For twenty years, Rachel, better known as GLDY LX and MC Boogshe, has been taking the stage. As Paul Elstak’s regular MC, she is a familiar face in the hard dance scene, but she is also busy working on her own music. In the latest episode of PLAFONDDIENST, she talks about the art of being an MC, the prejudices she has faced and her plans as GLDY LX.
ALSO READ: GLDY LX brings female artists together on ‘Pretty Girls Rage’ EP
From major hardcore festivals to commercial events, Rachel takes the stage almost every weekend. For years, she has been a regular partner of Paul Elstak. At the same time, she continues to build her own musical career under the name GLDY LX.
“Above all, you need to know when to keep your mouth shut”
According to Rachel, being a good MC isn’t about talking as much as possible, but rather about choosing the right moments. “You have to be an entertainer, to some extent. And above all, you need to know when to keep your mouth shut.”
That’s something she had to learn herself. “You have to be able to read the crowd, and sometimes people still think I talk too much. But you know, it’s my job.” How much she says on the microphone also depends on the performance. During a set with Paul Elstak, for example, the intensity is higher than when she’s hosting an entire event. “You have to pace yourself, because otherwise you wouldn’t be able to keep it up.”
“A woman’s place is in the kitchen”
Although Rachel is now a familiar face in the hard dance scene, that wasn’t always the case. Around 2006, she was booked by Art of Dance for a hard dance event, but the reactions on Partyflock were anything but positive. “A woman’s place is in the kitchen, not on stage. It got really bad,” she recalls. The criticism eventually led her to step away from the hard dance scene at the time. “I really loved hard dance. I actually wanted to work as an MC in that scene earlier, but I decided not to pursue it because of that.”
Even years later, when she started performing alongside Paul Elstak, she continued to face prejudice. “When I first started going to shows with Paul, people always assumed I was the dancer.” That perception quickly changed once she got behind the microphone.
While negative comments used to discourage Rachel, she now approaches criticism differently. “Now I just laugh about it. Then don’t listen to me. And tough luck, because I’m going to be there anyway.”
GLDY LX wants to turn ‘Pretty Girls Rage’ into a recurring project
Alongside her work as an MC, Rachel is fully focused on her own music as GLDY LX. With her recent EP ‘Pretty Girls Rage’, she brought together several female artists, including Acina, Karina Rosee, Deetox and Lady Faith. “I just think girls should support each other. So I thought: I’ll make some tracks and send them around to see if they’re interested.”
According to Rachel, female artists deserve more opportunities in the hard dance scene. She hopes organisers will look beyond the usual names and focus on artists’ abilities. “Just judge a woman on her skills and her music.”
Rachel says the project has received a positive response. “People were really enthusiastic about the sound and the vocals,” she explains. The fact that she worked exclusively with women was particularly appreciated. “I’ve only heard positive feedback. Everyone loved it, and they especially liked the fact that I was working with women only.”
That’s why GLDY LX doesn’t want to stop at just one EP. “I’m definitely going to keep doing this, because I want it to become a regular thing. I’m thinking maybe twice a year, or once a year, there’ll be another ‘Pretty Girls Rage’ EP.” She also confirms that a second part of her collaboration with Acina is on the way and is intended to appear on a future edition.
Meanwhile, she is working on her next EP, ‘Bad Influence’. “After the women’s EP, ‘Pretty Girls Rage’, I thought: the bad influences usually come from those guys anyway. So I want to make an EP with the boys as well.” For this project, she is collaborating with artists including Lowriderz, Pat B, Dr Rude, Crude Intentions and Ruthless.
In the latest episode of PLAFONDDIENST – The Hardstyle Podcast, GLDY LX / MC Boogshe talks in depth about her career, her collaboration with Paul Elstak and her own music. The full episode is now available to watch and listen to on your favorite podcast platforms.
