Sally C
Genre: Techno
Origin: Germany
Whether via her DJ sets or label Big Saldo’s Chunkers, Sally C has developed one of the most distinctive sonic signatures in electronic music. The Belfast-born, Berlin-based artist traverses the gamut of vintage house, hip house, acid and breakbeat, all with that unmistakable Chunker sound.
Sally’s DJing journey begun in 2010 at the Reading Rooms in Dundee, Scotland, an iconic local club, playing host to the likes of DJ Pierre, DJ Sneak and Green Velvet. It was here she met an open-minded and accepting community and gained a crucial education in digging, mixing and all things dance music culture, an experience that would set her up for the rest of her career.
These guiding principles of authenticity, community and independence lie at the core of who Sally is as an artist and have defined her brick-by-brick journey since day one. Moving to Berlin in 2015, she etched out a spot in the city’s thriving club scene, throwing parties at Griessmühle and her own open-air raves, all the while building a fanbase for her raw and chunky style. When she was tapped for her debut Boiler Room in 2019 at AVA Festival, it was a noticeable levelling up. No longer a developing talent, RA lauded her as a festival highlight, noting her “musical range and technical acuity”.
Up until 2020, Sally had built her name entirely based on her inspired selector skills, but all that changed with the launch of her own independent imprint Big Saldo’s Chunkers. The label is inspired by the golden era of hip house and US house music from ‘88 – ’98, and in particular, artists such as Fast Eddie, Tyree and the late great K-Hand, whose trailblazing music has impacted her so heavily.
Joe Muggs writing for The Wire said it best; ‘everything in her tracks is straight from 1888-1992: she samples, chops and loops like Todd Terry, throws in piano riffs like the most shameless of Italians, makes bass tones that bring to mind early Murk, Gat Décor and Together’s “Hardcore Uproar”. And she does it all ‘with a sincerity that shines like a strobe light’.
To date original productions such as ‘Let’s Get This’ and ‘Downtown’ (which scored over 30 BBC Radio 1 plays) and ‘All Love’, have established themselves as enduring classics, thanks to Sally’s vision and commitment to crafting tracks that adhere to her three crucial production principles – a chunky bassline, banging drums and a trippy vocal. “That’s the holy trinity! Simplicity is key – less is always more,” says Sally.
Other discography highlights include a debut on Bradley Zero’s Rhythm Section with ‘The Way To Do It’, a sublime remix of ascendent Nigerian artist Obongjayar ‘Sugar’ and her playful twist on LB aka LABAT’s ‘Right Now’.
A deft selector, Sally can lay down an extended DJ set, a peak time festival slot or a winding closer with equal mastery. This adaptive skill has seen her confirm regular bookings at Panorama Bar and Robert Johnson, right through to Printworks, Melt Festival, Love International, Kala Festival, Awakenings, Warehouse Project, iconic queer party HE.SHE.THEY and Australia’s leading festival, Pitch Music & Arts. Her profile continues to grow in North America, with recent tours taking in gigs at Piknic Électronik, Elsewhere, Smartbar, Flash, Good Room and multiple tours of Mexico.
Outside of DJing and production, Sally is a resident at Berlin’s vibrant community radio station Refuge
Worldwide. Her monthly show is particularly focused on providing a platform for emerging artists and to date she’s showcased mixes from Lovefoxy, Amaliah, NIKS, Jenny Cara and BASHKKA, alongside established powerhouse Tijana T.
