Laura O'Connell is a Galway based DJ, performing under the name ‘Lolz’. Laura showcases her immense talent on the decks at clubs and festivals across the country and abroad, however it’s her dedication to creating opportunities for underrepresented and marginalised communities in the Irish music scene that cements her status as a legend in her own right within Galway’s electrifying club culture.
From co-founding the inclusive DJ collective Gash, to organising club nights for adults with intellectual disabilities, Laura is continuously working to open doors and create a space for people to express themselves freely and unabashedly. We’re thrilled we had the chance to chat with Laura about the importance of facilitating these spaces and places for people…
“I do a lot of work around making arts accessible to people,” Laura shares. “That’s my main area of interest, working with marginalised groups or underrepresented groups, and making things more accessible, opening doors to people.” Laura’s work pushes against the grain of what’s expected in the world of electronic music, unleashing a whole new subset of what a club night or DJ collective can look like.
Gash Collective was founded by Laura and Ellen King in 2016. The community showcases some major talent from across Ireland, supporting female, trans, queer and non-binary people in music producing and DJing. One of the core aspects of Gash is the opportunity it provides to others. “A lot of the time the people that are running these [typical] club nights are all men... So for women or LGBTQ+ to break into that sphere, it's really really hard.”
“An important part of Gash is there’s no gatekeeping; it's open to everyone… One of my main focuses is to give people who have never played in a club atmosphere or club setting, that opportunity to play.” Gash Collective is instrumental in creating these opportunities for women identifying, trans, queer and non-binary artists. Uplifting and celebrating one another in a truly welcoming space is something so crucial for creation, especially in the Irish music scene. Gash reinforces this with two full digital albums, GASH TRAX Vol.1 and GASH TRAX Vol.2, shining a spotlight on minority artists across the country.
Laura’s conviction to create inclusive spaces seeps into everything she does, including a monthly club night for adults with intellectual disabilities in Róisín Dubh called ‘Bounce’. “My brother, James, has Down’s Syndrome and so that really drew me into that world… when he was in his early 20s I was like ‘why is there no cool club night or event for him to go out to? Why isn't there somewhere he can go and dance and make friends?” In collaboration with That’s Life, Brothers of Charity Services Galway and the participants, Bounce is disable-person led and an incredibly electrifying and accessible club night for people of all abilities. The night gives young adults with intellectual disabilities a chance to dance, listen to music and meet new people - a hallowed and cherished experience in the electrifying Galway club scene. Bounce is coming to the Róisín Dubh on November 11th, and December 9th.
In collaboration with Electric, Laura is excited to announce an upcoming workshop… She shares that it's a “‘Studio to Stage’ 10 week DJ workshop which will offer a free mentorship series to a core group of 8 participants.”
“The workshop will provide an in-depth exploration of DJing to equip participants with essential skills for pursuing a career or hobby in the music industry. The series will consist of masterclasses, practice and feedback sessions, culminating in four public ‘Studio to Stage’ showcases.”
Laura is armed with the awareness to recognize the desire for more inclusive spaces in the electronic music community, as well as the initiative and conviction to take action and make these spaces truly more accessible. By working across Ireland and particularly in Galway to cater and create these spaces for people to express themselves, Laura ‘Lolz’ O’Connell has made an incredible difference for the people from underrepresented communities in the community of DJs, club nights, and music production.
All photos by Ciarán MacChoncarraige.
