First lady of PassionFM and London's house music scene in general, Lady Duracell has been doing it on the capital's house underground for 8 years now and has acheived a hell of a lot in that time. Resident for the massive Funkin' You at KOKO, she'll be back at the legendary venue hosting Room 3 for Roger Sanchez's Release Yourself night - going head-to-head with the S-Man's 8 hour main room set! We gave her the DSIQ&A treatment.

Lady Duracell...got to be asked...why the name?

The name came about before the Djing began. I was named by another clubber at legendary house night Strawberry Sundae, who said “you dance all night, you last longer than a Duracell!” I was always first in the club and last to leave – I just can’t get enough of that music we call house. I ended up doing practically every job in Cloud 9 in the mid-‘90s; the bar, the cloakroom, the guestlist, the cashdesk, promotions, and eventually played in there. It was a good grounding for the future.

When did you first pick up a slab of vinyl and put needle to wax?

It was late ’99 just after my second trip out to Ibiza. The interest had already begun, some of my friends were DJs, but one night I stood in Es Paradis and heard their resident Miss Bisto playing. At that time I didn’t know of many female DJs, but here was a DJ holding her own, and I made a decision right there in the middle of the club. I told all my friends and anyone that would listen that I was going home to learn to mix. I did, and the rest is her-story. ;)

Who were your early inspirations, DJ/producer wise?

Frankie Knuckles, Larry Heard, Marshall Jefferson, Joey Beltram, Masters @ Work, Blaze, Kerri Chandler, Dennis Ferrer, Audiowhores, Grant Nelson, Rasmus Faber, Miguel Migs, Johny Fiasco, far too many to mention … I’m inspired and respect producers that stay true to their roots without being afraid to push things forward. As for the DJing side of things, I discovered a pirate radio station back in the late ‘80s called FantasyFM. That’s where I got my introduction to house and discovered the real art of DJ mixing. Deep in the underground! I’ve also got to give a heads up to all the house DJs that are pushing forward the sounds of house in a positive way, all the true house music soldiers.

How did you first get involved in PassionFM?

I was on another station back in 2000 where I was their first female house DJ. Two of the main DJs left (Phillgood & RAM) and they asked me along with DJ Justmick (RIP) to join them at Passion and introduce the sounds of house. Working closely together to push forward quality music has been the key to its winning formula, along with a very talented set of DJs of course. Passion FM has just gone from strength to strength and I’m very proud to be a part of the team.

You do 12 hours on the station a week...how do you fit in anything else??

Haha, it’s actually 14 hours, two 5-hour breakfast shows which finish at midday and if I’m not playing in the clubs, I do a 4-hour show on a Friday night. I’ve been doing it a long time, and somehow I find the time to get everything done. This year has been especially busy as I was asked to choose, license and mix Nell McAndrew’s next fitness DVD. That project is now finished and will be in the shops around Xmas. I thrive on keeping busy, and I wouldn’t have it any other way!

You’ve been producing bits and bobs in recent years...what have you had out so far and how do you find the whole creative process?

My first track was out last year – ‘Es Paradis’ – Queen of Funk Orig. Latin Vibe Mix and the Tribal Remix which I did with one of London’s fresh producers/sound engineers, Lucarelli. Considering it had very little publicity, the track did very well, reaching number 9 in the chart in the Oxford Street branch of HMV. This was at a time when Fish Go Deep’s ‘Cure & The Cause’ was up there at the top. It’s all a learning curve though, next time I won’t be so stubborn in wanting to do everything by myself, in my own time, from pressing up vinyl, to distribution etc. I did have some interest from digital labels but at the time I just wanted to do it my way, I’m a typical Aries girl you know.

I wanted to create a real Latin vibe, and on my first attempt I used a guitar sample but I was never really satisfied with it. Eventually I pinned down my talented friend Duncan D to play authentic Spanish guitar for me. It’s very much a dancefloor track, I’ts all in the bassline. You can have a listen to the (edited) track on www.myspace/queenoffunkladyduracell . I’ve been back in the studio recently, and come up with something totally different which I’m really excited about. Keep those drums to the ground.

What do you hate and what do you love about living and working in London?

I love the nightlife, I hate the traffic.

What do you think about the current state of house music?

I hear some people saying that they can’t find good house music at the moment, I just tell them to dig a bit deeper because it’s out there. Look beyond the obvious, and you will be playing/hearing a unique set of tunes. There’s some really good house nights in London, and I enjoy playing my blend of deep soulful & uplifting house to any crowd that are there for quality music, and it doesn’t matter whether that’s the tiniest of venues or the biggest – we’re one nation under a house groove!

You’re playing at KOKO for Roger Sanchez’s Release Yourself on September 22nd in London Town. Are you a big fan of the S-Man? When do you first remember discovering him?

Roger Sanchez is one of the house scenes true legends. This man has been packing out venues, producing records and running his label for what seems like forever! He is a true inspiration to DJs worldwide. The S-Man is in the HOUSE and I feel privileged to host Queen of Funk’s ‘Get Lifted’ in the top room at Koko. I can’t remember when I first heard of him, he’s a house institution, and I really can’t wait to see him rocking the house, bring it on!

KOKO is a pretty special venue...what are you fondest memories of nights spent there / at Camden Palace?

It really is a special venue, and I am very proud to say that I have played on that main stage many times as a resident of Funkin’ You, a huge monthly house night. I’ve got a lot of good memories of that amazing venue. Funniest was when I was mixing away then saw this huge light heading my way, the next thing I know I’ve got a mic in my face and I’m being interviewed. One of the photographers took a shot just when I had this little worried look in my eyes, as I saw the tune was rapidly running out! I love it, so I keep it as my profile pic for DSI. The one memory that will never leave me is very first time I played at KOKO, which was at full capacity. Seeing that huge crowd rocking to the music was something else, and at the end of my set I had a standing ovation which made me shake from head to toe it was totally mind blowing!

www.ladyduracell.co.uk
www.myspace.com/lady_duracell
www.myspace.com/qofgetlifted
www.myspace.com/queenoffunkladyduracell

Check out full details of Release Yourself here