We uncover the naked truth from creator and promoter Julieta Azul Bertolini as she gears up for another session of London's multi-sensual mini-festival where you can get everything from Inversion Therapy to face painting to pole dancing classes. And with this Friday's party being The Festive Season Sexy Extravaganza it's also going to be a bloody good mash up....

How did you come up with the concept of Naked?
It was my birthday and I’d been offered Dex club for my birthday. I’d been thinking for a while about doing club nights myself and I wanted something that’s in your face, that’s real and that’s sexy. I actually found it in an English slang book under the expression, ‘The naked truth’. Albertina Marfil, one of my best friends who’s also from Argentina, came up with ‘the damn sexy party’. We were bitching about men one night and English men not being that forward and being single and we came up with the idea of a party to help people flirt more and be more forward, to play games. In the summer there’s all these festivals going on for fun, but in the winter it’s all a lot more serious so we wanted to do something different, to have a crazy party and have a fun time and for people to come and show their sexy flirty side.

What’s the main philosophy behind it?
For people to let go and enjoy themselves and to add that little bit of extra interaction to bring people closer together, to dance closer together. It’s a bit like a Latin party where you go and dance to Salsa. You’ll go to a Salsa party and dance really sexy with someone and feel really sexy but you won’t have sex with them. As my Dad says, flirting and feeling sexy helps you release endorphins and feel happier!

English people need to feel happier in winter don’t they?
Yes, it’s about feeling sunny in winter! Naked hasn’t happened in the summer except at the Secret Garden Party. It was fun! It was a small thing cause we couldn’t have the whole naked production involved but we played some games and had some DJs. It wasn’t really the whole Naked thing though… we want to do that this summer, to bring some of the Naked sexiness and Latin culture to English festivals.

What does that involve?
Bringing people closer! But it’s much better than speed dating!

Latin culture is a big part of Naked. You’re from Argentina aren’t you?
Yes from, Buenos Aires, the capital. I left Argentina 10 years ago, went to Mexico, then Spain, then I came to England eight years ago. I planned on staying for six months, like all of us! But I loved the freedom here!

You obviously have a lot to teach the English about partying…
Yeah definitely! The reason why it took me so long to do my own events is I worked with so many other promoters in London. Over the years I worked with so many different crews and scenes. I wanted to put on something with meaning, based on how I wanted to party drawing on all the good things from all the parties I’d been to, but with the bit that were missing there. I learned a lot about organisation, went to so many festivals and met so many creative people. So I wanted to get so many creative people together and be entertained. It’s not all about the music… it’s about being entertained!

Who’ve you worked with?
Enrico from Antiworld, Tim Samsara from Escape from Samsara, Stuart from Dex Club, plus I’ve done squat parties with my ex. That all helped make me what I am today.

You say it’s not all about the music…
Yeah it’s about trying to stimulate all the senses, having live music as well as DJs, having games and interaction, body paint and styling, an art exhibition, stuff you might usually have at an exhibition during the day at night. We have Inversion Therapy, a café, a photo booth… we emphasis interaction and it’s all about getting involved in the party. Something that’s also very important is making the party less serious. So many times you go to a party and it’s all about serious DJs playing serious music. Naked is all about fun, promoting organized fun. You don’t really want to be serious when you go out in my opinion!

Time Out magazine described Naked as a mini-festival…
Yes it is like a mini-festival. If you want to compare it with other events, it’s much more like a festival than a club. There are so many different acts, and we encourage people to dress up sexy or in whatever makes them feel good, whether it’s just wearing some brighter colors or something that makes them feel happy. Naked isn’t literally about being ‘naked’, it’s about the raw you basically! One of my friends says it’s not all about coming naked, it’s about leaving your shit at home — expressing yourself and feeling comfortable, dancing and feeling confident. It’s sensual, sexual; you dance, you express it and even when we take pictures people have that sexy look!

For those people used to going to clubs where it is all about the music, what do you have for them?
The main room of Naked is always electro house and live bands. This party we’re going to have Colin Dale, a very good electro house DJ; Matt Brown from Sancho Panza; Summer Holiday, an amazing 7 piece band who are very extravagant and a lot of fun, Fifi has an amazing voice – she’s going to be singing as well as being a comparer of the part; Syber Symon who’s an amazing electro DJ; Tim Ross of the UK House Mafia; and Black Perla. In the 2nd room this time we’re having a bit of Latin music, a bit of disco, a bit of world music and lots of funny stuff. I can’t wait to see everyone moving to Raggaeton and Salsa! There’s a Latin theme and we’re going to have some Latin games and a lot of fun! We also have the Head Gardener from the Secret Garden playing in the second room. I’m really excited about having him come to Naked as he had us at his festival and that was one of the best festivals I’ve ever been to — it’s a very creative fun festival with so much happening. We’ve got very similar ideas…

What is your best advice for those more uptight British readers to get the party moving?
My advice is to get your sexy outfit on! And even if they don’t have a sexy outfit you can come to the party with an open mind and dress up there! Come and get a makeover, dress up in the dressing up corner, get some face paint done and lose your inhibitions! But have no preconceptions… it’s not a fetish night.

Really?
Yes, it’s not fetish, it’s not burlesque. It’s a fun party with a sexy Latin vibe and it’s definitely not serious… I’ve found at fetish parties they can be very serious! This is the opposite; it’s all about letting go. If you want to dance, dance. If you want to learn some pole dancing moves, go for it. But it’s not compulsory!

At every party we have dance shows from other cultures and performances from Kwalilox and the Three Snakes and the Transforming SkyWalking Fairies. At every Naked there’s also a performance coordinated by Albertina Marfil. It’s all about promoting interaction between the performers and the crowd. We’re also going to have Fluorotrash giving pole dancing shows and workshops throughout the night, Salsa and Fire Poi shows and a Latin Café.

Finally, why should people reading this come to Naked on Friday night?
Because they’re going to love it! They’re going to experience a bit of what a Latin party is about. They’re going to meet lots of lovely creative people and get inspired!

Event: Fiesta Loca Events presents… Naked ‘The Damn Sexy Party’ — The Festive Season Sexy Extravaganza
Date: Friday 12th of December
Time: 10pm – 6am
Venue: Jamm Brixton, 261 Brixton Road, London SW9 6LH
Transport: Buses 133, 333, 159, 59; Brixton/Oval Tube
Tel: +44 (0)77 3851 0456 / +44 (0)20 8244 3903
Email: info@thedamnsexyparty.com
Web: www.thedamnsexyparty.com
Tickets: £10 (no booking fee) directly from Naked headquarters;
£10 + BF from Access All Areas (Camden) 020 7267 8320
Music styles: Live music, Electro, House, Breaks, Funk, Latin and more over 2 rooms of music and an outdoor area

Naked is back, bringing you the pre-Christmas party that’s bound to make Santa Claus leave the North Pole to join us! We just hope Mrs. Claus is not a jealous person as the sexiness, heat and mischief come together to be part of our festive season extravaganza.

Expect amazing people, live music, great DJs, talented performers and a lot of sensual dance, teasing and flirty interaction. Start thinking about your sexy outfit before it’s too late! Let’s make this winter the hottest season ever!

MUSIC LINE UP:

^^^Sexy House/Electro/Breaks/Live Room^^^
Summer Holiday LIVE
Fifi LIVE
Colin Dale (Wildlife am/Abstrakt)
Matt Brown (Sancho Panza)
Syber Symon (Naked)
Tim Ross (UK House Mafia)
Black Perla

^^^Sexy Funky Chill Out/Latin Room^^^
Head Gardener (Secret Garden Party)
DJ Chino (Barrio Latino/La Bomba)
DJ Cal Jader (Movimientos)
Eva (Naked)
Ben Zaven Crane (Mojo Filter) with VJ Precious RGB
Matt (Dottintheshark)

Plus throughout the night…
• Kwalilox and the Three Snakes
• The Transforming SkyWalking Fairies
• Inversion Therapy by Alexander Hickman
• The Fluorotrash Dance Troupe — Pole Dance and Workshops
• Salsa Show by Sami & Pilar
• Fire Poi Show by Paulino Servado
• Latin Cafe by Shona Green Goddess
• Enigmatic Illustrations by Natasha Chambers & Sensual Art Exhibition
• Sexy Performance Directed by Albertina Marfil
• Visuals by VJ Mouseonthetelly & Dottintheshark
• Face and Body Painting by Justina Robinson
• Wandering Minstrels & Tequila Girls
• Reggaeton Classes
• Sexy Games & The Little Book of Latin Love
• Make-up and Hair Stations & Dressing Up Corner
• Photo & video booths
and much much more!

www.thedamnsexyparty.com