Lucky Cat Zoë is a DJ, broadcaster, cook, illustrator, mum, East Asian culture connoisseur and reggae vinyl junkie. Founder of the female selection crew Sisters Of Reggae (2016 - 2021). She currently presents the 'Sound System Stories' show on Resonance FM, has a DJ residency at audiophile bar Spiritland called East Asia Beat with Jawa Jones, DJs regularly at the Classic Car Boot Sale in Kings Cross, and has previously put on nights such as Juke Joint Jamaica in South London. Zoë also appears in the recently published Dust & Grooves Vol.2 book, highlighting record collectors from around the world.

I went to Zoë’s house and had the pleasure of interviewing her, surrounded by her beloved vinyls.

Hi Zoe, thank you so much for your time. First of all, can you tell us how you got involved in selecting music?

I bought a turn table at my school jumble sale when I was 11 years old and I bought some children's records, my dad also gave me some records to start my collection. I have always loved to play music as all my family is very musical, my older brother plays the sax, my dad plays the piano, and my grandad plays the piano in a pub in Leeds for the Irish community, every Friday. I just collected music through the years, then when I was 25 years old, my older sister asked me and my younger brother to play at her 40th birthday party. I enjoyed that experience, seeing people dancing and having fun.

You are the founder of the first all-women selectors’ crew of reggae music “Sisters of Reggae”. When did you create this?

I founded Sisters of Reggae in 2016. There were 6 of us, I knew Debbie Golt from Residence FM and she was doing the Outerglobe Relays at Upstairs at the Ritzy in Brixton, a monthly session where women DJs come together and select music.

I was also inspired by an article about women in sound systems that namechecked Dubplate Pearl and Naoko the Rock, about the Hidden History of Women in Sound Systems I was namechecked as well by Amanda Huxtable, her dad had a sound system in Brixton “The Phantom” and she was talking about the role her mum played during the dances, like running the doors helping with the food and providing a lot of support to the community around it and I thought it was lots of fun deejaying with the crew. Then I went to Ireland in Dublin and I deejayed with a crew called the Worries Outernational and I really loved it, there was such a lovely atmosphere.

So all these things blended together, I asked other women if they wanted to join me and so “Sisters of Reggae” was born. I wanted to create something special and it happened organically.

Zoë Lucky Cat is your DJ name. Can you tell us the origin of why you chose this lovely name?

This is not my first DJ name, I used to be called My Melody as I used to be a big fan of Hello Kitty, a big collector of all the merchandise, and My Melody used to be a rabbit friend of Hello Kitty ( I think the movie is coming up on Netflix soon). Then my daughter’s father suggested Lucky Cat as I’m a big lover of cartoon cats, and I thought it was going to be a good name.

You’re coming from a very artistic family, did you get your artistic flare by being surrounded by such an amazing environment?

My dad and mum are both art teachers, one of my sisters is a photographer another sister is a dancer, and my brothers are musicians and artists. So I was very lucky to grow up in such a beautiful environment, visiting lots of galleries, visiting cities in Italy and their beautiful art, all things that now I can appreciate.

Can you tell us about your best achievement or proud moment on the deck as a selector?

One of the best memories is when as Sisters of Reggae went to Sweden to play at a female Reggae Festival and also we got an opportunity to meet Marcia Griffith, which I will never forget.

I came third in a Vinyl Clash Tradition Hi-Fi there were 8 contestants.

Also appearing in the book “Dust and Groove Vol 2” di Eilon Paz which included some of the best collectors of vinyl in the world, was a great achievement and a proud moment.

As a female selector in a music scene that usually is run by men, how easy or difficult has it been for you to navigate?

It had its challenges anyway, whether you are a male or a female because it’s quite competitive. It’s quite a small scene in the UK. Being a woman sometimes you can be overlooked or told to make the tea or just forget about it. But there are men in the business who have been supportive and understanding and women who have been supportive and understanding but also the opposite.

The reggae scene is quite a macho environment. Usually, I try to play more with female sounds because I want to highlight and support the achievements of women in music, selectors, DJs, artists, etc.

You’re also an East Asian culture lover, where did you pick up this passion from?

My parents had some Chinese friends and we used to eat at the same Chinese restaurant in Soho for 35 years, but unfortunately, now it’s closed down. My parents had lots of books around the house with Japanese art and then when I was a teenager I discovered Chinese cinema, and martial arts cinema, and started to listen to the music too, collecting the music. I went to China in 2010, Beijing, Shanghai, and Hong Kong, I met some great musicians up there and I had the most incredible time in Hong Kong looking for records. the food was amazing, I love East Asian food.

You are the presenter of a radio show on Resonance FM called “Sound System Stories”, can you tell us about it?

I started to broadcast on Resonance FM in 2005, I actually joined because I got involved with this campaign to save the Pagoda in Chinatown, but unfortunately didn’t get saved, then I used to do my weekly show “Lucky Cat Show`’ a mix of east Asia and Jamaican music. In 2018 I started the radio show series “Sound System Stories” (and now I’ve reached five series), it’s all about the history of the sound systems culture in the UK.

If you would advise any woman to start playing vinyl, what would be your best tip?

Never let anyone touch your records!! When I first started I went to this place in Soho, and I played my set, when I came off I just asked someone to put my record back in the sleeve, and that record got scratched on purpose ( that record was Mary J Blige “Real Love”).

Just give it a go, and don’t worry about very expensive records, it’s not about that, it’s about people enjoying the music and the vibes.

Just trying to take care of yourself in different environments.

Who was your mentor who taught you and inspired you the most?

My older sister was very inspirational for me, she’s a professional dancer and a great feminist. She worked with artists and bands like The Raincoats, and I had the opportunity to DJ once while she was dancing, The Raincoats were playing and I did the DJ set, that was a great experience. But I just love her attitude as a strong female doing her own thing and standing alone breaking up the mold that people expect you to be, this is so inspirational. Having someone who is letting you be yourself.

The women that keep the music turning: LUCKY CAT ZOË

The women that keep the music turning: Vinyl Sisters

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