“A popular Preston DJ has started their own business and is keeping the alternative scene alive and well in Preston. Lauren Conroy-Clough, AKA: DJ Connie Von D, spoke to Dan Carver about DJing, her goals and her journey up until now…”
Call centres.
Desk work.
Admin jobs.
These are the things Lauren Conroy-Clough did in an attempt find out what she was supposed to be doing with her life. But nothing seemed to fit, and there were no answers on the horizon.
But flash forward 12 years later: Lauren, 31 years old, is now known to the alternative crowd of Preston as DJ Connie Von D. As DJ Connie, Lauren puts on regular nights at pubs and clubs, ranging from pirate themed karaoke nights to her own weekend-long alternative festival.
And not one bit of this roller-coaster journey was planned.
“It just happened,” she explains to me, “I was sat at Download 2012, drunk and underneath two gazebos. I’ll never forget it, I had an umbrella hat on, and it was pissing down with rain. And I said, ‘I’m going to DJ at Warehouse one of these days, just you watch.’ ”
The Warehouse is a nightclub in Preston that is known for its three floors of music. At the time, the club was known for its rock and metal nights that were held on the bottom floor, which were frequented by many of the rockers and metalheads in Preston.
For Lauren, being a DJ was the dream job. A way of combining two of the things she loved: performing and music.
“When I was a teenager, I had that secret playlist of My Chemical Romance and Slipknot buried so that no-one could see it,” she says, “And I was the person, even in house parties, with my iPod in hand who did the music.
“When the opportunity came to try DJing, it was a way for me to do what I loved in a completely brand-new form and combining my passion for music and entertainment.”
For Lauren, this was the answer she had been looking for that the 9-5 desk jobs couldn’t provide. She was currently working at The Warehouse as a bar member of staff, but it would only be a few months later when she would be given a chance to try it out. It started when the club’s rock and metal DJ had announced he was moving on…
“I was sat there after work and the staff asked if anyone knew any DJ’s. And I said, ‘pick me, let me have a go!’ ”
There was just one issue.
Lauren had never done professional DJing before and she had no experience as an in-house DJ. Sure, she had practiced in her home with some CD’s but in terms of professional experience, Lauren had none.
And so, the Warehouse told her no for those reasons.
This may have been the end of the road but, due to her enthusiasm, the head DJ had decided to take the chance and train Lauren the following week She was taught how to operate the equipment and see if she had what it took to become the new Warehouse rock/metal DJ.
“I remember being so nervous because I didn’t want to let people down,” she says, “I didn’t want to let the club down. It was a big deal. But I was being taught by the previous DJ, who put on a song by Less than Jake.
“Then he asked me what song I would put on and without hesitation, I chose Reel Big Fish. He told me that it would have been the exact same song he’d have played. It just… it all came really natural to me.”
Lauren had finally found the answer to what she was meant to be doing with her life: Playing music and entertaining people. Word quickly spread about the new DJ in Warehouse whose charismatic personality, and near boundless energy, matched the vibes of the music she was playing: a range of tunes that ranged from the 00’s-2010’s that were heard on Kerrang and Scuzz.
12 years later, Lauren decided that it was time to move on with life and take her DJing to new levels. She decided to setup her own brand called “Elder Emo” and put on nights under her own name: DJ Connie Von D.
She started with “The Elder Emo Ball” in December 2022.
“It was an idea that I’d been toying with for years. I was like ‘I’d do it just for one night… or maybe I could make it a monthly thing’… and no-one thought it would take off. I knew it would, but I didn’t have the support in terms of a venue until I thought… ‘you know what, fuck it I’m gonna ask The Ferret.’ ”
The Ferret is a grassroots music venue in Preston, known for its live music ranging from rock to indie, and has seen many acts play on its stage… including Ed Sheeran, who played a set there in 2011, before he had his big break.
“I went over to The Ferret and said, ‘you know what, I’ve got this idea and I’m dying to do it…’ ”
Lauren explained her Elder Emo Ball idea and the staff at The Ferret obliged, giving her all the support she needed to put on her first event. When tickets for The Elder Emo Ball went on sale, they sold out in 19 days. The event was a huge success but when the smoke cleared and the dust settled, Lauren realised something…
“I was like… shit… I’ve got something here,” Lauren says, “Because people were asking me to carry it on and people were asking for it.”
So, Lauren put on another event for Elder Emo. And then another… and another… and soon these nights became weekly fixtures.
Now, in 2024, this is Lauren’s full-time job. Gone are the days where she is searching for what she is meant to do in life from behind the desk of a company… and instead, Lauren puts on events for the alternative community of Preston. For Lauren, this is the answer she was looking for all along:
“There’s never been an Elder Emo event where I haven’t locked myself in the toilets are cried because I’ve been like… Oh my God, this is everything I’ve wanted,” she says, “I’m just glad I’m giving back to the people who came to all my nights and made me a DJ.”
Recently, Lauren has wrapped up her first major event with help from The Ferret: Emotional Damage Festival. It was a weekend festival held during the May bank holiday weekend, which showcased some of the local rock/metal bands, had merchandise stalls from local businesses and brought together a generation of rockers, metalheads and members of the alternative community.
Emotional Damage was, by any measure, a success!
“The festival did really well for a first-time local festival,” Lauren explains, “It felt amazing, but all I want to do with that now is grow it.
“For now, I wanted to keep it as local talent, give them a chance and give them a bit of spotlight. But one day, I’d like to bring in a big act when I’ve got a bigger venue etc.”
So why does Lauren do this? What is it that pushes her to put these events on to keep the alternative scene alive? Preston is known for being a student town, with many bars and clubs… but Lauren’s target demographic is different.
“<My events> are for everyone but the target audience for Elder-Emo is the generation who have grown up, they’ve got full time jobs, they’ve got mortgages and they’ve got kids. It’s bringing the generation back together… it’s bringing generations together.
“It’s amazing to see the people, even if they are teenagers or in their early 20’s, are listening to the music that I was raised on. What keeps it alive is that there are so many artists and bands which will always be epic and timeless, in my opinion. I think that’s the power of music, which is something that I’m very passionate about.”
Whilst Lauren has no plans on stopping anytime soon, she does often think back as to where she came from 12 years ago and how far she’s come both professionally and personally.
“I’ve tried every job; I’ve tried every hobby but DJing and working in music is the only thing that’s ever felt consistent and right… and I feel like I’m doing exactly what I’m meant to be doing.
“It’s made me want to do better as a person. It’s made me want to do better for people, professionally, and just keep on giving to people. I’ll never not be grateful or humbled at the fact that I’m in the position that I am, both professionally and in my personal life.”
To find out more about DJ Connie Von D’s events: https://www.facebook.com/elderemouk
