By day, Suzy Homewrecker is the supervisor of a local laboratory that studies pathology and immunohistochemistry. At night or on the weekends, however, the 30-year-old crimson-haired vixen becomes a tough-as-nails roller derby queen, a gothy go-go dancer, or industrial music DJ known as Defense.Mekanizm. It all depends on her particular mood or whatever event she's planning on performing at calls for, like the monthly Cupcake! fetish night parties at the Rogue that she performs at along with cohort/fiance DJ Self.Destrukt.
This coming Monday, Homewrecker and her equally bizarre-looking beau will reign over the kooky crowd and spin up industrial, electro, and other hard-edged sounds at the New Year's Eve edition of Cupcake!, which has been subtitled "Berserk! Cirque!" They're hoping the fetishistic fiesta will provide an more interesting Auld Lang Syne alternative for fellow freaks or any one else interested in avoiding otherwise boring New Year's Eve experience.
See also:
- 12 Favorite Local EDM Mixes of 2012 - New Year's Eve Guide 2013 - Top 10 Phoenix Albums of 2012 - Top 10 Reissues and Compilations of 2012 - Jason Woodbury's 10 Best Things I Heard in 2012
Name: Suzy Homewrecker
AKA: DJ Defense.Mekanizm
Current Gigs: Cupcake is the second Friday of every month at The Rogue. We are moving Fallout Shelter to a monthly, [the] fourth Friday of every month at The Rogue. Rogue was a great punk dive that fell off the map after the then-scenesters burnt out. I am stoked to bring it back to life.
Preferred Genres: I spin mainly industrial-electro and dark electro. I also love chill stuff like trip-hop and witch-house, fun dance music from the '60s to '80s. Also some dubstep. Anything with bass.
So what attracts you to dark, weird, bizarre things and similarly strange music? I work in the medical field in science. I have always had an obsession with oddities and anatomy. I love unconventional everything. Home decorations, fashions, modeling. I have always loved dressing crazy and listening to darker/obscure music. All the darker imagery and styles I have always liked are offensive to many, I never agreed. I guess I have a compassion for the rejected.
How did you get into the DJ game? I always wanted to be a DJ since I went to raves in the late '90s. Music is my life. I watched and studies for years and finally got my own equipment a couple of years ago. It is never too late to start a passion. I was told by friends and boyfriends I couldn't do it. I don't let people hold me back...not for too long anyway. I slowly have been taking the list of things I was told I would never/could never do and have been achieving them. I have been a self taught DJ so far. It takes a lot of dedication and patience.
What's it like being one of the few female DJs in the Valley? I see a lot of female DJs popping up suddenly and I hope they too put in the work to earn it. I am working on producing my own music and a live act. I don't want to just spin someone else's music - there's just so much great music out there. I constantly try to progress.
Are you planning any special New Year's Eve-themed tracks in you're the Cupcake party? I have a special set for CUPCAKE. for NYE - it's all hard electro tracks. I just want people to dance have a super great time, a night to remember. The theme is a dark carnival.
How come? I chose the dark carnival theme for something totally different on New Years, not the typical event with cheesy hats and lame noise makers that don't work. We are having the Infamous Boom Boom perform with his entourage, he is a walking freak show. Spyderbaby as a sadistic clown and DJ Squalor who is a freak by day. There will be balloons and there will be cupcakes.
Naturally. So why do you think most other NYE parties are boring? The ones I have been to lacked talent and lacked atmosphere. They are overpriced just because it is a night [to] cash in on.
What resolutions do you have for 2013? My New Years resolutions for 2013 are to make more music, to travel whenever possible, and to make as many dates with girlfriends and old friends as possible.
Any regrets about 2012? I have no regrets at all for 2012. [It] was the best year I have ever had. Year's prior to that were extreme ups and downs to the point I thought I was going to develop bipolar. It has been a very successful year. I have regrets daily, if I didn't I would not strive to be better or make changes. Regrets would include not spending more time with friends and family, not telling people I love them because I am too shy.
What's your favorite track of 2012? Awolnation, "Sail" (Andrew D remix). It's beautiful and empowering. I played it at CUPCAKE. during a fire performance.
Do you guys feel like you have to up the ante with bizarre or weird stuff in order to get the fetish or fringe crowd to attend since similar events like Epic Red Cup is happening the same night? We get a huge mix of people for Cupcake: Hipsters, Goths, cyber, fetish, industrial, rave, punk, rockabilly, and psychobilly. A lot of friends that are photographers or alternative models [that] show up. We have a little for everyone. People love dressing up and coming to Cupcake. It's a playground for artists and creatives that want to see and be seen. We are always competing with other events and the sucky thing is it is usually our friends from Sanctum or Horns 'n' Halos. We try not to book on the same nights but it happens. We cross promote as much as we can with other club nights [or] events too.
What's the craziest shit you've seen happen on New Year's Eve? Like 200,000 people on Sixth Street in Austin, Texas. It's a wild night out. People drinking in the streets, girls and guys flashing and cops in full riot gear just chill out on standby.
How do y'all plan to counteract the inherent rowdiness of a New Year's Eve crowd? Cupcake is always a fun, chill dance party. On New Year's Eve there is a lot of extra hired security for the night and security cameras are in place. The people that come to Cupcake just want to have a good time. Drink. Dance. Scream.
The Cupcake! Berserk! Cirque! New Year's Eve takes place at 9 p.m. on Monday, December 31. General admission is $10, VIP access is $30.
