Discwoman collective artist Bearcat’s wild, aggressive sampling of divergent styles and rhythms (from dembow to spoken word) in her work as producer and DJ is a mode of expression so potent and unique it feels like a sonic diaspora. As a DJ, and like all great djs, her mixes aren’t simply beats mixed into other beats with the aim of getting asses on the dance floor. Rather, Bearcat expertly uses transitions and rhythms to achieve a fierce personal expression. The moment on her Chromat FW16 Runway Mix when a sample of a woman’s voice continues to repeat "a girl’s success…lies between her legs" while a pounding backbeat counters in the background is a thrilling example of how Bearcat uses beats to subvert, to provoke thought, and to transcend. She plays at Fringe Arts in Philly on September 22. -juan leon
