EYESTRANE

Interview with The Courtesans

The Courtesans describe themselves as “sexually charged, rebellious and dangerously entertaining. The foursome is a new band, based in the UK, who are sure to make some eyes open. Vocals are provided by Monique Wild and Sinead LaBella. Blazing guitar by Saffire Sanchez, Bass by Agnes Jones and drums by the aptly named Stix.

They have released their first single, a cover of Velvet Underground’s “Venus in Furs”. Brilliantly directed by Aaron Kyle, the video takes the viewer on a sexually charged gothic visual romp backed by powerful vocals and a driving beat.

Music that comes alive in the halflight of the bedroom… feeding on scents that you know and you long for… undresses you without you knowing it, creeps slowly under your skin when you’re asleep, in your office, on the train… skirts and suits fall off and it’s just your bare instinct without the armour of labels, forced smiles and formalities that you put on every day… let yourself go and if you want more - look for The Courtesans.

What is our point of difference? We’re live, we’re all girls and we’re not just another chick rock band trying to be men. We are dark, underground pop, with cupcakes and girly things. So what if we can’t park cars properly and get periods, we can cook a darn good roast and make some slick music. If you’re all up for some wicked entertainment, poor driving, awesome roasts and untamed, sultry music then check out The Courtesans.

Now fuck off x

Thank you for the opportunity. It is a pleasure to meet all of you. Can we start off, since you are a relatively new band, with brief introductions for each of you?

[caption id=”attachment_9754” align=”aligncenter” width=”199” caption=”Sinead Labella (Vocals)”][/caption]

I’m Sinead Labella (Vocals) many say I have the face of an angel but eyes of the devil… I say come into my playground and find out.

[caption id=”attachment_9755” align=”aligncenter” width=”199” caption=”Agnes Jones (Bass)”][/caption]

I’m Jones (Bass) – known to the local authorities as the Flasher from Barnet and to the residents simply as the “one that walks the dog in the bikini” ;) For everyone – I’m a girl with a cryptic past and love for music and film so passionate that is bordering on insanity/madness…

[caption id=”attachment_9756” align=”aligncenter” width=”300” caption=”Saffire Sanchez (guitar)”][/caption]

Saffire Sanchez reporting - guitar department. I am hyperactive, excitable and intense, rich and aromatic… lol that sounds like a coffee ad… Actually not the rich bit.

[caption id=”attachment_9757” align=”aligncenter” width=”199” caption=”Monique Wild (Vocals)”][/caption]

I am Wild, Monique Wild (Vocals) - The Tease PHD

[caption id=”attachment_9758” align=”aligncenter” width=”199” caption=”Stix (Drums)”][/caption]

I’m Stix (Drums) and I am the one responsible for beating

How did the concept for the band first materialize and how did you all meet?

It started with Monique who was known for her flirtatious and rather steamy relationship with burlesque. What burlesque didn’t know was Monique’s secret love affair with rock’n roll… Mons was on a crossroads and she just couldn’t choose… One morning, Monique woke up from a very strange and intoxicatin dream filled with debauchery and thought – why not to have them both?!

The idea of a perfect threesome was born!

Then Monique met Jones – mysterious no-where girl who after few double vodkas told about her unfulfilled love for music, Mons knew it was a sign… Shortly after that they ended up in the recording studio plotting the downfall of homogenised sound. They had one voice and a rhythm, what they needed to succeed was a complete assemblage…After days and nights of combing through the darkest, most hidden and dangerous corners of Da-Big-L-City they found a soprano of the revolution, Sinead LaBella - a fallen angel with the Barbie face and a massive tattoo covering her back and thigh. Stronger now by one, they kept searching and searching and just when they were about to give up all hope a ghost from Jones’ Christmas past appeared… Saffire, razor-sharp and a highly unstable chemical substance… the element of unpredictability! The only missing ingredient was a backbone, someone who can hit the skin really hard while preaching peace and love… Stix must have found one of the encoded messages left around town and got it straight away. Our tiny Valkyrie with the fiery hair was the one…

Had you all been in bands before?

Sinead: I was in a few metal bands as a teenager some, where I just growled and didn’t sing a single note, other than that I have been in an emo rock band and performed in musical theatre shows for the past few years.

Jones: I was singing in a church choir… (Amazing grace, how sweet the sound that saved a wretch like me. I once was lost, but now am found, was blind, but now I see)

Monique: My previous band was called Cherry Brakewells. Naughty girls…

Saffire: I was entertaining King Henry the VIII.

Stix: Oh Yes, I was involved in multiple projects none of them as rude as The Courtesans though hahaha…

Does the name “The Courtesans” have a specific meaning to you as a group? Does it convey a sense of style or an attitude you are trying to promote? How did you come up with the name?

Definitely! Courtesans were the ultimate entertainers throughout the centuries… Nowadays, meaning of the word (courtesan) for most people is a mere prostitute or even better - the whore… But trust us we are so much more hahaha. Every artist is a prostitute in a way. Some are cheaper, some – more expensive and some are free lol

By appearance you all have wildly different personalities. Even if you have your differences from each other are you in agreement with the direction you want to take your music?

Five strong minded women together is potentially hazardous game but what holds us as a unit is that we enjoy a risk of explosion that us five together might create, we have an unusual bond with each other… It must be something to do with our sexuality… We can laugh, cry, kiss, scream, shout, bitch and fight but always have respect and love for each other which allow our direction to take us to exciting places.

How would you best describe your style of music?

We are quite a wild mix of musical influences, we all have different backgrounds and stories but the best thing about us as a group is that we all have one thing is common - we are all hopelessly in love with the music.

Our style has built into a heavy, sleazy and intoxicating pop but we shall leave labelling for the critics lol. We’d like to think that our music will undress you without you knowing it and before you blink you will be making love to a person standing next to you…

Your first release was a cover of Velvet Underground’s “Venus in Furs”. How did you pick this song?

In a hat…. But to be less cryptic about it – it is an ultimate courtesan anthem, the song that clearly says what we are about and people know it, so what’s the better way to introduce an act?

Your video is visually arresting. What was it like to produce it? How closely did you work with the Director Aaron Kyle on the concept and look?

Haa! How close did we work with Aaron… He’s probably seen more than our GP’s lol. It was a pure pleasure to do this video. Before Aaron came on board we met several directors (mainly drooling blokes desperate for a flash of free tits) but only Aaron got our vibe straight away. Our costumes and look came together in the most spontaneous and chaotic way you can imagine few days before filming… But it worked.

The look of the video blurs the lines between gothic and Victorian. It has a dark feel about it. How closely integrated and how important will be the look of the band as far as sets and costumes are concerned for live performances?

The thing about us which people are getting confused is that we’re not just a band that’s going to be five girls in hot clothes playing a set and stripping, we’re a performance band we wish to entertain, the costumes, dance, visualisations on screen and few other surprises as well as music will work together to create our performance.

How did the video do since it was released? Were you surprised at the positive response?

We definitely expected a fair amount of slagging off… But the majority response was surprisingly positive and encouraging and now when we quietened down for a bit to write the rest of the set, people have actually been showing impatience to hear more from us. We aimed for feathers and ruffled some trouble.

Since you are all, obviously attractive women, do you think that your fan base will consist of mainly men? At the same time, since you are all fiercely independent, strong-willed women, you also can appeal to women too. How do you see the mix of your fans as it builds?

Some are positive some aren’t and this happens with both sexes, personally we’re cool with anyone with an open mind, people that don’t get us are usually repressed in one way or another, that’s their loss, if they don’t want to join our journey, more fool them for missing the ride.

You are about to begin your live performances. What is it that audiences can expect?

Adrenaline fuelled hyperactive bipolar sex madness, or an arrangement of said words.

In the long term what areas do you hope to take The Courtesans into?

Film, fashion, science, sex equipment, space travel or cooking roast for the hubby and seven kids… Who knows, after all we are WOMEN and we know no boundaries!

Where can we find out more about you and your work?

At the moment, the best place is on our website www.thecourtesans.org

Photo Credit: Images by Bread and Shutter.  http://www.breadandshutter.com/

Original Article

Interview with Shelly d’Inferno

[caption id=”attachment_9696” align=”aligncenter” width=”600” caption=”Clownfuck”][/caption]

Shelly d’Inferno is a multi-talented woman who started out styling and taking “modeling photos” with her friends at age 13. Designing and making clothes at 15. She bought her first Nikon system camera at 18 and started doing more professional photoshoots and liveshow photography.

She is an artist and creator. Her expertise extends beyond her modeling portfolio into make-up and styling, fashion design and photo retouching. Shelly appreciates beauty around her and loves to inspire others and to share her fantasies and talents. She love good teamwork and always put passion into her work and always strives to achieve all of her million goals in life.

Shelly had a three year long education in sewing/fashion/design in Sweden that taught her everything from patterncutting to working with different materials. She has since launched her own clothing brand, Heavenly Inferno which has quickly become one of the hottest and most sought after brands on the scene today.

Make-up is also a natural skill that she has been doing since her early teenage years. She sees the face as a blank canvas and, with cosmetics, she is able to  make every feature come alive in different ways. Make up for Shelly is enhancement, NOT colors to just put on here and there as told.

“When I work I want to make sure my make-up goes exactly as wanted with camera settings and light effects. I like to work with a bit of theatrical style make-up to enhance facial features. I’m very easy to work with, I will listen to your thoughts and follow directions completely or let my own imagination do the work.”

 

[caption id=”attachment_9697” align=”aligncenter” width=”600” caption=”Outtake from Shelly’s Bizarre Magazine Cover Star finalist shoot 2011”][/caption]

Shelly, it is a pleasure to meet you. You are living in the UK now but you are originally from Sweden, is that correct? What kind of a child were you?

And you! Thanks for wanting to interview me. Yes, I’m from Stockholm, Sweden. As a child I was all over the place!  As a baby I would throw myself backwards when I was carried, all for a little adrenaline I guess. My mum always tells me that when I was a little girl I’d be so energetic running around playing with everyone  and everything, but how I always every now and then came back to sit in my Mums lap, in complete silence and just oversee it all from the outside. She says that was me recharging my batteries!  As a teenager I went through all different types of styles and things to do. From a protesting kid with dreads and hairy armpits, to a yoga and film freak, to a little neon rave-girl with an extreme and creative style. Then from a synth-chic with black hair and combat-boots to a hip-hoper with baggy jeans who ran around in shut down factories doing graffiti…and from an acting-class monkey to a massive World of Warcraft geek.

So yeah, a bit all over the place!

Tell us a little about how you first got started modeling?

I was around 13, and mad about the celebrity world. Britney Spears, Pink and Christina Aguilera were to coolest people ever. Me and my two close friends used to pretend to record albums, have big concerts, recording music videos (quite embarrassing to watch now) and then of course, doing photoshoots. The first shoot we did we put a leopard duvet up as a background and pretended to shoot album covers!  They’re  not that bad!  As in..Wow, I’m actually  not embarrassed to look at them today. That definitely doesn’t count for the “music videos” though, hah!

From there, it just took off, we kept doing it through the years (not because of celebrities obviously) but we started doing more fantasy and artistic shoots, some of them are actually still in my portfolio!

[caption id=”” align=”aligncenter” width=”624” caption=”A photo from my portfolio when I was 17”][/caption]

What is it you like about being in front of the camera?

Obviously I love to dress up and look cool but I love to transform into the character I’m styled to the most. Modeling is A LOT about acting, are you a good model, you’re most likely a good actor. Being able to show a strong character  in a photo is good acting. When all the styling is finished I switch character and play it during the shoot.  I mostly enjoy quite creative and extreme styling and a strong theme for the photoshoots I do because I like to take on these roles. Other than getting into character I have to say it just feels really good, it’s like a dance…A veeery very slow dance. When you’re posing you use all your muscles to angle your body, and then slowly move  around to give some various looks. Thinking about it like a dance feels good!

One thing I noticed in your portfolio is you are very versatile. How would you best describe your style?

That’s right! I love so many different styles and there’s so many cool things about every single one of them. Every styling expresses a different story and feeling and I’d like to try all of them. I never wanna be stuck in a style and then only end up getting  jobs for that sort of look. I can’t really describe my style in modeling with a genre, but I do get a lot that a lot of my photos have a very  fiery energy and a lot of attitude.

What have been some of your favorite images and photoshoots you have been involved with?

My favorite photoshoot was a zombie shoot I did with photographer James Ellis at this really cool studio called MurderMile. I made a big effort with the styling, plus the location and outcome was just so full-on and perfect. I used liquid latex and contacts to get the zombie-look and wore clothes and wigs from my brand Heavenly Inferno. I really managed to feel the character and I didn’t wanna remove the make-up after we finished! I actually took the bus back home in it and put a few people in chock. Not every day you see a zombie taking the bus. Lazy bastards!

Another shoot I will never forget is the Cover Star runner up shoot for Bizarre Magazine. I remember checking out Bizarre magazines photoshoots when I first discovered it and thinking it was really cool and something I would wanna get into. So being picked out as one of 10  for a worldwide cover was quite a cool thing!

I particularly like an image of you titled, “The Spider”. Can you tell us about this series?

It’s my favorite pose! This is one of the poses I’ve actually practiced to get perfect. It takes a lot of flexibility, strength and balance to do it, and it looks so creepy and crazy. Just how I like it! I took this photo on my own, I had just gotten back from a shoot and remembered a pose I did that I wanted to ‘explore’ a bit more. I started taking photos of myself doing it with the timer-shutter just to see how it would look  the best. After half an hour I was able to get really low and snapped this photo. It looks like a head and limbs so I named it ‘The Spider’.

You have another series called “Provocations” which you handled all the work on. What was your idea behind this series?

This shoot was done back in my hometown Stockholm with good friends of mine. After I moved to London me and my best friend Silje Lingås (whom I’ve done photos with since I was 13) didn’t get to have our photoshoot-fun anymore. So one time when I was home visiting we got together and turned her living room into 3 self-made background sets. One of them was Provocations, and looks like a little white room in a mental institution. It’s got nasty and offensive words written all over the walls and floor. I wanted it to be a shoot full of attitude. Warrior women in slutty clothes who’s got all these provocative words thrown around them but couldn’t give less of a F****.

[caption id=”” align=”aligncenter” width=”624” caption=”Johanna Gustavsson, photography and all styling work by Shelly d’Inferno”][/caption]

You are much more than a model. You also are a seamstress and fashion designer. You studied this in school. What first drew your interest in clothing design?

As much as I wanted to become an archeologist, a vet, an actress, a dancer and an elf when I was a kid, I wanted to be a fashion designer. I have a few design-drawings from when I was 12, and even though I was dressing very ‘normal’ then, you can see that my drawings are towards the alternative. Anyway this interest first really took hold when I was 15-16 and all into raving. I was annoyed that I couldn’t find the clothes I was looking for and if I did they were always too expensive or too big. So I started customizing and making my own stuff. It soon became something I did every other day, to something I decided to study in school for 3 year.

[caption id=”attachment_9699” align=”aligncenter” width=”401” caption=”All clothing and Makeup, Shelly d’Inferno, Barrington Grant (Photographer)”][/caption]

You also have your own clothing brand called “Heavenly Inferno”. Can you tell us a little about it?

Heavenly Inferno came to life 2008-2009 when I was 19, I started customizing things more and more while I was studying. Buying and collecting things I found cheap or got given so I could remake and sell clothes. It was when the punk/rock scene had awoken my interest. I discovered these type of clothes were what I really enjoyed making, and I wanted to start branding my creations something. Even though Heavenly Inferno is never supposed to be stuck in one style most of the designs I make lean to punk-rock in one way or another.

The name Heavenly Inferno comes from one of my favorite songs from a Norwegian demo band called Shellyz Raven. I like how it’s got the word Heavenly that can stand for my more clean designs while Inferno stand for the dirty rock n roll crazier  pieces.

How would you describe the style and look of “Heavenly Inferno” and who is the audience that would be interested in it?

It’s definitely alternative and different. Mostly leaning to punk-rock with inputs of steampunk, army, baroque, post apocalyptic Mad-Max. I try and do as many things as possible that is more ‘outside the box’ and hasn’t been done before (well, that I  haven’t seen!). My latest invention is using shoes as collars. These will be made to chokers alone, and as high collars on jackets and waistcoats. Sounds weird but I got a whole bunch of stuff that will be made with these things soon. Looks so cool!

[caption id=”attachment_9714” align=”aligncenter” width=”398” caption=”Shelly wearing one of Heavenly Inferno’s shoe remake chokers”][/caption]

Can you tell us about some of your favorite, original pieces?

My favorite pieces are these trousers and top I made to match. It’s not the most complicated and crazy things I’ve made but I just feel so good when I wear them. I really feel like they suit me and it’s almost like they’re wearing me, not me wearing them!

Another favorite is a denim jacket I’m working on right now. It’s got the shoe collar I was talking about , also bullet holes and burn marks on a ripped up union jack flag as a backpiece!

Check it out on my page when it’s finished 

On many of your shoots, you handle the complete package. You do make-up, styling, lighting, and even retouching as well as modeling. When it comes to make-up what do you think is important when applying it for a photoshoot?

All about what kind of lighting and theme you’re going for, if the lights are really strong you gotta think about enhancing features of the face that you still wanna keep visible, you don’t want it to look to plain. While it’s dark you don’t wanna overdo shadows and might wanna work on lighting up parts of the face and do a good foundation cover, as pores for example would be more visible. It’s all about discussing with photographer and model and see what they’re after. But for a shoot that’s got the usual stuff, nothing crazy going on I like to always use a bit of theatrical methods such as putting some extra shadowing along the nose, enhancing jawbones and brighten up areas a lot, these things usually come out really good in photos the face looks less plain and more perfectly structured (as wished).

How did you first get started retouching? Did you teach yourself?

I’m self-taught, yes. I got Photoshop when I was 15 because I thought it would be a cool thing to be able to edit photos, I was already doing small photoshoots so this was something that would add to the fun. I remember the first photo I ever photoshoped, it came out so good! I sat for hours and tried every single little tool and function, and that’s how I learnt. I kept experimenting until I started learning what different things did and how they worked. After a couple of months experimenting I could think exactly what I wanted to do with a photo and then find all the tools for it.

[caption id=”attachment_9700” align=”aligncenter” width=”450” caption=”All styling and photography work by Shelly d’Inferno”][/caption]

You find inspiration in many places, who are some of your favorite artists, models and photographers?

You know it’s weird, I can’t come to think of any favorite artists and photographers. I should have lots and know well of these things but there is no names that pops up in my head. There’s loads of AMAZING work out there that I have stumbled across, but I think these pieces of art just leave a visual inspiration in my head and never any names. Shame because I might miss out on someone who could have been my favorite artists and whose work I could’ve followed by now hah!

However I do have two models I guess I could call my favorites. One is Mosh, for her athletic perfect poses and body. The other is Eden Muse, for her character and expression, her face tells me stories, she is also very athletic in her way of modeling.

You were Winner of the 2010 HowCool.com modeling contest and one of the top 10 finalist in the 2011 Bizarre Magazine’s Cover Star competition. How did it feel to with the HowCool.com contest and what was the Bizzare Magazine competition like?

I had no idea I had won the HowCool.com modeling contest! It was funny, I had been active in the competition both when I won the weekly and the monthly vote-out. As I got into the yearly vote-out I had given up on spamming my poor followers for votes because I thought it would just be so hyped. A shopping credit of $5000 was in the trophy, and many of the other finalists had thousands of followers on their pages and could get many votes easily. One day, I see two people writing on my wall ‘Congrats Shelly on the HowCool.com contest!!’, I swear I must have looked like the biggest question-mark. I was confused! I logged onto my old email and saw that the competition had changed to 4 professionals judging all finalists instead, and they had voted me the highest points! I have never been a happier girl getting all that shopping-credit. I spent it all on outfits for photoshoots and some presents!

The Bizarre competition was great, had a really fun day with all the other ladies and I feel very lucky and honored to have had my own page in Bizarre! I put my bet on that stunner Amie Conradine was gonna win, and hell, she did!

[caption id=”attachment_9701” align=”aligncenter” width=”400” caption=”Shelly d’inferno by apple”][/caption]

Can you tell us a little about your tattoos! Where and what are they and do they have a particular meaning to you?

Jeez, I’ve lost count now! On my left arm I have my favorite musicians Nick Cave, Leonard Cohen and then Jaz Coleman from Killing Joke. I did their portraits with halos around their heads, they’re saints to me! I also have a big cross from an album cover, and this all together gives a bit of a religious themed sleeve. It’s cool because they all use and play around a bit with Christianity in their lyrics.  I’ve got 2 Fleur De Lys, one in front of my ear, and one on my chest. On my stomach I got Inferno and the number 22 written, it’s my favorite word and my favorite number! I got my hands done too. Next week I’m getting a flower on my back and my right half sleeve done.

It’s funny how it’s like a beautiful spreading plague. I think I’m blinded by the tattooes I already got, I think more about the skin I have left to cover than the skin that’s already done ha ha.

What do you think about body modification? Do you see it as an art form?

I see it like clothes, something you wear on your outside. Something you wear on the outside that makes you feel comfortable and good on the inside.

But to some people, body modification has more of a shallow meaning, it will make them fit in, or they would get it just because it’s seen as “cool”. Same there with clothes, some people wear go to H&M to buy a Rolling Stones t-shirt without knowing who the band is.

Where do you hope to take your talents to in the future?

I just wanna be able to live on what I do. That would be the dream. I don’t need to be rich, hell, I don’t even want to be super-rich. I like challenges! It would be amazing if I could be self employed with what I do, be able to get enough money to make small collections with clothes, maybe arrange catwalks. Have some photography/modeling/styling workshops. It would be so much fun! But the thing is..I know I can do all this if I really really work for it, I know it’s possible and I know I have the talent and brains for it. But like when I was a kid, there’s just a part of me that always gotta have some time to chill out and mumble a little ‘I just can’t be FU*%#D’ to myself.

Then again..When the motivation is back, sometimes a week after, I’m off like a rocket doing a million things again, so we’ll see how far this strategy takes me!

[caption id=”attachment_9702” align=”aligncenter” width=”600” caption=”Photo, makeup and styliny by Shelly d’Inferno”][/caption]

What do you like to do when you aren’t working? Any hobbies or interests you care to share with us?

That’s pretty much what I’ve told you all about already! I have always had a steady ‘normal’ job that I know will give me enough money to pay da billz. So all these things, modeling, styling, sewing, editing, taking photos , tattoos,  that’s what I do on my free time. It’s getting there though, this year so far I have managed to only work part-time and my hobbies have paid off quite well which I am extremely happy about! I hope it can continue like this.

Anything else you would like to say?

I feel like I’ve said so much already. I’m honored if any of you readers have gotten this far, Thanks for the interest of getting to know me a bit more!

Where can we go to find out more about you and your work?

https://twitter.com/ShellydInferno Twitter, here I’ll post the smallest updates on what kind of fart I just did, to random photos and comments on bigger projects I got going on!

http://www.facebook.com/shellydinferno Here shows all the most important updates. Modeling portfolio pick-outs, any new styling/art/photography work, and of course all my new Heavenly Inferno designs. This is like my webpage.

http://www.modelmayhem.com/shellydinferno A more compact version of my modeling portfolio.

http://shellydinferno.tumblr.com/ This is where I post more story-telling shoots with music and lyrics from both behind and in front of the camera.

And last but not least if you have any questions, enquiries about my clothes or anything else I do, my email address is shellydinferno@hotmail.com

[caption id=”attachment_9703” align=”aligncenter” width=”600” caption=”Provocations, by Shelly d’Inferno”][/caption]

Original Article

Update: Eri Zabeth’s Rouge: First Collection - Fighter

Japanese fashion designer, Erizabeth, is proud to announce her Rouge: First Collection - Fighter.

Check out her collection below and read her interview here to learn more about her and her designs.

[nggallery id=83]

Original Article

Interview with ZE!

Malaysian electro-pop artist ZE! (aka S.uper A.ce E.lectro R.ebelle  or also previously known as Saer Ze) redefines glam with the release of her new album I Am Glam on her own label Catapult Creative. This loud and brash disco rebel is hugely influenced by Madonna and her style has drawn comparisons to Peaches, Yelle, M.I.A., Lady Gaga, The Ting Tings, CSS and Santigold.

After being kicked out of Malaysian Idol in 2005, ZE! decided to find her audience elsewhere, packed her bags and left for London. ZE! has since toured all of Europe, Australia, Brasil, performing to crowds of upto 15,000 and has just completed a 1st North American tour playing at SXSW Festival (2011 Official Showcase) and was featured on CNN iReport, LA Weekly, MTV Iggy and Quiksilver Pro NY / France.

She has shared the stage with Joachim Garraud, Steve Aoki, Crookers, Laidback Luke, Crystal Castles, Chicks on Speed, AC Slater, Drop the Lime, The Vengaboys, Don Rimini, Mickey Moonlight, Inquisitive & Afrikan Boy - and has 3 songs featured on Joachim Garraud’s latest album Invasion 2011 (which debuted at #1 on iTunes).

From the day she began gigging back in ‘99, ZE! has always been known for her passion for fashion; she used to run OSIXNINE boutique with her sister and has modeled for designers Stevie Boi, KLxTL, Charles of London, Criminal Damage, Lonely 8-bit Heroes and headlined fashion events by Reebok, adidas, Tony Hawk and Vice Magazine. ZE! styles herself and designs her own outfits, making every one of her shows a little catwalk of her own.

ZE! has been nominated for ‘Best Local English Artist’ AIM Award (aka Malaysian Grammys) and was a finalist in the Asian Talent Show ‘Sutasi’. Her songs have gone to #1 on Hitz.fm and have been heard on TV shows like 90210, MTV Styl’d, The City (a spin-off of The Hills) & The League. Her music videos ‘I Am Glam’ and ‘In The House’ (with Goldfish & Blink) are aired on MTV.

ZE!, it is a pleasure to meet you. Where were you born and was music a part of your life when you were young? What did you listen to when you were a child?

Pleasure meeting you too, Tom! I was born here in Kuala Lumpur and yes, music has always been a major part of my life ever since i was a kid mostly thanks to my parents who both loved music very much. I remember singing to Madonna , Carpenters and Tracy Chapman a lot. With a hairbrush, of course.

Were you a rebellious child? Did you get in trouble a lot? Did you stand out?

I guess I was in my own way. I didn’t get into trouble much but I quietly had different opinions from most of the people around me. Most of which I’ve kept to myself, until now. I was a timid kid in my early teens, I dont think it’s cause I was scared but because i didn’t know how or where to ‘fit in’.

You started out in 2003 with your first solo EP “My Make Believe”. Can you tell us a little about what you wanted to do or expected back then career wise?

The girl group I was a part of just broke up and it was my 1st venture as a solo artist. Everybody told me i needed to make a demo, so I did. Gave it to every single person I met. It did get me a collaboration with Sasi the Don (a Malaysian reggae artist) and our song went to #1 on Hitz.fm !

What impresses me is the sheer, creative brilliance and energy that surrounds you and your performances. Where does it come from?!!

Thank you! I don’t know, but I do know that I love the stage and making people happy makes me happy.

Your video and song, “Haircut” is infectious. Sticks in your brain. It is also apparent that you are having fun in your videos and on stage. Tell us a little about “Haircut”. What was the creative process behind it?

Haircut was written when I was in the studio with my producer in Brussels. It must have been in summer 2006. I like talking to myself sometimes so this song was a bit that. Me psyching myself to go get a haircut and give myself a new me. It’s a very girly thing to do when we wanna get over our ex-boyfriend or something.

“In the House” - Goldfish & Blink Ft Altimet & ZE! won best music video at the VIMA’s. Were you surprised?

Well, I wasn’t the person who directed the music video so it won’t be narcissistic of me to say I think ‘in the house’ totally deserved it! Michael and Markus came all the way from Germany to direct it, and in very little time too. I love that video and they’ve a new one coming out with Goldfish and Blink next month and I’m looking forward to that one.

I also love the choreography in “Run, You Can’t”, another great song. Did you do the choreography yourself?

No, I didn’t. Rebecca from the girl dance group Soul Krazy did the choreo, they’re finalists of a popular Malaysian dance competition on TV called Showdown (on 8tv). I love working with them!

In my opinion you are one of a kind but you have been compared to, among others, Lady Gaga. How does it make you feel??

I’d take it as a compliment. If they compared me to someone like Taylor Swift on the other hand…..

Were you always into Electro-pop or was it an genre that you evolved into?

I started out with hiphop and R&B, I was in a girl group where I was the Left Eye wannabe. And then it was Alanis-wannabe, Britney-wannabe, and Courtney Love-wannabe until I found electro in circa 2005 and stuck with it!

At one point in time you were feeling uncomfortable performing in Malaysia because of how restrictive it is there. Has this changed or do you still feel more comfortable in other cities you have performed in? Is “I Am Glam” a statement about that?

Yeah, ‘I am glam’ was a little fuck-you song. I’ve never let so much angst out as much as I did on that track but now it has become my signature vocals (if you can even call it that!). Don’t get me wrong, I love my country and I think that was mostly why I was frustrated not to be able to find the audience I wanted here. And I think my perception has changed because I’ve accepted that and I’m happy that I have found my audience elsewhere.

Your younger sister and yourself started a fashion label called Osixnine. Can you tell us about the look and style of the Osixnine brand?

Yes we did, but it’s my sister’s thing really. I was just a business partner when we ran a boutique together.

Has fashion always been a part of your life? Do you do your own styling and makeup?

I never really cared about fashion growing up but since I left high school and went clubbing more often, yes, it became a huge part of my life. It’s great that I can put it to some good use now! Yes, I do my own styling and make up.

Tell is a bit about your European Tours and your performance at SXSW.

I’ve done a few european tours and they’re always full of adventure, I never wanna leave. Europe teaches me so much and the producers I have met and worked with are simply brilliant. I don’t know how they come up with all these amazing electronic tracks. I reckon it’s the weather.

SXSW was in a word, overwhelming. It was my first ever show in the US and I was nervous to know how the Americans would respond to my music. One of the gigs also decided to sandwich my set between metal bands! but the audience ended up dancing on stage with me , i quickly fell in love with Austin. Oh, and I met Perez Hilton there too!

Describe to us your definition of Glam!

Not being afraid of being whoeverthefuck I wish to be.

Any interesting projects coming up you can share with us?

I’m heading back to Europe next week to go on a little fashion adventure with my sister in Paris, work on a new music video in Berlin, my producer’s wedding and some shows in between all of that :)

I’ve a couple of new merch just out. Including a hot pink ‘I Am Glam’ g-string!

It seems, to me, that music can transcend borders and with your flash and style you could be popular worldwide. What are your plans and dreams for the future?

I want to keep touring, bringing the party with me everywhere I go. I’m working on heading back to US for a bigger tour!

Where can we find out more about you and your work?

My website http://ze.com.my or follow me on facebook http://facebook.com/zebrainpink :)

Original Article

Interview with DJ Jesse Valentino

The Irish entertainment Industry’s premier female DJ. Jesse’s versatility is what keeps her one of Ireland’s fastest risers within its commercial music scene. She adapts her sound to any venue and crowd, whether it’s commercial or underground with diverse and ever-changing sets.

Without dispute, Jesse is the hottest DJ in Ireland. She is known for her pumping up crowds with her diverse sound an unending energy.

Jesse, tell us a little bit about where you are from and growing up in Ireland.

I’m from Dublin, Ireland and I’m a full time DJ. I gotta say I do come from a very supportive family. My whole life I’ve been in love with music which in turn has pushed me in to my now career of being a DJ.

When you were young what music did you listen to?

From the age of about 13 I remember being obsessed with rock and punk rock bands- I’m talking Nirvana, Green Day, The Distillers… and was definitely in to the punk style scene. My first ever concert was in the O2 (The Point) when the band Offspring came to town. When I was around 16 I was listening to a mix of hip hop, r&b, garage and a bit of house.

How did you get started DJing?

What got me in to DJing was when I was 18 going out clubbing. I loved to watch the DJs play and got interested in the whole business. Plus

I happened to have a few DJ friends at the time to help me out, so from there I just decided to buy my own pair of 1210s, practice and take a chance with it!

Was it rough going getting started since female DJs are very few in number in Ireland?

Yeah it was pretty rough as very few people would take me seriously, so I really had to prove myself. I had a tough time showing people that I could actually DJ!

I have read that your mixes are considered “unique”. Describe your style? What would your typical set be like?

I love a lot of different styles because I love to listen to a lot of different genres. It mainly depends on what kind of crowd I’m playing to and my mood. Warming up I like to play either some old school r’n’b or chilled out funky commercial house. My main sets can range from anything to the most popular house/electro remixes of what’s big in the charts to fist-pumping dirty dutch to hip hop and dancehall.

Describe your creative process when coming up with your mixes and sets.

A lot of the time I’ll make a mix right after those rare times - you know when you find a good bunch of songs all at the same time. It gets me in the mood! Your mixtapes are a test sample to show your musical taste, so people can tell if they dig what you’re about or not. So with the tracks I can’t get enough of, it’s then just a case of arranging them up & looking at the BPM’s.

What do you do that you think gets the audience pumped up?

Always when you play a song with a long drawled out slow part in it & when the bass drops the crowd goes wild! It’s an amazing buzz to watch the crowd going nuts to your set.

In 2011 you spinned at the after party in the Wright Venue penthouse for Kylie Minouge’s crew. What was the experience like?

It was a great experience as I was able to play a lot of old skool dancehall and r&b tunes which I would never get to play in a mainstream club,

I had Kylie’s crew booty shakin all night!

You once wrote that you get off on controlling the crowd. Do you still get excited about it?

Definitely-It’s all about keeping the crowd moving to your sound. You need to find that sweet spot right in between playing the songs you want and what the crowd wants, and from there you can either take them up or keep them at a slow chilled level.

Where can we go to find out more about you?

Contact email for bookings etc: djjessevalentino@gmail.com

Original Article

Interview with Sounleip Sim

Sounleip Sim is a model with a passion for cars and racing. Hailing from Tacoma her exotic looks come from a mix of Cambodian and Chinese.

She wants to pursue a career in Autotech. She loved imports and currently owns an Integra GSR that she is customizing on her own. She wants to learn how to sand and custom paint cars and to rebuild motors.

Was modeling something you always wanted to do when you were younger?

Yes I always wanted to experience it . I loved taking pictures, and posing for the camera.

What types of modeling styles do you enjoy doing the most?

I like to keep it sexy and seductive. My favorite is glamour its where I feel most comfortable and I can express myself best. I like taking shots that tease.

What is it you enjoy about modeling?

The feeling of getting out of your shell and being in a different zone. The strive to hit that pose.

What are the things you love to do when you’re not “at work”?

I love imports, and the racing scene. It’s a passion of mine.

Who is the person, alive or dead, you most admire?

My sons. They are my motivation in life to push and not give up. That all things are possible.

What would you be if you could pick a new career?

Auto tech. I would love to work on cars and paint them. Keep them looking fresh on that stance level.

Any advice for “New Faces”?

Have fun! Enjoy what you do. Learn from every shoot. Keep it 100%.

Where can we find out more about you?

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Sounleip-Sim/234984616609004

Original Article

Interview with Vega

Vega is a model based in the UK whose focus is on in creating beautiful and striking images and being a living part of a work of art. While in New York working as a textile designer she was approached by an agency rep and asked to attend a casting session. Although she accepted she felt most comfortable working in the alternative modeling arena.

With a voracious appetite for learning, she finds inspiration all around her. From films to television, music to art, books to passing thoughts and feelings. Her work has a tendency to lean towards dark imagery but she refuses to put limitations on herself or her work. She will not be placed in a box and considers alternative modeling an avenue of limitless possibilities.

Collaboration between photographers, makeup artists and designers is very important to her work as is the interaction or art, fashion and design. Her photographs are mainly her own concepts and she enjoys the creative process by acting as her own desidner and stylist for all her work. Art and fashion haa always been a heavy influence in her choices, having graduated in printed textile design. She is a very visual person and is currently studying professional makeup for media and fashion which she hopes to utilize to extend into her modelling work and other media projects.

Vega, it is a pleasure to meet you. Can you tell us a bit about where you grew up and what you were like as a child?

I grew up in a large town called Hamilton just outside Glasgow in the West of Scotland, although I spent a lot of my time out at the coast at my families holiday home. As a child I was a mixture of shy and boisterous depending on who I was with. I remember having a very good imagination and spending a lot of time outside riding my bike :)

When did you first become interested in the arts and what forms of art first attracted your attention?

My fascination with art started at a very young age. I always carried a sketchpad around with me and doodled in it everyday, mostly cartoons in the beginning, creating new characters in my head. When I was a little older I started concentrating on portraiture. I’ve always been fascinated by faces, particularly eyes.

When you were young were there any particular artists you admired?

When I was younger I loved the fantasy illustrations of Brian Froud. Later I became more interested in abstract art of Gustav Klimt, Dali, Franz Kline and Giger.

How did you first become interested in modeling?

My interest in modelling started as a teenager although I became more serious about the idea when I was at art school and started reading a lot more alternative music, fashion and tattoo magazines. It was then I realised there were more opportunities for different kinds of modelling. After finishing my degree I was approached by a model agency scout in New York whilst working there as an intern for a textile company, then again several times again while clubbing in alternative clubs. This gave me the confidence to start.

You see it as an art form and are very involved in the process. How willing are photographers to have you collaborate on ideas for the images?

I’ve been very lucky with all the photographers I’ve worked with and had a lot of free reign for the photos and styling. It works both ways really. Sometimes I’m helping them to create their concept or to promote a designers product and vice versa. It’s very much a collaboration.

Can you tell us some of your favorite photo shoots and images you have done?

Most of my shoots I’ve done have been a lot of fun. I particularly enjoyed working with professional photographer Steve Pinirou in Melbourne. We did several shoots together - the concept for one was based on the South Korean film, Lady Vengeance. I wanted to come up with a female assassin character who was both elegant and dangerous at the same time. I got to play around with a lot of knifes that day. Every shoot is different!

You graduated in textile design. Do you think that your work in that field has helped you develop an eye for color, texture and composition?

Yes, definitely, studying art and design has certainly developed my eye for these things. Sometimes just thinking of colour helps me come up with an idea for a shoot. I like everything to be in harmony.

Is textile design a field you still want to continue to work in?

I realised soon after graduating that textile design, like commercial modelling, can be very dull and limiting. I couldn’t see myself designing wallpaper and curtain patterns for the rest of my career. I’m more interested in working with art, abstract ideas and people. I’m currently studying professional makeup which encompasses all of these things.

What is it you like about modeling?

Everything really. Coming up with concepts, working with creative people, getting dressed up and seeing the results. I enjoy the theatrics of it, the team work.

Do you remember your first photoshoot? What was it like? Were you nervous?

Yeah I do remember my first photo shoot, but no, I wasn’t really nervous, more excited. I’ve always felt very natural in front of the camera.

What do you think are some of your strongest features?

I think my strongest feature is my lips although it’s hard to say. My face is angular and my body is long and lean which works well in photographs.

What styles of modeling do you prefer working in?

I feel alternative modelling suits me best as there are more possibilities with it, and I don’t need to adhere to one particular look or be stick thin but in saying that, I’d work in any genre really. If someone comes to me with a great idea, then I’d be happy to experiment. It’s important to branch out and not be typecast although people do approach me often wanting a gothic type shoots because they’ve seen me model in this genre. I wouldn’t class myself as a gothic model.

Who would you say influences you or who do you admire?

There’s been a lot of influences, not necessarily from the modelling world, but from watching films, music videos and music in general. I absolutely love the work of director and photographer Floria Sigismondi and Chris Cunningham, music video film director. I also love Mario Testino photographic work. Model wise, I’ve been following UK model Ulorin Vex who is doing some very beautiful work.

What is the modeling industry like in the UK at the present time?

Things have changed a lot with regards alternative modelling. There are far more publications of alternative magazines now than ever and online magazines. Dare I say it, alternative modelling has become more mainstream with the rise in popularity of burlesque as well as American influences of rockabilly music and the pin up style to the UK. There are lot of alternative models out there now and with the help model networking sites it’s becoming easier to find work with other creatives, however I think it’s important to mention that it’s only a small minority of alternative models that are actually successfully working full time and getting paid well for it. I can’t really comment on commercial modelling as it’s something I’ve never done.

Where would you like to see your career move or expand into in the future?

To continue modelling and take as far as I can, and gain my qualification as a professional makeup artist. I’d like to keep my creative avenues open and see where it takes me. I enjoy variety and working for myself.

What do you enjoy doing when you are not working?

Like everyone else - dressing up, going out, good music and dancing:)

Where can we go to find out more about you?

You can find me at:http://www.facebook.com/pages/Vega/136378479799575
http://www.modelmayhem.com/MisBehave

I look forward to seeing you there!

Original Article

Interview with Mimi Hellyeah

Alter ego - MiMi Hellyeah - is an upcoming paint artist in The Netherlands.

Her work has already been seen worldwide from Asia to Europe. Without a graphic background, she has always been creative and proves that natural talent exists!

MiMi Hellyeah’s work contains strong emotional themes which often explores the connection between femme fatales and violence. Using women as her inspiration with a touch of roughness that result in magical faces and unforgettable eyes that touch the soul as they delight with their beauty.

She works primarily with spray cans, acrylic, ink, oil, water color, pastels – mainly using only colors like black, gray and white. MiMi Hellyeah’s collection has a wonderful use of lines and strokes and compositions which are both minimal yet powerful.

Mimi, it is a pleasure to meet you. Can you tell us a little about yourself?

Yeah sure! I am Mei Zhang from The Netherlands and undercover as MiMi Hellyeah on the weekends. Already 26 years old and living in Rotterdam, enjoying freedom and the view from the 23rd floor. I am of Chinese descent and was born and raised in The Netherlands. My roots come from Shanghai, which I can speak fluently besides Dutch and English. I had lived a while in Shanghai and worked at a hip hop venue in the Red Town district in the marketing department. Currently, I work fulltime in the financial department for a FGC-market. In the weekends I am a part time painter.

My interest is mainly in to listening to music like dubstep, metal, alternative and hip hop. Actually, everything with a sick beat, sick drops and has a little bit of an aggressive sound is music to my ears. Besides music, I like to drink a few glasses and I am unfortunately addicted to Red Bull. My ultimate goal is to chill, have my American muscle car, Doberman, and live on a tropical island doing nothing else besides chill-axing and surfing.

When did you first begin to draw and paint?

As far as I know, and it sounds a bit cliché, but I cannot remember when exactly I started. I think I started with drawing Donald Duck and Minnie Mouse before primary school. But I began painting canvasses two years ago and for the past half year I discovered my ‘own’ style which consists mainly of black/white femme fatales . You know how music artists always say that writing or playing music is therapeutic, this is exactly what I feel when I am painting. I think of nothing else besides the next stroke or brush. I know, it sounds a bit cliché.

You did not go to school to learn art. You developed your style and techniques on your own. Do you think this has had a positive effect on your work?

Hmm, maybe? Not sure if it has? But you can see some development in the techniques in the paintings I have done over the years. I started with cartoonish-like paintings and now make use of more shadow and shadings in my latest paintings. My development of techniques are mainly coming from watching tattoo programs like Miami Ink, photographs and of course experimenting with lots of paint. I think because I experiment with paint it makes my pieces kind of unique. Overall, I believe, not having ‘rules’ you will have more freedom to do what you want to do. You won’t be stuck and you will begin  thinking out of the box.

Many of your topics involve women and violence. Femme fatales. What is it that attracts you to this subject matter?

You really hit the right questions. Somehow I am drawn to hot females with balls (not literally) and loads of attitude. Not that it is more easy, but it is more exciting to paint. You can do a lot with hair, eyes and lips. I especially like exotic women. Megan Fox/ Angelina Jolie are A+ in my book. I believe I like to draw them because I wish I could be one myself 

Although that may be your preferred subject matter you are also a very diverse painter. Two of the painting that come to mind are “Golden Mustangs” and the spectacular “Koi Fish”.  Do you choose your subject matter depending on mood? What are your inspirations for these?

My latest paintings are related to mood. Paintings like “Koi Fish” and “Golden Mustangs” are project based or gifts, not very exciting.

One of my favorites is “Go With the Flow”. How did you come up with the concept behind this one?

Every painting that involves women is coming from inspiration I got from pictures on the web or painting I came across that had the same feeling. I do not always know the artist but I felt the same way. AWESOME!

In some of your paintings I noticed the women have elaborate tattoos. In “Ruffneck” for instance. Is tattoo design something you also do?

I really like tattoos, but I keep designing tattoos for myself. I am currently busy with designing a back piece for myself. Hope I can do magic with tattoos one day besides painting canvasses.

“Geisha” is done very graphically. Bold curves and in black and white. Stark contrast. Beautiful. Do you prefer working in black and white and what mediums to you like to work with best?

Indeed, I like using black and white. I find it very powerful visually. I literally use everything that I can think of to make my paintings more unique. I mainly use acrylic, spray cans and markers.

Do you work solo or have you ever collaborated with other artists?

Haha yeah, MiMi Hellyeah works solo but I remain open to collaborations too.

You have some tattoos yourself. Can you tell us what they are and is there a personal meaning behind any of them?

I don’t have any tattoos yet but I have often thought about it. Tattoos are permanent and that is why I waited for so long. I wanted to find a tattoo artist who I have admiration for. Now that I have I am thinking about a back piece of koi fish but in Chinese style, simple and sensual. This piece will not have a meaning, but I am sure when I get started I will not be able to  stop having new ones with meanings behind it. The tattoos with meanings I would like to keep for myself.

You have had exhibitions of your work. Can you tell us about some of them?

The latest one is in a Comic merchandising store here in Rotterdam. Other exhibitions, includes exhibitions containing street art and modern art. I am not really into selling my stuff, I already get excited when people can see it and that is what I am aiming for.

Are there any artists or designers you admire?

I do not really have typical artists whom I admire. I usually forget the artist, the piece is what sticks in my memory. I mostly have respect for pieces made by graffiti artists, tattoo artists and painters with similar subjects that I have. I almost forgot to mention photographers who make stunning pictures of women.

Where would you like your art career to be in the future?

Actually, I am not sure what I want. I hope I can someday quit my job at the office and make a living with my art/ design and move to that island with my dog and American muscle car. For now, I am satisfied with respect for my work. Although, I have to say, it is quite weird to get enthusiastic feedback on your work. I still cannot imagine people would have that for mine. It is something I like to do on the weekends and then it is there, finished. When my paintings are exhibited it usually feels like the pieces are not even done by myself. Quite an odd feeling.

When you are not painting, what do you enjoy doing with your time off?

Especially listening to music and drinking alcohol. Being in a state of mind without sense of reality is, for me, a day checking out of reality and therefore closer to my island.

Where can we go to find out more about you and your work?

http://www.facebook.com/MiMi.HellYeah

Original Article

Interview with DJ Mata Hari

Mata Hari is absolutely unique in the DJ club culture. Performing topless she combines breathtaking physical fluidity with her skills in dancing and playing music at the same time. Born in the Ukraine the incorporation of performing topless lend credence to her choice of DJ name, Mata Hari who used to say, :”I do not undress for you but because I feel myself this way in the world.” Not just exoticism for its own sake but to introduce people to a new aspect of beauty in art and grace in music.

Grace in music is what Mata Hari’s sets are all about. They can turn from RnB to Arabic to latin on up to commercial and electro house. Her body language changes with the music from spectacular burlesque to high level belly dancing to crazy interactive topless activity with her guests.

In addition to her single spinning she is sometimes paired with another DJ to from what is billed as the worlds sexiest DJ Duo, Shah & Mat. ShahMat is a contrast of characters, plasticity, mood and music… and also the hair color. It’s really the duo of two queens: the day and the night, the light and the darkness, the past and the future!

Mata, it is great to meet you. Can you tell us a little about yourself and where you grew up?

Nice to meet you too. My original name is Victoria. Since I was a child I was involved with music and dancing. When I was 7 years old my mother sent me to a kids’ school of arts (class of piano). When I was older I was interested in dancing and I started to work in night clubs as a go-go dancer. That is where I fell in love with club music.

When you were young what music did you listen to?

To be honest I was listening to R&B more than other styles. This is why the music I played at the beginning of my career  was R&B.

How did you first get started DJing?

Back in the days when I was working as a go-go dancer my friend invited me to a DJ Bazuka performance. She impressed me so much that I started to be interested in girls DJing. I had attended a school of the arts and had years of experience in the best Ukrainian  erotic show-ballet “X-Zone” so I have thought I would try to be a Djane as well. So….here I am!!

[singlepic id=625 w=320 h=240 float=center]

You play a very broad range of music. Do your sets vary because of the audience you play to?

In all situations, a DJ is a person who satisfies the crowd with music so I am trying to give my best to the people. Whatever it takes, I will do and I mean it.

What do you like to do to work up the audience?

It’s very important to understand the mood of place and the people. The atmosphere is very different in each place I go. But once you got it the crowd is yours! From then on you just have to make sure that you stay tuned and keep fellows happy with what you do for them. Another thing – is the show, the performance itself. Dancing, interacting with people, sexuality.

When you perform topless what kind of response do you get from the audience? Do things sometimes get out of hand?

I think I have a nice body. Why not let people to enjoy watching it? It’s a language that talks to people – it is body language. They respond back  with looks, notes, they take pictures while I am playing. I noticed that I get interest as much from women as from men. When people come for a topless DJs event they know what to expect….  and they get it.

You are also a part of a topless duo Shah & Mat. How did you two meet?

When we met I already had some experience in DJing but for a creative person it’s never enough. I always need to do something bigger and better. More emotion, more show. So back to the subject… when we met… we met in a party in Cairo. She already was a very successful model who got a lot of attention everywhere. We became friends very quickly. I told her about the project I had in my mind and she was interested… that’s how we decided to create the best show-duo ever!

You are very different in appearance, are your music styles the same? How well do you perform together?

Of course we aren’t absolutely similar in sense of look, taste in clothes and music. We contrast in character, hair color, and taste in music. At in the same time we look similar as we are two half’s of one but not separate. It lets people feel more energy in the air. People say that our performance is the best performance of a female DJ duo they ever saw. During our performance we change costumes a few times. When one of us is playing, another one is dancing in front of DJ desk. We interact with people, pour champagne on each other, dance. We are not afraid of very doing sexual things such as using cream and so on.

What has been some of the most memorable venues or events you have performed at?

Oh, it was my first big event, its “Halikarnas” one of the biggest clubs in Turkeyand Europe,  a club for 3,5 thousand people. It was amazing. “Halikarnas” was the first job I got outside of Ukraine. I didn’t know how it would go. If people would like me, my style, and my show! I remember how my hands were shaking! But it all was for nothing. That day was amazing! For the first time I felt the energy of so many people and they felt mine! We were dancing, jumping, and singing all together. We were one piece of energy! Unbelievable!

Have you traveled a lot? Where are some of your favorite places to visit?

I have traveled a lot, all around the world.  My favorite places are “Halikarnas” (Turkey, Bodrum), “Holic” (South Korea, Seoul), “Madwallstreet” (Switzerland, Luzern)

What do you think is the hardest part of your business?

Travelling is the hardest thing I have to deal with. Just thinking about a long trip makes me have the same feeling of tiredness. 15 hours flight to Taiwan. Every month I travel at least 4 times from country to country and I still have to give the same energy as if I just woke up after very peaceful sleep…. but right after I go on stage I feel refreshed. That is what music does to me!!!

Where can we find out more about you?

You can find out more about me in my websites www.djmatahari.in   and   www.djduo-shahmat.net .  Also my facebook page http://www.facebook.com/tdj.matahari

Original Article