Behind the Curtain with Just Her

From her early days as a vinyl collector, then musician and music technology lecturer to becoming one of the most respected names in melodic house, Claire's journey has been defined by curiosity and an unwavering commitment to authenticity. Whether through her releases on labels the likes of Anjunadeep and Crosstown Rebels, her multidisciplinary Constant Circles project, or her personal performances around the world, Just Her has built a reputation for creating music that resonates as strongly with the heart as it does with the dancefloor.

We sat down for an interview with Just Her, to help you get acquainted and find out what makes her tick musically. We also explore her go-to tools, working methodology, inspirations, and more.

Which instruments, plus their sounds, were staples of early electronic music, and how does working with those classic sounds today connect you to the roots of the US/UK electronic scenes?

For me, the Roland SH-101 is the ultimate classic electronic music synth, both then and now. It's incredibly versatile, completely timeless, and because it's often used for those unforgettable melodies and hooks, it brings a real sense of soul and emotion to a track, which is what I connect with most.

If you think of a track like Voodoo Ray, it has all the elements of a true classic - groove, character, soul and emotion. It is part of electronic music history, but decades later, it still sounds fresh. Working with sounds like the SH-101 creates a direct link to that history and reminds us that great electronic music isn't just about technology, it's about feeling.

Why do you think the specific personality of some instruments remains such a definitive part of the queer dancefloor experience in the US/UK?

If you look back at the history of electronic music, queer dancefloors were at its very foundation. They were safe spaces for complete self-expression, community, escape and euphoria. The sounds of instruments like the Roland TR-808, TB-303 and SH-101 were the building blocks of the music that filled those spaces and created those moments.

What example of a queer artist using certain instruments has most influenced how you use them in your own music? In which track(s) of yours can we hear this?

One of my all-time favourite queer electronic acts is The Knife, who have been a massive inspiration to me, especially during my early years as a producer. Their use of SH-101 style sound is perhaps most iconic on Silent Shout, but what really fascinates me is how their productions feel so detailed and immersive while sounding completely effortless.

That dynamic, expressive lead sound is something I've definitely tried to capture in my own work. A good example is Away From Here on Selador, where I was consciously chasing some of that emotional, evolving synth energy. I don't think I will ever do it quite as well as the Knife did, though, but I will keep trying ;-)

Can you recall a specific track or a night in a city/club/location where the sound of a classic piece of gear (like a 303 squelch or a Juno pad) fundamentally changed your creative direction?

Hearing Jane Fitz play at a super intimate party in Brighton was definitely one of those moments that shifted my creative direction. The sound system was incredible, and you could really hear how much of the music was rooted in classic electronic sounds, particularly those 808 and 909 style drum grooves.

I was amazed at how cleverly she weaved her set through stripped-down classic-sounding tracks, while keeping the energy, emotion and tension at such a high level. The journey she took us on that night was a masterclass in patience, groove and storytelling. It made me want to be more creative in my production process and stretch myself outside of the current genres I was producing.

Which plugin version do you feel has done a great job of recreating the grit and soul of the OG hardware instrument from the list below?

D16 are actually one of my favourite developers when it comes to recreating classic electronic instruments. Their Phoscyon 2, inspired by the Roland TB-303, is another standout which I've been using a lot recently while working on some more acid house influenced demos.

I also own Drumazon 2, which is their take on the Roland TR-909. In all honesty, though, I haven't explored it nearly as much as I probably should. I still find myself gravitating back to Logic Pro's Ultrabeat, would you believe! It's what I learned drum programming on, so I tend to just load it up with my own collection of 808 and 909 samples and then sequence and shape everything from there. Sometimes it's not about having the most advanced tool, it's about using the one that feels most natural and creative to you.

Is there anyone from the US and/or UK who’s releasing music today that’s capturing the classic sound of queer pioneers through a modern lens?

The obvious answer here is Honey Dijon. I've rarely heard a producer whose sound feels so connected to the past, present and future of dance music all at the same time. She draws heavily from classic house and club culture while creating records that feel completely relevant on today's dance floors. That's a difficult balance to achieve, and it's a big part of what makes her work so iconic.

An artist that fascinates me from a production point of view, though, is Octo Octa. She captures the classic sound of queer pioneers, but filters it through a distinctly modern, experimental and sometimes leftfield lens. What I love the most is that no matter how adventurous the production gets, there's always so much feeling and soul at the heart of her music.

Her track Move On (Let Go) (De-stress Mix) is a perfect example. To me, it's a masterclass in queer nostalgia through a modern-day lens... pure genius!

How have you incorporated the specific sounds of one of the instruments below into your recent productions to create a "signature" feel that resonates with crowds?

I think one of the standout SH-101-inspired sounds in my recent productions was in my remix of Close To Me on Colorize. I introduced a new synth line in the breakdown that arrives with a real sense of impact and creates one of those goosebump moments on the dancefloor.

It was actually a pretty simple pattern that I wrote on a MIDI keyboard, but that gorgeous sparkly pluck sound from the Lush 2 just brought it to life. Of course, the ability to layer up the sounds and automate so many parameters in detail is what sets the plugin apart from classic hardware synths.