VICKYDEVINE.COM // PRESS
// ON TOUR :: 3D WORLD :: FEATURES :: 637 :: 044 // 2004// Back to Press Index e-vinyl Club reviewer, stage dancer and science student, Vicky Devine has turned a diverse background into a successful DJ and production career. Also promoting her own night in Ibiza, the ex-raver will soon be taking her trances at Lunacy. BY CYCLONE You began your career in the dance music industry writing club reviews and stage dancing - was DJing ever on your mind at those stages or did it only appeal to you later? I was actually a musician when I was at school and got to grade 6 in piano, so music has always been a love of mine. I always had it in the back of my mind that DJing would be an amazing thing to do but the time never seemed right (I went to University to study science and so was always too skint to buy records and decks, and was always too busy)! But I always used to tinker around on friends decks. As soon as I was able to buy some decks, I did! I was also inspired by a friend of mine DJ Sophie Sugar who encouraged me enough to make me believe I could actually do it, and we now work closely together back in the UK. How do you think your experience reviewing clubs and music helps/ hinders you as a DJ? Does the deeper insight into music make you more critical of yourself? I am actually my own worst critic and a complete perfectionist!!! I do believe strongly though that my previous experience in the music industry has helped me enormously. I read a quote recently that said Yesterdays ravers are todays producers and DJs and I think this is so true. I was raving back in 1991, so know an awful lot about the music from back then and how the scene has grown. This helps me particularly in the studio, but also helps me to know how to interact with a crowd and to build a set. Its an unfortunate fact of life that people may try to attribute an attractive womans success to her looks rather than her ability - have you ever been in this situation? Whats your response to that? I would be lying if I said I had never encountered this! In some ways I think you have to use every asset that you have in order to make a success of yourself. The music industry is a really tough place to make something of yourself. I think you just have to be careful that you dont go too far in any particular direction and make a fool of yourself. I am pretty much game for a laugh with most things but I try not to do anything that would be considered tacky or seedy and would therefore be detrimental to my career. The main reason I am doing this is because I love music and I really want to be successful in everything that I am involved in. Anybody who thinks otherwise doesnt know me as a person. Do you have any groupies? How do you deal with them? I have a couple of people that I have met in Ibiza that email me to find out where I am playing and whats going on with Charlys Angelz. I love hearing from them.... after all, to be recognised and liked for what you are doing makes the whole thing worthwhile. Fortunately for me I havent had anything bad happen or said yet!!! Youve also been into the studio - an area in which youve also experienced success. Can you see yourself verging into other areas of the dance industry? Well, I already promote an all female DJ night in Ibiza and in the UK called Charlys Angelz alongside DJ Sophie Sugar. This has been a huge success in Ibiza and we have hosted arenas at the Big Reunion vd_events, which were also amazing. We are back in Ibiza again this year for our third season where we have even bigger things planned! I dont have any plans to start anything else just yet as I really want to concentrate on my DJing career and we have two tracks coming out very soon and are back in the studio shortly after. I really want to concentrate on what we are doing in the studio as I absolutely love being in there just making music! Oh, one other thing that I am working on is radio presenting. I already work on a local radio station back at home and am getting a demo together right now. I think you have to use every asset that you have in order to make a success of yourself... you just have to be careful that you dont go too far in any particular direction and make a fool of yourself. For how long do you hope to keep DJing? What have been the most rewarding aspects of it for you so far? I hope to keep DJing for as long as I can! I cant think of a better job than this right now. The most rewarding aspect for me so far is walking into a club and rocking the place. Its just the best feeling in the world when everyone in the room is loving every single tune you drop! Plans for 2003? Obviously Charlys Angelz for the Ibiza summer season, promoting the two imminent releases (Fearing Nothing on F-Active music and Angelz on Solar), getting my demo finished for radio presenting and having as much fun as possible!!!! Oh, and playing in Australia at Lunacy and hopefully other places too (thanks Dave and the Lunacy crew). Vicky Devine will be playing Lunacy @ the Gaellic Club on Sunday 26th January. // Back to Press Index |
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