Hello my lovely! How are you? What’s been happening so far in 2008 for our Princess of Hardhouse?!

Hey honey, I am really well thank you.

2008 has been a pretty good year for me so far. It all started with me being signed to the massive ‘Strike Agency, which I am SOOO pleased about. To be on the same roster as other DJ’s such as Lisa Lashes, BK and Anne Savage is such a privilege and something I’m very excited about.

I’ve also dipped my toe into the world of producing by going in with the massively talented BK. We came up with a nice chunky number which is called ‘Get With This’ – so keep your ears peeled as this should be getting a release later on in the year.

I have also been doing a little bit of interviewing at a few recent events, which I’m loving by the way. It all started with me interviewing you actually at the Frantic H.D.S. event you played at, after a few vodkas admittedly!! The interview went down so well, that Will Paterson (owner of all things Frantic) asked me to interview a load of DJ’s at the recent Timeless event, along with Frisky. This was used on a promotional video which proved to be quite popular, so I may be doing this at quite a few events in the future – so if you see me wandering about with a camera crew, make sure to come over and have a chat.

What exciting things have you got planned for the rest of the year?

I’ve already got quite a few things lined up for the rest of the year, which will definitely be keeping me busy!

My website is being re-designed, so this should be launched again in the next month or so. I’m going to be headlining the massive Hard House Heaven at Heaven in May - something which I’m so proud to have achieved, make sure to get your hands on my personalised rock! I’m going over to Ibiza in June to play for Frantic and will also be in Spain for HTID in the Sun, so that will be a busy month for me going between the two! I’m also hoping to get in the studio again with BK and am talking about going in with the Tidy DJ’s as well.

You have come on leaps and bounds since you first played out in the Queen Vic as part of the Tidy Summer Camp competition back in 2003, which you won!!! You only got to play, literally by the toss of a coin…explain this story again briefly for those of us who don’t know how it all happened and tell us….where do you think you’d be now if it wasn’t for that competition?

That’s exactly right and looking back at that, I still can’t quite believe what happened!

I’d entered the Tidy Weekender competition by sending in my demo, but as I hadn’t actually played out by that point, I didn’t really hold much hope to getting anywhere!! Well my demo cd made it down to the final 10 and they were all hosted on the Tidy site for people to vote on. Obviously I was extremely happy with getting this far and again, didn’t think I’d get any further until a few weeks later I received a call from Kelly Dayus-Cook to say that I’d made it to the final 5 and I would be playing in the final at the Tidy Weekender Summer Camp. I think I actually cried at that point, partly because I was so happy and partly because I didn’t have a ticket to get into the Weekender and this was one of the rules of entering – oh dear!!

Anyway, I decided not to say anything and just get my head down to practising – every single hour that I could leading up to the event! The weekender came round and I drove down to sunny Camber Sands for the final, when I got to the gate I explained to security that I was playing in the pub that day so that was the reason I didn’t have a ticket. They didn’t really fall for it, so called Russell to the gates to sort it out. I explained the whole thing to Russell and he said that he couldn’t really let me in as I’d broken the rules, but would toss a coin and if I called the right side, then he would let me play – so he tossed the coin, I called the right side, got to play in the final and then only bloody won it!!! They had to call my name twice when they announced it you know, as I didn’t believe it!!

The competition definatley kicked things off for me and got me noticed, right from that point Will Paterson took me under his wing and has got me to where I am today. I am extremely grateful to him for that and for taking a chance with me to – I guess you can call it fate and a good story!!! Without the competition, I’d probably still be mixing away in my bedroom, making demos to hand out to every single person that would listen, trying to get to where I am now anyway, lol!

When I first met you, you were an insane lover of filth! However, now you tend to play the tougher-edged side of hard trance, what made your musical tastes change or do you still love the filthier side of hardhouse?

Don’t get me wrong, I still love the filthier side of hard house, but just don’t get the chance to play it that much anymore – but when I do, I look forward to it for ages as it gives me chance to show how diverse I can be.

When I started playing out, I played quite a few warm up sets and this gave me the opportunity to experiment with different style of hard house. From playing those sets, I think I found my true style and the real me which is what I play today. I still play quite tough, but just not as tough as I used to. I do still throw a few filthier tracks into my sets, but that’s when I tend to play a bit later on – I like to be versatile you see, not just a DJ that only plays one style. I love hard house and all its genres.

Being such a highly acclaimed DJ now in the scene, do you get sent lots of new, unreleased tracks by producers? If so, which of these tracks can you just not stop playing?!

Highly acclaimed DJ, why thank you honey – I’m blushing now!!!

I am in a really fortunate position, as I do get sent so many tracks before they’re even released, which is fab!! To be able to play these tracks out in the clubs, before they’ve been heard anywhere else, is a privilege. Producers doing it for me at the moment are Technikal, BK, Tom Parr, Amber D and Andy Whitby – they’re all making some amazing tunes and are they’re all so different in their sound. Listening to what they’re making definatley makes me excited about the future of our scene and where it is heading.

You’re set to headline “Planet Hardhouse” at Hard House Heaven at Heaven on 4th May…what have been your previous experiences of playing at Heaven and for those who haven’t yet had the pleasure of going to Hard House Heaven, what should they expect?

How exciting is that? Me, headlining a Frantic event at Heaven – wow!!

Heaven is an incredible venue and one that I’ve been fortunate to play at a number of times now. It’s such a huge venue, but still has that intimate feel about it with all the little corridors leading to each room. I remember the first ‘Hard House Heaven’ a number of years ago, where I played a warm up set b2b with Garbo – it was absolutely rammed right from the beginning and the atmosphere was amazing all night. A few years on and I’m headlining this event – it is such a huge privilege for me and definatley a highlight of my career so far.

What other DJs are you looking forward to seeing on the night?

The line up is huge, with so many different styles being played between the rooms. Sets that I’m particularly looking forward to are Greg Brookman’s LIVE set (don’t miss this whatever you do), Andy Farley as he is an old favourite of mine, Scott Fo Shaw, Lee Pasch, Frisky and the lovely Nathalie (yes, you). I could probably list the whole line up to be honest, but will just stick to a few!!!

Have you got any plans to play abroad this year?

I certainly have! At the moment I have been confirmed to play for Frantic in their return to the white Isle and in Spain for HTID in the Sun, I’m also going to be playing on a boat party for Godskitchen/Polysexual which is going from Estonia over to Sweden, its crazy! I am so looking forward to playing to a different crowd outside of the UK and of course the chance to top up my tan!!! Fingers crossed a few more dates will be confirmed in the next few months, so watch this space.

When you’re not out and about playing all over the country, how do you like to unwind?

Well when I’m not playing in clubs each weekend, the rest of my time is spent getting ready for the weekend!!! Answering PM’s on all the websites, speaking to producers and getting tracks together, as well as practising as much as I can. Away from hard house though, I like to just chill out with my friends – this normally includes a pub and quite a few bottles of rose!! Oh and not forgetting my little puppy Henry – me and him hang out all the time you know!!!

Questions from your fans…..

Trance-Hand:
What other type of music are you into and how much raving do you manage to do now you’re a superstar mixmaster?
Hehe, Superstar Mix Master – why thank you!!!

To be honest I actually surround myself with hard house at all times, honestly I do listen to it 24/7. The only other thing I listen to is Scott Mills on the Radio when I can – he makes me laugh so much that I don’t actually want to get out of my car half the time!

Due to the fact that I DJ most weekends, I don’t get to go out ‘raving’ as much as I’d like at all. If I don’t have to shoot off anywhere else though, I do tend to go to clubs a bit earlier or hang around a bit after my set to enjoy the night as much as I can. I have been known to go clubbing with my girlies when I’ve got a weekend off though, lol!

Mr Rusty:
Who is your inspiration, DJing hero? Favourite track? Favourite club (night & DJing)?

When I stared mixing it was all about Mr Paul Glazby – I used to follow him around everywhere to watch him mix! Now I’m not sure where my inspiration comes from – it’s just a passion for what I do which makes me work as hard as I can to get to the top, where I want to be eventually.

My favourite hard house track of all time is ‘I Don’t Care’ – I still get goosebumps whenever I hear this track played in a club, it is amazing.

My favourite club to DJ in has to be Air in Birmingham or The Opera House in Bournemouth – they are both absolutely incredible venues, so if you haven’t been to either, then you need to!!

Where would I most like to play in the future?
I think the only venue left in the England that I’d love to play at is the famous Ministry of Sound. I have been there a few years ago as a clubber and loved it – luckily for me I am playing there next month for the huge AWsum vs Kiddfectious, yay! Other than that, I’m sure there are hundreds of venues outside of the UK that I’d love to play at, I just haven’t been there yet!!

Loubella:
Your best clubbing memory before you became a DJ? Where was it? Who would you love to do a b2b with?

I have hundreds of brilliant memories as a clubber, but I don’t think I’d be able to fit them all in this interview – we’d be here forever!!!

I’ve had the pleasure of playing b2b with quite a few amazing DJ’s, but ones that are still on my list would be the lovely and gorgeous Amber D, Lisa Lashes or Anne Savage, or to dig out some of my filthier tracks, Paul Glazby or Andy Farley.

Tidy Steve:
Who was the first named DJ you saw play? First club you played main stage at?

Well it was at Sundissential North New Years Day 2003 when I first saw Rob Tissera – I was absolutely gobsmacked by him!!! I hadn’t been to a hard house event before and was totally blown away by it all, Rob was on last and I nearly cried when his set finished – I really didn’t want it to end!!!

The first main stage event I played at was a Tidy Weekender back in October 2004, wow! I had won the competition in the summer before and part of my prize was to play at the following Weekender. Thinking back to that gig now, puts a huge smile on my face – especially to see how far I have come since!

Fullah-Sugah-SDD:
Which up and coming DJ’s do you like?

Unfortunately I don’t get to watch that many DJ’s play anymore, not as much as I’d like anyway. It definatley goes without saying (but I’ll say it anyway!), but I love Nathalie – she is definatley coming on leaps and bounds and is a DJ people should watch out for in the future. Another DJ who is making waves in the scene is Mike Avery – his style of mixing and tune selection is infectious! Scott Fo Shaw is definitely one to keep your eye on and his productions are just pure brilliance!!!

Tiggerdan-PRO-POBber:
Do you think you’ll be bigger than Andy (Whitby) eventually?

Haha, what a question!!!

I try to not compare myself to anyone else and instead of watching what other people are doing, I put all of my energies into my career and where I want to go. Sometimes you can get too wrapped up in what other people are doing and it takes the focus away from what is important, me and my career!! Obviously Andy has done extremely well and still has so far to go, but he has a completely different style to me so it would be difficult to judge myself on what he has done and achieved.

I have my eyes set on the top – I want to be the biggest female DJ in this scene eventually and I don’t think Andy could achieve that, but he could be the biggest male, hehe!

Webbo69:
I read you were a fan of Hardcore when you started clubbing, do you still follow it now?

Haha, yes I was – I was a true hardcore raver back in the day!!! When I started clubbing, back when I was 15, I used to be into hardcore – I used to go out every weekend, mainly to places like Fantasy Island in Skegness and The Sanctuary in Milton Keynes.

I don’t follow hardcore as much as I used to, but do play at a few of their events and I absolutely love it. The crowd are absolutely insane and one of the best to play to - you definitely feed off that as a DJ and I always look forward to playing at the hardcore events when I know they’re in the diary.

Quick Fire Questions

• House party or club?
As a DJ I’d have to say a club.

• Boys or girls?
Depends in what context you’re asking really – boys obviously, but my girlies as company definatley.

• Sun or snow?
Snow –it’s so pretty!

• Pepsi or Coke?
Neither – I hate fizzy drinks!

• McDonalds or Burger King?
Burger King every time

• Blondes or brunettes?
Blondes of course

• Take That or Boyzone?
Take That all day! I used to have a poster of Robbie Williams above my bed, so I could see him when I went to sleep and when I woke up – sad I know!!!

• Beer or Spirits?
Spirits – vodka please

• Cd’s or vinyl?
I love the feel of playing vinyl, but nowadays its cd’s for me

• Batman or Robin?
I’m not really sure on this, but it has to be Batman – he drove the sexy car

• Simpsons or Family Guy?
I don’t watch either to be honest – Hollyoaks is on at the same time as The Simpsons I’m afraid!

• Daddy or chips?
Chips

Thanks lovely for taking the time out to answer all those!