Elizabeth J, Hayley Parsons and Lady Parker – Three female DJs just ripping it up…
1. First up, Elizabeth J…
So Elizabeth. You go way back with your DJing career to 2003 when you worked as DJ support and Tour Manager for Radio 1’s DJ Fergie. It was around that time, with a little help from DJ Phil K you decided that DJing was the avenue you wanted to go down. What made your mind up that being behind the turntables was the route for you?
“All my life I have been musically addicted. I performed for many years as a dancer at numerous club, video and stage events, until I fractured my back in two areas during a holiday in Majorca three years ago on a friend’s boat. I was determined to continue my musical devotion through DJing and other musical endeavours. The ultimate feeling I gain when performing is by controlling them with amazing tracks building and building – truly intense.”
Quite an early start in your musical career – five years old learning the piano and guitar before eventually progressing to be part of the Electro group ‘E2’ – so are you from a musical family?
“My mother used to be a piano tutor and taught me how to play the piano in my earlier years. My immediate family provided very little musical influence towards me, as I was born quite late into my parent’s lives, my older brother was a super geek and later became an astro-physist. My older sister was not very creative nor ambitious but my older cousins were very influential towards me during the 80s, as I would gatecrash their parties from the age of 8 years old. Having such a lust for music when I was growing up, I found various 80s bands/artists totally outstanding and a way of escaping the problems of the day’s events. They still inspire my creativeness in the studio today.”
What 80s acts are you talking about here that had you dancing around your bedroom and what dance artists or mainstream artists are you into?
“Ha. I would shut myself away (as I was quite a lonely child) and entertained myself by imaging being a professional dancer or singer on stage and perform in front of a large mirror to the likes of Ultravox, Blondie, OMD, Duran Duran, Mike Oldfield, Madonna, Prince, Jean Michael Jarre – early dance acts, all the big ones; Leftfield, Prodigy, Massive Attack and the like.”
Some great clubs you’ve played at – Gatecrasher, Puro, Mantra and Sneak to name but three – how would you describe your DJing style?
“I love house music where I can move towards playing either vocal/electro and tech house tracks, including commercial house and club classics tracks to suit certain crowds. I enjoy playing any house tunes which are going to purely rock it!”
What is the best thing about working for Miss Moneypenny’s?
“What I love about Miss Moneypenny’s, especially having grown up alongside them for years as a previous clubber and then later a club dancer – is their glitzy, glamorous parties playing really good music constantly – it really is an honour to be representing and being a part of the Moneypenny’s family.”
Most glamorous party you have ever played at?
“Nikki Beach in Miami.”
What club out there you haven’t played at yet, do you want to?
“Love to play the Ministry.”
Best track you have ever placed on your turntable?
“Blimey there are too many great tunes to choose from, however, the one track I have played since it came out 6 years ago is the track called ‘Need to Feel Loved’ by Reflekt.”
Your top ten tunes you are spinning at the moment?
1. If You Knew – Chris Lake
2. Be Free – The Club Guys
3. I Feel Love – Kevin Duvall
4. Hideaway – De-lacy (Cedric Gervais Vocal mix)
5. Come On – Javi Mula
6. Dirty Toy – Hoxton Whores
7. From the Speaker – Mark Knight
8. Beatbox – Mogaui
9. Life Goes On – Eric Morrillo Vs Richard Grey
10. One Luv – Soul Avengerz (Dirty Dub mix)
Favourite ever DJ?
“I have many DJ influences really, Judge Jules because I like the way he will play any types of music as long as it rips up on the dance floor, Pete Tong for his major input of dance music, Eddie Haliwell, Phil Kand, Nic Fancuilli for their professionalism, skills and determination Fedde La Grand, Paul Oakenfold, Chris Lake and Mark Knight for their music styles. Loads.”
2. Next up Miss Hayley Parsons…
Hi Hayley. So you’ve always had love of music from an early age – a modelling career came first but now you are now one of the most famous female DJs out there. What sort of music did you grow up listening to? What posters did you have on your walls?
“Aww thank you. Well my parents loved Motown so I grew up listening to artists like Marvin Gaye and The Supremes. I wasn’t allowed posters on my walls, probably a good thing, I was very into boy bands and would have had some like Take That up there.”
You have played at some cool clubs such as Gatecrasher, BCM in Mallorca and Pacha – what has been your favourite?
“Definitely Pacha in Moscow. It was amazing, people are gorgeous over there and seriously know how to have fun. Vodka Vodka Vodka!”
Also travelled to some great overseas destinations to DJ, what’s been the best?
“Shanghai, China was my favourite overseas gig. I love to travel and learn about different cultures, perks of the job I suppose. China was brilliant, everyone is always smiling and they love their house music over there.”
What are your big ten tunes you are playing at the moment?
Swahili Song – Libex Marshall
Our Darkness – David Pene, Robert Gaez
Sinfonia De La Notte – Dennis Ferrer
Go That Deep – Nufrequency (Second Life remix)
Come with Me – Micha Moore Remix
I Am a DJ – Alex Gaudino (Thomas Gold remix)
Vicious Circles – John Dalhback, Julien Jabre
Changing Lanes – Hayley Parsons
Once in a lifetime – Marco Petrelia
Rise – Plastic Funk
What five people would you invite to your dinner party?
“Don’t really have dinner parties as I’m not that great at cooking, so number one on the list would be Jamie Oliver, I think Ruby Wax and Jonathan Ross together are hilarious so they are on the list, Producer David Pene and Carl Cox so I could pick their brains and get as much musical knowledge as I can out of them.”
So tell us about venturing into the studio?
“Yeah, I’ve been working in the studio lots recently. Its great working with different people getting great ideas and different styles together. I have had one track signed to Moneypenny’s, ‘Sanctuary’ which should be out soon. Also just mixed one of a 3 CD compilation album being brought out by Moneypenny’s. Each girl from the Girls of Miss Moneypenny’s had a genre to mix, mine is the more progressive/ tech house CD.”
Which DJs do you most look up to?
“I’d have to say James Zabeila for his skills behind the decks and Carl Cox because he has been DJing pretty much since the beginning was the first to introduced 3 decks into a set.”
Do you get any problems from male DJs that may have been around longer than you when you sidle up to the decks to take over?
“No not really most of the guys I have met have been really helpful, I have some close male DJ mates who have been nothing but encouraging from the start. I have come across a few resident DJs that have got the hump but only because I think they think I’ll just turn up and just press the Play button, but as soon as I mix my first few tracks – they lose the attitude.”
And what is your favourite record of all time?
“So many to choose, bit random and nothing like what I play but Armin Van Buuren ‘Communication’ brings back sooo many good memories. Something I would play though and love, Marc Evans ‘You Love The Way’ on Defected.”
3. Lady Parker wowing the dancefloor…
Hi Rachel, nice DJ name by the way. So you’ve always had a real passion for music, I’ve asked Elizabeth and Hayley what they grew up listening to, what was the music you listened to and danced around your bedroom to and also, what were the early dance artists/tunes that fuelled the passion to become a DJ?
“Well I was a very big fan of the Prodigy in my younger years and loved the Stereo MC’s, which gave me many a night throwing shapes in front of the mirror. But it was artists such as Roger Sanchez, Daft Punk and Josh Wink that really attracted me to DJing. The usual big tracks really, Tracks like ‘Higher State of Consciousness’, ‘Around the World’, ‘Professional Widow’ and’ Playing with Knives’ definitely worked their magic on me. Glad you like the name Dan…”
Which DJs have you looked up to over the years?
“Jonathan Ulysses, Audio Bullys, Lottie, Eric Prydz, Dubfire,Yousef and Sven Vath to name but a few. But I think the best I’ve ever seen has to be James Zabiela after witnessing him playing the most amazing set at Space in Ibiza, almost life changing.”
What’s the best dance track ever made?
“‘Shapeshifters Lola’s Theme’ (dub).
What was the first gig you ever played at?
“It was at The Sobar venue in Birmingham – on vinyl. Birmingham on vinyl! I was scared to death but it went off.”
So you initially started out just teaching yourself how to DJ, but then went to Patric McLean’s Chamber Music Studios in Birmingham to progress your style and skills – was that helpful, how does it all work down there?
“Well I could only teach myself so much, such as basic beat matching but I felt I was missing something that would take me from the bedroom to the club. At this time I was a regular clubber at Moneypenny’s and it was here I heard of Chamber Music Studios and their DJ academy. So soon as I could I became an intermediate at the studio even though it meant weekly drives from my hometown to Birmingham but I felt the sacrifice was worth it. The great thing was that not only did the guys at the studio take my skills to the next level it also opened up a lot of doors to regular gigs in Birmingham and helped me meet some awesome friends and contacts in the industry. It played a huge part in taking me to where I am today.”
What other female DJs out there (other than the Moneypenny’s Girls!) do you rate?
“Smokin Jo and Jo Mills.”
What are the big ten tunes in your box at the moment?
Daniel Bovie & Roy Rox – Kiss The Moon (Gabi Newman Vocal Remix)
Chris Lake – Only One (Album Version)
Michael Feiner – Fairplay (Let there be love) – (Bale & Voltaire mix)
Tony Martinez & DJ Josepo – I Feel
Female Deejays – Memories feat. Azin (Gold Ryan & Tapesh Mix)
Roy Stroebel, Jerome Isma-Ae – Vila Nova (Serge Devant Mix)
Jabato,David Penn – En Mi Casa (Original Mix)
Levan – Keep Me Sweet feat. Andrea Mocha (Ruben Alvarez Mix)
Kraze – Make This Party Jump feat. Peter Presta (Chris Montana & Dave Ramone Remix)
Wally Lopez – Burning Inside (Albert Neve 808 Remix)
Best club you have ever played at?
“Main Room at Eden in Ibiza rocked. Although I’ll be soon gracing the decks for The Girls of Moneypenny’s in Ibiza at the brand new and exclusive Boho club, which is going to be something special we all feel.”
Should DJs aged over 50 be forced to retire from playing in nightclubs?
“Age, sex, race or religion has nothing to do with it! If you’re tearing up the dance floor – that’s all that matters.”
How did the ‘Girls of Moneypenny’s’ set up come about – and what was your initial feeling about setting up a trio of DJs with two ex-models?
“Moneypenny’s approached me with their vision of ‘The Girls of Moneypenny’s’ along with the worldwide tour and soon to be released album and told me they wanted me involved. It was such an exciting idea and amazing opportunity for me so I knew straight away I was onboard. I was already friends with EJ through the scene in Birmingham and I’d heard good things about Hayley, so I knew the girls were there based on merit.”
How would you describe your DJing style?
“Driving House”
Best DJ you’ve ever played with?
“Steve Angello”
I launched Sundissential at a tiny club in Burton on Trent many a year back. It’s your home town, where did you start YOUR clubbing nights?
“Well funnily enough one of my favourites was Sundissential in Birmingham, along with Progress in Derby and Hot to Trot in Mansfield! All legends in their own right.”
What is your guiltiest pleasure?
“Shopping for sure, I heard a great saying the other day. ‘If you live within your means you have a serious lack of imagination’. So you could say I have a fantastic imagination.”
