Style Profile: Rok Riley
Comme des Garçons Black Gathered Collar Blouse.
We caught up with Rok Riley (Rachel) at Astral Weeks Listening Bar, one of her regular DJ spots and a hub for those seeking curated soundscapes. As a key figure in Perth’s underground music scene and the longtime host of Full Frequency on RTR FM, she’s spent over a decade shaping the city’s music culture. Beyond DJing, she’s also a visual artist and printmaking lecturer at Curtin University. In this interview, she reflects on her creative journey, the evolution of Perth’s music scene, and her role in inspiring the next generation of artists.
To launch our new music series, Rachel curated a Spotify playlist, offering her perfect soundtrack for a shopping experience.
Listen here.
Song for the Mute Black Tie-Dye Double Layered Shirt, Black Crinkled Velvet Lounge Pants and SFTM x Adidas Brown Adistar Cushion Sneakers.
How did you first start DJing, and was there a specific moment or experience that made you want to pursue it seriously?
In high school I was obsessed with radio and mixtapes, because they allowed me to find out about new music and hear different perspectives on the world. I loved making and sharing mixtapes that blended familiar sounds with the more obscure, and I would spend hours crafting them so carefully to attempt to open people's minds to new things without them knowing it. I remember listening to one in the car with my friends one day and they said, “you know this is what a DJ does- you should learn”. I had no idea what that was at the time, so I walked into DaDa record store and straight up asked.( So embarrassing when I think back to that now!) I remember the guy behind the counter throwing DJ Magazine at me and said “go home and read that” .
I started dragging my little brother out to watch DJ’s play. Listening to the way they could build worlds and tell stories through music over a whole night set inspired me so deeply and that’s when I knew it was something I wanted to do. I was so shy, and it felt like a way of expressing and sharing emotions without having to find the right words. I was also able to feel deeply connected to a room full of strangers at a time when I knew so few people and was too scared to talk to anyone.
My first proper gig was at Greenwich Bar, (under His Majesty’s Theatre in the city) where I had just started working at the time. The DJ was unwell, but all his records were there – so I played them all night and loved every second. Then I discovered a group of friends who shared the same deep love of music with the most amazing record collections, and we started a group called The Milk Crate Crew. At the time there weren’t a lot of femme DJ’s in Boorloo, particularly playing the style of music we were into. It was such a special time, and so wonderful sharing the experiences -both challenging and joyful together. After this I helped my partner at the time, who was an incredible DJ, Dan the Man, start a Hip Hop record store called “Off the Hook” which we ran for a few years. The girls in the Milk Crate Crew all moved away and I started playing solo!
You’re undoubtedly an influential figure in Perth's underground music scene. Are there any musicians or artists you look up to or who have significantly influenced your career?
I have always loved music and music scenes that uplift and empower their local communities and give voices and sanctuary to those who need it most. I am so fortunate to have been supported in finding my voice by those around and to have had some amazing experiences along the way. Without the incredible support of the scene and too many people to mention, it would have never been possible. I hope that I can be part of championing the special people, artists and scene that we have here, while making space for others to continue to build and grow.
Left: Song for the Mute Black Speckled Split Sleeve Pullover and Silver Crushed Taffeta Pleated Skirt.
Right: Comme des Garçons Black Houndstooth Panelled Dress.
What have been some of your most memorable sets, and what made them stand out for you?
The most memorable ones for me are always the ones when I see people really connecting with the music and each other, it doesn’t matter if it's 3 or 35000 people. Musically the only time I felt completely happy with my set there was only one person in the room! DJing for me has always been about bringing people together to share an experience, celebrating life together. When I played part of the 'In The Basement' series and I got to play for six hours that was a real turning point for me. It was a real challenge and forced me to think about what really motivated me to play music and how I wanted to make people feel over the course of the night and shift the energy around. During the first hour I asked if I could go home because I didn't think I could do it, but by the end they couldn't get me off.
You’ve been presenting the weekly Full Frequency radio show on RTR FM for many years now. When did you start, and how do you see RTR FM’s Full Frequency show contributing to Perth’s unique music identity?
I’ve been at RTR for so long now – 20 something years! And Full Frequency has been around 30 years this year! We’re having a big party at the end of this month!
At the time Full Frequency started, it was the only daily program focussed primarily on dance and electronic music in the whole of Australia I was told. I think that was the unique thing about it. Things have obviously changed so much since then, but RTR and Full Frequency pioneered that- and I think that’s so special. It’s funny to think back to how much we used to get teased playing “ doof doof music” because Indi music was everywhere and dance music was really underground at that time.
If I think back to the first time I listened to Full Frequency as a student, and how excited I was every week to record the show and find the songs and to hear all the shout outs, it really helped me feel like I was part of something that felt so exciting to me. I felt a sense of community through the radio that made me feel culturally connected to the music community in Boorloo, and worldwide. Being a shy country kid who didn’t know how to find what I liked, it felt like my world was opened up to me constantly by these passionate music heads. I was too scared to go out for ages, but the radio made me feel like I was clubbing too. And then when I found the courage, I knew where to go to find like-minded people and the music I found so much strength and joy in.
Song for the Mute Black Embroidered Lace Shirt and Black Embroidered Lace Tank Dress.
As someone deeply involved in visual arts and teaching at Curtin, what first drew you to printmaking? Was it a passion you discovered early on, or did it evolve naturally from other creative pursuits?
I fell in love with printmaking when I tried it at art school, mainly because it’s so much about having a conversation with the process itself. I am constantly challenged by the potential and limitations of the materials that I use, and the lengthy steps within each process, where so much can go wrong. It means that no matter how much you try and maintain control, you will have to find a way to relinquish it and learn to respond instead to the materiality and process in order to create something. In this way, I feel like your ego is stripped out of it somehow- and what you end up with is inevitably a collaboration, or a record of this interaction.
When it comes to your music preferences, what kinds of music do you like to listen to throughout the day? And if you’re out shopping, what would be your ideal soundtrack?
I listen to the most random assortment of music during the day! It often depends on my mood and what I am doing. Sometimes I will listen to someone reading out deleted catalogues of books from libraries in the northwest of England, sometimes I love listening to hard core grime shows and some days I will be fixated on one song and listen to it over and over. Sometimes I will just listen to the wind! If I’m shopping, it also depends on what I’m shopping for… But mostly I like music that puts me into a calm place. While I’ve been putting this playlist together it’s made me realise I like to hear reminiscent sounds mixed with fresh forward ones – maybe because when you’re shopping it’s as much about finding clothes that reflect who you are and all the experiences that have helped shape that, but also you are searching for new looks inevitably to shake that identity up for future you , so you need a bit of drama thrown in , a sprinkling of hope ..so a blend of sounds in that way!
Comme des Garçons Gold Coated Knit Cardigan. Song for the Mute Gold Crushed Taffeta Twisted Shirt and Black Crushed Taffeta Pleated Skirt.
With your extensive background in both music and art, are there any upcoming projects, events, or creative collaborations you’re excited to share with your audience?
I’m planning something with my friend Brett Nannup at the moment – he is an incredible printmaker and friend, and we have been playing with some ideas that hopefully will end up as an exhibition next year. I’m also starting to work on the second book in the series of drypoint prints about a cow, who is like an alter ego character I’ve been drawing for years. (His name is Riley too, and where my DJ name originated from!) As far as DJ-ing goes- summer is going to be so busy! There’s already some exciting gigs planned and a little trip to play in Sydney and Melbourne is in the works too, which is exciting :)
Lastly, what’s your most cherished piece of clothing or accessory, and what makes it special to you?
My big red half pom-pom brooch was always my most cherished accessory. I bought it from a store in New York though it was a French military design. Because I’ve rarely had money to spend on new clothes, this became a way to make old outfits feel special for many years. I always could tell if I would get on with someone or not from how they reacted to it! Then I lost it in Melbourne and was heartbroken. I had just played a gig at the Museum there and it fell off somewhere and I cried and cried walking up and down the street looking for it but it was gone, forever! My dear dad before he passed away made me eight pom poms brooches to replace it in different sizes and colours, and my mum carefully crocheted pins into the back of each. I wear these on so many outfits and every time I touch them they make me feel so grounded- I can have dad and mum close to my heart always and they are such joyful additions to whatever I wear. I feel like they somehow help explain to the world who I am.
Photography by Tülay Dinçel. Styling assisted by Emily Kate Cooper.