Domii Talks About Succeeding With Friends And Being A Female DJ In iED

-Photo by: Key Vision Photography

Recently I had the pleasure to sit down and interview Domii. Not only was Domii one of the sweetest people to meet, but her set was one of the best I saw all weekend.

After my interview Domii invited me to hang out with her squad since she found out I was flying solo. After spending most of the weekend with her and her friends, it's solidified in my mind that not only is she incredibly talent but she is also quite literally one of the nicest people.

Even if house music isn’t your jam, this girl knows how to make you move. She dropped everything from Slide by the Goo Goo Dolls to Missy Elliot’s Lose Control. If you don’t know her music yet, give it a short time and you will because she is going places.

iEDM: Imagine is the biggest festivals you’re playing this year, do you have plans for next year?
Domii: Honestly, I’m just going with the flow right now just taking all the opportunities that come by. This is a really good opportunity after this year, I worked really hard so it’s a great way to end off the year and the summer. I mean I just keep making music performing doing what I do and hopefully just going big.

iEDM: Is this the biggest opportunity you’ve had so far?
Domii: Definitely one of the biggest out of town. I’ve been working in Charlotte mostly because I live there, and I have a lot of friends and following there and good connections. Atlanta is definitely a cool place to reach out to different people, especially at a festival where people are coming from all over. It’s a good way to get my name out there for sure.

iEDM: Do you have an album in the works?
Domii: Yeah, I’ve got a couple remixes that are in the works and then I have an EP that I’m getting out. It’s just trying to find the right outlet for it is really what I’m struggling with. Hopefully I’ll be getting it out there by the beginning of next year or the end of this year.

iEDM: You mentioned that you were gonna be here supporting some of your other friends who are artists, who are they?
Domii: So I have a bunch of friends and crew that are here. Abe actually opened the festival on the main stage, Ra. Yuki, There’s Sean Bernard who is Devious. They are all regional artists and we all link up in Charlotte and Raleigh. We’re all North East artists, we all kind of stay together so we can grow as artists together. We all support each other.

Succeeding is always best with your friends and it helps we all know each other and can hook each other up. We can learn from each other. We all have different styles and different ways of going about things and it really helps us learn together and help us grow as artists.

-Photo by: Key Vision Photography

iEDM: Did you always know you wanted to be an artist?
Domii: I actually studied abroad in London and I’ve always been super music and art driven. I was actually going to be a graphic designer. I got my degree in graphic design but after I studied in London, I met a lot of DJs and artists, and after that trip I just fell in love. The music scene there is ridiculous and ahead of its time. I came back here and started trying it out and it turned into something that I was really passionate about. It went from 0-100 real quick.

iEDM: Who is your biggest influence you think?
Domii: That’s a tough one, I have a lot. I do have a lot of female artists that I look up too. Dani Deahl is one of them. She’s one of the smartest people I’ve ever met, great producer/artist. She also writes for DJ Mag, I think, and she’s not really a feminist but she’s very supportive of all females in this industry. Every time I’ve opened for a female artist it’s really inspiring.

iEDM: You opened for Mija right?
Domii: Yeah Mija was very cool talented and down to earth. She’s obviously someone I really look up too.

iEDM: So since we’re on the topic, this year at EDCLV two women played the main stage as solo artist for the first time. As a female artist how does that make you feel?
Domii: It’s really cool. But at the same time I don’t think people should be like oh.

iEDM: ...Categorized as a women DJs?
Domii: Exactly. Just because two women opened the main stage doesn’t mean sexism doesn’t exist. Ya know? But it is a step forward and I love to see it. It’ll take time for girls to be able to step up and not be afraid to do what you want to do in this industry that is a male dominated field. But honestly, it just takes determination and you have an opportunity to stand out as a woman in this industry if you take advantage of that. It’s not an advantage but it is an opportunity to stand out.

iEDM: Do you think it’s harder to break out in this industry as a female?
Domii: I don’t think it’s harder, but I do think it’s harder to get past stereotypes. I see a lot of female DJs that are stereotyped. It’s like, you either take the opportunity to stand out, or you just fall into a category.

It’s not hard to prove people wrong and I think that’s what I’ve been doing. People are really skeptical at first and then they see me play and they’re like she’s for real she’s not messing around. A lot of people think females are just up there looking pretty. There’s guys like that too, it’s just more of a stereotypical girl thing. I will take advantage of the fact that I am a female artist, but I don’t want that to define me. I’m hoping to do that on Sunday when I play.

iEDM: I’m not normally into house, but I’m really excited for your set.
Domii: It’s gonna be hot, but hopefully by that time everyone will already be there in the festival. A lot of the other stages are really bass driven, so I’m hoping to stand out with a bunch of house music. I’m definitely going to try and make it my own set. I love the Jersey club, Baltimore club, which mixes in really well with house music. Jungle kind of stuff.

I saw part of the stage too. So apparently the disco ball is supposed to shoot out fire or something that’s why it’s open so it’s going to be lit, literally.

iEDM: You’ve got a little hip hop in there too right?
Domii: Yeah I do. Honestly I’ve played a lot of types of different shows. I’ve opened for Thomas Jack all the way to Flux Pavilion.

And let me tell you, Domii did throw down a set that was incredibly lit, as promised. If you missed her set make sure you check her out on soundcloud and keep an eye out for her.