Shauna Jensen

Bio:
Name: SHAUNA JENSEN
Hometown: SYDNEY - AUSTRALIA
Occupation: DISCO QUEEN 

Shauna Jensen - Feathers & Fabulousness

H: Shauna, How/when did you start doing singing?

S: I've been singing since I was a child.

Did my first TV appearance at 7, singing

a Dream Is A Wish Your Heart Makes (DISNEY) on a children's TV show.

I had to sing the song to camera outside these 2 doors, which I pushed open to lead me into a fantasy world...and I never came back!!

H: What track is top of your list to sing?

S: I'm in love with my latest recording, a remake of a Patti Labelle track called

"When You Talk About Love"

Patti Labelle - When You Talk About Love

For Shauna Jensen's (Fabulous) version:

https://www.masterbeat.com/#release/sjwytal01

H: I see you know the amazingly talented Peyton,

have you ever thought about a duet?

S: We did a live show together for the Sydney Gay And Lesbian Mardi Gras, with DJ Wayne G, who we met thru, and I would love to do a duet with him if our schedules permitted.

Shauna & Peyton

H: How do you keep up with what's happening within the music industry these days?

S: I work during the week teaching singing at a music university here in Sydney,

so I am always current with pop music.

I have so many DJ friends and am often out and about in the clubs listening to new tracks.

H: There is a lot of controversy surrounding blogs that provide downloads/download links. What is your opinion on this?

S: I'm not a fan of places like "Limewire" and am pleased that they are starting to get closed down.

It's not fair to the artists to not be paid for their recording, so I don't support these sites at all.

H: There are many female vocalists out there, what makes you different from them?

S:Darling, everyone is unique and wonderful. I've been singing professionally for 40 years, so my experience I guess sets me apart from a lot of the younger vocalists.

H: Shauna, who are your favourites DJ's & Remixers and why?

S: Wayne G is my all time favourite, he knows how to make a dance floor move. I love happy uplifting music, and Wayne is masterful at that.

Manny Lehman has just done 2 fierce mixes for me so I'm loving his work too.

I love Bimbo Jones and also The Freemasons, but honestly there are so many!!

Shauna & Wayne G

H: What are you working on at the moment?

S: I am working on writing a track with Lee Dagger from Bimbo Jones.

H: I think many of your fans would love to see a "Best of" CD; is this something you would consider?

S: Absolutely!! am hoping to have something up and available on iTunes in 2011.

http://www.itunes.com/

H: The Pop/Dance/NRG scene has changed a lot over the past 10 years I think, do you agree and if so, in what way has it changed?

S: I agree that it's changed a lot.

One of the biggest reasons it's changed  is because of the drug culture has changed. there have been some bad ass nasty drugs rear their heads in the last decade like Crystal Meth and GHB, which tend to, collectively make the crowds not as happy and much more aggressive.

Also, a lot of club owners and promoters are struggling because of the financial global situation, fewer people are going out, insurance is higher etc etc, so that has an adverse affect on the quality of club nights.

So when the quality declines, the people will move elsewhere.

All glamour!

H: Your music appears to have a huge Gay following, do you have any idea why that is?

S: Well, I work mainly in the gay clubs and direct my music towards the gay/lesbian audience, because I love the style of house music, which is not exactly pop .

Also, I'm older and not a size 0, the gay community tend to be completely accepting and unbiased of what you look like or how old you are as long as you're fabulous, and, I am , well, pretty fabulous!!! hahaha

Pop Diva in action

H: The Internet is THE greatest technological revolution of the 21st century.

In what way has this effected you as an artist?

S: I've been able to connect with more people , get my music out there more effectively

OUT

H: Pride season has just ended; did you go to any Gay Prides and if so: which one(s)?

S: Funnily enough in Australia, when Gay Pride festivals are happening in the northern hemisphere, we really just have a small acknowledgement of that here.

Our biggest Gay Pride event is our Mardi Gras season in Summer, 2 weeks in Feb/March.

We have a huge parade and an enormous party with many international guest artists performing.

DJ Paul Goodyear

H: If you were to name your all-time favourite track that you have done, which one would it be and why?

S: I think my all time favourite is always going to be Take Me To Heaven.

I recorded this with DJ Paul Goodyear and through Paul I met Wayne G and this track has just gone on and on for the last 10 years.

Clone Zone Dance Anthems Two includes:

Paul Goodyear ft. Shauna Jensen - Take Me To Heaven

www.Almightyrecords.com

H:  Your daughter (Rebekah Jensen) is also a singer; have you encouraged or discouraged her or have you even been able to open some doors for her?

S: I LOVE my daughter and her singing is sensational.

She is a great artist in her own right and has just come back to Sydney after working in Japan for 4 months.

I have always encouraged her to follow her heart and her dreams.

She is a fabulous singer.

MOVE - Atlantis Dance 2009 includes:

E-Volution ft. Rebekah Jensen - Love You Right

S: OMG - I don't have just one...if I'm out clubbing I love The DJ Booth or the dance floor-depends which club and which DJ!! lol

During the day, the beach at North Bondi in Summer.

H:  What is your favourite tipple?

S:  Should read what ARE my favourite tippleS.....

I do love a lovely French champagne, I'm quite partial to Moet.

Also grey Goose vodka and ginger beer/or coke/or lemonade/

MOET

H:  You are to host/have the perfect party; what would be your dream guest list and why?

S: I would have to have the hugest party EVER!!

Aretha Franklin, Luther Vandross, Donny Hathaway, Jocelyn Brown,..just imagine every fabulous singer EVER...... and they would be invited because I would want to hear all about their lives and who they are.

Ellen and Portia Degeneres - interesting and funny

RuPaul - too fabulous for words

Deepak Chopra and Wayne Dyer - love them and they'd be great guests

Wayne G, Stewart Who?, Paul and Wilma Goodyear, Manny Lehman...

Oh heavens there are too, too many good friends in the DJ world for sure.

My beautiful family and probably a kick arse band that people would get up and sing with.

Christine Mansfield and Adriano Zumbo to cater (2 of Australia's best chefs)

wow...I could go on forever with THAT party!!

Wayne G - RemiXXer includes:

Wayne G ft. Shauna Jensen - R.E.S.P.E.C.T.

H:  Lastly: Are there any plans for performances in London in the near future?

S: I would love to come to London in 2012 and do some shows, probably will have to fight my way through everyone else who wants to be there then.

I may come next year for your summer.

LOVE LONDON

Big kisses,  thanks for the interview.

xxxx

H.Xx

Stewart Who?

Bio:
Name: Stewart Who?

Hometown: Kingston-Upon-Thames
Occupation: Editor, Writer, DJ, Lush

H: First of all: Stewart, what is the story behind your DJ name?

S: Many, many years ago, in the early days of QX, all the contributors wrote anonymously.

This meant that when I rocked up to a club/event/sex party and said, ‘I’m Stewart, from QX Magazine,’ they would quite naturally respond, ‘Stewart who?’ It kinda escalated from there.

Image by: Jay Eff

H: Stewart, how/when did you start writing songs and do you remember the first ever song you wrote?

S: Well, writing songs sounds terribly grand and totally inappropriate.

It implies musical knowledge, key changes and chord structures- of which, I’m largely ignorant. Leonard Cohen, Elton John, Nick Cave; they’re song writers.

At best, I turn a stream of consciousness into a semi-poem and then put a bangin’ Donk on it. It’s something, but it’s not song writing.

The first effort was ‘Twisted’. I wrote it in a greasy spoon café, over a Full English lardfest, just off

Brick Lane

. Ten minutes later, we walked into a studio and recorded it. Rock & roll, eh?

H:  You have done vocals on many tracks (Most famously "Twisted); have you ever turned anyone down and why?

S: Er, no, never. How rude would that be?

If an artist of any calibre shows an interest in working with me, I get hugely excited and terribly flattered.

The initial creative process is always so much fun. Further down the line, with the marketing, production, finances and label hoo-ha, it can get a bit stressful, time consuming and/or boring.

H: Apart from writing tracks, you DJ as well. What places/where?

S: Anywhere. Sometimes I play as my alter ego, DJ Dick Rock.

He wears leather/rubber and is very fond of a drink.

His music is quite tribal, minimal, not-so-vocal and perfect for darkrooms. He’s resident at RUT at The Hoist, but also played Hotwired and Tank this year.

My gigs really vary. I did several weddings in 2010, the opening gala party for El Lugar Sin Limites film festival in Quito, Ecuador and the ‘asymmetrical fringe’ launch of Easton Regal’s hair salon in Farringdon. Princess Julia cut the ribbon - it was VERY high end.

I also DJd at an Xbox party at the Natural History Museum where the dancefloor was an ice rink and entertainment came from Leona Lewis and The Wanted.

I asked Leona to MC over my set, but she never got round to it.

The Wanted were less shy than Leona and pushed up against my decks with no hesitation. It’s the first party I’ve played that’s been reported in the Daily Mail.

H: How do you keep up with what's happening within the music industry these days?

S: Most of my mates are DJs, producers, music PRs or performers of some shape or form.

That’s a whole lotta gossip - you learn a lot from that.

My job at The Hospital Club requires a certain amount of music coverage.

Every week, I listen to Gill Mills’ Best of MySpace, which is a scorching showcase of new bands.

When you love something, it’s not an effort to keep up, ‘cause it’s what you’re naturally attracted to. I’m always interviewing emerging bands and artists for the site, which keeps me in the loop and on my toes.

http://www.thehospitalclub.com/socialsite/

H: There is a lot of controversy surrounding blogs that provide downloads/download links. What is your opinion on this?

S: That’s a toughie. As an (occasional) artist, one doesn’t like to be deprived of income due to file sharing and illegal downloading. Having said that, policing the internet is a pointless exercise.

I never got into this game to make money, I’m sincerely jazzed that someone might want to listen to or share music that I’ve had a finger in creating. Given a choice, I’d rather people play it, than pay for it.

The first release of Twisted in ’97 included an a capella on the 12” vinyl. The idea was that anybody could do a remix/bootleg if they wanted to. Give it to the kids. Let ‘em have fun. Fuck the big corporations. That’s what I say. Viva WikiLeaks.

H:  You have often worked with one of my favourites remixers, Wayne G - how did this collaboration come about?

S: Well, a very long time ago, Miss G used to do accounts for QX Magazine, back when I was writing for them.

One day, Wayne asked to sample my answer phone message, to use for a dance track. I suggested writing something original. That was the start of what has turned into a 15 year working relationship/bender.

H: Speaking of Wayne: he has done a 2010 remix of Twisted - were you involved in this new version?

S: As if. Occasionally, I might chip in an idea, but Wayne’s the expert, so I respect that. He’ll play ‘work-in-progress’ mixes to me and ask for honest feedback. Sometimes he acts on it.  Often, a suggestion from yours truly will be what he was feeling anyway.

We share many common traits; we both love pop music, unsuitable men, weepy films, chemicals and Helen Mirren. Hopefully, that comes across in our music.

Artwork by: H.

( http://www.cre8ions.blogspot.com/)

Twisted ( Wayne G 2010 Private Mix):
http://soundcloud.com/wayne-g/twistedsc

 

H: Together with Wayne you did the controversial "Twisted" movie.

Were you worried about the possible negative backlash because of the drug-taking in the movie?

S: Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm. Yes and no. I’ve never made any secret of my chemical proclivities in the past OR the inherent danger therein. I wrote about clubs, drugs and partying on an almost weekly basis at QX, so I was never gonna be a Blue Peter presenter.

The film wasn’t a surprise to anybody who’d been a clubber in the ‘90s.

The film wasn’t aimed at homophobic, teetotal Telegraph readers.

It’s supposed to reflect a 4-year snapshot in club culture…and a friendship.

It’s not an instruction manual on how to live.

We were accused of promoting a ‘deathstyle’- as opposed to a lifestyle. We loved that.

We’ve never condoned our behaviour and the film leaves it up to the audience to decide.

One thing is true, you can get away with it for a while, sometimes years, but eventually, the drink & drugs WILL fuck you up.

There. I said it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rQdQBTJciKU

H: There are many songwriters out there, what makes you different from them?

S: Er, I can’t sing. I don’t pay much attention to structure.

I write about the dark, evil realities that lurk in shady gay nightclubs. That separates me from say, Justin Bieber or Taylor Swift, right?

H: Talking about DJ's & Remixers: Who are your favourites?

S: Wayne G, of course. Ralphi Rosario. Per QX. Paul Goodyear. Hex Hector. Frankie Knuckles. Danny Tenaglia. Pagano. The Sharp Boys. DJ Sneak. Todd Terry. Armand Van Helden, Andy Allder (Producer of "Through The K-Hole).

There’s heaps more, but I don’t wanna bore ya.

H: Do you still get nervous when doing a set?

S: Gosh yeah. It’s good too. The terror can really focus your concentration.

A packed, raring, enormous dancefloor is a scary beast to contemplate- because there’s a chance that when you start, they’ll start leaving.

Failure’s very evident in those circumstances.

On the other hand, success can be very gratifying.

About 5,000 screaming ravers at Casa das Caldeiras, Sao Paulo, Brazil…..that was probably the most nerve racking gig. It was the biggest buzz when it worked, too.

H: You have just done a remix set at Sweatbox in London

(Wearing nothing more than a bikini).

Can you tell a bit about this?

S: What can I say? The theme was ‘Beach Party’. I embraced it.

I love DJ-ing in unusual environments. It’s not the first time I’ve spun in a sauna…or in a 2-piece, for that matter. A bikini can cheer up most occasions.

Wear one to a funeral; people soon forget their grief.

H: You did a naked photo shoot for Australian magazine "Blue. How did all this come about and how did it feel going all nude?

S: Well, it wasn’t the first time. Might not be the last. It came about when ‘Twisted’ was Top 20 in Australia, so for Blue, it was a coup to have a Gold-selling artist in the buff.

For me, it was an honour to be asked.

The photographer was Michael Brosnan, who I knew quite well, so it was all quite cosy. I did a few dodgy photo shoots in my late teens, so it was a nice step up to be nude in one of the world’s most respected art/fashion mags.

It was tasteful; I wasn’t fingering my giblets or anything.

H: What are you working on at the moment?

S: Hosting Queer Question Time is an ongoing project.

Promoting occasional Studio 24 parties.

I’m still making music, but nothing I can talk about just yet.

H: The Pop/Dance/NRG scene has changed a lot over the past 10 years I think, do you agree and if so, in what way has it changed?

S: People have died, got older, moved on. Thankfully, there’s a new bunch of kids turning out tunes.

Recreational drugs have changed- that creates different moods. Ultimately, you have to remember that everything is brilliant when you’re 19. If you don’t enjoy discos when you’re 40….duh! Go home. Of course it’s changed, that’s evolution.

H: The dance scene has a huge Gay following, do you have any idea why that is?

S: We don’t have kids. Much. We like to dance. We like to party. We like to socialise.

Often, nightclubs are one of the few places where we can truly be ourselves.

Your true self might be an evil, screaming, frothing, wanking drug addict, but it can be very satisfying to work that out. Sometimes it takes years.

H: Pride season has now ended; did you go to any Gay Prides and if so: which one(s)?

S: I played the official Pride Party at Koko with Wayne and the Freemasons. Can you imagine?

That was scary, handing over to the bloody Freemasons (who are lovely fellas).

I enjoy going to the smaller Prides- regional or in far flung, vaguely homophobic places.

‘Pride’ takes on a different meaning when you can be kicked to death for showing it.

I went to Gay Pride in Riga, Latvia, which required thousands of armed riot police to protect the marchers from violent neo-Nazis. That made me think.

H: If you were to name your all-time favourite track that you have done, which one would it be?

S:  Twisted, I guess. But I also like to think it’s yet to come.

Original (banned) Twisted video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=muFiekcZzUk

H: Trademark has done a fantastic portrait of you, how did this come about and what do you think of the result?

S:  Marsha and I go way back. We worked together for years at Trade, Turnmills. He was managing the club and I was on the door. Those were crazy, messy years and as survivors of that experience, we’re like war veterans.

When his work graced the cover of QX, those copies flew out the bars and people had ‘em framed and up on their walls within weeks.

He asked me to sit for him, which was an honour. We had a hoot during the shoot…and the results are magnificent.

He’s a gent, a wit and a dazzling talent. Love Marsha.

http://www.trademarkart.com/ 

H: What is your favourite hang-out?

S:  The Royal Vauxhall Tavern. It’s my Rover’s Return.

http://www.rvt.org.uk/blog 

H: What is your favourite tipple?

S: Chamaretto (Champagne & Amaretto).

H: You are to host/have the perfect party; who would be your dream guest list and why?

S: I guess at this point, one reels off dead people, rock stars and icons.

Truthfully, having my mates round for dinner is the best joy there is. I managed to get 12 people over for dinner recently, and it was all my gang who’ve been partying with me for the past 15 years or so. That made me SO happy. They’re a rum bunch, and getting them together in one place at the same time, on the same date, is like juggling maggots.
The result is always explosive and hilarious.

That’s my dream party, the people I love.

I would like to say: HUGE thanks to Stewart for taking the time to do this Tete.
Thanks babes :-)


H.Xx