Chloe MooreWhen you think about the Northern Irish electronic scene right now, one of the names that keeps coming up is KAD.
She’s gone from glass collector in Belfast clubs to opening stages at massive festivals, playing to tens of thousands, and even making her dream of performing in Ibiza a reality. What stands out, though, isn’t just the milestones; it’s how she’s carved out her own space in what has long been a male-dominated scene, doing it with energy, resilience, and a real love for the music. KAD spoke with me about the highs and hurdles of her path so far, the unexpected lessons along the way, and her vision for the future.
So, let’s start at the beginning: When did you first get into music, and when did you realise that this is what you wanted to pursue?
I’ve always had a deep love for music, concerts & festivals. My first real experience with festival life came at 16 when I saw Avicii perform at Tennent’s Vital on Boucher Road- an unforgettable moment. I never imagined that, a decade later, I’d be DJing on that very same stage.
How long did it take you to start releasing music? Did you find it intimidating, or did you jump straight into it?
Before I was even old enough to go clubbing, I found ways to immerse myself in the music scene by working in nightclubs across Belfast. I started out collecting glasses, moved on to working behind the bar, and eventually joined the events and marketing team at Thompson’s. That journey led me to landing a Monday night DJ residency.
From the moment I attended that first festival, I knew I either wanted to become a DJ or be part of the team that brings festivals to life. I began studying events management before I even started DJing, and four years ago, I finally took the leap and fully committed to my DJ career.
You’ve performed at big events like Emerge Belfast, opening a stage to around 70,000 people, and playing to about 7,000 festival-goers at another performance. What was going through your mind in those surreal moments?
I have had the most unbelievable gig experiences of playing for EMERGE three years in a row. Starting from the emerging talent stage to the Shine & UFO tents. I’m in the zone when playing and can never take in the extent of the crowd or their reaction until I watch videos back. I’m at my most comfortable when I’m performing, no matter how big or small the crowds. But it’s an unbelievable feeling when a crowd matches your energy. It’s like a super natural high.
As a woman in the DJ and producer scene, what particular hurdles have you encountered? How have they shaped your path in music?
I am so happy to see so many female artists in the scene who are doing amazing. One hurdle I am facing, I think it is as if a female artist has to be produced to move up on the lineups. I still open every festival/stage/event I play, and that’s where the pressure comes from producing. I feel like until I get a great track out, I will always be in the opening slot. I see so many female artists put on the opening slots when they have potential for more.
Are there people- mentors, fellow DJs, or supporters- who’ve played a significant role in your journey and helped you rise through the ranks?
I have the best support system around me that has helped with my success. In terms of mentors/clubs, Shine has helped my journey so much from giving me my first telegraph slot in 2023 and since then has put me on line-ups with world-class artists and events such as Emerge, Custom House Square, Belsonic, and the Telegraph building. Reboot events & NRG raves have given me international gigs that allowed me to play on dream lineups. I’m so grateful to be involved with such great teams in the industry. Hannah Laing and the doof team have also given me the most amazing opportunities and gigs that I could have only dreamed about.
You were recently in Ibiza playing at Hï for Hannah Laing’s residency. How did that come about, and how was the experience?
Yes, I played in HI in July, and I’m playing again in September for Hannah Laing’s residency. I got the email at the beginning of the year to confirm my booking. I was in the car when I got the email, and I cried my eyes out hahah. I couldn’t believe my dream to play in Ibiza was coming true, and to be playing in the number 1 club in the world. I honestly couldn’t believe it. I have been going to HI since it opened after space, and never thought I’d be there djing one day as well. So many of my gigs have been full-circle moments.
The Northern Irish electronic scene has been gaining quite a bit of attention, which we love to see. How does your music fit into Belfast’s current wave of rising DJs and producers?
The Northern Irish scene is doing unreal and has so much aspiring talent. We have so many events in the north that fit so many genres. People should always support smaller events, and I find that’s where dreams start, and the vibes are always the best. I think my music fits in with North Sound, as I grew up attending homegrown events, so I understand the sound people love.
In Northern Ireland, the dance music scene has traditionally been male-dominated. You once reflected on how there “wasn’t that much female talent… so it was embarrassing at the start.” What has shifting that narrative meant to you on both a personal and cultural level?
Yes, when I started to DJ four years ago, the only female names in the scene were Hannah McConkey, Caoimhe Moreland, and Jenna Daley. That’s who I looked up to. I’m from West Belfast, and there were no female artists at that time in the industry/events/gigs I attended. So it was intimidating for me to start DJing and running my own events. Four years on, the narrative has completely changed; we have so many up-and-coming female artists, producers, and promoters, and it’s unbelievable to see on a personal level for me.
Can you talk us through your creative process on ‘Make it funky’? Was there a moment when the track clicked into place, or did it evolve gradually through experimentation in the studio?
Polar and I created a new version of our track ‘Make It Funky’. We used the vocals from ‘househeads’ – Scope DJ, and just made the track our own. Polar is a believably talented producer from Southern Ireland, and he had seen that I had downloaded a few of his tracks for my sets and reached out for a collab. We’ve done Skype calls for about a week, going back and forward with ideas on the bass lines, chopping the vocals, and making it more of a bouncy track. We rewrote the chords and adjusted the BMP. We tried a lot of different kicks, and after a week of putting both our ideas in place, we were more than happy with the finish. We both sent off to different artists, and Frank got back to me and asked if he could have for Carous records to put on a free download series.
Reflecting on your path, from dream to Ibiza, what’s been the most unexpected lesson or milestone so far?
It is very hard to pinpoint one milestone as my whole four-year journey just keeps getting better, and I started from the bottom with no connections, no experience, just having a dream I wanted to fulfil for myself, and it’s all been happening. I’m only scratching the surface of my potential, so I’m planning to keep working as hard as I can to live out my dream of making people happy with my music and sets.
