Reported by HarderFaster
/
Submitted 18-03-09 19:53
Since she last graced the pages of HarderFaster things have shot up into the stratosphere for the amazingly talented Lizzie Curious. With a new burlesque based promotion launching in the sumptuous confines of Babalou, we decided it was high time we got our Curiosity satisfied!
Hi Lizzie, Since we last had you featured on the site how have things been going for you?
Hey Adam! Well, I think it was about a year since my last interview for HarderFaster. There has been lots going on in the crazy world of Lizzie Curious that’s for sure – I’ve had some really fantastic gigs and releases that I’m really proud of and have got lots to look forward to as well!
The highlights over the past year on the DJ front for me have been playing out in Ibiza at Amnesia for Robbie Rivera’s JuicyIbiza night and flying over to Russia to DJ and sing live for at a massive club called Podium in the city of Krasnoryask. Back on UK soil, it’s been a pleasure continuing to be resident for ElectronicSessions in London. ES is doing so well, having just celebrated their 3rd birthday: every single boat party has sold out and now they will be hosting after-boat-parties at Ministry of Sound on a Saturday night, which is a real coup. Break Out, my residency in Cheltenham is also going from strength to strength, with over 400 up-for-it clubbers ramming the dancefloor every month and April sees the Break Out 3rd birthday celebration too!
I’ve also had fantastic gigs with events including Grin, Licked, Elektrophonik, Charlys Angelz in Ibiza and Bloom Festival. This spring sees me busier than ever playing at events in Essex (Style Promo), Taunton (Housework), Kingston-upon-Thames (Grin), Exeter (Housetrap), Northampton (J’Adore) plus my residencies. I am also now resident DJ for The Lollipop Lounge in Cheltenham (and coming to London soon!), which is a traditional Burlesque performance night where I play something totally different – 1950s rock & roll music and I absolutely love it! Seeing all my hard work come to fruition has given me the confidence to launch my own event - The Curiousity Club.
On the studio side, last September the title track from Robbie Rivera’s album Star Quality, which featured my vocal, was released and received big support from the likes of Roger Sanchez, Stonebridge, ATFC as well as hitting the Beatport charts. I have to say I was totally blown away when he chose to use it as the title track for his album! I also hit the Beatport electro chart top 15 for my track with Nino Anthony, SpeakerFreaker and had a release on Tim Davison’s album (Long Way From Home) called SU242. I’ve also been busy doing some cheeky remixes of songs I personally love so that I can play them in my DJ sets. My filthy house remixes of tracks like You’ve Got The Love, Bullet In The Gun and Breathe Me have all been going down a storm and getting support from the likes of Robbie Rivera, Big Al, Eddy Temple-Morris, Jack Michaels and more.
You launched your new party The Curiousity Club in London at the end of January and your next event is on March 27th. What has brought you into the smoke to have this party?
Well, as the veterans of HarderFaster know only too well, even before my DJ career took off I’ve always been a London clubber at heart - and I have met so many fantastic people over the years. Having lived near and in the capital prior to moving to Cheltenham means I’ve always felt very home in the big smoke and it holds a special place in my heart. I really relish every gig I have in London, getting to see all my city-dwelling mates and new Team Curious recruits! When I decided to start my own club night it felt only natural to do so in the best city for clubbing in the country.
You’re having it in the sumptuous surroundings of Babalou. What was it that sealed the deal for this venue?
There isn’t really a venue like Babalou in London, it’s one of my favourite smaller clubs. For starters I love the fact that it’s in the crypt of a converted church – there’s something intrinsically wrong about partying in church! As you descend into the club, you can’t help having a feeling of excitement and anticipation at what debauchery might greet you at the bottom of the stairs. Then the actual layout and décor of the club is fantastic: sumptuous booths and hideaway corners with velvet seating, luscious red walls and Moroccan-style lights and furniture. All of these little touches really lend Babalou well to the Burlesque theme that I have given Curiousity Club.
From a DJ’s point of view I love spinning at Babalou. The DJ booth is an ideal position, slap bang in the middle of the club & slightly elevated so you can interact with the crowd but also see the whole dance floor while you are mixing! On top of that, the sound system is nice and fat and I have found that all the staff, including the security, are polite and friendly…. Need I go on?!
With the surrounding sorted tell us why have you gone down the Burlesque route?
One of the highlights for me last year was becoming resident for The Lollipop Lounge. Before this, I didn’t really know much about the Burlesque scene and it’s been a fantastic education into this unique 1950’s art-form, which encompasses pastiche parody, wit and beauty in all forms! From the start of Lollipop Lounge I totally fell in love with all things Burlesque. I thought that fusing some of the aspects of the Burlesque scene - such as the flamboyant, sometimes tongue-in-cheek performances and the beautiful dress-style - with really filthy house music would make for an exciting, fantastic clubbing experience and also provide something a bit different and fresh for clubbers!
So how did the launch go?
I was so happy with the launch and was literally on cloud 9 for days afterwards! It was amazing to see how many people got into the spirit and came dressed up and also that everyone arrived so early and with big smiles on faces. Clubbers, DJs and the management of Babalou all commented on what a fantastic atmosphere the event had.
I felt very honoured to have had such a great crowd of people come and support the night. Incidentally, I’m a real stickler for nights to progress musically and each DJ played a fantastic set perfect for the time of night which I was really pleased about! Seeing the dancefloor full and people loving the music was a brilliant feeling – it gives me butterflies just thinking about it. On a personal level I also loved the magician that performed some really amazing, mind-twisting magic tricks!
What have you got planned for your next party?
It’s so important to me that the music progresses well over the course of the night to a filth-fuelled crescendo and I’m delighted with the DJ line-up I have for the 27th. All the DJs are real entertainers behind the decks and I’m looking forward to stomping at the front of the dancefloor (when I’m not havin’ it behind the decks!) I have worked closely with The Lollipop Lounge (who host all the entertainment for me) and we have incorporated some special Burlesque entertainers who are very visual and will be mingling with the crowd as well as performing on stages. I don’t want to give away too much but I have some really great Burlesque “characters” that are going to add some real spice and fun to the event’s proceedings and will also be handing out all sorts of little freebies.
Will we see you dancing in an oversized champagne glass?
No, not this time anyway! Although, of course, I have got a great outfit planned!
It’s been just over a year now since you put out your album Different Things. What’s happening on the recording front?
As you’ll have read, I’ve been really busy since I released my album. Firstly, I’m Not Drowning (the most popular track on my album) is being released on Powder Room Productions this Spring with remixes from Leisuregroove and Laura Brown. Then I also have a vocal track with Leisuregroove themselves, called Colours Of Life, set for release on LGR music.
My main news is that I have just finished a total of 4 vocals for Robbie Rivera’s next album which will be released later this year. Each song is really different and I think it’s definitely some of my best work to date, the tracks are real killers! I have also been working with more producers around the globe including Reuben Keeney from Ireland (IDMA’s best new producer) and Sean JayDee (Romania), plus Jay Cox from the UK and there;s also work with some other amazing producers in the pipeline too!
Have the plants you’ve been keeping been helping you with penning more songs?
Well I’m writing songs every day so having plants around the house must be a positive thing for me. I have also grown a chilli plant from seed although I’m yet to pen any lyrics about that!
Where else do you take your inspiration from?
I get my inspiration from so many things. Quite often lyrics and a melody will literally just pop into my head and I’ve got to scribble them down and sing them into my phone no matter where I am - even if it means singing to myself during a shopping trip or scribbling down lyrics and humming them to myself on public transport! I’ve kept all my books of poems and lyrics right from when I was an angst-ridden teenager up till now and that comes in useful for inspiration too. All of my songs come from the heart in one way or another, although for a lot of them I won’t ever divulge exactly what events brought me to write the song, because some of them are very personal.
You had some tasty international gigs in 2008. What does 2009 hold for Lizzie Curious fans around the world?
I’m really focussed on spending the summer season in Ibiza. I have a weekly residency confirmed for Charlys Angelz @ Play2 in San Antonio. To have a weekly residency in the island that is the mecca for DJs and clubbers is putting a massive smile on my face! Robbie Rivera has invited me to back to DJ at JuicyIbiza and also I’m just finalising running Curiousity Club monthly at a very cool, intimate venue on the island. Robbie has invited me to go on tour with him for his 2009 album (which will be after Ibiza) and who knows where in the world I’ll be going – but I know it will be immense!
Finally, they say curiosity killed the cat. What’s your favourite saying?
Well, apart from ‘Curiouser and curiouser’ (from my favourite film Alice In Wonderland) I really believe in the phrase I’ve always remembered from my childhood: “Do as you would be done by”. Basically it means treat other people in the way that you would like to be treated. I’m a firm believer that manners cost nothing and a smile and being polite and friendly goes a long way! I am very lucky because I have such fantastic, genuine friends and family who have given me so much support and also all appear to embrace the same ethos to life as me! In fact, I don’t think I’d be where I am now – living my dream - without them.
Photos courtesy of Liz Warminsham, Marc De Groot, and Lizzie Curious. Not to be reproduced without permission
After an amazing launch on 30th January, The Curiousity Club returns to Babalou for another night of filthy, roof-raising house music from show-stopping DJs with a twist of Burlesque entertainment! Dirty electro with a hint of decadence and whole lotta debauchery in the unique surrounds of Babalou – a club in the crypt of a converted church! Underground and quirky, with sumptous velvet booths, hidden seating areas and Moroccan decor, plus a fat soundsystem, Babalou is the perfect venue for the Curiousity Club. Think Moulin Rouge meets Human Traffic and dress up to get down at the club where dirty beats go hand in hand with Burlesque beauties!
The Lollipop Lounge will be entertaining you with performances, treats and an array of visually-stunning roaming entertainment to feast your eyes on. Watch out for the Curiousity Club Chicks, Darcy Du Vet and more surprises on the night. And as if that’s not enough, we have 2-4-1 on selected drinks till 11pm!
Lizzie Curious will be hitting the decks for a peaktime set and will be joined by a host of talented, crowd enthusing DJs. The combined force of fun-loving house DJ duo Edd & LeggZ will kick the night off, followed by Stefan B of Scumhouse Records, who is soon to be launching his own night Electronic Recreation. Here at Curiousity Club we want to champion female DJ talent and Natalie Parker of Select Radio and Tribes has it in abundance with her chunky, techy, electro-infused beats! We are pleased to welcome Break Out’s Ashley Scott - known for his energetic antics behind the decks - to deliver an absolutely filth-laden set for your aural pleasure. BamCee Project are a high-octane pair of musical minds uniquely fusing together filth, funk, electro, party and banging tunes and guaranteed to end the night with all hands in the air and big smiles on faces!
Don’t forget that dressing up – be it in full Burlesque regalia or a 1940s/50s inspired outfits is very welcome!
Burlesque entertainment provided by The Lollipop Lounge
including:
The Curiousity Club Chicks
Darcy Du Vet
& more
*241 on selected drinks before 11pm*
Music policy: Filthy, roof-raising house music!
Dress code: Sexy_funky_cool - Burlesque/1940/50’s vintage glamour/moulin rouge style very welcome!
Check out some of the feedback from our launch event:
"What a fab night friday was @ Babalou! And what a lovely bunch of clubbers the Curiousity lot were too"
"Awesome night Lizzie.....perfect venue...quality tunage...fantastic DJ's...a fresh feel that London's been needing!!!!"
"Just wanted to say a huge thank you and congratulations for a wicked night on Friday!! I had a great time."
"Thanks for a fantastic night last Friday, we had a brilliant time! Was great fun getting dressed up and am loving the CD...looking forward to the next one"
"Had such a good night...you smashed it all over the place as well, wicked set, really really good job!"
"Thank you for the wicked night - had a blast musically and the atmosphere fantastic!"
Flyer:
Region:
London
Music:
House. Electro House. Tech House. Electro.
DJ's:
DJs:
Lizzie Curious (ElectronicSessions/Curiousity/Break Out)
BAMCEE PROJECT
ASHLEY SCOTT (Break Out)
NATALIE PARKER (Tribes / Select UK Radio)
Stefan B (Scumhouse/Electronic Recreation)
EDD & LEGGZ (Promised)
From: ~deleted12163on 23rd Mar 2009 18:50.33 It's a great job our doing lizzie, producing all our own stuff with all the vocals too.
Your not just a Big Jukebox!
From: Menthol Tazon 24th Mar 2009 11:01.40 A star! One of the few genuinely nice people on the scene who are in it for all the right reasons. Congratulations, you deserve all you have achieved. Cya soon xx
From: Not Marcuson 24th Mar 2009 12:16.33 Lizzie, will we be seeing jazz hands at any stage?
From: sullivanon 24th Mar 2009 18:23.43 Awesome interview Lizzie. This girl is really pushing herself and going far. Proud to have her as ElectronicSessions resident. By the way Lizzie you still got the Bonsai tree i gave you
From: Lizzie Curiouson 25th Mar 2009 12:32.54 I have been really blown away by all the lovely comments you guys have left...thank you so much :-)
Markus - can you believe I'd almost forgot about my jazz hands! I'm sure they will make a comeback soon lol!
From: pabloon 27th Mar 2009 01:00.11 Great stuff Lizzie
From: Dafon 27th Mar 2009 09:25.17 That Hi-Key photo's fantastic!
See you tonight at some point.
![[HarderFaster] - Work Hard, Play Harder!](/images/mainbanner_top1.gif)
