Earlier than Nala and VNSSA ever began DJing collectively, they have been exchanging oyster photographs in a bunch chat they named, “We’re F***king Eating.”
Though the meals photographs have since slowed down and dachshund pics now reign supreme, the 2 proceed to share not solely a palpable chemistry, but in addition a companionship that has solely grown stronger through the years.
The friendship started due to Dirtybird. They met in-person for the primary time mid-pandemic, round 2021, at a drive-in rave. VNSSA, whose actual identify is Vanessa Barnes, arrived early to see Nala, Stefania Aronin, play her set. After crossing paths on the present, the 2 then began hanging out and DJing collectively.
“We would complain about the male-dominated music industry to each other, and share experiences with that and connect through that,” Barnes tells EDM.com in an unique interview.
VNSSA/Nala/Instagram
It wasn’t lengthy earlier than Barnes and Aronin have been booked for his or her first b2b efficiency collectively throughout Miami Music Week with Walker & Royce’s label, Guidelines Do not Apply.
“[Walker & Royce] were joking that our duo name would be VaNala Ice,” Barnes remembers with amusing. “That’s where it started and then we were getting more b2b offers, and we were like, maybe we should just make this a thing.”
Because the demand for his or her b2b units elevated, the duo needed to determine on a collaborative nom de plume. They have been getting ready for his or her debut efficiency at Coachella’s beloved Do LaB when the identify lastly materialized.
“There was a moment where I was like, it should be ‘girl’ something,” Aronin says. “It had that punk edge to it.”
“Our friend Nikki has this joke: four plus four equals ‘ate,'” Barnes provides. “So we were like, ‘Girl Math,’ that should be the name. But it’s more than just that… Having ‘girl’ in the name gives us empowerment and it feels like a feminist movement.”
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Girlhood means “everything,” Aronin and Barnes agreed.
“There’s this implied thing with girlhood that’s like, we’re great at everything and we hold it all down, and sometimes that goes without credit,” Aronin explains. “So girlhood is about getting shit done, even if it means not totally getting acknowledged for the work that went into it.”
Nala and VNSSA, every of whom are star DJs and producers in their very own proper, discovered that girlhood within the music trade was inextricably linked with isolation and disillusionment. The chance to collaborate cultivated a way of unity and luxury, they stated, that finally aided of their inventive course of and tightened their bond.
“Touring by yourself, it’s really easy to get burnt out and it’s just boring alone. So it’s a lot more fun having a partner in crime,” Barnes says. “Playing together, you have another person where you can bounce ideas off and instead of just trusting yourself, you have someone else that you can rely on. So it’s just nice to have that kind of support.”
Lady Math have now carried out at Bonnaroo, Electrical Forest, Splash Home and different main music festivals. They’re now gearing up for his or her first headlining present, which is scheduled for November 1st on the Chocolate Manufacturing facility Theater in New York Metropolis.
VNSSA/Nala/Instagram
Drawing inspiration from their respective backgrounds in rock music, the pair discovered frequent floor in dwell instrumentation and started to infuse these shared pursuits into their music with a punk twist. Aronin stated she’s nice at “coming up with random sound design concepts” whereas Barnes offers a whole lot of Lady Math’s “structure, stability and direction.”
“It’s just my anxiety,” Barnes says with amusing, blushing over the praise.
Whereas Aronin brings her affinity for Riot grrrl-influenced vocals to the desk, Barnes affords drumming expertise with a metallic focus. It was a match made in heaven.
“I thought being a drummer in a metal band was the coolest thing you could ever do prior to being a DJ,” Aronin gushes. “So I was like, we need to incorporate this history on both sides and turn this into something that’s rowdy and fun and chaotic. That’s where we met in the middle—a rock-focused approach to music. And when I say structure, I really mean drums. She brings the drums on a really solid, structured level.”
“We want to take as much live music inspiration as possible,” Barnes provides. “I think you’ll be able to hear that in our production as well. Because there’s a lot of live drum elements along with synths and Nala’s vocals. It gives it a very gritty, rebellious sound. It’s the mix of us together.”
By means of the singular lens of Lady Math, Aronin and Barnes say they finally hope to encourage different feminine producers within the digital music scene.
“Do whatever the fuck you want and make whatever the fuck you want,” Barnes says with a smile. “Don’t worry what anyone else thinks. Do whatever makes you feel good.”
“Surround yourself with people who are supportive,” Aronin provides, “and fuck everyone else.”
Comply with VNSSA:
X: x.com/VNSSAmusic
Instagram: instagram.com/vnssa
TikTok: tiktok.com/@vnssaofficial
Fb: fb.com/vnssaofficial
Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3z5EYe2
Comply with Nala:
X: x.com/thisisnalaa
Instagram: instagram.com/thisisnala
TikTok: tiktok.com/@thisisnalaa
Fb: fb.com/thisisnala
Spotify: spoti.fi/3PaEghQ
