Page 40 - Zone Magazine Issue 008

Do you think that they perceive it as something not to try and just give up on the thought before they even start?
Yes, I do think so and you know Paris Hilton DJ-ing and all those other jokes you see on Facebook don’t help. I don’t know, there’s a long way to go there.
You mentioned Lisa Lashes there and last year you both did the Music Conference in Brighton and you did a lecture on Women in the Industry, how did that go down?
Yeah it was Lisa’s initiative and she invited me to go along and it was just an open chat in the room about women in the Industry and the women that are in the Industry tend to be really strong personalities. And I think that you do have to be a stronger person, it’s not a natural thing for women to want to get into and that’s just such a broad subject and we’re getting into gender types and that’s such a complicated issue.
The Tidy Girls E.P went onto become one of the bestselling Hard House records ever, can you tell me a bit about that came about?
Well the Tidy Boys I think asked a few different girls to do this E.P and my flatmate said they’re not paying you enough don’t do it, don’t do it, and this is just so funny now and anyway I did do it and we had so much fun and the rest is history and we went onto to sell loads of this tune.
You have had a multi-faceted career to date, DJ, Producer, presenter. I think it’s important to let people know that in 2012 you embarked on a B.Sc Degree in Event Management with Arts & Entertainment in Sheffield. How’s that going and how do you fit college life in with your stage life?
So I decided to get a degree and I just thought I wanted to find out if I could do it, time is ticking on, and I can’t DJ for ever .. even though signs are proving otherwise. I just wanted to put some academic qualifications to my life experience in case I decide to have an exit strategy from DJ-ing.
That sounds very sensible Anne.
Yeah it sounds great when I say it out loud. It's going really well, it’s hard though, really hard. I don’t think I could have done it ten years ago, the people I am at University now with, they’re a lot younger, their mums know me.
You haven’t been asked to do DJ at any events there have you?
No but my fellow students will say oh my Aunty knows who you are. Anyway it’s going really well and I graduate in May.
You have been polled in DJ Magazine’s Top 100 DJ’s for the last years and 2013 you were voted in the all-time top 100 DJ’s, so you’re not unused to the accolades, so how does it make you feel that you’re one of the all-time legends and are showing that the girls can do it better
than the guys?
I’m just thrilled actually, I just like playing music, I just enjoy making people dance and I am delighted that people actually like me doing that. That’s all I can say really, I am just thankful for people thinking of me that way for something basically that I love to do. I couldn’t imagine what I would be doing in life if I wasn’t DJ-ing.
You’re rightly known for your glamorous style and your bubbly lovely personality, have these attributes helped in your crossover to TV?
Yeah I think so, everyone knows I’m up for a laugh and I don't take myself too serious. I think that comes across and that’s why I have been picked to do the odd show yeah.
One of those shows was Faking It, where they brought people from different walks of life to trick the public into believing they were experts in different fields. You had a Cellist and your mission was turn her into a DJ.
Yeah me and Lottie were involved, I’ve got to give her credit as she was teaching the technical side and I was more of a life coach so I had to teach her to be a bit more boisterous and less posh.
So any more plans for anymore TV presenting work coming up?
I’ve got a TV show coming up out in the New Year, it's me talking to a family about the 1990’s and what it was like to be a part of the Rave Culture. It’s called ‘Home in time for the Weekend’. I’m on one episode and I’m not sure exactly when in the New Year but it will be on Ch4.
You run your own label ‘Siren Trax’, why did you decide to run a label?
I actually just wanted to have more control on what I was putting out and instead of putting tunes out and waiting for them to be signed, if you have your label you can choose when they go out.
You’re here in Ireland for the Ear Candy gig in Kildare Town, we’re delighted to have you of course, do you have any memories of coming to Ireland you would like to share?
I’ve got a massive love affair with Ireland, I’ve played Planet Love, I’ve played Temple theater, the Vault, Voodoo Lounge and I love coming here. I can’t wait for the gig tonight.
You have had a long and interesting career, you told me a funny story about Ibiza, do you have any more you would like to share?
Another falling over story actually, I was DJ- ing at a club in Birmingham and it had a sprung dance floor and the vinyl decks were suspended from steel wires over from the ceiling. I lost my balance and swung out onto the dance-floor by trying to hold on to the decks in front of everyone who were horrified.
It was just mouths open, so when I ran round to continue DJ-ing, I took my shoes off and then knocked off all the power out of the socket. Yeah there were a few boos but the thing is when that happens as soon as you put the music back on everyone's yeah!!
Any upcoming gigs to look out for?
The big one is that I am actually hosting a night in Aberdeen called ‘Let’s Get Savaged’ and it’s for Cornerstone Charity and that’s the charity I am supporting through my University degree. So I am really excited about that, I’m not sure if anyone wants to come over to Aberdeen for Boxing night but I can’t wait.
Would you like to tell me a little bit about that charity so we have an idea what it’s about?
Cornerstone help a variety of people who need help, people who have had long spells in hospital, some people who have been there for years at a time. They help them live at home so they can be with their families, they help people with physical difficulties to lead a more normal life, they help people with drug rehabilitation who might need lawyers if they get into trouble. They do a variety of things to help people, a great cause.
What is the future for you Anne, you have the course to finish off, you’re gigging but is there anything else you can enlighten us on?
I’ve started a harder duo with a friend of mine in Aberdeen called Savaged based DJ’s. We’re going to be making some music, it's not hard style but it’s not hard house, still harder edged and we’ve got a couple of tracks written and they will be coming out next year and soon as I finish Uni when I’ve handed that dissertation in I will be making some more tracks so just keep your eyes open.
I could keep you here asking questions all day long, such is the length and diversity of your career, but you have a gig to prepare for so at this stage I am going to say thanks so much Anne Savage for your time. It was a huge pleasure to meet you, the best of luck in tonight's gig and I hope you enjoyed the interview.
I’ve really enjoyed the interview, it was great and I can’t wait to see everyone tonight.
Anne Savage will be returning to Ireland to play again for Ear Candy with Dublin and Asylum legend DJ Pressure at The Venue, Kildare Town on Saturday 26th of March.
Connect:
http://www.djannesavage.com
http://www.discogs.com/artist/Anne+Savage http://www.beatport.com/artist/anne- savage/4351 https://m.facebook.com/DjAnneSavage/
Words By Jason Collins
Pics By Anne Savage
" I’ve started a harder duo with a friend of mine in Aberdeen called 'Savaged based DJ’s'. We’re going to be making some music, it's not hard style but it’s not hard house, still harder edged. "
40 ZONE-MAGAZINE.IE