DJ Elley Phunk - Identifying Through Music

Hello, my name is Dionne Draper and I am the writer, actor and producer of DAWTA a semi-autobiographical one woman musical, the roots of this podcast series, and I live with the complex transracial adoptee experience. 

Self regulation, or put simply the ability to manage our emotions and impulses is a particular challenge for transracial adoptee and fostered people. Season 2 is full of interviews with members of the community about wellbeing activities that support our self-regulation. From Djing to climbing to weightlifting (that’s me), and more. Join me for this wellbeing series as we share our struggles,and super powers alike.

In this episode I have a colorful conversation with DJ Elley Phunk about her work as a Therapeutic Mentor, being a mixed-race transracial adoptee with Zambian roots, dysregulation, early memories of being forced to read-out the ‘N word’, and her early introduction to Black Music and resistance. Wait!t She raps too!

DJ Elley Phunk Bio

DJ Elley Phunk has 28 Years of experience behind the turntables. She's been involved in the dance scene since the early 90’s. Elley, originally a vinyl DJ, started mixing in 1995. She swiftly became a well-known house and Breakbeat DJ around the Southwest. Elley quickly picked up a tight and original style as she cuts with confidence. Elley went on to join an all women hip-hop collective named Dutty Girl, which is Bristol, based, playing old-school Hip-hop, getting the chance to support DJ Jazzy Jeff.

She runs DJ workshops supporting hard-to-reach youth and students, and works as a Therapeutic Mentor/ Student Support Worker. Her most recent achievement involved her writing an MA dissertation on the benefits of DJing on mental health, community, and self-empowerment. Her style is original and ranges through many inspirational genres that are fundamentally MOBO (Music of Black Origin)

DJ Elley Phunk  also plays festivals, including: Boomtown, Glastonbury Festival.She has a residency at The Plough Inn, Easton, Bristol

Show references:

(The song mentioned at the top of the show) Burning Spear / Columbus https://youtu.be/7qXHU6wla8A?si=jTMErRbCR53NkKaE

The Boy Who was Raised As a Dog - Bruce Perry https://www.amazon.co.uk/Boy-Who-Raised-Psychiatrists-Notebook-What/dp/0465094457

Elley's contact details:

IG: https://www.instagram.com/djelleyphunk/

Website: https://djelleyphunk.wordpress.com/

You can also check out Elley Phunk's latest sounds on Mixcloud

https://www.mixcloud.com/elleyphunk/

Dionne Draper's info:

This year DAWTA has partnered with Black led mental health charity Nilaari https://nilaari.co.uk  funded by Quartet donors  the Celtic Connection Fund. With this funding DAWTA is delivering activities and workshops for transracial adoptee and fostered adults (in-person and online). For more information about how you can get involved email me at [e-mail] or message me on insta at soullife05. 

Website: www.dionnedraper.com

IG: https://www.instagram.com/soullife05/

FB: https://www.facebook.com/dionne.draper.79/

Finally, I have one small ask…if you enjoyed this ep