Hello: Eve Speciall

Who: Eve Speciall
Where: Hong Kong/Los Angeles
Sounds like: An eclectic, multi-genre party

Eve Speciall divides her life between modeling and deejaying and Hong Kong and Los Angeles, but in fact she’s found a way to make them all come together seamlessly and her life isn’t all that divided. Frustrated and bored with the music she heard in clubs as a model, she saw potential in fusing fashion and music and now the Aussie born blonde beaut is purveying luxury fashion and trendy music all over the world.

In LA, she’s signed to Ford Models and has deejayed high-profile events for Vanity Fair, Louis Vuitton, and even played the Playboy Mansion Halloween Party. In Hong Kong, she’s held residencies at Fly and the W Hotel, supporting acts like Thugli and The Klaxons and also played alongside acts like Pusha T and Pharrell. Meanwhile she’s also playing musical curator for Hong Kong’s Fashion Week every year, starring in music videos for artists like Tiesto, and collaborating with W.I.P in Hong Kong on an urban street-wear collection, which is inspired by her iconic personal style and personal taste.

In an industry where model DJs are questionable, Mixmag Asia has long been following Eve Speciall and is in awe of the effortless way she’s become a leading force in both industries and also her ability to rock a dance floor, where we’ve spent a lot of time dancing. In this interview, she’s told us a little bit more about how she plans to bring Hong Kong and LA a little closer together.

How did you get into deejaying?

I was modeling in Tokyo in 2009 and spent a lot of time in the clubs at night at model dinners/tables. I just remember thinking “I can’t hear the same set every night for 3 months in a row… surely we can do better than that?” The music was repetitive and predictable and I felt inspired by the possibility of what could be played so I bought some second-hand decks when I got back to Sydney and taught myself in my bedroom.

What were you doing before you were a DJ and model and what brought you to Hong Kong originally?

Prior to deejaying and modeling I was a trained dancer. I had done a contract with Tokyo Disneyland in 2008 and was dancing with hip-hop crews, competing and performing. When I switched to modeling that took priority over my dance and I felt a gap start to form where my musicality wasn’t being exercised (that’s when I was getting restless in Tokyo in the clubs). I came to HK on a 2-month modeling contract and ended up staying 4 years!

You are dividing your time between LA and Hong Kong. What are you doing in both cities?

I’m doing a pretty even split between modeling and deejaying in both cities, though the work varies. For example in LA I shoot more lookbooks, TV commercials and music videos, and in HK it’s more magazine editorials and advertising campaigns. Musically the cities are really different. Due to the 2am curfew in LA, the venues I play open and close early so they tend to be poolside bars, lounges and supper clubs. There I spin more nu disco, house and R&B remixes there. In HK we have such a strong club culture so I get to bang out party sets here at Fly or Volar at 4am, as well as playing more chill venues like the W or Boujis.

What’s the best thing about the music industry in Hong Kong that isn’t present in LA?

That’s definitely the consistency of the nightlife here. On any given night of the week you can get crazy and dance the whole night away. Plus the proximity of all the venues lends itself to club-hopping so you can easily visit 4+ clubs or bars in a night. I love that there isn’t a curfew here and you can go club to club with a drink in your hand. In Australia we call that a “traveller”, it’s a very Aussie thing to do!

Fashion is obviously very important to you. How have you managed to personally bridge the gap between the two worlds? 

I think they go hand in hand so it’s an easy collaboration of worlds. For example, when you go out at night and get dressed up it’s a direct expression of who you are, how you want to be perceived and I like that the club turns into a showcase of everyone’s real style. This isn’t what you’re forced to wear, it’s YOU. 

In terms of work, music and fashion are so closely linked now for me I never have one without the other. When I hear a track I will automatically catagorise it for use at Fashion Week, or for a fashion event that I’ll be deejaying at. When I’m being styled on a shoot I’m considering how I can work that look into an upcoming gig. Also, fashion gives me the ability to transform for a client, what I wear for a Burberry event shapes me visually to match the brand and likewise if I’m playing a warehouse party for Fresh Off The Boat and can loosen up the style and make it more street, keep it relevant for the event. I’m not bound to one style, I’m quite malleable and unfixed thanks to modeling because you have to make whatever they style you in work, so I like the challenge of aesthetically transforming for a DJ gig.

Which world is more developed as far as fashion and music together go, the east (HK) or the west (LA)?

At the risk of generalising (which I hate cause there’s pockets of subculture that buck the trend in both cities) HK is definitely more retail focused and people here dress up really well. In LA the style is laid back, denim, ripped t-shirts and fresh kicks. Both cities have styles that match the climate and culture. Musically it’s really different too. LA really vibes its west coast hip-hop and is in a big deep house swing at the moment. Many of the scene’s best music producers and DJs are based in LA right now so it’s this incredible hub of productivity and great music. In HK the strength lies in the nightlife culture. I’ve spoken to so many DJs in LA who are DYING to come to Asia to play. They know this is the hotspot and that people in HK, Taipei, South Korea, Japan, etc. are all down to hear big sets. My focus this year is going to be working to get the best LA guys out to HK to spin and start building a brand with producer Tittsworth that bridges the gap between HK and LA.

The uproar about female DJs is endless. Having a pretty face, do you think it helped or hindered your being taken seriously and furthering yourself as a DJ?

Look I can’t complain because I think I’ve had a really good run so far, DJ wise. For the most part I find people are excited about seeing a girl on the decks and are receptive to my sound. I’ve also had support from some male HK DJs who have stood behind what I’m doing and vouched for it, which is important for gaining that credibility. Ultimately I’m trying to gain people’s trust that I am there to entertain them, take them on a musical journey, help them get lost in the night and forget about whatever bullshit they have to deal with that day. Provide a little escapism from reality. There can be a bit of a misconception with female DJ’s thanks to girls who get up there just to pose for pictures, however I think people can see straight off the bat that’s not what they’re going to get from a night with me.  

What’s your five-year plan?

GOOD QUESTION. Um, survive?