NEWS from the INTERNETS abt Miss Lady Kier

06.22.2011  by  Phil Villeneuve         photo by : Abeni Garrett When I was a closeted little kid growing up in my hometown of 200 people, Deee-lite was my saviour. When everyone else stopped showering and started listening to Nirvana, I blasted my World Clique, Infinity Within and Dewdrops in the Gardencassettes. Lady Kier gave me hope.After being run over by the major label bus a few times, Lady Kier carries on as a DJ and performer. Her knowledge of music runs deep, and witnessing one of her sets is like a history lesson in underground dance music. In advance of her appearance at the 90Six party, the Lady answered all my fanboy questions. Who are you a fan of when it comes to dance music today?Black Devil Disco Club, Coati Mundi, Chrissy Murderbot, Quentin Harris, Ebony Bones, Midnight Magic, MIA, Todd Terry, Crown Heights Affair, Juan Atkins, Baggy Bottom Boys, Alex Robotnik, Rich Harrison, Jamie Lidell.   Can you explain what happened with the two final Deee-Lite albums, The Infinity Within and Dewdrops in the Garden, and why the label let them fall flat? The president of Elektra Records told us he was not going to spend one dime on either album because they were “too gay.” I funded the Dewdrops tour out of my own bank account, and we sold 500,000 copies and sold out every single venue. Unfortunately, the label made 90 percent of the profits, so at the end of the tour I was broke. What was so great about ’90s pop music?The first three years of the scene saw a huge funk revival, with bands like De La Soul, En Vogue and Salt-N-Pepa. But as soon as Kurt Cobain died, the major labels stopped promoting fun music like that and went full blast into grunge.I started to get bored with pop and hip hop after that, which seemed to put money behind the “gangsta lean” rubbish and leave out message bands like Tribe Called Quest and Jungle Brothers. So I dove back into underground dancefloor music. By 1992, house music was becoming formulaic and bored me as much as pop. You’re heavily involved in gay scenes every where. Has that always been the case? When I was 19 I went to a gay bar named the Pyramid in New York, and I’ve never been the same since. The DJ, Sister Dimension, played disco and the MC, named Happy Face, introduced a hilarious crew of drag queens and kings. That’s where I shed my punk-rock butch attire and began learning to camp it up. Phil Villeneuve: Tell us about how you got involved with the 90Six party?  Lady Kier: More and more I have noticed ’90s nostalgia creeping into modern dance music, which I enjoy adding to my set. So when I was asked to do this all-’90s night, it was a natural gig to accept. You seem to fully embrace your Deee-Lite days. What are your feelings toward your old trio these days?If I ever got paid what I deserved from our rotten thieving management and one of the band members, I’d probably feel like singing those songs more often.I read about your disappointment with Beyoncé borrowing from Italian pop star Lorella Cuccerini for her infamous Billboard Awards performance. Do you think it’s impossible for a pop artist to create original work today?Not at all. There are hundreds of talented artists doing their own thing. It’s just that without funding, promotion or airplay, very few of us get to hear them in their time. Ebony Bones is a good example of an artist that should be getting financial support like Gaga but is not. Okay, quickie questions: what is your favourite type of food?Fruit.Craziest show you ever played?Opening up for Grace Jones. ——————————————— Phil Villeneuve is the fab Tunes columnist and a proud member of the Deee-lite Fan Club.

06.22.2011  by  Phil Villeneuve         photo by : Abeni Garrett

When I was a closeted little kid growing up in my hometown of 200 people, Deee-lite was my saviour. When everyone else stopped showering and started listening to Nirvana, I blasted my World Clique, Infinity Within and Dewdrops in the Gardencassettes. Lady Kier gave me hope.

After being run over by the major label bus a few times, Lady Kier carries on as a DJ and performer. Her knowledge of music runs deep, and witnessing one of her sets is like a history lesson in underground dance music. In advance of her appearance at the 90Six party, the Lady answered all my fanboy questions.

Who are you a fan of when it comes to dance music today?

Black Devil Disco Club, Coati Mundi, Chrissy Murderbot, Quentin Harris, Ebony Bones, Midnight Magic, MIA, Todd Terry, Crown Heights Affair, Juan Atkins, Baggy Bottom Boys, Alex Robotnik, Rich Harrison, Jamie Lidell.

 

Can you explain what happened with the two final Deee-Lite albums, The Infinity Within and Dewdrops in the Garden, and why the label let them fall flat?

The president of Elektra Records told us he was not going to spend one dime on either album because they were “too gay.” I funded the Dewdrops tour out of my own bank account, and we sold 500,000 copies and sold out every single venue. Unfortunately, the label made 90 percent of the profits, so at the end of the tour I was broke.

What was so great about ’90s pop music?

The first three years of the scene saw a huge funk revival, with bands like De La Soul, En Vogue and Salt-N-Pepa. But as soon as Kurt Cobain died, the major labels stopped promoting fun music like that and went full blast into grunge.

I started to get bored with pop and hip hop after that, which seemed to put money behind the “gangsta lean” rubbish and leave out message bands like Tribe Called Quest and Jungle Brothers. So I dove back into underground dancefloor music. By 1992, house music was becoming formulaic and bored me as much as pop.

You’re heavily involved in gay scenes every where. Has that always been the case?

When I was 19 I went to a gay bar named the Pyramid in New York, and I’ve never been the same since. The DJ, Sister Dimension, played disco and the MC, named Happy Face, introduced a hilarious crew of drag queens and kings. That’s where I shed my punk-rock butch attire and began learning to camp it up.

Phil Villeneuve: Tell us about how you got involved with the 90Six party?  

Lady Kier: More and more I have noticed ’90s nostalgia creeping into modern dance music, which I enjoy adding to my set. So when I was asked to do this all-’90s night, it was a natural gig to accept.

You seem to fully embrace your Deee-Lite days. What are your feelings toward your old trio these days?

If I ever got paid what I deserved from our rotten thieving management and one of the band members, I’d probably feel like singing those songs more often.

I read about your disappointment with Beyoncé borrowing from Italian pop star Lorella Cuccerini for her infamous Billboard Awards performance. Do you think it’s impossible for a pop artist to create original work today?

Not at all. There are hundreds of talented artists doing their own thing. It’s just that without funding, promotion or airplay, very few of us get to hear them in their time. Ebony Bones is a good example of an artist that should be getting financial support like Gaga but is not.

Okay, quickie questions: what is your favourite type of food?

Fruit.

Craziest show you ever played?

Opening up for Grace Jones.


———————————————

Phil Villeneuve is the fab Tunes columnist and a proud member of the Deee-lite Fan Club.

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