Scarlett O’Malley is a DJ, presenter and a Radio Station Manager for new central london station Whynow.
Scarlett has been running her own Soul music imprint, aptly named @thesoulexchangeldn for 3 years and has been running a mix series for well over a year whilst spotlighting her favourite records within that corner of music.
Boasting a collection well over 1000+ records spanning 50s Doo-Wop, 60s and 70s Rare Groove, Soul, Disco, House, UK Garage, Latin and beyond, lets just say, she’s into records!
As well as a busy DJ schedule (now the clubs are opening back up) Scarlett, also holds down shows on @foundation.fm and @totallywiredradio where she shares her passion for not only the music but the history behind the music and records.
As well as her radio output, Scarlett has written about music and subculture for @nmemagazine, @mixmag and @fredperry, created a podcast for the YOUTH CLUB Archive and programmed panels about records and curated live streams, surrounding herself with music and culture wherever she can!
Each week we will be taking a dip into the crates and minds of some of the digging scenes most prolific collectors.
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DIGGR: What are your earliest musical influences?
SCARLETT: “My very earliest music influences were 50s doo-wop and 80s pop, I have been obsessed with George Michael and 80s sounds from a very early age and grew up listening to a lot of 50s music. Then when I found my identity it was all pop-punk, metal and emo bands which then took it’s journey into ska-punk, then the roots of ska punk in ska and reggae and I went through a bit of a skin girl faze and then into 60s soul which lead me into disco and then when I started going out it was all UKG and house… a proper lineage through the decades. I’m now in a 70s crossover soul and old skool house bubble.”
D: Name one institution that changed your life musically…
S: “The 100 Club 6Ts Rhythm and Soul all-nighters have changed my life! So many rare soul tunes found in that central London basement.”
D: Where is your digging Mecca (city/country) and why?
S: “Being in the States for a month in 2019 and hitting major cities like Boston, NY, Nashville, Memphis, NOLA and Miami was like being in soul-lovers heaven, so so so many records bought and found. And I could take my time and spent hours digging which was a dream.”
D: It’s a slothy Sunday…. What tune are you hanging out to?
S: “Slothy Sunday’s there is only one person for that job… Patsy Cline. Sentimentally Yours is most definitely in my top 5 albums of all time, but her 3 studio albums she made before her untimely death are pure lazy Sunday listening perfection.”
D: What is it about vinyl that makes you dig it?
S: “I have no idea why I started buying records, or when really, all I know is that it started as a young teenager buying motown at car boots and pop-punk picture discs at HMV and it’s now become a pastime that well over a decade that I am still into, and I can’t see myself stopping anytime soon!
