Constellate: The story of three first-year DJs revolutionising Manchester’s music scene

One night in freshers’ week, Emre and Luke overheard each other playing music in their halls. After a trip to Spoons and a mutual agreement to leave early to play a set, together with their friend Lara, the sounds of classic dance music coming from Emre’s kitchen window eventually attracted a crowd and became a series of accidental but famous flat parties.

Realising the potential they had, the group founded Constellate, a community-centred event seeking to decommercialise and rejuvenate Manchester’s student music scene. I interviewed the three first-year DJs over a pint at Haus to find out the story behind what has now become a Fallowfield-wide movement.

via Tom Meharg @meharg.mov

What does Constellate represent? Who is your audience?

Constellate, meaning to gather together, foremost represents unity. This translates to a sense of collective joy and euphoria, which I can confirm is strong in the atmosphere at their events. Although their audience is primarily students and young people, the group offer older audiences trip down memory lane by incorporating 90s trance and techno: Emre emphasises Constellate is for everyone.

They operate a “Safe(r) spaces” and “stop-the-set” policy, with zero-tolerance for racism, sexism, classism, homophobia and “general creepy behaviour.” This not only makes Constellate ahead of the student-event bandwagon in terms of protecting guests, but also means there’s a unique sense of escapism at their judgement-free events.

As for the growing trend of no phones policies, the group is yet to find a need to implement this, which is testimony to how engaging and lively their events are naturally.

via Tom Meharg @meharg.mov

Do you think there’s a stereotype with DJs, particularly among Manchester students? What sets you apart?

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Constellate agrees there’s a stereotype at UoM, with lots of student DJs emerging who might simply idolise big names without knowing the history and culture of dance music.

Refreshingly, Emre, Luke and Lara each have a deep respect not only for the names they play but “respect, in every sense, what dance music originated from in the 90s.” They are dedicated to creating a grassroots, community-based revival of old school style events.

While modern events often have a transparent focus on profit (endless promoting of freshers’ wristbands and overselling tickets), Constellate recognises that, while the music landscape has changed post-lockdown with fewer people going out, their focus is not only to provide accessible events with good music but face-to-face, raw connection within the student community.

via Tom Meharg @meharg.mov

Introducing the faces behind Constellate:

Emre/AMEX:

Emre began DJing out his window in London and learned to navigate different crowds at illegal squat raves. Such beginnings in a totally uncommercialised “raw” setting, is testament to his innate love of playing music.

Coming to Manchester and meeting Luke and Lara, he says his taste has since been refined, the classic dance music sound and ethos of peace, love, unity and respect at the heart of his sets.

via Tom Meharg @meharg.mov

Lara/Larushkin:

Lara, talented in playing multiple instruments, has always loved progressive music and classic trance (Sashas, John Digweed compilations), and now loves to mix older electro beats that make people dance.

Laughing, she remembers Constellate’s last event when someone asked during her set, “what is this robot jazz music?”, encapsulating her beautiful, experimental mixing of both old school hypnotic house and psychedelic electro.

Lara shares Constellate’s plan to eventually try mixing with vinyls, noting that “if we’re trying to position ourselves as championing the 90s, we have to play vinyls to honour that.”

via Tom Meharg @meharg.mov

Luke/Neillis:

Newcastle born DJ Luke builds his sound around blends of high energy electro, minimal techno and trance. His family exposed him to dance music from a young age, and he started to get involved in Newcastle’s underground scene at 16. It was particularly in and around the city’s Cobalt Studios where he developed his taste, getting introduced to proper club culture and etiquette.

This was around the same time he started DJing, so the two went hand in hand and most of his style is influenced by the music he had heard in person on the dance-floor, especially at an event called ‘Shy Bairns’.

Since moving to Manchester his love for dance music has become even more prevalent in a city with such a large and vibrant scene, and he thinks Constellate came about because they “just saw an opportunity for something new that other young people could connect with.”

via Tom Meharg @meharg.mov

What impact do you think events like yours have on the student community and beyond?

Constellate, an event that grew initially from word of mouth, has always recognised music’s escapist potential. They emphasise its capacity for emotional healing, and how being at an event can in itself “undo years of trauma” and provide respite from a monotonous routine.

In partnership with @thesonicrebellion, Constellate raised £738 for Palestine at their debut event at Stage and Radio back in November. They shared that “as a collective, we believe in using dance music as a force for good,” with all proceeds from their first event going towards humanitarian aid in Gaza.

The group encourage students to go to protests and to read up on (and start conversations about) politics.

via Tom Meharg @meharg.mov

Any words of advice for aspiring DJs/event planners?

“Just do it!” Lara pointed out, beyond taking the time to educate yourself on the history of the music you want to play, in a largely cis, white, male dominated scene, remember there’s space for everyone and lots of events are striving to be more inclusive.

In terms of DJing, Constellate recommends to allow yourself time to figure out your sound. Emre urges you “go out instead of scrolling reels” and take inspiration from local artists. Luke says to “take any advice you can get and hear out older artists as a young person – the old man chewing your ear off in the smoking area can give you some very good advice.”

What can we expect from Constellate going forward?

Constellate intends to keep the same sense of euphoria going at their events, experimenting with some darker sounds, refining the quality of their selection, learning to build the perfect set and adapting to different audiences.

They are dedicated to sharing the sounds of smaller DJs,  including the likes of SebastieN, Jake Clayton and Leo Marshall, always keeping their events fresh and exciting.

“Thank you for the support of what we do, seeing us and believing in us as a three – it drives us to keep going. If there’s any new DJs looking to reach out and get involved, please don’t hesitate to DM us @constellate.mcr. Joy is revolutionary. Never stop dancing.”

Featured image via Tom Meharg @meharg.mov