A landmark photography project
Photography by Kenzie Brannan
DJ Paulette is a renowned house music DJ and radio broadcaster. Born in Crumpsall, North Manchester and raised in Prestwich and Fallowfield. In a career spanning over 30-years, she has scaled the heights of dance music fame and hedonism playing disco, house and techno worldwide.
Music-obsessive Paulette went to her first club aged 14 and never looked back. She played her first DJ set at the No1 Club Manchester. Her first residency was at 'Flesh' at The Haçienda, 1991–1996. Afterwards, she moved to London to play the Garage club nights at Heaven, followed by residencies at The Zap Club (Brighton) and the Ministry of Sound. In 1998 Paulette joined a long list of DJs and Producers in having her own Essential Mix aired on BBC Radio 1. She moved to Paris in 2004 and secured a weekly residency with the Mix Club for four years and Radio FG for nine years. She also featured at the Redlight Club and Fashion TV. In 2013, Paulette moved to Ibiza and became the summer resident at Ibiza Rocks House, at Pacha and at Pikes Hotel.
DJ Paulette at Heaton Hall, Heaton Park
Although still as busy as ever behind the decks... Paulette is also known for her monthly radio shows with Reform Radio, Gilles Peterson’s Worldwide FM and has a Global Residency show produced in collaboration with The Radio Department - found on Apple Music. She is also a regular presenter stand in on BBC 6 Music.
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Paulette was the winner of the DJ Mag Top 100 Lifetime Achievement Award (November 2022), the Keychange (PRS) Inspiration Award (Sound City April 2023) and was nominated as DJ OF THE YEAR in the Northern music Awards (Nordoff and Robbins) 2024.
In 2024, Paulette published a book, Welcome to the Club: The Life and Lessons of a Black Woman DJ. She shares the highs, lows and lessons of a thirty-year music career, with help from some famous friends, offering a remarkable view of the music industry from a Black woman’s perspective.
Welcome to the Club: The Life and Lessons of a Black Woman DJ
DJ Paulette - Hacienda Classical, Castlefield Bowl, 2022 (Photo by Joel Goodman)
DJ Paulette - Flesh at The Hacienda, 1990 (Photo by Jon Shard)
Paulette chose the iconic lion statues in Heaton Park, North Manchester for her Greater Mancunians shoot.
Heaton Park, sunshine, wind, rain or snow I absolutely love it. For as long as I have been alive it’s refreshed the parts that other parks cannot reach. My sisters took me and my twin there in our pram as babies. Growing up, it’s been the place to play on the swings, to paddle in the paddling pool (now no longer there) and play on the boating lake in school holidays. My Dad always took me and my sisters there on weekends as little girls. He taught us the names of the trees and plants and took loads of pictures of us there using his Box Brownie. He took two photos of me, my twin and my sister Elizabeth on the steps of the Hall eating ice creams and one sitting on the lions that have endured to this day. I love those photos. Heaton Park also means memories of missing the Pope’s visit in 1982 because I didn’t have the bus fare. Now I say an occasional prayer by the commemorative Papal Monument. I love the park for the sense of wonder, awe, joy and serenity I get walking around it, I can truly lose myself in it (and lose all sense of time - cue rushing for the gates in the dark before the wardens close them). Stand at The Temple on a clear day and you’ll find that it’s one of the best places to view Manchester’s skyline. It’s Parklife too for sure and I enjoy playing there because the park is so special to me. I took breaks from writing my book there and not to be a Debbie Downer but I have asked for my ashes to be scattered at the Temple or planted under a tree there in my will.
THE SHOOT: Heaton Park, North Manchester
Heaton Hall - Riding the iconic lion statues
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Student reflection: Kenzie Brannan
DJ Paulette was such a pleasure to photograph. We met on a sunny but cold day in Heaton Park. I have to admit I was a bit nervous ahead of the shoot having never met Paulette before. I needn’t have worried, she was very welcoming and seemed interested in the project.
We started off with some portraits of Paulette against the Hall’s pillars and on the stone steps. She was easy to pose and very comfortable in front of the camera. Her colourful clothes looked amazing in the winter sunshine. We then moved on to key part of the shoot… Paulette wasted no time climbing onto one of the lion statues, which hold so many memories for her. She was clearly enjoying being reunited with her old friends. The combination of Paulette’s charismatic style, the warm sunshine and the grand surroundings gave me the images I was hoping for!!!
The whole experience was fantastic. I learned a lot from the shoot, in particular, preparing your camera and checking out the location in advance, but most importantly, spending time getting to know your subject before you even to a shot. I am really pleased with my final work and very excited at the prospect of seeing one of my images of Paulette in the Greater Mancunians exhibition.
