Girls Don’t Sync have had a huge impact on electronic music and they formed right here in Liverpool
With sets at Eurovision and Glastonbury and a sold-out show at the Warehouse Project, in the space of just a few years, DJ collective Girls Don’t Sync has had a seismic impact on the electronic music scene. And best of all, the fab foursome of Matty Chiabi, G33, Sophia Violet and Hannah Lynch got together right here in Liverpool.
This weekend they bring their Fourmation tour to Invisible Wind Factory. Thanks for your time, Girls. Tell us how did you meet and when did you get together?
Gaia brought the group together. Matty and Gaia went to school together in South London, Gaia then moved to Liverpool for uni where she met Sophia who was DJing at the club Gaia worked at. Gaia then met Hannah through the Unity youth club doing after school dj workshops together.Where did you play your first gig?
Liverpool! At District in the Baltic. We have a lot of love for that venue and the team there.For anyone who has not heard you play, what is the GDS sound?
The GDS sound is a collective force. The foundations will always be joy and music that makes you want to move. We all bring our own individual influences of course but there is always a throughline of energy. We bounce across many spectrums of electronic music that we feel connected to; UK garage, house, bass… as well as pulling from nostalgic R’n’B, dancehall edits etc that can really bring a crowd together.That name… could you explain it for anyone who is maybe not familiar with DJ lingo?
There’s a huge stigma surrounding female DJs, particularly online, that women don’t have the technical ability to play or use the equipment. We understand it’s rooted in hatred and misogyny, and using the “sync” button (which automatically beat matches/gets the music in time) is a comment that always crops up in an attempt to shame and discredit female DJs.We wanted our name to be a rejection and reclamation of that!
What have been some of the standout moments for you so far? Any amazing shows or ‘pinch-me’ moments?
There’s been so so many. Glasto is an obvious one, especially this summer, just gone.However one that always comes to mind is definitely when Eurovision came to Liverpool and we played on the docks. It was the biggest crowd we’d played to at that point and we went into it with no expectations and it was insane.It was really special for us to play such a big show in a city which means so much to us, and that three of us call home. A pinch-us moment has got to be when the email came into our inbox for our Australia tour last year – that was surreal. Getting to travel to the other side of the world and do what we love was an absolute dream.How do you work your sets? Do you plan them or rehearse?
We’ve actually never practised together once in our career. Every show is different and can’t really be rehearsed in terms of the actual music we’re playing. That element of surprise being present on stage and in the crowd removes any separation between us and the audience. Not having an exact plan can cause little hiccups but it’s a managed high-risk, high-reward situation if you will.You are bringing your Fourmation tour to Invisible Wind Factory this weekend. What can people expect?
We cannot wait to bring Fourmation to Liverpool. It’s rare we get to do shows up here so we’re going in for this one. We’ve got a massive line-up including Liverpool’s very own Paige Tomlinson, Skeptic back to back with Silva Bumpa, and party starters Phia. The energy for this show will be through the roof and we can’t wait to bring this show to the city where it all started. Liverpool and the people that make our city what it is are so important to us and always have been. The sense of community and looking out for one another is massively aligned with our values as a group.
What’s next for you? How is 2025 shaping up?
Releasing more original music. We’re kicking 2025 off with a festival run over in Australia and we can’t wait to go back and see how Australian festival crowds compare to UK ones. The summer bookings have also started coming through and we’re excited to take Fourmation to festivals and beyond.Any big projects we should know about?
Our debut single “Come Thru” came out on November 1. It’s our first official release and we’re so excited to establish ourselves as artists now and keep the ball rolling with the music.What advice would you give to any other young women trying to make it as DJs?
Love the music. It’s the thing that ties us all together that transcends all barriers. Stay strong within that, connect with other like-minded DJs, support local shows, venues and talent where you can. In an industry which is still incredibly male dominated, remember that our representation is our power. Own it and be proud of it.Girls Don’t Sync play Invisible Wind Factory on November 23
