The Eclectic DNVR-Burner Bass Qooala - Malia
- aAron aUx
- Oct 1, 2017
- 6 min read
Updated: Feb 20, 2019
The Denver underground is chock-full of dope and I'm not talking about cannabis (Not this time)! I love the fact that our scene is filled with people that have found their way to the music via very different and unique avenues. The diversity and originality is what makes the Denver bass music scene so great. No matter where the journey begins, all roads lead to bass. One such well known pipeline is the burner scene.
The appeal of the playa stretches far and wide, and knows no borders. I've yet to roam the desert but I have definitely felt it's powerful influence. So many respected Denver artists have brought back the burner vibes which have helped to expand the collective conscious of the DNVR music scene and it can still be felt today! Denver's own Malia is a perfect example of this.
Somewhat of a bass music renaissance woman, she has her hands in a little bit of everything. Whether it's performing, promoting, organizing, modeling, or indulging, she definitely helps cultivate the underground and it all started with her love of the Burner scene. As I've gotten to know her a little better I can see that this thing that some may consider fringe or marginal has helped build a huge passion inside of her and lots of others like her. Undeniably, it has become a critical part of what makes the Denver scene unique.
I really dig Malia's passion for the music but above all I love the fact that she's so hungry to make her mark in the industry. Seeing someone with fresh ideas and energy reminds me that the bass music scene is alive and well and is here to stay! Having someone like her show some love to Bass'D Out DNVR validates what I'm trying do which simply put, is to help cultivate the scene. On top of that she was willing to curate a fresh mix for me that is cloaked in her unique taste and flavor but as always, is filled with filthy, filthy bass! Before the beat drops, take a second to get to know Malia a little better. Enjoy!
Bass'D Out DNVR: Do you like bass? What are your favorite genres? Malia: Bass-anything is my jam! I can’t/won’t settle for only one genre and I consider myself “eclectic”. That said, I am a huge fan of Glitch hop, hip hop, classic rock, instrumental bass & down tempo. BOD: What made you fall in love with dance music?
M: My ears <3
BOD: Who are your favorite artists?
M: My all time favorites are: Tipper, Muse & Justin Timberlake (Don’t judge, he’s a certified badass!) Honorable mention to The Beatles. Locally, I absolutely adore my buddy Vinja and DMVU - both hard working and outstanding producers! I love what Cualli & kLL sMTH are putting out as well.. the list goes on. BOD: I've known of you in the Denver scene as a promoter and avid event goer. How long have you been involved in the dance music scene? M: I was brought into the Burning Man community about 8 years ago and fell in love with the art-centric vibe. I started hosting events and was really good at organizing people. I organized a 32 person Burning Man camp in only 7 weeks for my first year of the burn in 2011. I didn’t start mixing until 2014.
BOD: What types of events do you like the most? M: I enjoy underground all night-ers because you really get a chance to let go and not worry about driving home at 2AM during peak hours. Also music & art festivals where you get to connect with the artists. BOD: What inspired you to start Djing? M: I worked with a sound crew as their chief financial officer for a couple years and helped organize and host many events during that time. I loved seeing the show unfold over the course of the night and hearing the music guide the evening. No one ever really incorporated all that I wanted to hear so I decided to start playing for myself. BOD: You have an interesting name, Malia Q Beer. Is that your actual name or where did it come from? M: No, it’s not my real name. It’s a conglomerate of things.. Malia is the Hawaiian translation of Mary, which is my birth name. I had to change my name on Facebook to avoid compromising my career in the financial industry years ago. Q. Beer stands for Qooala Beer which is a horrible misspelling of Koala Bear, my favorite animal at the time. In addition to being dubbed “Shitty Beer Mary” by an old high school buddy.. I guess it all stuck.
BOD: What is it about performing live that makes you want to keep Djing? M: The high. There is no feeling like making people lose their minds on the dance floor. <3 BOD: What is the hardest thing about being an up and coming DJ in the scene? M: For me, being a female. It has pro’s and con’s but I will say the biggest con is that you’re almost expected to be pretty and not always taken seriously as an artist.. which I always strive to avoid. I know I’m fun to look at but I don’t want to be defined for my looks and I know that means I have to work harder and faster than any man to make up for the shoe in I have as a “hot chick”. BOD: Given the fact there's so many more male DJ's than female, would you say it's been harder for you to break through being a female? M: I was raised by a group of male DJ’s who taught me what *not* to do before I touched a controller. All my time in that crew gave me the knowledge and connections I needed to branch off as an independent artist. I’d say having connections and being a female has given me many more opportunities than my male peers (which I almost hate) but I keep in mind that I am facing other obstacles as a woman therefore I am not ashamed to use the “Lady DJ”card” as long as I am pushing beyond the status quo.
BOD: Is there anything about the electronic music scene that you want to see change? M: I don’t like how many DJ’s play for free while the promoter or venue makes money. The whole “starving artist” thing gets to me. I also want to see more conscious changes within the messages we send as artists. We have a loud voice on that stage and we should try and use it to make a positive influence. I am not opposed to “drugs” per se however, I think we are missing the point if we allow drugs and alcohol to run our lives. I would like to add more awareness to young people coming into the scene. It can be a slippery slope in the industry.
BOD: Outside of music what are your passions? M: Besides my family? Events. I love organizing large scale events and bringing people together. I have a soft spot for the undiscovered artist; the one we all know is inside of us but sometimes takes a lifetime to unfold. I like to inspire people to try new things and volunteer in their community because I feel that brings them one step closer to discovering their passion. Also; yoga and snowboarding. BOD: Bass'D Out DNVR is all about that! That's def why I thought you'd be perfect for a feature. Any shoutouts? Comments? Upcoming projects?
"I have a couple projects underway that I am not prepared to disclose in full but I will say that I am trying to incorporate travel, yoga and snowboarding into my boutique events. I hosted a 4 day mini festival that was held in a 3 story mansion overlooking Denver (off Lookout Mountain) last year. I would like to take that concept and expand on it. Bring it to other cities and countries. Travel with friends & artists abroad. Shout out to my boy Nate (ISHE) for always steering me in the right direction <3"
~ Malia ~
Thanks so much to Malia for showing some love to Bass'D Out DNVR! I love her vibe. All of her contributions to the Denver bass music scene are priceless because people like her help keep the foundation of the bass music scene strong! As usual you can listen to her guest mix below or on my mixloud. If you haven't checked her sound yet, please do at the links below and don't forget...
BOOK MALIA NOW!
Links:
FB: @MaliaBeer | MixCloud: Malia Q Beer | SoundCloud: Malia | IG: @Malia_Beer
Follow me if you feel what I do: Mixcloud.com/BassDOutDNVR | Facebook.com/BassDOutDNVR
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