeniably talented trio of women behind what has
become an overnight success. As I got to know Anna (DJ Anon), Kim (DJ Kim Anh)
and Daisy (DJ Daisy O) better, I was struck by their immense support of each other,
their realness, their wide range of talent, and their sincere drive to broaden the
image of the LGBT community.
They each have a unique interpretation of a wide selection of music they adeptly mix.
It is immediately clear that these ladies have a genuine passion, respect, and
understanding of their art form. All three take DJing a step further by mixing in their
own creative sound as they spin. They often invite other great talents from the
community into the shuffle to broaden the selection even further. I was fortunate
enough to be in attendance when Chromeo made a guest appearance!
I have been deeply inspired by the experience, but even more so by the stunning
trinity creating the magic. I am grateful that they have exposed me to a new crowd,
new music, and their innovative take on nightlife for women. As for their original
music, I have only had the pleasure to hear Anna’s personal work, and I was blown
away by her vocals and her discerning production value. I look forward to any and all
tricks up their fashionable sleeves, and always walk away feeling like I’ve been a part
of history somehow… as if I could see Booby Trap in a future Behind the Music.
Now let’s get behind their music, and ask Booby’s Angels some questions!
What generated the whole idea to start Booby Trap? Who was the brainchild,
and what brought you all together to make creative magic?
Kim: The idea of Booby Trap started with a desire to create a lesbian-centric night
driven by the independent arts, music and fashion. I would see certain lesbian
women strewn throughout LA nightlife: familiar faces at an art opening, industry
parties and Hollywood hotspots. The original thought was to create a place where
these women could congregate and be surrounded by women like them. Booby
Trap is meant to be a place for women to go and not be judged by either the straight
or gay community, a place for them to celebrate their passions with like-minds.
Booby Trap was originally my concept, and I created the name, however Booby Trap
would not be what it is today without the partnerships of Anna and Daisy. I knew them
independently and approached them about putting this together. From day one they
were 100% on board, ready and willing to take on the task of launching (what we
hoped to be) a small revolution. We all come from different musical influences and
we all bring very distinct contributions to the night.
Anna: Ultimately we came together because of the music we like and we wanted to
give something back to the lesbian community and LGBT community as a whole.
Thank God there are quite a few clubs in LA to choose from! We respect them all
and consider what we bring to the table to be another option. We love and usually
play a combo of disco, electro, and house at our nights. We try to reflect that in the
imagery we use too. We also enjoy playing at other gay clubs as a DJ collective.
Daisy: Kim was the one who initially brought this group together. She frequented the
venues I DJed, and we learned quickly that we had a mutual love of obscure,
electronic music. I was familiar with Anna as an amazing talent. We played an event
together, but I never had the opportunity to know her well before Booby Trap was
created. I feel very fortunate that this group got together. It is rare to find people who
you are so compatible with artistically, professionally and personally. Everything that
has happened thus far has been completely organic. The original idea was to start a
night based around the kind of music that we want to hear or play. We never
intended to promote. We simply wished to create a place where we, and like-
minded women, would want to be.
Each of you have such an immense knowledge of music… what started your
passion, where has this love taken you?
Kim: I've loved music for as long as I can remember. I grew up hearing my mother
tell me that when I was a toddler she could always tell when I had awoken in the
morning, because I would stand holding onto the rail of the crib and sing... it wouldn't
be words, but there would be a melody. I learned my first instrument at the age of
eleven, and from there went on to learn several other instruments (mostly selfj-
taught). Music has allowed me to travel, touring with Grammy-award-winning musical
acts. I've worked as a composer, scoring for films and television. This has allowed
me to share the music and passion that I love so much with many and I’m very
grateful for that. I've been able to contribute musical talent and curate for charitable
events and fundraisers. It feels good to give back by doing something that I love so
much.
Anna: My response to this could easily get lengthy, but to keep it short and sweet…
what inspired us at a young age still comes through in what we DJ as well as what
we write as musicians. We actually just started a blog on our website (www.
clubboobytrap.com) to share new and old music we love, among other things.
Perhaps this will give people a better idea of where we come from musically.
Daisy: I am a self-professed music nerd, daughter of an audiophile, and have been
obsessed with music for as long as I can remember. I grew up in Toronto, and lived
in London and New York before settling in LA. My passion for music is way too
complex to explain in a paragraph, or novel for that matter, so I'll keep it short. I have
a constant soundtrack playing in my head, and feel incredibly fortunate that I can
share that with the world, both through DJing and the creation of original music.
You mentioned creating an album of original music together. When will this be
available, who does what on it, and how would you describe your sound?
Kim: Yes, we are currently working on a cover that should be released by
September. We will have several tracks to follow that will complete an EP. As we
are in the process of putting this project together, please refer to our website for
more details.
Anna: The entire album probably won't come out until later in 2009 but you will see
singles and remixes start to appear this fall. I am already an established recording
artist (singer, songwriter and musician), and because I have the studio tools to bring
it all together, the ideas and initial recordings start here. Kim has been in bands for
years now singing, playing guitar and keys, and Daisy also sings. The song we are
working on right now (a cover) spawned from a night of wine and brainstorming. We
have a lot of fun in the studio together. We are in the process of refining the style, but
it's definitely rooted in disco and electro.
Daisy: I would describe our sound as nu-disco.
Tell us more about Booby Trap radio! How and when can people tune in to listen?
What can we expect to hear?
Kim: Booby Trap Radio is on air every Tuesday from 2-4 pm PST. It is a radio
program that is aired on Little Radio (an internet streamed radio station that
broadcasts from downtown LA). You can tune in by going to www.littleradio.com, or
from our website www.clubboobytrap.com. There are links on both sites where you
can tune in. I think the better question is what won't you hear! We play all kinds of
music - some stuff that we play at the club, some stuff that we are obsessing over,
some of our all-time favorites. We often do themed shows that allow us to play many
different genres of music revolving around the same kind of idea or message. 95%
of the music is independent and/or obscure.
The number one item of feedback that we receive from our partygoers is that they
LOVE the music. We are constantly approached at the DJ booth with questions
about who and what we are playing. So we thought that the radio show would be a
great way for us to tell everyone what we are playing, create an open forum for
discussion and the introduction of new music. We Instant Message during the show
with listeners and tell their stories on air, along with their likes and dislikes. The
whole thing is highly interactive.
Anna: Daisy and Kim are currently doing this project without me.
Daisy: Kim covered the essentials on this one. Each week we select a different
theme and play music that we feel correlates. It's totally subjective and totally fun.
Are there any causes that you support or would like to generate attention for
(i.e. environmental, art, political, humanitarian, etc.)?
Kim: Personally I feel a strong affinity for women's rights and women in the arts. I
encourage women to take time to educate themselves on candidates and to VOTE.
On a global level, I have a strong desire to contribute to the women of Africa. They
continue to face many obstacles and injustices. It’s hard to imagine a life where
women are treated this way and it’s important to remember that these things are
happening in the world.
I also believe in the protection of children, not just in the U.S. but around the world.
They are indeed our most vulnerable and valuable gift. It pains me to think of the
terror and abuse inflicted on them because of war and poverty. I have been an
advocate of AIDS prevention and sex education for about a decade now. I've been
the girl on campus, handing out condoms and dental dams and continue to
contribute in the fight against the AIDS epidemic.
And lastly, gosh so many,... going green! I have a huge interest in green design and
sustainable resources. I've spent a lot of time over the last couple of years learning
and studying new concepts in design, construction and architecture that support
green buildings and structures. San Francisco is getting rid of the plastic bags and I
hope we follow! My new thing is bike riding. I designate one day a week where car
use is not allowed… its biking or walking only.
I don't want to mention specific organizations, because there are so many. Ones that
allow you to adopt a sister in another country, allow you to contribute to the building of
small businesses in third world countries. These allow individuals to generate
income over and over again to support their families and contribute to the growth of
their communities. It’s up to the individual to choose the specific organization they
feel best suits their desire to give back.
Anna: There are several political fights we are involved in individually. I think
collectively we are concerned about the state of art and music education for the youth
here at home. I am getting involved with teaching kids how to use music production
software in 2009.
Daisy: This is a very nice question. I really appreciate you giving us the opportunity
to discuss the causes that we support. Obviously LGBT rights are a big one,
Hollywood Arts (www.hollywood-arts.org) and LA Works is an amazing program too.
They make it really easy to help out our community (www.laworks.com).
What is your vision for the future of Booby Trap?
Kim: We hope to continue hosting events in Los Angeles as well as other cities in
the U.S. We are moving towards hosting our events internationally - combining with
other icons, muses, and movers and shakers. We hope that people hear our music
and it makes them want to dance like banshees. We've just started a blog that can
be found on our website too. We wish to inspire and share our passions with other
women around the world. We hope that our night will continue to grow and that our
supporters will continue to support us. Being a weekly event, it can be challenging to
keep things fresh and exciting. We are always bringing new acts and talents, that we
love and may interest our partygoers. We want to keep them happy! Ultimately the
success of Booby Trap depends largely on their excitement and support of the night.
We want to continue to give back to them. No matter how long our run lasts, we hope
to look back and know that we made a difference-- whether small or large-- in the
nightlife and arts community.
Anna: We want to travel with it. Take it to Berlin, London, Paris, and Prague! We are
really having a good time putting these parties on and playing music together, so why
not take it on the road?
Daisy: We want to take over the world! Just kidding. (Kind of.) We do want to take
the show on the road. I look forward to collaborating with these inspiring women for
many years to come.
Anna, Daisy, and Kim.