From Acting to Bass Music: A SHMING Interview on Brostep, DJing, and the Vancouver Scene

Name: Ingrid Libera

Location: Vancouver, BC

Talent Name: SHMING

Instagram: @iamshming

Category: Musician

💬 INTRODUCTION

I’m Ingrid, a Vancouver-based brostep/bass DJ and producer. I attended an arts-focused school from grades one through twelve, so creativity has always been a constant in my life. In high school, I focused heavily on drama and acting, which really shaped my relationship with performance and stage presence. I also played oboe (yes, lol) until I was about 14.

Later on, I earned a civil engineering degree, and now it feels like all of those worlds have come together. The technical problem-solving from engineering, the performance instincts from acting, and the creative expression of music production all blend perfectly in this project. It feels genuinely aligned with everything that makes me, me.

🔥 THE PASSION

I’ve always been drawn to high-intensity everything — horror movies, metal, anything generally badass. I started acting at a young age and was often cast in darker, scarier roles, which really shaped my taste for that kind of energy | Ingrid Libera - IMDb

When things slowed down during lockdown, I started experimenting with DJing and eventually producing my own music. It immediately scratched every creative itch I have — making fun content, performing, coordinating and staying professional, and diving deep into the technical side of the DAW. It all clicked at once and felt like exactly where I was supposed to be.

🇨🇦 COMMUNITY & CANADIAN PRIDE

I love being Canadian. The scene here has the perfect balance of UK and US influence, which creates something really unique — very cool, very tasteful, and incredibly creative. There’s a distinct energy that comes out of Canada that feels authentic and forward-thinking.

On top of that, Canadians are genuinely kind. The community, especially at festivals, is so welcoming, and I’ve made some truly amazing friends through the scene. That sense of connection and support is something I don’t take for granted at all.

🚀 BUILDING THE DREAM

There’s something I’m most proud of that I can’t talk about just yet — but I’m beyond excited to share it with the world when the time comes. Even being able to sit on something that meaningful feels like a milestone in itself, and it’s definitely pushed me to keep building and leveling up.

✨ CLOSING

The biggest thing on my radar right now is getting booked for Fvded in the Park, which honestly feels surreal. It would be a major step for me and an opportunity to connect with a larger audience that really aligns with the direction I’m heading creatively.

There are a few more exciting announcements on the way as well. I can’t say much just yet — but definitely stay tuned.

COMETS QUESTIONS

COMET: For anyone discovering you today — who is SHMING, and how did your journey into DJing first begin?

SHMING: I started DJing in 2020 as one of my lockdown hobbies.  I started doing underground stuff because that was all that was available at the time. When things opened up in 2022, I got booked to open for Riot Te,n and I thought to myself, "Oh, people actually want this." So I doubled down, started learning to produce, and now I'm starting to see the doors really open. It's very exciting to see it all come together in the way I've dreamed of.

COMET: You rep the West Coast heavy. How has growing up in Vancouver shaped your sound, your energy, and your presence behind the decks?

SHMING: There's such a huge movie industry in Vancouver. I act as well, and my family works in film, so I really know the importance of story-telling and putting on a

"show"

for the crowd. It's not just playing music. It needs to be an experience. That's why people pay money to see a movie, or subscribe to streaming. You need to do that as an EDM artist as well.

COMET: You just wrapped your first-ever headline show in Revelstoke — congratulations. What did that moment mean to you on a personal level?

SHMING: Thanks so much! Yeah, it felt like a big step in my career because it was my first headline out of the City so I was like okay, people want me in other places, this is exciting! And it went so well! I had a bonus which I earned if I sold x-amount of tickets and I made it, and people got ROWDY, so it was also confirmation that I know how to kill it no matter the crowd or location.

COMET: Every first headline comes with lessons. What did you learn from that night that you’ll carry into future shows?

SHMING: I won't get too into it because it didn't really affect things in the end, but more communication about the overall "vibe" of the night is very important. You're essentially party planning. For example, if it is a Beach-themed party, you're not going to have a mandatory superhero dress code.

COMET: What was one setback you had to push through during that show or the lead-up?

SHMING: Apparently, there was only one other event going on that night in Revelstoke, which got shut down, so people started to flood my venue. It was a cowboy-themed event, so I had a bunch of people dressed up as Cowboys in the crowd. I was so unsure how the brostep was going to go over, so I second-guessed myself A LOT. However, I stuck to my guns and I'm so glad I did. I had people coming up to me after the show saying,

"Please come back, we never get sets like that in Revy."

COMET: On the flip side — what was something unexpected that stuck with you?

SHMING: How hard people went! It's related to the question above, but it really just goes to show that you need to believe in your artistry and don't water yourself down for anyone.

COMET: Every DJ has one — what’s a pet peeve while you’re spinning?

SHMING: OMG when the DJ before you leaves the settings all frickin wild and, when you go to start your set, there is so much you need to set back to normal. If you're a DJ, PLEASE set things back to baseline before the next person. And if you think using crazy settings is a flex, the next artist thinks you're a dick, FYI.

COMET: You just dropped Scream Queen Vol. 4. How does this chapter differ from the previous volumes?

SHMING: This volume is really exciting to me because I feel like I'm honing in exactly the experience I want for this project. This is the first volume where I've just gone full force brostep with an emphasis on high-energy dubstep. There's a lot of "cool" vibes in the scene, and I've never been about that. This volume is me full force saying "Let's be unhinged and feel something, because the most wild and impassioned version of yourself is the one I want to see".

COMET: Being a woman in the bass scene comes with unique challenges. What’s a silent struggle people don’t always see?

SHMING: I try to come at this question a little differently, because what’s been most frustrating to me isn’t just overt sexism... it’s the invisible workload. Female DJs are expected to think about branding, aesthetics, how we look on stage, content strategy, and full world-building on top of making great music. Our male counterparts are often allowed to just exist and still be taken seriously.

The bar for recognition is simply higher. And when you trace most of the challenges women face in this industry back far enough, they almost always lead to the same root: misogyny.

COMET: What keeps you grounded and motivated as you grow your brand and push deeper into the West Coast scene?

SHMING: Progress keeps me motivated. Every song teaches me something new, and that forward momentum makes it easy to stay focused. Staying grounded comes naturally when you’re always chasing improvement instead of validation.

COMET: What’s next for SHMING as you level up into 2026?

SHMING: Going into 2025, fans can expect a more cohesive sound. I’ve been working on a run of tracks I’m really proud of, and I’m figuring out whether they live best as an EP or as singles.. either way, they all feel like a level-up.

I also have some big shows coming up, including my first major corporate festival, Fvded in the Park. There’s more on the way too, but I’ll let those surprises reveal themselves when the time’s right ;)

COMET: Anything you’d like to add or shout out?

SHMING: I’d just add how important social media support has become. If you have a friend creating something, music, art, legit anything, a like, a comment, or a repost truly goes a long way. That kind of support matters more than people realize.

I’m incredibly grateful for every opportunity I’ve had so far, and thank you so much for taking the time to do this interview with me. It’s been awesome! I’d absolutely love to stay in touch <33

I AM SHMING | KOMI