-- Could you share the thoughts and ideas behind this mix?
We watched a movie called Small Axe, and it was all about lovers rock in London in the 70s. So that was the vibe we were going for today.
-- Today you played a lovers rock set, but what other genres do you usually play?
We play a lot of Y2K hip-hop and R&B, dancehall, and some rock too.
It just depends on the mood of the crowd we're playing for.
-- What do you both love most about lovers rock?
Ashley: That's a good question. I like the way it just makes me want to sway and dance. It's really relaxing. When I was growing up, my grandmother played lovers rock all the time, so it brings back really fond memories for me.
Nate: It's very nostalgic. It just makes me happy. It's all about love, kindness, and just a good feeling. I love that.
-- Out of the tracks you played today, were there any songs you especially wanted to play or share with the audience? Can you show us a few records?
This is Dennis Brown's "Love Has Found Its Way." This was the song that was playing when I proposed to Ashley.
We also used it for our first dance at our wedding, so it has a really special meaning for us.
-- Do you have any records you'd recommend to people who are new to lovers rock?
Ashley: Dinah Brown's "Anything You Want" is a cover of "Anything" by SWV, one of my all-time favorite songs. This version is sung by Dinah Brown, the daughter of Dennis Brown. It was released in 1999, and I absolutely love it.
Nate: This is Reggae Greats - Strictly For Lovers, a compilation album. There are so many great lovers rock songs on here that it's really hard to pick just one.
The track we played today was Barry Biggs' "Wide Awake in a Dream." Barry Biggs is also well known for his reggae cover of Evelyn "Champagne" King's "Love Come Down," but this is one of his lesser-known songs.
-- Is there a reggae community in your hometown, Washington, D.C.?
Nate: Not so much. But we know a few DJs, maybe two or three, who specialize in reggae.
There's also one DJ who plays a lot of Latin reggae and Colombian music, so it's kind of a crossover style.
-- Can you tell us a little about the club scene in Washington, D.C.?
The club scene has changed a lot since the early 2000s. It used to be dominated by a handful of big megaclubs like LOVE, Ibiza, and Nation, but has since shifted to more intimate venues.
The intimate venues hold events that cater to specific genres like R&B, Afrobeats, pop, and more. The number of vinyl bars in D.C. has expanded significantly since 2021, ranging from hi-fi listening lounges to dive bars with cheap drinks.
We got our start DJing at Showtime Bar, which was one of the first vinyl bars in the city when it opened in 2013, and is still around.
-- What's the most fun part of DJing as a duo?
Ashley: For me, it's going crate digging together. Before we know it, three hours have gone by. I love looking through what we've found and picking out the records we really want. Then there are the ones we think, "Maybe next time," or the ones we're not quite sure about yet. I also just really enjoy doing that together with my husband. It's really fun.
Nate: For me, it's getting to know the songs she likes that I probably wouldn't choose on my own. Our tastes overlap, but they're also different enough that we complement each other really well. She also has great ideas about which songs go together, things I would never think of on my own. So it's really fun to collaborate like that.
-- Besides DJing, what stimulates your creativity?
Nate: I've played guitar and bass since I was a teenager, and have played with a worldwide touring artist as well as a local rock cover band. I also enjoy exploring my photography hobby.
Ashley: I'm an elementary school teacher and constantly have to improvise for my students. Also, my various hobbies keep me creative. D.C. has several free museums, so I make an effort to go to as many as possible, and I really love to plan trips.
-- When putting a DJ set together, do you choose records together or separately?
Ashley: I feel like we collaborate through the entire process. Sometimes we start by saying, "We definitely want to play these ten records," and then we build the set around those, adding other records that complement them really well.
-- Even though you both love music, your tastes are a little different, aren't they?
Ashley: I really love pop music. Whenever we're looking for records, I'll be like, "Oh, there's this pop song," and he'll be like, "I don't know that one."
Nate: When I was a kid, I was really into classic hip-hop, like A Tribe Called Quest and De La Soul. That led me down the jazz rabbit hole because I started following all the samples. I'm also a big fan of J Dilla, so I really love jazz. I think she's come to like a lot of the music I'm into, too.
-- When deciding on a set, do you talk it through with each other?
Ashley: Absolutely. If we're putting together a Y2K set, I'll be like, "Okay, you pick the hip-hop songs." He knows a lot of deep cuts that I definitely don't know, and whenever he picks one, I'm like, "Definitely play that." There's always someone who appreciates hearing those kinds of tracks.
Then I'll pick maybe five songs that everybody knows, and maybe two deeper cuts that are just random hip-hop songs or whatever.
-- What kind of mindset is important to you as a DJ?
We think that playing music you enjoy is important, but you should read the room you're playing for. Each time we DJ for a crowd, it's different, and reactions to songs can vary, so you have to be able to adapt.
Ultimately, our mindset is that we are playing for the audience and not entirely for ourselves, while still remaining true to our musical tastes.
-- What plans do you have for 2026?
We're preparing for a four-hour set at No Kisses Bar on September 12th, already planning our next trip to Japan, and looking forward to more DJ opportunities.
-- Lastly, how was your experience DJing at ELLA RECORDS today?
Ashley: It was really fun. It was really relaxing, and the natural light was so nice. We're usually DJing in dark venues, so it was nice not having to use lights while we were playing.
Nate: I really didn't know what to expect, and it exceeded what I thought it was going to be. Everyone was so welcoming, and the atmosphere was really chill. I had a great time. It was really nice.
