Bio:
Name: Stewart Who?
Name: Stewart Who?
Hometown: Kingston-Upon-Thames
Occupation: Editor, Writer, DJ, Lush
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
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 astu dio and recorded it. Rock & roll, eh?
Brick Lane. Ten minutes later, we walked into a
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
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.
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,
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
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.
Twisted ( Wayne G 2010 Private Mix):
http://soundcloud.com/wayne-g/twistedsc
http://soundcloud.com/wayne-g/twistedsc
H: Together with Wayne
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.
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 Tim e 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:
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.
H: What is your favourite hang-out?
S: The Royal Vauxhall Tavern. It’s my Rover’s Return.
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.
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
