A Bradford teenager who turned to being a DJ to cope with life’s struggles is following her dream of making the big time.

Katy C, known as Caitlin Crossland in her day to day life, fell in love with DJing the second she got behind the decks.

In just two years, the 17-year-old has gone from dancing in her childhood bedroom to performing at a club in Ibiza, an island known for its legendary house music.

Finding joy in old school house tunes has brought her out of a dark place, her dad Gareth said.

Katy C at workKaty C at work (Image: Gareth Crossland) Katy’s passion has even caught the attention of well-known DJs like Ewan McVicar, who urged her to keep going.

Katy, who lives in Holme Wood, said: “That day I got on the decks I was so confused but I fell in love with it.

“It’s hard to explain, it’s like you’re kind of just in a different world. You zone out of everything.”

Gareth, who works as a DJ and photographer, said: “With Katy’s background of struggling through school she shut herself away in her bedroom every night and didn’t know what life she was going to live. She’s had a dark time.”

After Gareth’s friend opened a studio, Katy was invited to play some beats. She was struggling with her studies at the time.

House DJ Katy C, picturedHouse DJ Katy C, pictured (Image: Gareth Crossland) “I felt like the odd one out,” the DJ said.

“When it came to my GCSEs I was like, what do I do now?”

Katy used her DJ skills to attract opportunities across West Yorkshire, Lancashire, and beyond.

Katy has just returned from playing a set at Plastik, an Ibiza club loved by fans of vocal house and retro classics.

Katy said: “When they asked me it felt a bit too true to believe. It didn’t feel real. It felt like I was dreaming. It was amazing, seeing how big the music scene is over there.”

Pictured, DJ Katy C playing some tunesPictured, DJ Katy C playing some tunes (Image: Gareth Crossland) She says more women and girls are entering the typically male dominated career.

But building a name for herself hasn’t been an easy ride. Katy C has faced a barrage of abuse from online trolls - particularly older men.

She said: “All the comments I’ve had, they’ve come from older men like I’m ‘not a DJ because it’s not vinyl’. There can be comments on the way I look - the makeup used to be a big one - calling me a ‘button pusher’, ‘I don’t have a clue what I’m doing’.

“It all came about the other week because I had filtered comments on TikTok. My TikTok needed updating. All these comments just came flooding through from weeks, months, days ago. It just broke me down.”

But Katy is determined to become a well-known name in music. 

Proud dad Gareth said seeing his daughter perform often leaves him emotional.

In a message to other young people, Katy said: “No matter how hard your dream seems, it’s always possible.”