Singer / DJ Abigail Bailey talks Kinky Malinki....

1. You will soon be entertaining the Kinky Malinki faithful with your rather unique act of actually DJing whilst you freestyle over the beats. Most people would know you from your tracks you've done with Herd and Fitz and Soul Central and you've regularly done the PA thing but what's made you combine the DJing too??

Well I always wanted to DJ really, it just so happens that singing came first. I used to be a right tomboy and used to mess about on the 1210’s when I was 14 playing hardcore!! Then I suppose I grew up and become more lady like and turned to singing, I have worked with so many DJs and sang over their sets including Jason Herd, Jon Fitz, Erick Morillo and Jorge Jaramillio (Who Da Funk) so I kinda picked up a lot from jamming with them. Then one day I just thought why not try myself and I did and now I am!! I’m Really enjoying it!

2. It would appear from your myspace that you have a certain affection for 80's pop, if you were to sing an 80's pop track at karaoke what would it be? and are you all dead serious when you do sing karaoke??

Well I used to be dead serious about it when I was younger. I even won a local comp so many times I got banned cause there was a cash prize!!! Now I just see it as a laugh, not done it for ages though!! Erm 80s pop would have to be ‘Get In To The Groove’ by Madonna, I loved her back then, that’s her best period I reckon!

3. Not only do you write tracks for yourself but you write lyrics for other artists also. What's the best few lines you've ever written? and what lines really stick with you or inspire you by another artist??

Erm well I co-write with my long term business partner Marc Hoey from bigger picture www.biggerpictureuk.com . We always try to write quality top lines not just obvious stuff and we always try to bring people in. I mean first there is the music, then the melody but once people have listened to the song a few times, that’s when its about the lyrics, that’s when you can write stuff that means a lot, that’s what I feel is important as a writer! As far as best few lines? Well its hard to choose cause we have so much stuff that people wouldn't have heard so I guess I’ll have to quote from something that someone will know so I would say ‘Changes’ for Chis Lake "changes in my life…." but there are more to come for 2008 so keep an eye. Other artists? Well I just like to be inspired by good writing whether it be fun or serious but I love intelligent stuff, metaphoric stuff like Goldffrap and I love the Sam Sparro track ‘Black and Gold’ right now he’s an ace writer and has a great sound. He’s going to be HUGE!!! Go Sam GO!

4. Due to you taking to the decks (or CDJ's) relatively recently you probably don't have your whole house full of records but there still must be a few, what was the first record you bought? and is there a favourite amongst them too?

Well if you go right back to when I was a little girl I brought my first record at 10 it was "Uptown Girl" by Billy Joel , I know, terrible. Me and my sis got a record player for xmas and we used to go to Woolies on Saturday and buy all the charts 12” records. She was a teenager then so her 80s teen influence really stuck with me, albums like Aha, Wham, Madonna, Culture Club, Human League, Kim Wilde, and The Bangles. We loved it, along with all the one hit wonders any one my age understand! Pop was COOL then!!

5. The success of "I Just Can't Get Enough" with Herd and Fitz meant that you had to shoot a video for it, do you have any funny stories to tell from the shoot? You look a little more at ease with the camera compared with the chaps bless 'em!!

I think women can take it in their stride a bit better although I think the boys did great, we all did and it was so much fun to watch. The funny story may be funny for you but not for me. The whole video shoot I had half a soft contact lens in my eye for two days, I couldn’t get it out!! Also it was cold and really late at night but there was such a buzz about it kept us all going though the shoot.

6. Not wanting you to give too many of your tricks away, but what track have you heard recently and just thought "now X will work over that perfectly" and you've tried it straight away and it's worked a treat?

I sing Madonna’s ‘Frozen’ over Steve Angello’s ‘Umbrella’ track but I like to improvise too I sing my tracks over other tunes and just jam and go with the flow on the moment!

7. You really have put in some air miles and worked with some great DJ's over the years, if I asked you to name a real defining moment for you when you just had to pinch yourself and go "yep, I love my job"? and whilst mentioning your globe trotting what is your best travel tip??

Well I suppose a defining moment was singing for Erick Morillo at Pacha in the Summer of 2005 that was when I knew I was there, when I knew something had changed for the better for me. More recently I have just come back from playing a huge festival called escape. It was in the most amazing spot in brazil, it took hours to get there, but was so worth it and the festival was ace. People turned up in choppers to this party!!! The crowd was up for it all night long and I had to leave at 8am with the party still going on and the morning sun beating down. So far I’d say that is my best gig of 2008 .. Oh and playing for Tom Novy’s birthday going back to back with Tom was so much fun and I never thought I’d be doing that this time last year.

Travel tips ermmmm DONT MISS YOUR FLIGHTS!! It’s a night mare!

You can check Abigail DJing and singing live vocal on Saturday 3rd May at Scala in London for Kinky Malinki.