Lisa. one of my favourite girls in clubland behind the decks. I suppose your first big break was when you started opening up for the Fantazia raves back in the late 90s, what were those days like?
“Fantazia was my first big break, playing to 11,000 people which was my first ever gig and it was nerve racking to say the least! Those days were amazing and so much fun, I used to be completely off my trolley back then. I have grown up a bit now though. Nicky (my now business partner in Vital Music) used to work at Fantazia and here we are in business together running the DJ/Management Agency.”
I seem to recall you were a trained violinist…what was all that about?
“I used to play the violin up until the age of 16, then I got bored of it and went a bit wild as you do in your teens and I have never picked a violin up since. I wish my parents had made me play the piano, I think I would have preferred that and enjoyed it more, but it gave me good stead into the Djing and music world.”
What DJs did you look up to when starting on climbing the big ladder of the DJ world?
“Sasha mainly as there was a tape that flew round my home town from one of his raves he played at and I kept playing it over and over for months, people still go on about that tape. Also, Danny Tenaglia as his music is just amazing and also Carl Cox.”
Big 10 tunes in your box this week?
01. Mla-Sharm El Sheikh (Molly & Torta vs Degre Mix)
02. Energy 52 Café del Mar (Deamaus mix
03. Reflekt ft. Delline Bass-Need To Feel Loved (Adam K & Soha Vocal Mix)
04. Express Route (Original Mix) Chrizz Lurvy
05. Sebastian Leger – Majuro_Original_Mix
06. Jesse Rose ft. Hot Chip-Touch My Horn (Original)
07. Spells of Yaruba Gel Abril
08. John Dahlbak – World of Love (Pig & Dan remix)
09. 2XLC – Dante’s Peak_Jerome Isma Ae Remix
10. You’ve got me Burning Up – Cevin Fisher
Best album ever?
“Well, I am into all kind of music, but I have to say Ritchie Hawtin’s DE9 Transitions and Pink Floyd – Dark Side of the Moon.”
What made you progress from being a hugely successful model to the world of DJ’ing?
“My ex-boyfriend used to hire out his sound system to huge events and then one evening he set up his system in his house, it was so funny as it turned into one big party – then, when everyone left 2 days later, I decided to get on the decks, I knew what to do straight away (in my head), but the art of DJjing is mastering it, which can take years.”
How difficult / how easy was it to convince your model friends in the industry to learn how to DJ under your guidance and start a different career step?
“I don’t think anyone can really captivate my vision as I am a DJ and I’ve been a model in the past and I run a DJ Agency, I think when you talk about something you know people will believe in you more, but you also need a good creative business head on you. And I have a business partner in Vital Music so there are 2 of us.”
Who do you think out of your Vital DJ Management roster has the most potential, perhaps a cruel question, so maybe tell us about the qualities each girl has?
“Well, we don’t just deal with female DJ’s, everyone has their own unique quality, we have just taken on Future Freakz who are producing some really good music at the moment and are great DJ’s, they’ve got a cheekly tune out at the moment called ‘Freakz Groove’. All the girls we’ve taken is a project/brand within itself and are very different in their own way, I think you will see over time who will shine, I am sure they all will as they have real guts and determination to succeed which is what you need in business. Never give up, that is my motto.”
Tell us about the days (and nights!) founding London’s first all girl Garage group London’s Most Wanted – that era saw the Garage scene sweeping the nation…
“From DJing at many events, I met all the Garage girl DJ’s and we formed London’s Most Wanted together, The Dreem Teem were doing their thing and I said to one of the other girls that we should do a female version of them so we decided to form London’s Most Wanted – that was crazy as we were given a huge opportunity, I was ready to give it my all, we had TV channels interviewing us, The Evening Standard as well as your usual music mags like Mixmag, Ministry and DJ and people jumped on it. It was when the Garage scene was thriving, it was at it’s peak and we were splashed here there and everywhere, then it went wrong as people couldn’t deal with confrontation in a constructive way, you have to be tough if you want to survive. We had fun though.”
Which country you have played at have the maddest clubbers?
“Beirut, I played to 4000 mad clubbers on a beach and Abu Dhabi where I played to a huge crowd there too, really special.”
What has been your best studio work over the years?
“I think it has to be of Alliyah ‘Try Again’ or ‘Unique’.”
Some amazing gigs – Glastonbury v the WMC Miami Conference – (which you should have accompanyed me to), what was the best out of the two?
Ha – both. Glastonbury was just crazy, on my way there I drove into one of the fields and got surrounded by mad party people, I panicked because I thought I wasn’t going to get out in time to do my set and I kept getting flashbacks to all the free parties. Miami is amazing, it is just the best as you have everyone from the industry in one place and there are party’s going on everywhere.”
What’s next for Lisa Unique?
Loads, we have a TV pilot in the making with the girls, Vital Music are hosting an Arena at The Homecoming Festival on May 2nd/3rd – I’ve got lots in the pipeline. It’s music, meetings and DJ’ing all the time for me at the moment, to keep updated go to www.myspacecom/djlisaunique www.vitalmusic.co.uk and www.headphonesandheels.com
