University News Last updated 04 May 2018
A student from Birmingham City University’s Royal Birmingham Conservatoire is hoping to fill dancefloors this summer with her latest track, ‘
Birmingham-based music producer and DJ Gemma Whitfield – known as Roman Candles – is currently studying a Masters in Music Technology and ‘Body Spirit’ will feature on a dance EP she is currently working on to submit as part of her course.
Tech house
Released on Friday 4 May, the tech house track has been inspired by 1990s acid house music, defined by the deep basslines and ‘squelching’ sounds of the Roland TB-303 electronic synthesizer-sequencer.
Gemma’s track has been released on Shanghaied Records, the in-house label of dance music website Data Transmission and has already been featured on ‘BBC Introducing in the West Midlands’, which showcases the best local unsigned musical talent. 
In between her studies, DJ Gemma has appeared at various iconic clubs and events in both Birmingham and London, including Hare & Hounds, Lab11, Lock Tavern, Made In Brazil, The Nightingale and The Roundhouse.
Mixes
Hailing from Bearwood, she has also provided guest mixes for a variety of radio shows including Brum & Bass on Brum Radio, Recharge on Roundhouse Radio and Birmingham City University Student Union’s Scratch Radio.
Roman Candles’ ‘Body Spirit’ is out now on Shanghaied Records and is available to stream via Spotify and Apple Music.