Mary Hell

As RPM Director for Concordia University's radio station for a little over the last year, I’ve been exposed to new artists, remixes, producers, labels and DJs. I’ve been to festivals and concerts I otherwise would have wanted to attend but would not have unless compelled to. From jamming in the freezing cold at Igloofest to my first Piknic Electronik, I’ve taken in a lot of new experiences.

Speaking of Piknic Electronik, I went there for the first time to catch Flosstradamus. I ran into some co-workers and hung with them while I was there. I enjoyed watching and dancing with the people around me even though I knew none of the the songs played. At some point in the afternoon, a slim, young lady with short dark hair stepped into the DJ booth. To my surprise, she stepped behind the equipment!

Anyone that knows me well enough, or has read enough of my blog, knows I love female singers with strong voices. If I haven’t stated it yet, I also love female DJs. They are rare to find & hear and I enjoy the opportunity when I get the chance.

This slim, young lady with short dark hair rocked the park for what seemed like three hours. I again knew none of the songs she played but I loved them all. She mixed at a level I’m practicing and aiming to reach.

At some point near the end of her set, I made it to the DJ booth and saw a security guard looking type of guy. I asked him the name of the young lady DJ. He told me the name or what he thought was her name but I forgot. Either way, I left Parc Jean-Drapeau without her name.



Let’s now fast-forward to the MEG Festival in July. I knew 1-2 names of the artists performing that night. However, I was pleased to see DJ equipment near me, meaning that someone was going to use it sooner or later that night.

To my surprise, a young lady with short dark hair stepped behind the equipment! There was something familiar about her but I didn’t know what or why. The songs she played were bangers even though I knew none of them. Her movements and body language while DJing were similar to one I had seen before. I walked over to her at a convenient time and asked if she was the DJ that spun for nearly three hours at Piknic Electronik before Flosstradamus. She said yes. I asked her DJ name and she told me Mary Hell.

With the exception of The Popopopos set, Mary Hell DJing during the intermissions was the highlight of my MEG night. Summer of 1967 may have been the Summer of Love but Mary Hell made my Summer 2010. When I think of Piknic Electronik & MEG, I’ll always remember her sets and their impact on me.

I admit to being disappointed that I’ve missed a couple of her nights within the last few weeks. It either rained or I was too dead tired to make it there. I was upset because I knew I was missing out on countless body-rockers she could’ve dropped. I don’t like missing anything musical, especially if my body can get rocked. Alas, I haven’t heard her since MEG but I’m not going to let rain, sleet, rain, snow or fatigue prevent me from enjoying another night of music courtesy of Mary Hell.