By Denise Piper, Courtesy of Whangarei Leader

Margie Davis wants to create a musical experience for people with hearing disabilities.

Her goal is to DJ dance events to be enjoyed by deaf and hearing audiences.

Large screens would feature videos of people signing the lyrics in rhythm, while intelligent lighting would represent different musical instruments.

By Denise Piper, Courtesy of Whangarei Leader

Margie Davis wants to create a musical experience for people with hearing disabilities.

Her goal is to DJ dance events to be enjoyed by deaf and hearing audiences.

Large screens would feature videos of people signing the lyrics in rhythm, while intelligent lighting would represent different musical instruments.

Deaf people making their own music videos is also a dream, she says.

The passionate solo mother-of-five has been using New Zealand Sign Language for most of her life as she grew up with a deaf cousin.

Margie started the Whangarei branch of the NZ Deaf Association in 1993 and is now studying a diploma in New Zealand Sign Language interpreting.

She says deaf people have a real affinity for self-expression and rhythm, which brings her to her other passion – music.

Margie is known as DJ Lady M after taking her love of music to the decks about three years ago with the help of neighbour DJ Mo.

She specialises in Carribean and Kiwi music – combining an interest in Latin music, studies of Rastafarian culture and her Maori heritage.

Margie believes deaf young people would love to know about the lyrics of songs.

"Deaf people love to dance, they love to socialise, they love lights, they love the dance floor but they haven't got a clue what the singing's about," she says.

"What I wanted to do is bring it to them so they have equal access to music."

Margie says some people with hearing loss can hear loud music and everyone can feel the rhythm of the beat.

The lyrics can't be interpreted exactly word for word because New Zealand Sign is a completely different language to English, she says.

But it's easy to translate the intent of the words and it can be done to rhythm with practice, she says.

"Whatever is sung or rapped or rocked out can be interpreted into sign language in a visual form of what the artist is singing about."

Margie says she was inspired by older deaf people who played in bands.

She will be based in Whangarei but believes there will be a demand for sign-language DJs across Australasia.

Margie plans to finish her interpreting course while arranging funding for her venture and working with young deaf people.

Meanwhile, she will continue to DJ, with a gig at Mozarts Cafe in Whangarei on October 1 from 8pm.