VF Live: Scarlett O'Malley

A soul, disco, and house special with the West London DJ.

In VF Live, DJs take you inside their homes, record stores, and studios for intimate selects and mixes.

London DJ Scarlett O’Malley makes her VF Live debut with a soul, disco, and house special from her abode:

“I was born and raised in West London, which is where this set was recorded. I have been collecting records since I was about 13 years old, and DJing for six years – starting in Southampton while I was at university playing house parties and local venues.

As a kid, I started collecting records at car boot sales because I had a record player and was already into soul music at the time. All these years later, my collection is about 1,500-strong made up of mostly rare soul, crossover, disco, house, garage, and dance music. About 80% of my collection is made up of 45s. Over the past year or so I have really been building up my house collection too. My absolute pride and joy.

I base my weeks around checking out local record shops, and searching for tunes online. I wouldn’t have it any other way.

The inspiration behind these selections comes in two parts. First of all, I am playing my favourite records – tunes that really have some significance in my life whether it be a memory of when I first heard it, how often I play it, or responses I’ve had to it when DJing. All of these records are linked to the best experiences I have had with nightlife.

I also love looking at these records within the context of their lineage in the dance music timeline. Soul music is what created disco music is what created house music, and that length and breadth is truly the music I love most. As someone who studied history at university, discovering the history behind these releases, the climate in which they were made, and how they informed later music are just as important to me as the sounds.

The music, collecting these sounds in vinyl form, and my love of history are all the perfect combination of what I am most passionate about in life.

This set was also a chance to play records from my favourite artists and labels. Amazing soul music is continually being re-discovered, and reissued to wider audiences. On that note, big ups are due to Athens of the North, Epsilon Records, and Soul Direction for a good portion of the inspirations behind this mix. Summers spent in Ibiza, and nights at the 100 Club are also behind a lot of the memories contained within.

Tracklist:

1. Oliver Cheatham – Don’t Pop The Question
2. The Fantastic Four – As Long As I Live (I Live For You)
3. Leroy Hutson – I Think I’m Falling In Love
4. Edwin Starr – Running Back And Forth
5. The Constellations – I Don’t Know About You
6. United Sounds – It’s All Over (Baby)
7. Nobody’s Children – Shardarp
8. Romeo & Juliet – You Got What It Takes
9. Jax Transit Authority – Life Is A Miracle
10. Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes – Baby, You Got My Nose Open
11. Liquid Blue – Take It Anyway You Want To
12. The Nu-Rons – All My Life
13. Paris Ford – Boogie On Down
14. Mind & Matter – My Love Is Like A Fire
15. Prince Phillip Mitchell – One On One
16. he Miracles – Can’t Get Ready For Losing You
17. Timeless Legend – Everybody Disco
18. Arnie Love & The Loveletts – We Had Enough
19. Black Ivory – Mainline
20. Brand New Heavies – Stay This Way (Danny Krivit Edit)
21. MD X-SPRESS – God Made Me Phunky (Original Mix)
22. Stabbs – Joy and Happiness
23. 280 West feat. Diamond Temple – Fly (280 West Mix)
34. Leon Ware – Why I Came To California