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FK*N RAT
Interview by Juliet Reynolds
One desert rat in particular can be named Phoenix’s purveyor of this intimate hard bounce sound and Euro jump style: DJ nat the f*kn rat.
With beginnings spent in the pits of Phoenix’s punk scene, replicating the intimacy of beat-matched aggression now finds itself a staple in Nat’s curation of dance floor moments. “Things aren’t intimate anymore,” she says. But at a nat the f*kn rat set, “You're gonna feel the kick, you're gonna feel your friend next to you, and you're gonna feel the DJ.” A gnawing hunger for emotional closeness and artistic intention in Phoenix’s techno scene drives her desire to create further rat’s nests that embody the physical energy of a mosh pit, facilitate sonic experimentation, and #bringbackintimacy.
nat the f*kn rat challenges you to rethink a Friday night space and how you move your body within it. Jump, bounce, throw on a soccer jersey and then yourself to the bassline and allow it to expose your rawness and self understanding.
Lose yourself in nat the f*kn rat’s nest.
I did!
Nat the f*kn rat: Hi. I’m 24, I think. I’m a DJ. But what's most important about me is the contents of my soul.
JULIET REYNOLDS: What's your name?
Nat the f*kn rat: Natalie.
JR: DJ Natalie? [laughs]
Nat the f*kn rat: OH. [laughs] DJ nat the fucking rat. Okay, yes, now it's coming to me.
JR: Well Natalie, how did you get into DJing and how did we get here?
Nat the f*kn rat: I went to LA with my friends and we went to see Miss Bashful live.
JR: How was that?
Nat the f*kn rat: Everyone was a gay man in there. Red lights, music bumpin’ in the chest- I realized, that’s what a DJ is supposed to feel like. It was DBBD and Miss Bashful, DBBD produces a lot of [her] music. I could feel the bounce through my body; it was just the most insane experience of my life. So much fun. I remember sitting there after the show was over, me and all my friends just sitting on the floor in silence. Absolute fucking silence.
JR: Your shit was rocked.
Nat the f*kn rat: It was rocked. Then I thought, Okay, I think I could do this. I think this is what I want to do. So then I start doing all these gigs; my first was at The Diva Den.
JR: When was that?
Nat the f*kn rat: February of last year.
JR: And when did you see Miss Bashful?
Nat the f*kn rat: February of last year.
JR: Oh, okay, “This is happening now!”
Nat the f*kn rat: Same month, my life was changed. Like, let's get to it! But then I was like, This isn't giving me the energy that DBBD was giving, how do I get there?- I do my own shows. I needed to post more, I needed to post content. I was like, . . . let me just [post] every day. And the thing about that is, like, it's so exhausting. But it got me to a point where it landed me an LA gig, someone reached out to me because of [a post].
JR: What kind of music do you play?
Nat the f*kn rat: February of last year.
JR: And when did you see Miss Bashful?
Nat the f*kn rat: February of last year.
JR: Oh, okay, “This is happening now!”
Nat the f*kn rat: Same month, my life was changed. Like, let's get to it! But then I was like, This isn't giving me the energy that DBBD was giving, how do I get there?- I do my own shows. I needed to post more, I needed to post content. I was like, . . . let me just [post] every day. And the thing about that is, like, it's so exhausting. But it got me to a point where it landed me an LA gig, someone reached out to me because of [a post].
JR: What kind of music do you play?
Nat the f*kn rat: Think about the most energizing bouncy kick. A kick that follows with an analog bass. For someone that doesn't know music: just think about jumping around a lot. Bouncy. I just want you to get up and dance and move your body.
JR: What kind of person do you feel like you're playing for?
Nat the f*kn rat: Europeans. Where the European people at??
JR: They need to cross the ocean for you.
Nat the f*kn rat: I'll cross the ocean for them. Sexy people, queer, cunt. Yeah. Girly pops. Really, anyone who’s into the creative aspect of [the music]. Just be a baddie, honestly.
JR: And what is a baddie to you?
Nat the f*kn rat: A baddie is someone who loves themselves and loves to show that they love themselves. They will dress up, they will go all out. Or- even the opposite; where you don't give a fuck because you love yourself so much. Show up in the emoji fucking whatever shirt. I would love for you to be there in your pajamas.
You just got to find the energy. We're doing a show here on the 20th of [February]. Hyper P3t, Myopia, Belgium Tree, nat the f*kn rat line up.
JR: I WILL be there. I’d love to hear about how you feel about the [Phoenix] scene in general.
Nat the f*kn rat: Things aren’t intimate anymore. It's supposed to be an intimate space for people who want to get away for a little bit, hide in the crowd for a second and listen to the music. Mark my words on this: next year, everyone's going to be playing hard bounce in America.
JR: What is hard bounce? I don't know all the subgenres.
Nat the f*kn rat: It's like techno, but different.
JR: Personally, I want to hear something I don't even know where to find.
Nat the f*kn rat: 602’sdays at Bikini Lounge- When [the DJ] plays the track and it's like, "What the fuck is this?” You gotta be there to understand. We need to hear individuality.
JR: When you don't want the DJ to leave, because it’s all so singular, . . . it feels like you’re watching an artist work in real time.
Nat the f*kn rat: People are so scared to be emotional and intense about things, and to feel a certain type of way, have an opinion. I grew up in a really small town, . . . so I . . . had a lot of time to . . . develop myself. I had a lot of alone time on the farm- [laughs]
JR: [laughs]
Photo by @cjsters
Nat the f*kn rat: I was milking the cows or whatever. [laughs] But, basically, no distractions. Just me and myself. It takes knowing yourself at a deeper level to see that in other people as well. You have to not care if you feel like something's embarrassing. Being imperfect in a way, and being human and raw is what pulls people in. Usually, we don't let ourselves be vulnerable like that. This location [for the show on the 20th] is different. It's a brand new location in Scottsdale, no one's ever been. I really want to find more places to just hang out in Phoenix that aren't [insert popular bar] or [insert popular club].
JR: [laughs]
Nat the f*kn rat: I was milking the cows or whatever. [laughs] But, basically, no distractions. Just me and myself. It takes knowing yourself at a deeper level to see that in other people as well. You have to not care if you feel like something's embarrassing. Being imperfect in a way, and being human and raw is what pulls people in. Usually, we don't let ourselves be vulnerable like that. This location [for the show on the 20th] is different. It's a brand new location in Scottsdale, no one's ever been. I really want to find more places to just hang out in Phoenix that aren't [insert popular bar] or [insert popular club].
JR: What is the sort of space in Phoenix that you want to find? Or create?
Nat the f*kn rat: It’s intimate, moody lights. They have the subwoofers in there. You're gonna feel the kick, you're gonna feel your friend next to you, and you're gonna feel the DJ. We're looking for new things to do here.
JR: What kind of space do you feel that Phoenix is lacking, then?
Nat the f*kn rat: We just want [places] to be less guarded, less performative, less masking, and more for the fun. Just be yourself. It's really hard these days, but, like, just be yourself. No one's watching you. If you get it, you get it… And not everyone will.
JR: Is there anything else that you want to say to the people who would read this magazine?
Nat the f*kn rat: No.
But I will say this: you can do whatever the fuck you want if you stop believing your excuses.
Go crazy.
Go lose your mind.
The world is telling you to.
Go back to music