From Amsterdam to ELLA Festival: DJ Alex Offord on Music, Community and Finding Home

Music has always been part of Alex Offord's life.

Born in Mallorca with English, Irish, Italian, Dutch and Ukrainian roots, she grew up in a creative family where music was always present. Her father was an architect, interior designer and musician, and that artistic environment naturally influenced her from an early age.

Although Mallorca is her home, Alex spent 18 years living in Amsterdam. Looking back, she explains that moving there completely changed her life.

"I moved there because Mallorca in the 1990s was very different. There were fewer opportunities and the LGBTQ+ community wasn't as open-minded or visible as it is today. I felt I needed to grow, and Amsterdam gave me the experience and the opportunity to become part of a gay community that Mallorca lacked at the time." 

Surrounded by creativity throughout her childhood, it was in Amsterdam that she found the opportunity to begin her professional career.

"I come from an artistic family. My father was an architect, interior designer and musician, so I was surrounded by music from a very young age. In Amsterdam I found the right connections and opportunities to start in the music industry. My very first gig was at First Out in London in 2005, and from that moment I never looked back." 

Alongside DJing, Alex also became an organiser, creating a monthly LGBTQ+ event that quickly became a safe space for the community.

"It was focused on the LGBTQ+ community and became a safe haven for us. We had a great mix of people, and that combination always created an amazing atmosphere." 

As the years went by, she decided to use her platform to support other women working in music.

"During the last years I invited only female DJs because I wanted to give more visibility and more opportunities to female lesbian artists. At that time, the music industry was still very male dominated." 

Throughout her career, Alex has performed at some of Europe's best-known LGBTQ+ events, including Milkshake Festival, Amsterdam Pride, Vienna Pride and Lesbos. Today she is also proud to call herself one of the resident DJs of ELLA Festival.

"It's always special to see the community come together to celebrate life, to show that we are here and that we're not going anywhere. Unfortunately, we still have to fight for our rights nowadays." 

Her first ELLA Festival took place in 2014, when she travelled from Amsterdam to Mallorca to perform.

"That weekend really impressed me. Seeing people from all over the world come together to celebrate love, music, food, the sea, the sun and good vibes was something very special. I went back to Amsterdam with a huge smile and a group of new friends. Since then, ELLA has only grown into a worldwide event." 

When asked what she would say to someone attending ELLA Festival for the first time, her answer perfectly reflects what the festival means to her.

"Come ready to celebrate and to be yourself without fear. ELLA is a safe festival where every person is welcomed with love, no matter their colour, ethnicity or where they come from. Everybody is welcome, and it never fails to give you a sense of community and friendships that last a lifetime." 

After more than two decades behind the decks, Alex Offord continues to believe in the same thing she discovered years ago in Amsterdam: that music has the power to bring people together, create safe spaces and build communities that last far beyond the dance floor.