Meet Lady Tazz: on the darker side of love
DJ Lady Tazz, aka Tasnim Borsha, is making a name as DJ and producer while building a kinky techno scene in Bangladesh. She also runs her own label Mind Medizin. The concept behind Mind Medizin is to embrace and channel sexual energy for personal growth and liberate erotic innocence. We had the honor to meet her in Berlin for a talk about our shared love and passion for techno.
Text Lie Kietselaer
Tasnim Borsha is a global citizen with a Canadian and Bangladeshi background and based in four different countries. She started going to raves at sixteen, she immediately was enchanted by the repetitive beats of techno. It was only until a few years ago she ‘came out’ as a DJ/producer and developed her alter ego ‘Lady Tazz’: A powerful woman who spreads her love and energy through kink and techno. Lady Tazz promotes diversity, inclusion and equality regardless of gender, ethnicity, race and sexual preferences.
Just like her label Mind Medizin: a place where everyone is welcome and where you don’t have to hide your true self because this is home and we look after one another. The core values behind the concept are to really embrace your sexual energy and channel that to personal growth as a divine human being. To liberate your erotic innocence. And in harmoniously co exiting.
In interviews and in your bio you are described as a rebel and quite a badass. How would you describe your soft side?
“My soft side would be my intentions and my eyes. When your intentions are pure, you don’t fear losing anyone, they lose you. And my eyes are very soothing for anyone to stare into. They see a piece of what divinity from within looks like. Self love.”
How does techno reflect your personality?
“Techno is spiritual for me. I am a very spiritual person. It feels like home. It’s like stepping into another dimension where I can express my inner demons with others on the dance floor. Let’s just say: Techno is my Hell and my inner demons fit perfectly in it.“
Our tagline is: Echo of your essence. How would you interpret that?
“To me that means to ‘share your spirit with the world’ let them see you for your originality.”
You only came out as a DJ and producer two years ago, what was holding you back before?
“It was me. I come from a business minded family. I didn’t know how my family would react to that or my followers. I opened my own radio station after my move from Canada to Bangladesh and on top of that I used to run the most popular prank show in Bangladesh. That major shift from radio to DJ-ing was a bit scary as to how the public would react. I wasn’t wrong because initially it was met with a lot of hostility.
The public wasn’t very approving of my new path as DJ/producer, so I was cyber bullied. There was constantly written so much negativity on my socials. It is horrible how people could turn like that. One day everyone loves you because you fit the social norms and the next day they hate you because you want to pave a new path for yourself that makes you happy.
Luckily my family was my biggest support. I’m a product of LOVE. They saw that I was a bit different from everyone else in my community and they embraced it with open arms. I’m blessed! My family raised me with so much love and compassion it made it so much easier for me to just give back to the world unconditionally. I don’t need anything back from anyone. I just want everyone to find peace from within.”
Do you find it hard to be a female in this scene?
“No, actually I think being a female it’s powerful. I would rather find it difficult being a male. It’s how you look at yourself at the end of the day. If others have a problem with my gender then it’s a him, her or their problem! I live by my own rules. As long as you are not harming or hurting anybody else. For the diversity in the scene it would be better to have more female DJs and producers. There are a lot of men in this scene and I would love to have more EP’s with females.”
Do you have any advice for beginning female/queer artists?
“Yes! Being called crazy or looked at differently, by those who are still victims of cultural conditioning, is a compliment. Just be you! The universe has already given you her blessing. Trust me on that.”
How did you come in contact with kink and BDSM?
“I was always into it from a very young age I say about thirteen but I didn’t understand it at that moment. Since a young age I always longed for something different.”
What is it that you like about it?
“The honesty and trust that makes the bond. It’s really based on love and devotion. It is really personal and you make yourself very vulnerable. That makes it so powerful and pure. Words aren’t enough to explain it. You have to see and feel things in another perspective and have really no insecurities about yourself.”
When did you decide to go back to Bangladesh? And why?
“Right after I completed my university. I studied psychology. I wanted to go back and really do something for Bangladesh. I owed it to my country. It’s important to bring back fresh perspectives to the country for upgrowing kids. That's how the nation evolves. So I opened the country's first English speaking radio station. It was my first project ever and was a huge success.”
How would you describe the techno scene in Bangladesh?
“It is very important for me to start a techno culture there. Bangladesh is a very strict country and we are going through a very transitional phase right now. People are so accepting of the techno scene, especially the youth, because they love being on the dance floor and they need to have a way to express themselves. With these parties we are building a loving community where people can be free and express themselves in a good way instead of acting out in a bad rebellious way.”
Is it difficult to create a kinky techno scene?
“Absolutely. I think we still have a lot of evolving to do in that sense as we are still a Muslim country at the end of the day. There is a very strict notion on how people should express themselves. The kink of queer concept is something you don't showcase in Bangladesh. But for me it’s who I am. And if I can’t express myself, I would rather not live.”
How does the scene differ from London and Berlin?
“Well London is London and Berlin is the techno capital of the world. But the major difference would be the sound. Techno is still part of Berlin. You can hear this music thumping from all corners. It’s really everywhere. In other cities, people wouldn’t accept music that’s really hard or weird and full of synthesizers and distortion. In Berlin it’s totally acceptable to play that over lunch, because of the cultural background.”
How can the scene, in general, become a safer space for everyone?
“The scene is a community. It’s like a family, people don’t create problems, they solve them and they do it together through union and love. It’s a beautiful understanding. It has become much safer.”
Like with all our artists' interviews we asked Lady Tazz to name three all time favorite tracks.
Emanuel Top - Turkish Bazar (Original 1994)
“What a legendary track! Emmanuel Top is ART to me. ‘Turkish Bazaar’ is the best acid techno song I have ever heard. I don't think I willl ever get enough of the powerful impact and acid baseline stacked using a TR-909 & Roland TB-303 synthesizer. The recognizable text "The music was new, black, polished chrome and came over the summer like liquid night" used in ‘Turkish Bazaar’ was written by Jim Morrison of the Doors. It is a very hypnotic and striking trace of vocals and the lyrics really get into your head. It is a masterpiece!”
Dubfire ft Miss Kittin - Exit
“This track has been one of my all time favorites. I just like the way he playfully chops and flips Miss Kittin's vocals, pushing and pulling the bass allowing her vocals to prevail. This song brings me so many memories. I love this duo together. Dubfire and Miss Kitten have always had a very strong relationship, but ‘Exit’ is next level! This is one of my favorite techno tracks. Play this anytime, anywhere, and everyone will vibe to it.”
Nina Kraviz - My Lullaby For You
“This is minimal techno at its best. This is an irresistibly sexy track, focused on her reflection on love, driven by a delicious minimal beat. ‘My Lullaby For You’ has an interesting audio with Nina whispering seductively, but as early as the 2nd minute it is masterfully coupled with something completely different, if not a little epic. This is such a simple minimal thing, and in doing so, so much sexuality leaks out, with such catchy lyrics. I love this production very much. This is an obvious example of how less is really more.”