ABOVE: Shannen Forte is MnemonicTrip DJ. Photo: Contributed
Susanna Freymark
From being a DJ in her own lounge room, Shannen Forte will be playing in a “gigantic lounge room” at Splendour in the Grass this month.
Shannen, 40, is MnemonicTrip, a self-taught Brisbane DJ who moved to Casino two years ago after she met Daniel Oaten.
“I’ve played at farmers markets and other places around town,” Shannen said.
Her largest audience has been about 100 people.
The Splendour in the Grass festival at North Byron Parklands will have a crowd capacity of 27,500.
Shannen has signed with two record labels ‑ Another Psyde Records and Matriarch Records. Founded by Morgan Archer from Dunoon, Matriarch exclusively profiles women DJs.
“Morgan offers a better platform for females in a male dominated industry,” Shannen said.
Shannen wanted to be a DJ for 17 years but didn’t have the confidence.
At a music event, she saw Morgan DJing on stage.
“I’m living my dream. My first dream was to play a set. Then I dreamt bigger,” Shannen said.
“I play music I like to hear. People on the same vibration like it.”
Her music tastes fall into the Dark Progressive genre.
Shannen has never been a singer. She did tap, ballet and jazz dance as a child.
“I never came from an instrument background.”
She loves how her brand of electronic music can make people feel.
And she loves watching them dance to her mix.
At Splendour, thousands will be dancing and Shannen as MnemonicTrip will be dancing and making her music dream along with the crowd.
and then