Sneak peek: Tiffany Calver
Don’t sleep on Tiffany Calver, coz she sure as hell isn’t sleeping on anyone in the industry. This 26-year-old DJ from Telford on the outskirts of Birmingham has been making waves within the hip-hop and DJ scene for a while now.
Calver is the most exciting and original DJ headlining festivals all over the country right now. Talking to Glamour magazine, she said that her love of music stemmed from her parents: “I remember spending time in the Saint Vincent and the Grenadines in the Caribbean as a kid, and having a Walkman, going to the market, and buying those incognito ripped CDs…”. As a child, she was influenced by everything her parents were listening – garage, hip-hop, rock – you name it! However, it was only when she got a bit older that she decided to dedicate her life to her passion. She attended a seminar on fashion journalism; she “was on the plane home and remembered asking myself that if I have to do anything for free for the rest of my life, without even thinking, what would it be? Would it be fashion? No. But it would definitely be music.”
So that’s where it all began for Calver. And she hasn’t stopped since. Which is fair enough because, despite her young age, she’s already been incredibly successful. 2017 saw Tiffany making her Boiler Room DJ debut, both in London with D.R.A.M. and later in Texas alongside AJ Tracey, A$AP Mob, Maxo Kream, and more. Boiler Room went on to name a highlight of their 2017 broadcasts. From there, she was appointed as the first lady of OVO Sound Radio, and curated a mix for Drake’s Apple Music show after she was headhunted whilst spinning at Skepta’s SKair after-party. Her work with Drake led her to going on tour with him! Now, her and Drake are like, besties for life. That would be a big deal for anyone else, but for Tiffany Calver it is just one accolade of many in her short but jam-packed career.
(Credit: BBC)
Her influence just keeps growing and growing. Awful Records appointed her as project manager for their stage at M.I.A.’s Meltdown Festival, Fredo hired her as his official tour DJ, and i-D Magazine crowned her as “the future of the music industry”. She even opened for *Beyonce* and Jay-Z’s On The Run tour – pretty crazy, right?! However, the crowning jewel in her impressive credit list is really her hosting spot at the Rap Show at BBC1xtra. She’s the first woman and the first black person to hold the slot in the show’s decades-long history. Speaking to the BBC about the moment she got the show, Calver said: “I’m honoured to be taking over the slot that has pretty much soundtracked my life. I look forward to carrying on the legacy of such a prestigious and highly respected show while also having the opportunity to add my own flavour (and sound effects) to it. This is a new beginning in so many ways; dreams really can come true.”
Tiffany Calver has built a career on championing the underdogs and up-and-comers within the hip-hop scene. That’s why we’re super excited to hear her set at Wireless Festival at Crystal Palace Park on the Friday night. Calver’s “Tiffany Calver & Friends” sets have been sold-out in the past, and they are a great way to get savvy on all the latest MCs within hip-hop, grime, and trap. She’s already played Boardmasters, Reading, and Love Saves the Day since coronavirus restrictions eased; we don’t know how she finds the time! Her IG is absolutely fire if you fancy a follow, and her website showcases her 2020 mixtape. Hint: it’s pretty damn amazing.
Words by Rebecca Clayton