July 11, 2023 • 39 mins
Ultra Naté is well known for her talents as a singer songwriter but wait until you hear who’s responsible for introducing her to the club industry and how her career took a turn even she didn’t see coming!
Plus, Paris reveals something about herself that will leave you shocked!
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
Wow. I Am Paris. Hey everyone, it's Paris and we're
back with another episode of I Am Paris Today. I
am so thrilled to have one of my favorite artists
on the show. She's a singer, songwriter, musician, DJ, and
(00:23):
club icon. She wrote and performed one of my all
time favorite club anthems, Free and I am so happy
that we got to do it recently at my first
ever live concert. She's also the host of a new
podcast series for my company, London Audio, called The History
of the World's Greatest Nightclubs, which drops on July thirteenth.
(00:44):
Welcome Ultra Nite.
Speaker 2 (00:46):
Hey Paris, Hi everybody, Hi gorgeous, how are you today.
I am so stoked to be here.
Speaker 1 (00:53):
I'm so excited too, and I love the podcast so much.
I was listening to it. I was I learned so
many things. I thought it was so interesting, informative and
fun and just brought back like memories of how much
fun nightlife was and just learning about all these pieces
(01:13):
of history and these iconic stories, and some parts were
so emotional. It was just like really incredible.
Speaker 2 (01:23):
Yeah, I mean recording it and being a part of
this club culture for so many years, but being inside
the stories in the way that we were for the recordings.
It was really very emotional for me as well. After
every show, I was just like, Okay, I've got to
go take a deep breath because this was a really
deep dive and I love it. I think people are
(01:44):
going to be very surprised and very engaged by these stories.
Speaker 1 (01:46):
I agree. I just was really just blown away, and
I loved how you just like felt like you were
there again and just like here it just like the
stories just like come to life. You literally felt like
that episode dancy Teria, like I felt like I was
in the club just like hearing about it.
Speaker 2 (02:06):
Yeah, I really wanted to convey that. I wanted people
to feel inside the moment. I think that's the most
important thing when you're narrating. And I've never done this before,
so it was really kind of shooting from the hip.
But I know when I listened to a story, you
know how I wanted to. I want to be able
to see it in my head and feel, you know,
the aesthetics of the place and what the vibe and
(02:29):
the energy is like. So I just tried to really
you know, insert myself into each story and it's just
going to be so overwhelming. I can't wait to hear
them in their totality. Like I'm on pins and needles
right now.
Speaker 1 (02:41):
I know everyone's going to be so excited, and I
love just the title of it is just so sick
because we've been.
Speaker 2 (02:48):
Every time I say it, they're like, whoa, Okay, this
is going to be hardcore, you know. Yeah.
Speaker 1 (02:55):
Yeah. As someone who is a connoisseur of clubs coving forever,
it's like, mm hmmm. It's just I don't know. I'm
just so excited to be a part of something like this,
and I'm so excited to have you be the voice
of it and the face of it and everything, because
you are just such an icon and I've loved you
(03:16):
literally since I'm a teenager, and your music just means
so much to me.
Speaker 2 (03:21):
So thank you, thank you. It's this has just been
an amazing experience, and I'm really thankful to you for
choosing me for this. I mean, it's it's it's amazing.
I don't know any other word to use for it
to really describe it. And I know when people hear it,
they're just gonna they got a gag because I gag.
Speaker 1 (03:39):
Yes, yeah, I gog too, so everyone's gonna gag yah.
So every episode I start off with icebreaker questions, and
the first one is if you could do anything in
the next year, what would it be.
Speaker 2 (03:56):
Wow, that's pretty broad. But if I could just like
throw out my a huge, super huge wish list, it
probably would be doing like a proper world tour with
my band and some really amazing venues and then going
on a really long vacation to someplace chill, like Bali
(04:17):
or something and sit on the beach and do yoga
and eat fruit all day because I need that kind
of break after after that.
Speaker 1 (04:25):
Yeah, I feel you. I need that kind of break
right now exactly.
Speaker 2 (04:30):
So let's get the tour going first. I would I
would definitely love the opportunity to do more stuff with
my band and play more venues in that way, because
that's that's a whole other other level, and the music
comes across completely different, especially dance music, you know, because
people don't expect to hear it in its full live context.
(04:52):
You know, there's used to be an electronic but the
occasions that I've had where I've performed with the full band, like,
there's so many more and so much more richness to
the music when you hear it in that context. So
that would be something I would I would love to do.
Speaker 1 (05:07):
I would love that I would be there in the
front row dancing.
Speaker 2 (05:11):
Yeah, I gotta do it.
Speaker 1 (05:13):
Okay, epic and I love Bali. It's one of my
favorite places.
Speaker 2 (05:18):
Everywhere I've been, and I have not been there yet.
That's why I still on the bucket list.
Speaker 1 (05:22):
You have to go, like, what happens?
Speaker 2 (05:24):
Why do I keep not being booked in Bali? What
is happening?
Speaker 1 (05:27):
Let's manifest it right now.
Speaker 2 (05:29):
Try to turn it into a vacation. So let's make
it happen world.
Speaker 1 (05:32):
Hello, Bali, what's up? The queen wants to come over there?
Book a show? Hello, We're manifesting it right now, so bally,
soon it is done. You're there. Okay. What chance encounter
changed your life forever?
Speaker 2 (05:52):
Let's see, Probably probably meeting one of my best girlfriends
named Jay, almost forty years ago at this point, because
she's really the reason that I stumbled into the music business.
She was the one that first got me going to
the clubs. So through her, I fell into club culture
(06:15):
and created a whole community and found my tribe. So
that really changed the trajectory of everything. When I had
no idea that somehow I would migrate into the music business,
I found this club experience and she was the catalyst
for that.
Speaker 1 (06:30):
Yes, I love that. I feel like the same way
with me, Like so much of what I do and
who I am is because of the club culture, like
it really.
Speaker 2 (06:40):
Oh absolutely, And we're still best friends to this day.
So yeah, she's I always credit her with that moment.
Speaker 1 (06:47):
I love them. What is the best advice that you've
ever received?
Speaker 2 (06:53):
Oh that's easy. My great grandmother used to always say
to in anything in life, eat the meat and spit
out the bones, eat then, And I've always carried that,
and it basically just means to take whatever experience and
get what you need out of it. Get what fulfills you,
what sustains you, what fortifies you, and throw away the garbage,
(07:18):
the parts that are no good.
Speaker 1 (07:20):
I love that. All right, I'm going to think about that.
Thanks time, very good advice.
Speaker 2 (07:27):
So I have a couple questions for you. What's the
first music that you've ever bought?
Speaker 1 (07:34):
First music I ever bought was a Madonna. Remember when
all of them came out, I was just like blown away.
I was so obsessed with her, like this woman is
such an icon and a legend.
Speaker 2 (07:46):
And yeah, definitely love her so much.
Speaker 1 (07:49):
Obviously, Definitely.
Speaker 2 (07:51):
I think my high school years, I was wearing Madonna
clothes to school and they didn't really know what to
make of me because one day it could be boy
George Cloud, the next day being Madonna and they were like,
what is wrong with this kid? So yes, definitely I
feel that Madonna. Let's see, what's what's a family tradition
(08:13):
that you you would like to carry into the future.
Speaker 1 (08:16):
We have so many family traditions, but just how close
our family is, and just like making sure to have
my kids believe in Santa Claus and the Easter Bunny
and the Tooth Fairy and you know, just try to,
I don't know, keep that like those childhood traditions.
Speaker 2 (08:40):
Yeah, you want to keep them innocent and young and
it's fun. And you met my son. I mean, I
don't know when Santa Claus was revealed for him, but
we definitely, you know, wanted to keep them, keep him,
you know, kind of out there in peter Panland as
long as possible. So that's cool.
Speaker 1 (08:57):
One, Andre, I love your son, He's so sweet. Tell
them I say hello, Well.
Speaker 2 (09:01):
I will, he's your biggest fan. He was so excited.
I always tell everyone I think he had more fun
than Jonathan or I because he was just about to
implode the whole time.
Speaker 1 (09:13):
So cute.
Speaker 2 (09:14):
I know, I really made it.
Speaker 1 (09:15):
I was seeing him just like dancing and smiling and
so happy, and so made me so happy.
Speaker 2 (09:21):
Yes he was. He was on cloud nine and he's
still on cloud nine. He's like, that was my trip
of the summer. I don't need to do anything else, Mom,
I'm good. So so he made me, made me even
more of a rock star. Mom, thank you.
Speaker 1 (09:31):
Yeah, I love that.
Speaker 2 (09:34):
So let's see, I've got another question for you. Actually,
what's something about you that surprises people when they first
hear it.
Speaker 1 (09:44):
That I'm a tomboy, Like a lot of people are
surprised that that I'm shy, which people are very surprised by.
And I am such a daredevil, like I love jumping
out of planes. And then I'm a tomboy, and that
I was on the high school ice hockey team, which
people don't believe me until they google it.
Speaker 2 (10:06):
Whoa nice Yeah, So a lot of.
Speaker 1 (10:09):
People don't like I think they just see me on
the red carpet and at these glamorous events, but they
don't see how I really am, you know, behind closed
doors in real life.
Speaker 2 (10:17):
Yeah, I'm a bit of a tool time team and
myself actually, so you know, because I you know, I
was been part of like a club in Baltimore where
I live called Paradox and thirteen thousand square foot huge
analog sound system, and I would be right up under
the DJ booth with the sound guy, like tinkering away
up under there and moving things around and moving amps
(10:38):
and plugging things up and unplugging it. So I definitely
get it because people never could believe that when they
came in that I'm like in this sound system like
putting things back together. But you know it's it's really
good good.
Speaker 1 (10:52):
I love that. So on this first episode we are
going to be talking about the past. So you started
singing at an early age. When did you first discover
a passion for music.
Speaker 2 (11:10):
I think I always had a passion for music. I
mean long before I understood it in terms of a talent,
and definitely before the concept of a career ever came
into play. Music has just always been the backbone of
my life. I grew up in a household where my
mother had layers and layers and stacks and stacks of
(11:35):
vinyl albums of twelve inches, and I lived in them,
and I, you know, I love to rifle through them
all and look at the art and read the liner
notes and learn about the artists, and you know, I
really loved having like that tangible album in my hand.
And then also, you know, my family was very into church,
(11:57):
so I went to church a lot with my grandmother.
And even when I became a teenager and you know,
there was no one forcing me to go to church,
I still went because that was just part of like
the culture that I was from, and gospel music was
a big part in that. So I think I've always
been immersed in music, but I don't. I didn't really
come into understanding how it had impacted me until I
(12:22):
became an artist. And then it was like time to
make music suddenly, and the only thing that I could
draw on as someone who had never written songs before
the moment I wrote a song and it became like
my first record or ever sang in the studio. I
drew on those music that I grew up on, and
that taught me how to turn a lyric, how to
(12:43):
create an emotion in a phrase, or just a lot
of a lot of finer nuances that you that you
kind of don't pay attention to.
Speaker 1 (12:54):
And which artists were you first inspired by.
Speaker 2 (12:58):
Oh, that's that's a lot of people. It's a lot.
So initially I would say definitely from my mother's collection.
It would be the sole R and B and gospel
stuff from my church in those early early childhood years.
It was things like earth Wind and Fire and Rufus
and Chaka Khan, the OJS, Marvin Gay, Patti LaBelle Isisley Brothers,
(13:18):
Berry White, you know, Salsoul, Steely Dan, you know, Uh Eagles.
Then by the time I think I started getting a
bit older and scrolling the dial on the radio, I
was listening to like you like Madonna, Janet, Jody Whitney,
(13:38):
you know, all the icons that only require one name,
you know, the Police, Rhythmics, Culture Club, Michael Jackson, Shade.
I was kind of all over the place because I
did used to literally like lock myself in my room
and scroll up and down my radio dial, and that
was my place to escape and just immerse myself in
(14:01):
all different kinds of music.
Speaker 1 (14:03):
Yes, so in nineteen ninety seven, you released your major
head song a free What inspired you to write the song?
Speaker 2 (14:12):
I think the history that happened before that moment Free
happened at a moment when when I was at the
crossroads of what I was doing with myself as a career,
because I was going my intention from high school was
to go into medicine, and I had studied health occupation's
curriculum while I was in high school and started college
(14:34):
going towards that end of becoming a doctor at some point.
And then I kind of stumbled into the music business
by accident, falling into club culture. And my first record
that I wrote in saying It's Over Now, became, you know,
signed to Warner Brothers in the UK. So suddenly I
went from just being a kid running around in the
(14:55):
club to like, oh, now you're like a thing and
you have a major labeled deal and you know. So
it was kind of like disorienting at first, and it
was all this expectation, like, oh, now you're going to
write an album. And I was there for it and
I loved it all. But I was learning everything on
the fly. I was learning trial by fire, and I
did two albums for Warner the first one Warner UK,
(15:16):
which was a really great experience in an audience and
with a label that really got it, that really got
dance music. Then it flipped to Warner US for my
second album in a label and in sold to a
country that didn't really get dance music at that time.
So that led to like, okay, that's over with and done.
(15:37):
After the Warner US deal, after I did my second album,
and so I was kind of at the crossroads like, Okay,
this was all great, this is amazing. I didn't see
this coming. Do I continue with this or do I
now get back on track with what my main my plan,
what my life plan was. And so I was kind
of at the crossroads of myself and my manager, Bill,
who had been very instrumental in really positioning me very
(16:02):
well as a new artist to step out in the forefront.
And so we had a lot of conversations about what
do we do next, and we decided I would continue.
I felt like at that point this was not an accident,
because at first, you know, those many early years, I
was like, this is some crazy accident thing going on here,
But you know, the universe cannot conspire all of those
(16:24):
things that fell in place to put me where I
was to be an accident, and God doesn't make any mistakes,
so it was something that was meant for me. So
I decided to stay in it and give it and
continue and give it a little bit more time. And
so at that moment, what brought Free together was the
fact that I no longer had a record deal. I
(16:45):
no longer was in the deal with my producers because
I had left the Basement Boys at that time, as
I wanted to work with other producers and other songwriters
to continue to grow, and I had nothing to lose,
absolutely nothing to lose. So I didn't have to live
by anyone's standards. I didn't have to meet anyone else's
need I didn't have anyone to say to me, this
(17:06):
is what's happening at radio, you need to do this
kind of record, this was the last hit in the clubs,
you need to do that kind of record. I didn't
have any outside pressure, you know, Bill and I we
just had, for lack of a better word, freedom to
write whatever kind of song we wanted to write. And
so we felt like if there was ever a moment
to really go balls to the wall and experiment this
(17:29):
is the moment. And so at that time, guitars were
not really a thing in dance music. It was always
pianos and drums, of course, so we knew that the
guitars were going to be the cornerstone of what this
song was going to be built around. We were both
inspired by acts like Ram Sheryl Crowe, you know, really
song songs. You know, I've always been a song song
(17:52):
kind of writer. So I felt like, Okay, I'll just
step all the way out there on the complete limb
and no one has to like it, because I had
nothing to lose at this point, and that's what we did,
and we crafted Free along with Mood to Swing, my
producers for the song, and Danny Madden, my vocal producer,
and everyone's collective energies and contributions went into the soup
(18:18):
to create what we all know now as this classic record.
Speaker 1 (18:22):
Yeah, it's literally, to this day one of my favorite records.
It's just I remember when I first I told you
the story, but I also talk about it in my book.
But when I was at Provocnian School and when I
got out of there, it was ninety eight, and I
just remember going to the club and hearing that song
(18:44):
for the first time, and I was just like, oh
my god, like I'm obsessed, Like who is this? I
need to like know everything about this person. And like
I was just like listening to that song on repeat,
like I just and still do. It's just such a
sick song and just like put you in the best
mood and it just has like this energy and vibe
(19:05):
that is just like indescribable. So everyone check out that
song right now, by my queen. It's called Free and yes,
it will literally put you in the best mood ever.
You know.
Speaker 2 (19:17):
It was so crazy because it really was a risk.
I mean, we had people ask me all the time
through the years, did you know it was going to
be a hit when you came out Seeds, you know,
and it's like, there's no way to know, you know,
there was no there was no template to say that
if you know, if you paint by these numbers, you're
going to get this result. You know, there were there
there were no guarantees, and we had no idea if
anyone would even like the song. That was the thing,
(19:39):
like we're just like, well, we hope somebody likes it, you.
Speaker 1 (19:42):
Know what I mean, And then your life just changed.
Speaker 2 (19:46):
Right, exactly, exactly, exactly must done.
Speaker 1 (19:49):
So exciting and fun it was.
Speaker 2 (19:52):
And it was Winter Music Winter Music Conference ninety seven,
and that's where like all the DJs around the world collectively,
everyone went to the same parties at that time, so
like you'd have the whole industry of everyone from the
record labels to club you know, pluggers to radio, Like
everyone was in the same room at the same time.
And the DJs were just having it that whole Winter
(20:14):
Music Conference that year, Like everywhere you went on the beach,
free was screaming in the distance or just like hands
in the air at the club three or four times
through the night. So after that it was just like
the shot herd around.
Speaker 1 (20:26):
The world, so awesome. And then for the music video,
where did you think of that concept?
Speaker 2 (20:33):
Well, here's the amazing thing about this whole scenario is
that you know, we were Lamb based for that video.
I mean we really we really caught some real vibes
about that video because I think the label, well I
know the label was expecting, like your standards, straightforward, everybody
(20:56):
get up and dance. You know, we're at the club
and here's the DJ kind of video, very straightforward and
and we turned in something that was more like artsy
and you know, ironic and this whole like heavy story.
And they were like, but where's the disco, Like where's
the parties? This is this is house music? Like we
(21:17):
can't work with this. What do you talk? What is this?
And so we caught so much flag for it, and
reading your words in your book just really, you know,
twenty some years later, just validated like everything that we
stood for in that moment, even when the people on
our team didn't get it. And I say when I say, well,
I'm speaking of myself and Bill Coleman, my manager, because
(21:40):
we really went out on a limb. It was I
was shot by worlds of wonder all the Randy and
Fenton that are behind Rupol's Drag Race, and they were
longtime friends of ours from the New York early New
York days Club Kid days, and so you know, when
Freak was coming out, we had a little budget. You know,
Bill went to Randy and Fenton and asked them if
(22:02):
they could come up with something, and they were they
were so gracious and so wonderful, and we just left
it to them to come up with whatever concept they
they wanted to do, and so the concept came from them,
and so we were like, Okay, this is what we're doing.
We're going to be in this this very stark, very
antiseptic environment. It's it's going to represent, you know, this
(22:23):
particular kind of atmosphere in space that's going to be
completely counter to what the expectation is or what the
look is on the outside. And so, you know, we
loved it because you know, we're we're a bit heavy
in certain areas, but they were like, we just want
to dance video, you know what I mean. So it
(22:43):
was it was a little tricky. So I thank you
for that because that really was like vindication reading your
words in your book about how that like you got
it on so many levels and it was like.
Speaker 3 (22:55):
Seechy, like there is like there were people getting this
and this woman was like a child at that time,
you know, and getting it and understanding like what the
inside story is, like that's what makes it important.
Speaker 2 (23:12):
So you know, their record labels, they do what they do.
It's a machine, you know, so what can you do?
But the art was able to speak and that was
really great to know that it actually didn't did come
across that way.
Speaker 1 (23:27):
Yeah, I thought It was just incredible, and I think
the people who need to understand it understand it because
they get it. And then there's people who just don't
get in. They're loss with all things, with all things right, Hi,
this is Paris, Hilton. Some of the best times of
(23:49):
my life have been spent inside of nightclubs, singing, dancing
and being free to truly be myself. And now I'm
the executive producer of a new show, The History of
the World's Greatest Nightclubs. I wanted a show that represented freedom,
joy and hope, and there is no one better to
host than someone who has inspired me for so many
years with her musical talent.
Speaker 2 (24:09):
I'm Alternate A and I've been in the music industry
for three decades. I'm a singer, songwriter and musician, and
now I'm inviting you to join me on this global
nightclub journey. We'll dive into the origins of genres that
broke the industry and uncover the stories of legendary DJs,
all through the eyes of the people who partied at
(24:29):
the height of club culture. Listen to the History of
the World's Greatest Nightclubs on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts
or wherever you get your podcasts.
Speaker 1 (24:41):
Wow, I want to say congratulations on Freeze twenty fifth anniversary.
Can you tell our listeners some of the exciting things
you've been doing to celebrate.
Speaker 2 (24:53):
We've been doing all the things, all the things, you know.
You know, first of all, it's just a you know,
so thankful that people still love this song the way
that they do, and that is still so present. It
has continued to be present for the generations. And I'm
at a place in my career now where I run
into people around the world and they're like, you know,
(25:14):
I grew up on your music, and that's really special
that I've been a part of people's stories for so
long and that free has become something so much larger
than what we created that moment in the studio. It
has taken on a life of its own. So to
celebrate that, because there had been like a million bootlegs
and covers and you know, just it's been willy nilly
(25:37):
for the last twenty something years, we wanted to do
an official package release of free so we did a
remix package in twenty twenty one with fresh new mixes
to just first set up the anniversary celebration and then
out of the blue, Iconopop came into the mix and
(25:58):
had a version that they had worked out, and I
loved it and I was a big Icono Pop fan,
and it worked out that we would do the do
it together. So that version came out and is still
running around, you know, doing the thing. Their album is
just dropping actually and the song is on there, so
I'm very excited about that. I was doing the Beisa
(26:22):
Classics tour with Pete Tong and with the orchestra, which
was you know, Jules Buckley Orchestra is incredible if you've
ever seen any of their arena stadium dates here in
the UK. Hearing the club Classics, so Vibitha done in
an orchestral way is like so overpowering, It's just so
(26:43):
amazing and so free was that for that season. Free
was like one of the closing songs, and we had
they had approached me about us possibly re recording it,
and so we finally did that and the version was
actually initiated by LGGO, who is like such a sweetheart,
so amazing, extremely talented young woman, definitely a woman to
(27:08):
watch because she's about to take everything by storm. So
she came up with this version. Pete loved it. They
presented it to me, I loved it, and we went
in with the full orchestra and we recorded it and
so that's been like what you know, just it was
so emotional to be in the studio with like this
seventy some piece orchestra, like doing my song was insane.
(27:30):
Twenty five years later, I would have never imagined it.
You know. I got to do Women's Euros which was
amazing as well with Becky Hill and Steph London. We
did a version of Free as part of her opening
for the Women's Euros, which was a very historical year
because England Lioness's you know, it was their first time
(27:53):
making it to the championship. It was against Germany, so
that was like really huge because that was a massive
rivalry in Germany was always like you know, huge and
hard to beat, and we actually won that year, so
that was amazing and it was because we did Free first.
So there you go. So we've been doing quite a
few different things for it, and still some other things
(28:15):
up our sleeve.
Speaker 1 (28:16):
Yes, I love it, I can't wait till too here
and Seymour I love ikonnopop. They're so sweet.
Speaker 2 (28:25):
You cannot not love them. They are so good. They're
so good.
Speaker 1 (28:28):
Yeah, they're so nice and they're so talented. And I
love that song. I love it.
Speaker 2 (28:35):
Yes, the energy is crazy when we do that on stage.
So yeah, I'm so happy they let me do I
love it with them.
Speaker 1 (28:43):
So then I was watching that on your Instagram.
Speaker 2 (28:46):
Mm hmm.
Speaker 1 (28:46):
It seems like you're like doing shows like every night.
I'm like, I'm seeing you just do so many. This
must have been crazy month for Pride.
Speaker 2 (28:54):
I don't even know how I do it. I need
a clone me too, I know you. If I need
a Gloade, you certainly need.
Speaker 1 (29:02):
One aull of them. Also, you had a residency spot
at Space and Embiza, which was a feature one of
the clubs featured in the new series. What are some
of your favorite memories of that time in that club?
Speaker 2 (29:19):
Oh wow, Space was so so special. I mean I
hated to see that club go. You know, it was
about the culture of family that was created at Space
was the big the big takeaway from everything that was
going on there. It was like being in the circus. Really,
it was like, you know, a family of unicorns, Like
everyone is special, everybody has like their special thing. That
(29:42):
they bring to the table, but collectively we worked as
a unit and supported each other as a unit and
just brought this magic to the take to the stage
every weekend for clubbers coming from somewhere else every single
week and people like ready to immerse themselves in you know,
(30:03):
all of this this just you know, epic vibe of
like music and dancers and vocalists and DJs and just
like it's like stimulation overload coming at you. And I
was with a party specifically called Cafe Ola, and I
had been a resident with them for a number of
years and I was very happy working with them. They
(30:26):
you know, really had an amazing, amazing outfit. And Cafe
Ola was built on what they call the people of
the night in Abitha, which was you know, the natives,
and it was a party mainly for them, and then
the tourists on top of it, so it would be
you would get rich culture. It beat the culture from
this kind of party aesthetically and musically, and it was
(30:49):
just it was just a lot of love, a lot
of really great talented people and a lot of love
djaying for them in Abita at Space and also when
they toured, I went on tour with them for a
few dates as well, and got to DJ as well
as performed, So it's it's you know, it was a
great family experience and living in a couple of summers
(31:10):
as well and having my son there with him with
me to experience that as well. It was pretty beautiful.
Speaker 1 (31:16):
Yeah. I love Abiza. I had my residency at Amnesia
called my Thomb and Diamonds Party for like I don't
even know, like five years straight, and I lived in
Abiza for like a few months out of the year
every summer. It's just such a beautiful, magical island.
Speaker 2 (31:32):
It really is. And people when they think of it,
you know, they think of like it's only just you know,
party all day, party all night, and you can definitely
get that if that's what you want. But there's the
other side of it. It's just it's something very grounding
and beautiful about the energy of the island. And a
lot of the locals have said that there's some like
(31:52):
magnetic force or something because of where it's located, because
of where the island is located with the equator, and
I don't know if it's true or not, but the
energy there is just really beautiful. The rustic environment, the food,
the sea is gorgeous. You know, there's just there's just
an amazing vibe.
Speaker 1 (32:13):
It really is. It's you have to go there to
feel it and experience it. So it's like my mother.
So we both started going to night clubs at a
young age. What was the first nightclub do you remember
going to?
Speaker 2 (32:27):
The first nightclub I went to was the one I
mentioned earlier that my that my good friend Jay introduced
me to. It was a club in Baltimore called Odell's.
And Odell's was like a baby Paradise Garage. It was.
It was like built on the template of what Paradise
Garage was. So it had the same Richard Long sound system,
which was like in you know, integral to that club
(32:51):
culture at the time. Analog sound was like the backbone
of what the whole thing was about, the light show,
the DJs, the programming of the music. It was definitely
built on that. And the club was run by a
man at the time named Wayne Davis, who I got
to know over the years. He's you know, become like
(33:11):
family now, but he's basically been like the godfather of
our whole dance music scene and creating that space for us.
I was in what they call the later years of Odell's.
As some of the people who went to the early years,
it's a whole snob thing going on. If you went
to the early years, like then you went to the
real Odell's. But if you're in the later years, that's
(33:33):
kind of like when it was about to fall off
or going left a little bit, so you're like kind
of not a real Odell's person. That's like local political drama.
So I was in the late end of it because
I was I was a little too young to get
into those early years, but I followed Wayne to his
next club, which was Club Fantasy, which was a very small,
(33:54):
little shoe box that only lasted for two years, and
then he opened The Paradox, which was a thirteen thousand
square foot club that had two dedicated rooms, a basketball court,
a kitchen, an outdoor court like it was major, and
that club lasted for twenty seven years. So that's always
been kind of the backbone of my club experience, was
(34:14):
what we were doing in Baltimore, and it was always
kind of mirroring what Paradise Garage and the Warehouse in Chicago.
Speaker 1 (34:22):
Were so much fun. What city do you think has
the best night club scene.
Speaker 2 (34:28):
Oh, that's going to get me in trouble. That's so
hard them, I think. I think I would say probably
New York across the board, only in terms of consistently
through the years in having the amount of options available.
The evolution. You know, Manhattan used to have like a
(34:49):
million places to go, and then now it's kind of
it kind of died off for a minute, and then
it's kind of shifted to Brooklyn. Now all the clubs
are in Brooklyn. But in terms of like one city
that has a lot of different options available, New York
seems to always have been pretty consistent for the last
you know, three four four decades or so.
Speaker 1 (35:07):
Yeah, I agree, that's so manny epic experiences in New York.
Why do you think nightclubs in nightlife are so important?
Speaker 2 (35:16):
I think they're really important on it so many different levels.
But I think nightclubs present a situation where people can
find their tribe and they can find themselves. They are
accepted on their own terms. They can go there and
be whoever they want to be in that moment. They
(35:37):
can find their real selves, or they can be somebody
else and still be accepted in ways that they probably
couldn't in the conventional world. So it's a safe space.
It's like minded people, and the music is something that
kind of strips away a lot of our barriers between
each other, but also some of our own drama within
(36:00):
ourselves can be stripped away by the music and the
sense of community that you can find there at times
when you're in the in that situation, it's a very
spiritual connection a lot of times, and I think over
the years, as clubs have evolved, you know, people have
needed them more and more to deal with the political
(36:21):
climate or you know, all of these different things that
are going on, these these forces outside that make things
really really difficult. There's that love of escapism in club culture.
You know, we look at it as you know, we're
going to church on the weekend. We're going to let
our hair down, and we're going to dance and dance
our cares away and all our troubles and let that
(36:42):
all go for a couple hours and just be in
this very communal moment with these other people who some
you may have never laid eyes on before. I know,
I've danced all night with people that I've never seen before,
and I'll probably never see them again, But in that moment,
we were locked in a groove and there was a
(37:03):
reciprocal relationship happening. You know, it's hard to describe if
you've never experienced that. Some people now, you know, they
go to clubs because it's just a popular place to go,
or they go to find love, find a date. But
if you're going for the music, which is what it
really was central to the theme of club culture, you know,
that's a whole different level.
Speaker 1 (37:24):
Yeah, I can totally relate to that in so many ways.
Just clubs were definitely an escape and just like finding
your tribe and just feeling accepted and loved and just
music has just always been such a big part of
my life.
Speaker 2 (37:41):
And yeah, I think it's like, you know, it's the energy.
You know, there's so much energy around around that end.
You know, people are looking for that. They're looking for
that moment that makes them feel alive, that makes them
feel connected to something, that makes them feel a part
of something bigger than themselves. And club culture presents that.
(38:01):
When you have this massive sound system, these light shows
going on, you know, and all this different stimuli happening,
it takes it beyond just a social thing. It really
makes it very personal and very deep for you, and
you know, it can be life changing for a lot
of people in a lot of different ways. I mean,
(38:22):
families have come out of people have met their significant
others and developed families and you know, or you know,
not even romantic family, but just like people that they
care about, family that they've chosen. It serves a lot
of different purposes.
Speaker 1 (38:38):
Yeah, I think that social media has definitely changed the
club scene. It's like, used to be tomus only about
like the music and having fun. But I just noticed
like ever since.
Speaker 2 (38:51):
Oh absolutely absolutely, the you know, the whole culture of
everyone standing around looking at the DJ is so strange,
strange and foreign to me because you know, for us,
it was always about like I just I gotta get
on that dance floor and let the fool loose. You know,
no one has time to stand there and watch the
DJ like twiddle their knobs and I DJs, I don't
(39:14):
need you standing here all night watching me twittled by jobs,
And I was like, I don't need that. Go dance,
you know.
Speaker 1 (39:21):
Yes, Well, that was so much fun to talk about
the past, and I can't wait for our next episode
where we talk about the present, so I'll see you soon.
Speaker 2 (39:32):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (39:33):
Thanks for listening to I Am Paris. Don't forget to
follow us on Instagram at I Am Paris Podcast, Email
us at Paris at iHeartRadio dot com, be hot and
subscribe now loves it
Wow. I Am Paris. Hey everyone, it's Paris and we're
back with another episode of I Am Paris Today. I
am so thrilled to have one of my favorite artists
on the show. She's a singer, songwriter, musician, DJ, and
(00:23):
club icon. She wrote and performed one of my all
time favorite club anthems, Free and I am so happy
that we got to do it recently at my first
ever live concert. She's also the host of a new
podcast series for my company, London Audio, called The History
of the World's Greatest Nightclubs, which drops on July thirteenth.
(00:44):
Welcome Ultra Nite.
Speaker 2 (00:46):
Hey Paris, Hi everybody, Hi gorgeous, how are you today.
I am so stoked to be here.
Speaker 1 (00:53):
I'm so excited too, and I love the podcast so much.
I was listening to it. I was I learned so
many things. I thought it was so interesting, informative and
fun and just brought back like memories of how much
fun nightlife was and just learning about all these pieces
(01:13):
of history and these iconic stories, and some parts were
so emotional. It was just like really incredible.
Speaker 2 (01:23):
Yeah, I mean recording it and being a part of
this club culture for so many years, but being inside
the stories in the way that we were for the recordings.
It was really very emotional for me as well. After
every show, I was just like, Okay, I've got to
go take a deep breath because this was a really
deep dive and I love it. I think people are
(01:44):
going to be very surprised and very engaged by these stories.
Speaker 1 (01:46):
I agree. I just was really just blown away, and
I loved how you just like felt like you were
there again and just like here it just like the
stories just like come to life. You literally felt like
that episode dancy Teria, like I felt like I was
in the club just like hearing about it.
Speaker 2 (02:06):
Yeah, I really wanted to convey that. I wanted people
to feel inside the moment. I think that's the most
important thing when you're narrating. And I've never done this before,
so it was really kind of shooting from the hip.
But I know when I listened to a story, you
know how I wanted to. I want to be able
to see it in my head and feel, you know,
the aesthetics of the place and what the vibe and
(02:29):
the energy is like. So I just tried to really
you know, insert myself into each story and it's just
going to be so overwhelming. I can't wait to hear
them in their totality. Like I'm on pins and needles
right now.
Speaker 1 (02:41):
I know everyone's going to be so excited, and I
love just the title of it is just so sick
because we've been.
Speaker 2 (02:48):
Every time I say it, they're like, whoa, Okay, this
is going to be hardcore, you know. Yeah.
Speaker 1 (02:55):
Yeah. As someone who is a connoisseur of clubs coving forever,
it's like, mm hmmm. It's just I don't know. I'm
just so excited to be a part of something like this,
and I'm so excited to have you be the voice
of it and the face of it and everything, because
you are just such an icon and I've loved you
(03:16):
literally since I'm a teenager, and your music just means
so much to me.
Speaker 2 (03:21):
So thank you, thank you. It's this has just been
an amazing experience, and I'm really thankful to you for
choosing me for this. I mean, it's it's it's amazing.
I don't know any other word to use for it
to really describe it. And I know when people hear it,
they're just gonna they got a gag because I gag.
Speaker 1 (03:39):
Yes, yeah, I gog too, so everyone's gonna gag yah.
So every episode I start off with icebreaker questions, and
the first one is if you could do anything in
the next year, what would it be.
Speaker 2 (03:56):
Wow, that's pretty broad. But if I could just like
throw out my a huge, super huge wish list, it
probably would be doing like a proper world tour with
my band and some really amazing venues and then going
on a really long vacation to someplace chill, like Bali
(04:17):
or something and sit on the beach and do yoga
and eat fruit all day because I need that kind
of break after after that.
Speaker 1 (04:25):
Yeah, I feel you. I need that kind of break
right now exactly.
Speaker 2 (04:30):
So let's get the tour going first. I would I
would definitely love the opportunity to do more stuff with
my band and play more venues in that way, because
that's that's a whole other other level, and the music
comes across completely different, especially dance music, you know, because
people don't expect to hear it in its full live context.
(04:52):
You know, there's used to be an electronic but the
occasions that I've had where I've performed with the full band, like,
there's so many more and so much more richness to
the music when you hear it in that context. So
that would be something I would I would love to do.
Speaker 1 (05:07):
I would love that I would be there in the
front row dancing.
Speaker 2 (05:11):
Yeah, I gotta do it.
Speaker 1 (05:13):
Okay, epic and I love Bali. It's one of my
favorite places.
Speaker 2 (05:18):
Everywhere I've been, and I have not been there yet.
That's why I still on the bucket list.
Speaker 1 (05:22):
You have to go, like, what happens?
Speaker 2 (05:24):
Why do I keep not being booked in Bali? What
is happening?
Speaker 1 (05:27):
Let's manifest it right now.
Speaker 2 (05:29):
Try to turn it into a vacation. So let's make
it happen world.
Speaker 1 (05:32):
Hello, Bali, what's up? The queen wants to come over there?
Book a show? Hello, We're manifesting it right now, so bally,
soon it is done. You're there. Okay. What chance encounter
changed your life forever?
Speaker 2 (05:52):
Let's see, Probably probably meeting one of my best girlfriends
named Jay, almost forty years ago at this point, because
she's really the reason that I stumbled into the music business.
She was the one that first got me going to
the clubs. So through her, I fell into club culture
(06:15):
and created a whole community and found my tribe. So
that really changed the trajectory of everything. When I had
no idea that somehow I would migrate into the music business,
I found this club experience and she was the catalyst
for that.
Speaker 1 (06:30):
Yes, I love that. I feel like the same way
with me, Like so much of what I do and
who I am is because of the club culture, like
it really.
Speaker 2 (06:40):
Oh absolutely, And we're still best friends to this day.
So yeah, she's I always credit her with that moment.
Speaker 1 (06:47):
I love them. What is the best advice that you've
ever received?
Speaker 2 (06:53):
Oh that's easy. My great grandmother used to always say
to in anything in life, eat the meat and spit
out the bones, eat then, And I've always carried that,
and it basically just means to take whatever experience and
get what you need out of it. Get what fulfills you,
what sustains you, what fortifies you, and throw away the garbage,
(07:18):
the parts that are no good.
Speaker 1 (07:20):
I love that. All right, I'm going to think about that.
Thanks time, very good advice.
Speaker 2 (07:27):
So I have a couple questions for you. What's the
first music that you've ever bought?
Speaker 1 (07:34):
First music I ever bought was a Madonna. Remember when
all of them came out, I was just like blown away.
I was so obsessed with her, like this woman is
such an icon and a legend.
Speaker 2 (07:46):
And yeah, definitely love her so much.
Speaker 1 (07:49):
Obviously, Definitely.
Speaker 2 (07:51):
I think my high school years, I was wearing Madonna
clothes to school and they didn't really know what to
make of me because one day it could be boy
George Cloud, the next day being Madonna and they were like,
what is wrong with this kid? So yes, definitely I
feel that Madonna. Let's see, what's what's a family tradition
(08:13):
that you you would like to carry into the future.
Speaker 1 (08:16):
We have so many family traditions, but just how close
our family is, and just like making sure to have
my kids believe in Santa Claus and the Easter Bunny
and the Tooth Fairy and you know, just try to,
I don't know, keep that like those childhood traditions.
Speaker 2 (08:40):
Yeah, you want to keep them innocent and young and
it's fun. And you met my son. I mean, I
don't know when Santa Claus was revealed for him, but
we definitely, you know, wanted to keep them, keep him,
you know, kind of out there in peter Panland as
long as possible. So that's cool.
Speaker 1 (08:57):
One, Andre, I love your son, He's so sweet. Tell
them I say hello, Well.
Speaker 2 (09:01):
I will, he's your biggest fan. He was so excited.
I always tell everyone I think he had more fun
than Jonathan or I because he was just about to
implode the whole time.
Speaker 1 (09:13):
So cute.
Speaker 2 (09:14):
I know, I really made it.
Speaker 1 (09:15):
I was seeing him just like dancing and smiling and
so happy, and so made me so happy.
Speaker 2 (09:21):
Yes he was. He was on cloud nine and he's
still on cloud nine. He's like, that was my trip
of the summer. I don't need to do anything else, Mom,
I'm good. So so he made me, made me even
more of a rock star. Mom, thank you.
Speaker 1 (09:31):
Yeah, I love that.
Speaker 2 (09:34):
So let's see, I've got another question for you. Actually,
what's something about you that surprises people when they first
hear it.
Speaker 1 (09:44):
That I'm a tomboy, Like a lot of people are
surprised that that I'm shy, which people are very surprised by.
And I am such a daredevil, like I love jumping
out of planes. And then I'm a tomboy, and that
I was on the high school ice hockey team, which
people don't believe me until they google it.
Speaker 2 (10:06):
Whoa nice Yeah, So a lot of.
Speaker 1 (10:09):
People don't like I think they just see me on
the red carpet and at these glamorous events, but they
don't see how I really am, you know, behind closed
doors in real life.
Speaker 2 (10:17):
Yeah, I'm a bit of a tool time team and
myself actually, so you know, because I you know, I
was been part of like a club in Baltimore where
I live called Paradox and thirteen thousand square foot huge
analog sound system, and I would be right up under
the DJ booth with the sound guy, like tinkering away
up under there and moving things around and moving amps
(10:38):
and plugging things up and unplugging it. So I definitely
get it because people never could believe that when they
came in that I'm like in this sound system like
putting things back together. But you know it's it's really
good good.
Speaker 1 (10:52):
I love that. So on this first episode we are
going to be talking about the past. So you started
singing at an early age. When did you first discover
a passion for music.
Speaker 2 (11:10):
I think I always had a passion for music. I
mean long before I understood it in terms of a talent,
and definitely before the concept of a career ever came
into play. Music has just always been the backbone of
my life. I grew up in a household where my
mother had layers and layers and stacks and stacks of
(11:35):
vinyl albums of twelve inches, and I lived in them,
and I, you know, I love to rifle through them
all and look at the art and read the liner
notes and learn about the artists, and you know, I
really loved having like that tangible album in my hand.
And then also, you know, my family was very into church,
(11:57):
so I went to church a lot with my grandmother.
And even when I became a teenager and you know,
there was no one forcing me to go to church,
I still went because that was just part of like
the culture that I was from, and gospel music was
a big part in that. So I think I've always
been immersed in music, but I don't. I didn't really
come into understanding how it had impacted me until I
(12:22):
became an artist. And then it was like time to
make music suddenly, and the only thing that I could
draw on as someone who had never written songs before
the moment I wrote a song and it became like
my first record or ever sang in the studio. I
drew on those music that I grew up on, and
that taught me how to turn a lyric, how to
(12:43):
create an emotion in a phrase, or just a lot
of a lot of finer nuances that you that you
kind of don't pay attention to.
Speaker 1 (12:54):
And which artists were you first inspired by.
Speaker 2 (12:58):
Oh, that's that's a lot of people. It's a lot.
So initially I would say definitely from my mother's collection.
It would be the sole R and B and gospel
stuff from my church in those early early childhood years.
It was things like earth Wind and Fire and Rufus
and Chaka Khan, the OJS, Marvin Gay, Patti LaBelle Isisley Brothers,
(13:18):
Berry White, you know, Salsoul, Steely Dan, you know, Uh Eagles.
Then by the time I think I started getting a
bit older and scrolling the dial on the radio, I
was listening to like you like Madonna, Janet, Jody Whitney,
(13:38):
you know, all the icons that only require one name,
you know, the Police, Rhythmics, Culture Club, Michael Jackson, Shade.
I was kind of all over the place because I
did used to literally like lock myself in my room
and scroll up and down my radio dial, and that
was my place to escape and just immerse myself in
(14:01):
all different kinds of music.
Speaker 1 (14:03):
Yes, so in nineteen ninety seven, you released your major
head song a free What inspired you to write the song?
Speaker 2 (14:12):
I think the history that happened before that moment Free
happened at a moment when when I was at the
crossroads of what I was doing with myself as a career,
because I was going my intention from high school was
to go into medicine, and I had studied health occupation's
curriculum while I was in high school and started college
(14:34):
going towards that end of becoming a doctor at some point.
And then I kind of stumbled into the music business
by accident, falling into club culture. And my first record
that I wrote in saying It's Over Now, became, you know,
signed to Warner Brothers in the UK. So suddenly I
went from just being a kid running around in the
(14:55):
club to like, oh, now you're like a thing and
you have a major labeled deal and you know. So
it was kind of like disorienting at first, and it
was all this expectation, like, oh, now you're going to
write an album. And I was there for it and
I loved it all. But I was learning everything on
the fly. I was learning trial by fire, and I
did two albums for Warner the first one Warner UK,
(15:16):
which was a really great experience in an audience and
with a label that really got it, that really got
dance music. Then it flipped to Warner US for my
second album in a label and in sold to a
country that didn't really get dance music at that time.
So that led to like, okay, that's over with and done.
(15:37):
After the Warner US deal, after I did my second album,
and so I was kind of at the crossroads like, Okay,
this was all great, this is amazing. I didn't see
this coming. Do I continue with this or do I
now get back on track with what my main my plan,
what my life plan was. And so I was kind
of at the crossroads of myself and my manager, Bill,
who had been very instrumental in really positioning me very
(16:02):
well as a new artist to step out in the forefront.
And so we had a lot of conversations about what
do we do next, and we decided I would continue.
I felt like at that point this was not an accident,
because at first, you know, those many early years, I
was like, this is some crazy accident thing going on here,
But you know, the universe cannot conspire all of those
(16:24):
things that fell in place to put me where I
was to be an accident, and God doesn't make any mistakes,
so it was something that was meant for me. So
I decided to stay in it and give it and
continue and give it a little bit more time. And
so at that moment, what brought Free together was the
fact that I no longer had a record deal. I
(16:45):
no longer was in the deal with my producers because
I had left the Basement Boys at that time, as
I wanted to work with other producers and other songwriters
to continue to grow, and I had nothing to lose,
absolutely nothing to lose. So I didn't have to live
by anyone's standards. I didn't have to meet anyone else's
need I didn't have anyone to say to me, this
(17:06):
is what's happening at radio, you need to do this
kind of record, this was the last hit in the clubs,
you need to do that kind of record. I didn't
have any outside pressure, you know, Bill and I we
just had, for lack of a better word, freedom to
write whatever kind of song we wanted to write. And
so we felt like if there was ever a moment
to really go balls to the wall and experiment this
(17:29):
is the moment. And so at that time, guitars were
not really a thing in dance music. It was always
pianos and drums, of course, so we knew that the
guitars were going to be the cornerstone of what this
song was going to be built around. We were both
inspired by acts like Ram Sheryl Crowe, you know, really
song songs. You know, I've always been a song song
(17:52):
kind of writer. So I felt like, Okay, I'll just
step all the way out there on the complete limb
and no one has to like it, because I had
nothing to lose at this point, and that's what we did,
and we crafted Free along with Mood to Swing, my
producers for the song, and Danny Madden, my vocal producer,
and everyone's collective energies and contributions went into the soup
(18:18):
to create what we all know now as this classic record.
Speaker 1 (18:22):
Yeah, it's literally, to this day one of my favorite records.
It's just I remember when I first I told you
the story, but I also talk about it in my book.
But when I was at Provocnian School and when I
got out of there, it was ninety eight, and I
just remember going to the club and hearing that song
(18:44):
for the first time, and I was just like, oh
my god, like I'm obsessed, Like who is this? I
need to like know everything about this person. And like
I was just like listening to that song on repeat,
like I just and still do. It's just such a
sick song and just like put you in the best
mood and it just has like this energy and vibe
(19:05):
that is just like indescribable. So everyone check out that
song right now, by my queen. It's called Free and yes,
it will literally put you in the best mood ever.
You know.
Speaker 2 (19:17):
It was so crazy because it really was a risk.
I mean, we had people ask me all the time
through the years, did you know it was going to
be a hit when you came out Seeds, you know,
and it's like, there's no way to know, you know,
there was no there was no template to say that
if you know, if you paint by these numbers, you're
going to get this result. You know, there were there
there were no guarantees, and we had no idea if
anyone would even like the song. That was the thing,
(19:39):
like we're just like, well, we hope somebody likes it, you.
Speaker 1 (19:42):
Know what I mean, And then your life just changed.
Speaker 2 (19:46):
Right, exactly, exactly, exactly must done.
Speaker 1 (19:49):
So exciting and fun it was.
Speaker 2 (19:52):
And it was Winter Music Winter Music Conference ninety seven,
and that's where like all the DJs around the world collectively,
everyone went to the same parties at that time, so
like you'd have the whole industry of everyone from the
record labels to club you know, pluggers to radio, Like
everyone was in the same room at the same time.
And the DJs were just having it that whole Winter
(20:14):
Music Conference that year, Like everywhere you went on the beach,
free was screaming in the distance or just like hands
in the air at the club three or four times
through the night. So after that it was just like
the shot herd around.
Speaker 1 (20:26):
The world, so awesome. And then for the music video,
where did you think of that concept?
Speaker 2 (20:33):
Well, here's the amazing thing about this whole scenario is
that you know, we were Lamb based for that video.
I mean we really we really caught some real vibes
about that video because I think the label, well I
know the label was expecting, like your standards, straightforward, everybody
(20:56):
get up and dance. You know, we're at the club
and here's the DJ kind of video, very straightforward and
and we turned in something that was more like artsy
and you know, ironic and this whole like heavy story.
And they were like, but where's the disco, Like where's
the parties? This is this is house music? Like we
(21:17):
can't work with this. What do you talk? What is this?
And so we caught so much flag for it, and
reading your words in your book just really, you know,
twenty some years later, just validated like everything that we
stood for in that moment, even when the people on
our team didn't get it. And I say when I say, well,
I'm speaking of myself and Bill Coleman, my manager, because
(21:40):
we really went out on a limb. It was I
was shot by worlds of wonder all the Randy and
Fenton that are behind Rupol's Drag Race, and they were
longtime friends of ours from the New York early New
York days Club Kid days, and so you know, when
Freak was coming out, we had a little budget. You know,
Bill went to Randy and Fenton and asked them if
(22:02):
they could come up with something, and they were they
were so gracious and so wonderful, and we just left
it to them to come up with whatever concept they
they wanted to do, and so the concept came from them,
and so we were like, Okay, this is what we're doing.
We're going to be in this this very stark, very
antiseptic environment. It's it's going to represent, you know, this
(22:23):
particular kind of atmosphere in space that's going to be
completely counter to what the expectation is or what the
look is on the outside. And so, you know, we
loved it because you know, we're we're a bit heavy
in certain areas, but they were like, we just want
to dance video, you know what I mean. So it
(22:43):
was it was a little tricky. So I thank you
for that because that really was like vindication reading your
words in your book about how that like you got
it on so many levels and it was like.
Speaker 3 (22:55):
Seechy, like there is like there were people getting this
and this woman was like a child at that time,
you know, and getting it and understanding like what the
inside story is, like that's what makes it important.
Speaker 2 (23:12):
So you know, their record labels, they do what they do.
It's a machine, you know, so what can you do?
But the art was able to speak and that was
really great to know that it actually didn't did come
across that way.
Speaker 1 (23:27):
Yeah, I thought It was just incredible, and I think
the people who need to understand it understand it because
they get it. And then there's people who just don't
get in. They're loss with all things, with all things right, Hi,
this is Paris, Hilton. Some of the best times of
(23:49):
my life have been spent inside of nightclubs, singing, dancing
and being free to truly be myself. And now I'm
the executive producer of a new show, The History of
the World's Greatest Nightclubs. I wanted a show that represented freedom,
joy and hope, and there is no one better to
host than someone who has inspired me for so many
years with her musical talent.
Speaker 2 (24:09):
I'm Alternate A and I've been in the music industry
for three decades. I'm a singer, songwriter and musician, and
now I'm inviting you to join me on this global
nightclub journey. We'll dive into the origins of genres that
broke the industry and uncover the stories of legendary DJs,
all through the eyes of the people who partied at
(24:29):
the height of club culture. Listen to the History of
the World's Greatest Nightclubs on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts
or wherever you get your podcasts.
Speaker 1 (24:41):
Wow, I want to say congratulations on Freeze twenty fifth anniversary.
Can you tell our listeners some of the exciting things
you've been doing to celebrate.
Speaker 2 (24:53):
We've been doing all the things, all the things, you know.
You know, first of all, it's just a you know,
so thankful that people still love this song the way
that they do, and that is still so present. It
has continued to be present for the generations. And I'm
at a place in my career now where I run
into people around the world and they're like, you know,
(25:14):
I grew up on your music, and that's really special
that I've been a part of people's stories for so
long and that free has become something so much larger
than what we created that moment in the studio. It
has taken on a life of its own. So to
celebrate that, because there had been like a million bootlegs
and covers and you know, just it's been willy nilly
(25:37):
for the last twenty something years, we wanted to do
an official package release of free so we did a
remix package in twenty twenty one with fresh new mixes
to just first set up the anniversary celebration and then
out of the blue, Iconopop came into the mix and
(25:58):
had a version that they had worked out, and I
loved it and I was a big Icono Pop fan,
and it worked out that we would do the do
it together. So that version came out and is still
running around, you know, doing the thing. Their album is
just dropping actually and the song is on there, so
I'm very excited about that. I was doing the Beisa
(26:22):
Classics tour with Pete Tong and with the orchestra, which
was you know, Jules Buckley Orchestra is incredible if you've
ever seen any of their arena stadium dates here in
the UK. Hearing the club Classics, so Vibitha done in
an orchestral way is like so overpowering, It's just so
(26:43):
amazing and so free was that for that season. Free
was like one of the closing songs, and we had
they had approached me about us possibly re recording it,
and so we finally did that and the version was
actually initiated by LGGO, who is like such a sweetheart,
so amazing, extremely talented young woman, definitely a woman to
(27:08):
watch because she's about to take everything by storm. So
she came up with this version. Pete loved it. They
presented it to me, I loved it, and we went
in with the full orchestra and we recorded it and
so that's been like what you know, just it was
so emotional to be in the studio with like this
seventy some piece orchestra, like doing my song was insane.
(27:30):
Twenty five years later, I would have never imagined it.
You know. I got to do Women's Euros which was
amazing as well with Becky Hill and Steph London. We
did a version of Free as part of her opening
for the Women's Euros, which was a very historical year
because England Lioness's you know, it was their first time
(27:53):
making it to the championship. It was against Germany, so
that was like really huge because that was a massive
rivalry in Germany was always like you know, huge and
hard to beat, and we actually won that year, so
that was amazing and it was because we did Free first.
So there you go. So we've been doing quite a
few different things for it, and still some other things
(28:15):
up our sleeve.
Speaker 1 (28:16):
Yes, I love it, I can't wait till too here
and Seymour I love ikonnopop. They're so sweet.
Speaker 2 (28:25):
You cannot not love them. They are so good. They're
so good.
Speaker 1 (28:28):
Yeah, they're so nice and they're so talented. And I
love that song. I love it.
Speaker 2 (28:35):
Yes, the energy is crazy when we do that on stage.
So yeah, I'm so happy they let me do I
love it with them.
Speaker 1 (28:43):
So then I was watching that on your Instagram.
Speaker 2 (28:46):
Mm hmm.
Speaker 1 (28:46):
It seems like you're like doing shows like every night.
I'm like, I'm seeing you just do so many. This
must have been crazy month for Pride.
Speaker 2 (28:54):
I don't even know how I do it. I need
a clone me too, I know you. If I need
a Gloade, you certainly need.
Speaker 1 (29:02):
One aull of them. Also, you had a residency spot
at Space and Embiza, which was a feature one of
the clubs featured in the new series. What are some
of your favorite memories of that time in that club?
Speaker 2 (29:19):
Oh wow, Space was so so special. I mean I
hated to see that club go. You know, it was
about the culture of family that was created at Space
was the big the big takeaway from everything that was
going on there. It was like being in the circus. Really,
it was like, you know, a family of unicorns, Like
everyone is special, everybody has like their special thing. That
(29:42):
they bring to the table, but collectively we worked as
a unit and supported each other as a unit and
just brought this magic to the take to the stage
every weekend for clubbers coming from somewhere else every single
week and people like ready to immerse themselves in you know,
(30:03):
all of this this just you know, epic vibe of
like music and dancers and vocalists and DJs and just
like it's like stimulation overload coming at you. And I
was with a party specifically called Cafe Ola, and I
had been a resident with them for a number of
years and I was very happy working with them. They
(30:26):
you know, really had an amazing, amazing outfit. And Cafe
Ola was built on what they call the people of
the night in Abitha, which was you know, the natives,
and it was a party mainly for them, and then
the tourists on top of it, so it would be
you would get rich culture. It beat the culture from
this kind of party aesthetically and musically, and it was
(30:49):
just it was just a lot of love, a lot
of really great talented people and a lot of love
djaying for them in Abita at Space and also when
they toured, I went on tour with them for a
few dates as well, and got to DJ as well
as performed, So it's it's you know, it was a
great family experience and living in a couple of summers
(31:10):
as well and having my son there with him with
me to experience that as well. It was pretty beautiful.
Speaker 1 (31:16):
Yeah. I love Abiza. I had my residency at Amnesia
called my Thomb and Diamonds Party for like I don't
even know, like five years straight, and I lived in
Abiza for like a few months out of the year
every summer. It's just such a beautiful, magical island.
Speaker 2 (31:32):
It really is. And people when they think of it,
you know, they think of like it's only just you know,
party all day, party all night, and you can definitely
get that if that's what you want. But there's the
other side of it. It's just it's something very grounding
and beautiful about the energy of the island. And a
lot of the locals have said that there's some like
(31:52):
magnetic force or something because of where it's located, because
of where the island is located with the equator, and
I don't know if it's true or not, but the
energy there is just really beautiful. The rustic environment, the food,
the sea is gorgeous. You know, there's just there's just
an amazing vibe.
Speaker 1 (32:13):
It really is. It's you have to go there to
feel it and experience it. So it's like my mother.
So we both started going to night clubs at a
young age. What was the first nightclub do you remember
going to?
Speaker 2 (32:27):
The first nightclub I went to was the one I
mentioned earlier that my that my good friend Jay introduced
me to. It was a club in Baltimore called Odell's.
And Odell's was like a baby Paradise Garage. It was.
It was like built on the template of what Paradise
Garage was. So it had the same Richard Long sound system,
which was like in you know, integral to that club
(32:51):
culture at the time. Analog sound was like the backbone
of what the whole thing was about, the light show,
the DJs, the programming of the music. It was definitely
built on that. And the club was run by a
man at the time named Wayne Davis, who I got
to know over the years. He's you know, become like
(33:11):
family now, but he's basically been like the godfather of
our whole dance music scene and creating that space for us.
I was in what they call the later years of Odell's.
As some of the people who went to the early years,
it's a whole snob thing going on. If you went
to the early years, like then you went to the
real Odell's. But if you're in the later years, that's
(33:33):
kind of like when it was about to fall off
or going left a little bit, so you're like kind
of not a real Odell's person. That's like local political drama.
So I was in the late end of it because
I was I was a little too young to get
into those early years, but I followed Wayne to his
next club, which was Club Fantasy, which was a very small,
(33:54):
little shoe box that only lasted for two years, and
then he opened The Paradox, which was a thirteen thousand
square foot club that had two dedicated rooms, a basketball court,
a kitchen, an outdoor court like it was major, and
that club lasted for twenty seven years. So that's always
been kind of the backbone of my club experience, was
(34:14):
what we were doing in Baltimore, and it was always
kind of mirroring what Paradise Garage and the Warehouse in Chicago.
Speaker 1 (34:22):
Were so much fun. What city do you think has
the best night club scene.
Speaker 2 (34:28):
Oh, that's going to get me in trouble. That's so
hard them, I think. I think I would say probably
New York across the board, only in terms of consistently
through the years in having the amount of options available.
The evolution. You know, Manhattan used to have like a
(34:49):
million places to go, and then now it's kind of
it kind of died off for a minute, and then
it's kind of shifted to Brooklyn. Now all the clubs
are in Brooklyn. But in terms of like one city
that has a lot of different options available, New York
seems to always have been pretty consistent for the last
you know, three four four decades or so.
Speaker 1 (35:07):
Yeah, I agree, that's so manny epic experiences in New York.
Why do you think nightclubs in nightlife are so important?
Speaker 2 (35:16):
I think they're really important on it so many different levels.
But I think nightclubs present a situation where people can
find their tribe and they can find themselves. They are
accepted on their own terms. They can go there and
be whoever they want to be in that moment. They
(35:37):
can find their real selves, or they can be somebody
else and still be accepted in ways that they probably
couldn't in the conventional world. So it's a safe space.
It's like minded people, and the music is something that
kind of strips away a lot of our barriers between
each other, but also some of our own drama within
(36:00):
ourselves can be stripped away by the music and the
sense of community that you can find there at times
when you're in the in that situation, it's a very
spiritual connection a lot of times, and I think over
the years, as clubs have evolved, you know, people have
needed them more and more to deal with the political
(36:21):
climate or you know, all of these different things that
are going on, these these forces outside that make things
really really difficult. There's that love of escapism in club culture.
You know, we look at it as you know, we're
going to church on the weekend. We're going to let
our hair down, and we're going to dance and dance
our cares away and all our troubles and let that
(36:42):
all go for a couple hours and just be in
this very communal moment with these other people who some
you may have never laid eyes on before. I know,
I've danced all night with people that I've never seen before,
and I'll probably never see them again, But in that moment,
we were locked in a groove and there was a
(37:03):
reciprocal relationship happening. You know, it's hard to describe if
you've never experienced that. Some people now, you know, they
go to clubs because it's just a popular place to go,
or they go to find love, find a date. But
if you're going for the music, which is what it
really was central to the theme of club culture, you know,
that's a whole different level.
Speaker 1 (37:24):
Yeah, I can totally relate to that in so many ways.
Just clubs were definitely an escape and just like finding
your tribe and just feeling accepted and loved and just
music has just always been such a big part of
my life.
Speaker 2 (37:41):
And yeah, I think it's like, you know, it's the energy.
You know, there's so much energy around around that end.
You know, people are looking for that. They're looking for
that moment that makes them feel alive, that makes them
feel connected to something, that makes them feel a part
of something bigger than themselves. And club culture presents that.
(38:01):
When you have this massive sound system, these light shows
going on, you know, and all this different stimuli happening,
it takes it beyond just a social thing. It really
makes it very personal and very deep for you, and
you know, it can be life changing for a lot
of people in a lot of different ways. I mean,
(38:22):
families have come out of people have met their significant
others and developed families and you know, or you know,
not even romantic family, but just like people that they
care about, family that they've chosen. It serves a lot
of different purposes.
Speaker 1 (38:38):
Yeah, I think that social media has definitely changed the
club scene. It's like, used to be tomus only about
like the music and having fun. But I just noticed
like ever since.
Speaker 2 (38:51):
Oh absolutely absolutely, the you know, the whole culture of
everyone standing around looking at the DJ is so strange,
strange and foreign to me because you know, for us,
it was always about like I just I gotta get
on that dance floor and let the fool loose. You know,
no one has time to stand there and watch the
DJ like twiddle their knobs and I DJs, I don't
(39:14):
need you standing here all night watching me twittled by jobs,
And I was like, I don't need that. Go dance,
you know.
Speaker 1 (39:21):
Yes, Well, that was so much fun to talk about
the past, and I can't wait for our next episode
where we talk about the present, so I'll see you soon.
Speaker 2 (39:32):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (39:33):
Thanks for listening to I Am Paris. Don't forget to
follow us on Instagram at I Am Paris Podcast, Email
us at Paris at iHeartRadio dot com, be hot and
subscribe now loves it
Host
Paris Hilton
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