Sandra Collins: In the groove

DJ/producer Sandra Collins finds focus as a workaholic

By Mike Prevatt

International DJ and former Las Vegas resident Sandra Collins is not one for sitting still, figuratively or literally. On one hand, she's an energetic and clinically hyperactive person. On the other, she's wrapped herself in so many projects--on top of the usual gig duties, especially on the weekends--that even if she wanted to physically slow down, she probably couldn't.

"Things are a lot busier," says Collins from her L.A.-area home, where she's juggling a few different calls and one visitor all at the same time. "I have seven huge projects I'm working on, and they're all being developed on at the same time. Now I'm the boss, I have to come up with all these ideas and concepts, hire a team and figure out all this stuff. It's like going from one extreme to the next."

Collins has been DJing for over a decade, but her career has yet to peak. She got her start in the underground desert scene in Southern California and Phoenix, back when American raves were in their infancy. She became one of the first American trance/progressive DJs to become a worldwide name, back in the late `90s. She once held a residency at the legendary Twilo club in New York City, alongside electronic dance music luminaries such as Sasha and John Digweed. And she has played some of the biggest outdoor music festival stages, from Woodstock '99 to Electric Daisy Carnival.

But now, Collins has all new objectives and tasks, ranging from work in the film industry--including a starring role in a soon-to-be-released documentary on female DJs--to new albums, one being a compilation geared to listeners outside her usual demographic, and another comprising solely her productions.

The latter is perhaps the most anticipated among those familiar with her, as she's only released mix albums thus far (including last year's two-disc Perfect Presents...Sandra Collins). She's not specific on what it will sound like, except that it will span the range of electronic subgenres she has been including of late in her DJ sets, and likely feature her singing over the music as well as playing live instruments such as pianos and guitars. It'll no doubt reflect her penchant for tuneful dance music.

"I've always liked melodic stuff," says Collins. "That's always gonna stay with me, whether it's breakbeat, progressive or d 'n' b--whatever it is. But as far as the overall sound people are hearing, everyone's sound develops into a niche. Whereas [there are] a lot of people I've heard recently saying, `I've really like what you played, you went from this to that.' I've reached all different kinds of genres and people, whether they like breakbeat or progressive. I even play this heavy metal breaks thing, where it grabs people who aren't even sure where they are."

Collins is also eager to incorporate the revolutionary Ableton Live software in her gigs. Currently, she exclusively "spins" CDs in her sets, but eventually, she would like to follow Sasha--who has recently pioneered the live-remixing technique facilitated by Ableton Live--and transform her performance into something purely digital and more improvisational. However, she's still trying to master click-and-drag turntablism.

"As a DJ, you're familiar with the faders and [everything that's] hands on, but with a computer, you're clicking and dragging," says Collins. "[Sasha] built a device...and took the pitch control off a Technics 1200 turntable, and those are what you use to control [Ableton] Live. You can do re-edits live; it's amazing. The only fallback was using the mouse and trying to do that live--it's nutty to me."

With such a full plate, it's a wonder Collins doesn't go completely crazy. But it's actually the bustle of her daily activities that gives her any sense of focus. Not only does she have a method to her madness, she finds a comfort in it, too.

"You go to the airport, you have to wait, shut your mouth, wait in line, be polite, follow the rules, and that keeps you in a mode that also keeps your head straight," says Collins. "I think it keeps your brain thinking the way the world does. I've been locked in my house working on an album, and I felt like I was going insane. You can fall off track or get really tired. As long as you keep your routine...it keeps you sane."