Hi Jodie, you are one of the most outrageous and brilliant new stars of clubland, where did it all begin…?
“Well, I was born and bred in Canterbury in Kent. It’s a lovely little city but far too peaceful and out of touch for my liking back then. I moved to London in my teens to go to stage school and then stayed here to go to University, which is when I started DJing and dressing up. “
What records and artists saw you prancing around your bedroom back then? What records can you still reminisce about?
“I was obsessed with Michael Jackson from the age of four and Madonna from about ten. My parents were horrified when I brought home a copy of her ‘Sex’ book. When I moved to London six years ago, I started getting into Electro – it was around the time of the whole Electroclash explosion when Miss Kitten, Tiga and Peaches were all making banging tunes, and the ‘Party Monster’ film came out. “
What are the biggest 10 tunes in your box right now?
“Larry Tee featuring Jodie Harsh ‘Agyness Deyn’
Triangle Walks 9 ‘Fever Ray’ (Tiga remix)
Royksopp ‘The Girl and the Robot’ (Spencer and Hill remix)
Zombie Disco Squad ‘Esperanto’
Hockey ‘Learn to Lose’ (Labyrinth remix)
Cubic Zirconia ‘Fuck Work’ (Andy George remix)
Master Shortie ‘Dance Like a White Boy’
Plastic Little ‘La la Land’ (Filthy Dukes remix)
Lil’ Kim feat T.Pain ‘Download’
Peaches ‘Mommy Complex'”
What is the best club you have ever played at?
“The best venues in my eyes are Matter in London and Famous in Moscow. Famous is super lux and looks like a cake inside – exactly as you’d expect from a Russian nightclub. Matter is very London – it’s stark, futuristic and the sound system is mind blowing.”
What icons/influences changed your life?
“So many to mention. Fatboy Slim for career, Madonna for business sense, Boy George for bravery, Leigh Bowery for forward thinking, Michael Jackson for creativity, Pamela Anderson for looks…”
How important is the media to you? Do you feel that presence on pages of a magazine or your face on television is integral to your image and also your career in music? For instance, one minute you are DJing at Pacha, the next you are on Big Brother, MTV, the BRITS, Radio 1 and being photographed by the likes of photographer Rankin, Sunday Times’ Style Magazine and French Playboy. Do you think that if you’re going to go right to the top, you need every corner covered?
“I think in this day and age so much media is consumed by our society. So much is constantly being fed to us in magazines, newspapers and the Internet. It’s important to cover all areas sure. Some DJs and producers like to remain in the background, but when I put so much effort into the way I look, why would I want to remain faceless? I did my degree in media and journalism and I really enjoy being part of things like TV and magazines. Embracing the media doesn’t mean you’re necessarily a ‘media whore’.”
Do you sometimes have to pinch yourself and think, wow, this has all come so quick to me?
Yeah, but nothing happened overnight. I’ve worked on ‘Jodie Harsh’ for six years and I’ve only really been known outside of the gay scene for three of them – if that. Nothing was a matter of luck. Sure, some success has been through being in the right place at the right time, but I really worked my ass off to get to where I am now. Because of that, I’ve not been spoiled into thinking I’m not.”
What is the biggest A-List party you’ve been to – your birthday party for instance at Movida saw the likes of Mark Ronson, Mika, Lily Allen, Agyness Deyn, Pixie Geldoff, Jaime Winston, Kimberly Stewart, Sophie Ellis Bextor, Roisin Murphy and Will Young all rocking it…?
“True, my birthday party was pretty special. I wasn’t really expecting it to be so major. I invited all my friends plus a few showbiz types who I know from working in the music industry – and the world and his dog turned up along with about 50 paparazzi. It was crazy. My mum and sister were guests of honour and I spent most of the evening checking they were ok for drinks and having fun – so I suppose that was the one.”
Best DJ in the world?
“That’s a tough one. Me. Maybe.”
What was the Kissy Sell Out Birthday Party like last Friday at The Brickhouse in London?
“Good fun, Kissy’s an old friend and I love his work. I spun for a couple of hours and then introduced him on stage, but I had an early night – no dancing ’til dawn for me. I had to preserve myself for Glastonbury!”
Who is the most fabulous person in the world?
“Lil’ Kim. I love everything about her. I am obsessed by her in fact. She’s the biggest slag ever in her music videos, but when you meet her she’s five foot nothing and talks really softly. She’s really not that ghetto. I bet the jail time toughened her up, though.”
So whilst at The London College of Fashion, one of your published pieces of work was an essay on ‘The Hedonist’s Guide To Life’ – tell DMC what are the top five Hedonistic things in life…
“Champagne, loud music, late nights, group sex…and lots of other naughty things.”
What event this year are you REALLY looking forward to?
“My night at Matter is coming up on July 4th. It’s a major event for my Circus club and we’ve got Siouxsie Sioux, Frankmusik and Tom Stephan DJing and VV Brown and Kissy Sell Out live. That’s an entire festival line-up! Should be a great night. Tickets are on sale now at www.ticketweb.co.uk
Do you think that clubland has gotten a little boring, there are so few figures like yourself who just think, fuck it and get the party rolling…
“I must agree with this actually. London nightlife was mind blowing three years ago when the Shoreditch scene was in its element. Nowadays it seems everyone is quite lazy. It could partly be the so called Credit Crunch’s fault. To be honest, the same thing happened in New York a few years ago and when I last visited in March their nightlife had become so much fun again. The same will happen in London – people will begin taking risks again. This thing comes in waves. We’ll have new movements, new scenes, new nights, new music, new characters. Never underestimate a young promoter with loads of fresh ideas. I can guarantee theirs will be the best party – even if you’d never heard of them before.”
Studio work has swung by for you which is great…what’s all this about the William Orbit and Larry Tee connection?
“I worked on a track with Larry Tee in New York last summer for his Club Badd album which is out now on iTunes. It’s called ‘Agyness Deyn’ and it’s basically me listing various aspects of the modelling and fashion world. It’s tongue in cheek – I hope people get that! And the music is fierce and pumping. As for William Orbit, I’m working on a few bits and pieces, but I’m sworn to secrecy. Sorry! My lips are sealed, as ever.”
Website: www.jodieharsh.com
