This year alone, Janette Slack has played Global Gathering, rocked clubs from Australia to Russia, been featured in The Observer, presented for Channel V (Asia’s MTV equivalent), appeared in multi-page fashion shoots and is about to be the subject of a feature and guest mix on Radio 1. Most excitingly she’s returned to the studio and come up trumps with her new single for Air Recordings, ‘Take It/’Around The Block’.

One of dance music’s most charismatic young figures – London clubbers are familiar with her turning up to gigs on her infamous roller-skates with a backpack full of records – Janette is a breath of fresh air in the somewhat character-less vacuum of the current club scene (you can still find Doug ‘Scratch’ Pray’s short film about her online).

A resident for both Air at Cargo and fetish event, Torture Garden, she's renowned for her energetic, electro-filled DJ sets that defy even the most pigeon-hole obsessed muso. Musically, her productions circle the same waters with her last release for Air Recordings making an appearance in the highly respected Cool Cuts Chart in Music Week.

New missive, 'Take It', is a 4/4, bass heavy summer anthem complete with a Torture Garden inspired vocal recorded for Janette… 'Around The Block' leans towards her beats-friendly side, no less energetic, it moves from jump-up breaks into a sublimely beautiful breakdown with progressive leanings.

In addition to her busy tour schedule, Janette is putting the finishing touches to her debut album, set for release in 2009.

Photo by Grunt Media

1. Describe a Janette Slack set?
Pumping, penetrating, rocking and rolling, sprinkled with a dash of cheek.

2. You’ve played at a Social vs Chix in da Mix party before, how would you describe it to someone who has never been?
Good people, good vibes and a lot of dementedness.

3. You have an album coming out in 2009, can you tell me a bit about it?
It’s an electronic album that draws in influences from elements of dance music that got me into it in the first place, as well as stuff that’s inspiring me now. It’s not geeky or trying to conform to any trend in anyway, it’s just what feels right for me.

Some tracks lean to my progressive roots and my soft spot for live drums, guitars and some orchestral. 60 or 70% of the album is solo stuff, and the rest are collaborations from other artists who are inspiring me at the moment. Kid Dub, Liz Cirelli, Popcox and Tyrrell. All of them have a healthy independent attitude towards music and life in general, and we get up to a lot of trouble when we’re together, which is essential to the soul. Also got some collabs with some of the other Air artists in the pipeline. Who knows what could happen between now and then, I’m really loving working with people and breaking away from my hermit haven.

Photo by Paul Fiction

4. You’re a resident DJ at Air and Torture Garden which do you prefer?
Haha! You bitch! Of course I love them both equally. They are just so different from each other I can’t even compare. It’s like asking me if I prefer my mum or my dad. You just can’t choose.

Air is great, and Cargo is such a cool venue to have it, I love our resident band Diverted, they just get better and better every month. I’ve had the opportunity to play up tempo and down tempo there and either way the crowd is just awesome!

Torture Garden is amazing too, it’s a bit spicier.

The thing that links the two is that they are always busy and have open minded crowds to music. Ali B who runs Air and Allen TG who runs Torture Garden have been very supportive and encouraging since the day I met them, and have given me the freedom and the chance to play how and what I want.

5. You’re from Hong Kong, How would you compare the dance music scene with far East and Europe?
To be honest, I left HK in 2001 and I have only been back there in transit on the way to Oz. So I haven’t had the chance to check out the party scene there for 7 years. But from my experiences there from ‘back in the day’, I really really loved it and I miss it. It’s a smaller community there so everyone knows each other and it’s got a good family vibe going where all my DJ buddies and I would look out for each other, and it really is a 24 hour party place. There is always somewhere to go or something to do.

I’m going back out there soon after I complete the album. I really can’t wait to catch up with everyone and see what new buildings have been built and shopping centres! It’s so fast pace out there, fun to hold ya breath, dive into and see what happens.

6. Name 3 things you couldn’t live without?
Sashimi, my disposable contact lenses and double AA batteries.

Photo by Marcus T

7. Do you prefer DJing or producing?
Some days I prefer one over the other. Producing can be great when writers block isn’t in the way, and fun to get lost in. But then it’s good to break free from the studio and get out and play tunes too. If I do too much of one, it would do my head in. I like balancing the two, it breaks up monotony. DJing allows me to let my hair down and the studio work brings discipline into my life and to get back into a ‘normal’ body clock.

8. Who or what has been your biggest inspiration?
Trent Reznor from Nine Inch Nails for being a multi-talented mother fucker.
And food.

9. Where do you see yourself in 10 years time?
In my mansion with my bitches. Or settled with 2.4 yadda yadda. But still making music.

Photo by Tristan Kinslow

10. What’s been your best gig to date?
Playing in a desert rave in LA during the sunrise slot. Bootiful.

11. I hear you’ve done a fashion shoot and presented for Channel V, are these interests you want to pursue further?
I do love it when random things happen along the way. If someone calls me up to do something interesting I’m gonna say yes. I’m just focusing on the music thing as that already takes up all my time, but if other opportunities come my way that’ll spice up my life, I’ll happily knock myself out.

12. You write reviews for Mixmag, heard anything good lately?
Yeah this awesome awesome track by a producer from Missouri, USA called Prato. The track is called Hotterdam and it’s just amazing. Really subtle cheeky proggy electro breaks. Does all the right things without being too obvious, Mr No hands has done an edit of it and its just pure bliss!
Also the Evil Nine Album has really been such a pleasure to get my hands on. Fidelity Kastrow’s latest single ‘21st Century Girl’ is one you should watch out for, all the remixes are cool.
AND Angel De Lux’s new track ‘Scratch Lesson 1’ is fucking ace too.

Photo by Alan Davies

13. You’re quite a character and have a very distinctive look, do you think this aids your career?
There are times where it helps and there times where it has been a hindrance.

14. Can you really skateboard?!
No, but I do roller blade around London to get about. I hate public transport with a passion. I love getting lost in London (when I’m not in a hurry). A clear day whether it be hot or cold, the sites are awesome and London seems so much smaller on skates. But when I look on a map and see the ground I’ve covered, I’m like WOW!

15. What do you feel you are yet to achieve?
I really REALLY wanna get into snowboarding more. I’ve only been a few times, and I am addicted. A dream of mine is to get good enough to do Alley Oops, Grinds and Ollies naturally without getting myself hospitalised too much. But that seems like such a distant dream. I wouldn’t mind following winter around the world if it meant I could spend seasons being a snow bum, well, I’d have to be a rich snow bum, so not much bumming around really. If I ever win the lottery, you’ll know where to find me. Oh! There’s also, choppers, swords, numchucks, fire eating, Spanish lessons, designing kick ass boots, the list goes on. One dream at a time.

Catch Janette Slack at Social vs Chix in Da Mix this Saturday (20th September) at The Lockside Lounge in Camden. 2pm-2am, 16 DJs, Massive Girls vs Boys line up.

Big love
The Social Crew
www.myspace.com/thesocial6