Casey Tufnell

Name, where are you from?
Casey Tufnell was born in Swindon, grew in Cambridgeshire and currently reside in London.

What do you do?
DJ, radio host, event organiser and host, musician and currently studying a Popular Music degree.

Describe your style in three words?
Colourful, busy and bold.

What’s the best gig you’ve ever been to?
I saw Nai Palm live at Electric Ballroom in Camden and you can tell that her music resonates a lot with creatives and other musicians. The crowd were singing along and it sounded like she had a backing choir, it was beautiful.

If you could be on the line up with any two bands in history?
Hiatus Kaiyote and Amy Winehouse. I’m not even that super intense about Winehouse, but I appreciate her songwriting skills and would just absolutely have loved to jam with all of these very talented musicians.

Which subcultures have influenced you?
I allow myself to be influenced by everything really but if we’re gonna be specific the few that come to mind are probably Berlin’s music scene when I lived there, punks when I was part of anti-fascist bookfairs and that scene, SE London has influenced me a lot and, of course, the LGBTQ+ community. I’ve learned and gained confidence, self-reassurance as well as the opportunity to have space to explore who I am, what ‘me’ looks like in different ways of life as well as through different styles all because of these subcultures.

If you could spend an hour with anyone from history, who would it be?
Etta James – her career lasted six decades!

What is your favourite independent venue?
To be honest probably due to the personal connection I have with the place (I used to work behind the bar and currently run its open mic night) ‘New Cross Inn’ in SE London. It’s a hub for loads of different types of people, it’s a place that’s really given me a sense of community and also just a great place to get really messy.

Your greatest unsung hero or heroine in music?
I’m not too sure I have one. I don’t really get the whole hero/heroine ideology, it’s never been a bit of me to idealise someone or view a musician or anyone really as a hero. And rereading this it sounds wankery to say it but yea I just have pure respect for talented people and that’s that.

The first track you played on repeat?
'Down with the Trumpets' by Rizzle Kicks. I remember trying to learn the lyrics with a mate at the time when this song came out. It was like a weird competition we had in our group to see who was the ‘truest fan’ and could learn it the fastest. Glad to be out of that.

A song that defines the teenage you?
'Smother' by Daughter. Sad times, but we grow and now I’m just a sad adult at times ha. 

One record you would keep forever?
'To Build A Home' by The Cinematic Orchestra. I still remember the first time my sister showed me this song, I’ll always cherish it because of her I think.

A song lyric that has inspired you?
I don’t really know, my memory is super bad at times and my brain moves at such a speed that I get inspired, do the thing I was inspired to do and then get inspired again and forget about where the previous inspiration came from. I also usually get inspired by people, places or feelings rather than words.

A song you wished you had written?
'Homebody' by Nai Palm. It’s ohh so beautifuuul!!

Best song to turn up loud?
'Can’t Go Back' by Kojey Radical.

A song you like that people wouldn’t expect?
'Clair de Lune' by Debussy.

The song that would get you straight on the dance floor?
Any top hits from the '90s – and definitely 'No Scrubs' by TLC.

Best song to end an all-nighter?
'I Follow Rivers' by Lykke Li (The Magician Remix).

Any new bands you are into at the moment?
A friend of mine BB Sway is doing bits and her songwriting, instrumentation and vocals never let you down. I’m also really into the band KOKOROKO – gah just beautiful music to your ears!!