Britt Townson-Labovitz, better known as DJ Blush, is a Toronto-based vinyl DJ, record collector, and party maker who has been keeping the dance floors packed locally and internationally since 2009. With musical tastes that span genres and eras, she first made her mark co-creating influential dance parties like Shake Rattle & Roll in Toronto, becoming a standout figure in the city’s nightlife and festival scenes. DJ Blush has served as the resident DJ at the iconic Budweiser Stage for over a decade and has opened for major touring acts while earning accolades such as Best Local DJ in the Now Magazine Readers Poll. Beyond live shows, she’s also known for her vibrant livestream dance parties and her dedication to cultivating soulful, inclusive spaces through music and community celebration.

When she's not behind the turntables, Britt enjoys graphic design, antique shopping, going to concerts, dressing up and going out dancing with her friends.

How did you get into your industry / What motivated you?

I was in a band, it's how I entered the Toronto music scene, and was also promoting local parties and bands through my blog!

What is a day in the life like?

I'm freelance artist, so of course I'm a night owl. I sleep in late, drink all the pots of coffee, work on graphic design and promotional work, then hang out with my musician husband and our cats Bernie & Izz!

In your opinion what has been your favorite / the coolest thing you've worked on?

Being the resident DJ at Molson Amphitheatre turned Budweiser Stage turned RBC Stage in Toronto since 2013 has been the highlight and achievement of my DJ career for sure.

Also, being voted Best Local DJ in Toronto's arts & culture newspaper Now Magazine for the 2021 Reader’s Poll Awards was unreal. Made my Mom proud for once.

What has been / is the most difficult part of your job?

Late nights, tech issues, rude patrons and gig-life in general is rough. It's a non-stop climb up a hill, and it gets harder as you get older.

What advice do you have for someone wanting to get into pursuing what you’re doing?

Be yourself, be kind and professional and learn to read the room. It's not all about you, buddy!

Are you a vinyl collector yourself? What drew you to it? If not, why the vinyl industry?

I've been collecting vinyl since my early teens. I think having an actual real-life record in your hands, sitting there reading liner notes and taking in the cover art all while listening to and absorbing the album itself is one of the best things about being alive.

I love, own and am constantly collecting LPs, but over the last few years my obsession and focus has been on building and filling in my 45rpm collection. I'm coming out of my shell and doing more vinyl gigs than ever over the last few years, as I've traditionally been mostly a digital DJ– so it's not just about constantly spending all my money on Discogs just for shits and gigs – well, yes, gigs.

Most of the vinyl I'm buying, I'm playing and spinning outside of the house. That's my excuse, anyways!

What types of things are happening in your industry / with vinyl that you’re excited or worried about? i.e. innovation, or trends you’re seeing.

I'm super happy to see little vinyl listening bars and cafes opening across the city, on top of a lot of bars and venues offering gigs and making themselves capable of hosting vinyl DJ's. It's been a needle in a haystack finding a place in this city where they host primarily vinyl DJ's over the years. And, as someone who vinyl-only people would call a "laptop" DJ, I've been lucky to still be able to plug in and play nearly anywhere with a set of speakers, and it hasn't been a major issue for me. But I think it should be essential. Every venue that offers DJ's as weekly entertainment should have a pair of working turntables, end stop!

Who has been influential to you and your growth as a professional in this industry? 

I've been very lucky to share the decks with some of the finest DJ's this city and country have to offer – DJ Babs & Tweed, DJ Misty, Sean The Vinyl Villain, DJ Derek B, DJ Nico, DJ DangerCat – I know there are others I'm missing out, and for that I apologize to them. I've learned so damn much from these people, and I thank them immensely for sharing their talent, knowledge, patience and friendship with me over the years.

Anything else you’d like to add; if not tell us what you're listening to: 

Right now? Lord, it changes all the time. Right now I'm searching Discogs for Soul 45s. What else is new.