Push it: Barely Legal

Unfortunately that kind of rapport can’t be made when a set is streamed online and it’s during such events that female DJs seem to face the most sexism these days. Nightwave’s much publicised 2016 Boiler Room incident is a case in point. During her storming Mixmag Lab set back in April Chloé came under fire from some YouTube warriors for her choice of outfit, which – scandalously enough – was a simple grey crop top. “You should be allowed to wear that what the hell you want; it’s about what you’re playing,” she says defiantly. “It took me about a day to get over, which sounds like not very long, but a whole day of being like, ‘Oh my God what’s wrong with me, what am I doing as a career, am I just shit…’ it just makes you think really negatively.

I think you have to learn from these things, though, and the more you get it, the more you just ignore it.”

Last year was a particularly rapid period of growth for Robinson as she played over 20 festivals, graduating to much bigger stages than she’s been used to. “It’s loads more pressure,” she concedes. “As an artist I was up and coming, and now I’ve come somewhere but I’m not there yet, so I’m playing sets on main stages where I’m supporting bigger DJs, having to hold the crowd for them, which I’ve found quite challenging.”

As it turns out, later on in the night Chimpo, Chunky and Strategy end up holding the crowd for Chloé, as she runs to the toilet mid-set. When she returns her presence is palpable. Yes, everyone is hyped to see the Manchester dons, but it’s Chloé who’s driving that energy. Chimpo notices this too: “Barely was shelling in her set so hard. It’s mad, I clocked the psychology of her technique tonight. She’ll draw in the crowd with stuff they know, then soon as they’re on side she’ll fire some mad darkside sub-low shit at them. It’s sort of lulling the crowd into a false sense of security. She’s got that balance perfect, and it’s not easy. I love Barely. She’s genuinely one of the best DJs about. I still learn stuff off her and she’s only fourteen!” This particular joke gets the side-eye from Chloé, but it’s clear she appreciates the compliment. Strategy concurs, saying she “plays tunes without being a dick about it. If it’s a tune she’s gonna play it, and you’re gonna buzz off it.”

As she comes off stage later, Robinson finally tells us how she got her provocative name. “I was out in London shopping and kept bumping into this guy in all the stores I went to. He was super-impressed with all the streetwear brands I knew and asked me how old I was, as I looked so young. I’d literally just turned 16 so he ended up calling me Barely Legal.” Did she not consider the name’s connotations? “I actually didn’t,” she says. “I used it on my first mix without really thinking about it, and then everything just went so fast.”

Currently doing three to five shows a week, it doesn’t look like the pace will slow for Barely Legal any time soon.