Your last name is Angel… that must mean you are the original Angel. Is that really your last name?

I am indeed the original Angel. I am the founder and CEO of Angel Burlesque and so it follows naturally to call my performers, Angels. That is really my last name, although my husband says that he was born an Angel but I had to marry one.  Jeff Angel was a producer and air personality with radio for a huge portion of his life and everyone assumed that Jeff Angel was a fake DJ name but nope, it’s real. When we married, some people asked if I would change my name—my maiden name is Kalb which is German for “calf”. Really, do you think I want to be a cow or an Angel?  That was a no brainer.

I love it that your husband is also associated with the show. He was hilarious as a host, if I do say so myself. How long have you guys been married?

Jeff is a fantastic host—thank you for agreeing that he is hilarious. When I initially got involved in burlesque, I was performing with another local troupe, and in my debut show our dressing area was in the building next to the bar so while it wasn’t a big deal before our routine, I sure as hell wasn’t comfortable walking down the street in my pasties (plus it was in a slightly sketchy neighborhood) so I encouraged everyone to get robes AND I enlisted my husband as a bodyguard, so to speak, to make sure all the performers made it to and from the dressing room building. (The hot dog cart guy had the best night that night—especially when some of the girls forgot their robes.)

People often ask if he’s okay with me doing burlesque and he always says, “My wife is asking me to watch other girls take their clothes off… ow, ow, twist my arm, don’t make me do that.” He’s tremendously proud of me as both a performer and a producer. We’ve been married for six years and have a beautiful daughter together. We met in the theatre—I was stage managing and he was acting. He jokingly told a group of kids that I was supervising, “I’m going to marry Miss Katie someday.”  About ten months later we started dating and then another year or so after that we got married. Be careful what you joke about in the theatre!

Jeff and Belle do a wonderful job as the hosts of our show. We’ve had a few other people host and they’ve all been great in their own way, but Jeff and Belle have a lovely chemistry (people often assume they are married) and are very quick on their feet. Hosting is very demanding—you have to be charming but strong. It’s important to encourage the audience to be responsive but not be too chatty.  It’s a fine line that they walk very well. We had a very early review once that likened Jeff to a “pervy middle school principal” which I don’t think is fair… but then I always had crushes on my principals so maybe there’s something to that. Jeff does a great job! He helps me so much as a front of house schmoozer pre-show—he tries to take care of the audience and me and I appreciate him so much. There would not be an Angel Burlesque without Jeff Angel.

Your last Deluxe show was my first burlesque show. It won’t be my last! How do the shows change from one night to the next? Is it always something new?

I’m so tickled you enjoyed the show—I knew you would! The shows as a whole are always completely new. You might see a very few routines from one show to the next but it’s very important to me that the audience gets their money’s worth of show, and I personally get irritated when I go to shows and see the same routines over and over. With the show you saw at Deluxe there was one routine that had been seen at Deluxe before—Patsy Blue Ribbon did her Polar Bear routine at the December show but putting it back to back with Penguin’s Lament made me giggle so we repeated it. Layla Seduisant’s Nun routine had been performed at an Open Bra before but never Deluxe and it’s such a raw and sexual routine that I wanted to throw it into this mix. I keep the shows fresh and exciting for the audience—they are first and foremost in my mind.  It’s a huge challenge to come up with fresh routines but my Angels are game. We also can help keep the shows exciting and new by inviting guest performers to come and play.

The music you guys use is awesome. Who picks the soundtrack?

Each performer picks their own music so that they can find something they are personally attached it. By the time you are done rehearsing a routine you’ve heard it at least fifty times so if you don’t love the song at the beginning you’ll really hate it by the end. The soundtrack reflects a huge range of tastes and we’ve had music ranging from classic bump and grind to modern pop to children’s music. Jada Bella’s Penguin’s Lament is literally a children’s song that my six year old loves and we listen to in the car together. I’m entranced with this routine because Jada Bella is such a gorgeous performer and she brings a depth to this character – a penguin that is short and cute but longs to be tall and mysterious (like the polar bear guys). We have other routines that are based on children’s songs, completely re-imagined as narrative pieces and they make me laugh. (Oooh, I’ll give you the links…)

This is how Rod Tollhouse got his name.

This is my second solo ever (my first being a Darth Vader striptease).

This is another from the lovely Jada Bella. This is our take on how Hollywood deals with the paparazzi.

I am sure you guys practice the routine. How often do you practice?

We definitely rehearse! Each routine represents hours of rehearsal not to mention the time spent costuming. Each type of show determines how much group rehearsal we’ll have. For the full length themed show like Boo-lesque, Erin Go Braghless or Welcome to Heaven we will set a rehearsal schedule that usually ends up being about sixty total hours of rehearsal time spread over a month and a half at least. For the solos in the Deluxe shows, the performers will prepare the routines and then come in for an approval session where I’ll look at the routine and help polish. For the Open Bras we offer coaching sessions to give performers a little more help. Personally, to prepare a solo I will constantly listen to my song in the car while I’m driving, prepare the costume, choreograph and then polish. It’s definitely a time commitment but that’s absolutely necessary in order to have polished, professional routines.

Tell me more about “open bra”. That sounds fun!

I am really proud of the Open Bra nights and from what I can tell they are a unique form of show—I haven’t been able to find anything else like it (from my extensive Facebook creeping). Ray Gunn, a Chicago boylesque performer who guest-starred in our Halloween show, told me that he had never heard of it before and was really impressed with the people who were willing to get up there and give it a shot! Our third full length production, Erin Go Braghless (a St. Patty’s Day Parade on steroids) was at the Crackers Comedy Club in Broad Ripple and Ruth Anne, the manager there, was interested in getting us to perform on a more regular basis. The full length shows take a huge amount of preparation (from the rehearsals to writing the script to blocking the group numbers, etc.), so I was trying to figure out a way to have a show that did not involve as much prep time. I am also getting constant inquiries about how to join and become involved.  Producing these Open Bra nights is a great solution to both problems. The idea is that they are just like an Open Mic Night but with Burlesque! You do have to sign up in advance, so random people don’t just come in off the street and whip off their clothes… random people have to sign up and plan to come in and whip off their clothes. We have an application that goes up on our websiteand it is usually first come, first served.

Every Open Bra has had at least one person who has never done burlesque in his or her life getting up onstage and trying it out. Yes, it takes a tremendous leap of faith, BUT, I’d have to say that we are incredibly supportive as Angels and offer coaching sessions which is a private rehearsal session with me. Our audiences are so kind and loving. It’s completely unacceptable to be rude to someone onstage and the hosts don’t let it happen. The audience knows that this is tough for the performers and they give them all sorts of love. Is every performer knock-your-socks-off-amazing… no, but, again, what is not sexy to me might be the next guy’s fantasy.  We’ve found our last two Angels from the Open Bra nights. It’s also a great indicator of performer’s level of interest—it’s very easy to say, oh, I want to do burlesque, but to actually take the time to find a costume, choreograph a routine and get your butt onstage to do it, that takes effort.

I got the chance to see Red Hot Annie at the Deluxe. How do you know her? When she comes down and does a show like that, does she charge a fee or does she do it for the exposure?

Red Hot Annie has a burlesque production company in Chicago called Vaudezilla that both produces shows and teaches classes. She sent out inquiry emails a few months back because she was going to be in Indianapolis in January and was interested in performing. We were so glad to have her perform with the Angels. With our guest stars we generally negotiate a performance fee in advance and then any exposure they get is a bonus. Her studio had an Ostrich blowout sale last year and my family drove up there to check out the bargains (I bought $2,500 worth of feathers for $1,000… I seriously have a problem but the deals were too good to pass up! I have a few feathers that haven’t made it onstage yet.) It was nice to meet Annie then.

Angel Burlesque has been very fortunate to have some top quality guest stars perform with us. My very very very first show that I produced guest starred Michelle L’amour who is ranked as the number three burlesque star in the world, two of her Chicago Starlets and Jett Adore from the Stage Door Johnnies. We had a surprise guest star with our GenCon show in August—Bazuka Joe from the Stage Door Johnnies was performing at GenCon on Thursday with a group from Chicago, the Glitter Guild. Desda Moana and I were thrilled to perform with this group also—it was such an honor to perform at the convention center in front of all the GenCon fans (those are our people and it was great fun to do my Klingon routine in such a huge room.) Bazuka Joe was hanging around all weekend while Ray Gunn was busy gaming and we persuaded (okay, out and out begged and bribed with promise of lots of alcohol) to have Bazuka come perform with us at the Vollrath the next night (his Lion-O routine brought the house down).

In October, the third of the Stage Door Johnnies, Ray Gunn, came down to perform five shows with us for our Boo-lesque: Things that Go Bump and Grind in the Night. He taught a private workshop for the Angels—it was an honor to learn from him. The Stage Door Johnnies won the award for Best Group at the Burlesque Hall of Fame weekend in Las Vegas and are ranked in the top ten of Best Burlesque performers, internationally. I think it’s all shades of awesome that the Angels have been on the same stage as all three Johnnies. They are sexy gentlemen with a lot to bring to the burlesque world… as Desda Moana would say, “They’re kind of a big deal.” The Angel name is getting out there and as we get more guest stars, out of town guests will know that we are professional and wonderful to work with. Jeez Loueez is booked for the March 2^nd show at Deluxe and she’s a powerhouse of a performer.

Pasties are a pretty popular feature of your show. Has there ever been an accident… you know, where a pasty didn’t “hang on”?

Oh, pasties.  How we love and hate them. What I think is fun is that my first pair of pasties (my Darth Vader pasties) literally took me like four hours and a lot of crafting anxiety… now I can whip a pair out (and by whip out I mean make not show) in less than ten minutes. I can whip a pair out (and by whip out I mean show not make) in less than ten seconds. I personally have never had pasty failure but I’m sort of meh about it… if if happens it happens.  I don’t really care.  There are many performers who stress about it (if one pasty falls off, rip the other one off and be a rock star). With Desda Moana’s very first appearance in our “Holler Back” cowgirl number she accidentally ripped off her pasty when she took off her bikini top.  She realized when the pasty fell off and just covered up with her hand.  Pepper Mills used to be very worried about her pasties but now proudly says she has “pasties confidence”. I’m enchanted by the different styles of pasties we have come up with.

You are getting a ton of exposure lately. Has that affected show attendance?

I think we could always use more coverage (ba-duh-bum). We’ve been very lucky that our last three shows at Deluxe have been official sell outs and our Open Bras are very popular. It’s not easy to get people to come out on a Monday night but we do and are so grateful to our fans who are loyal and super supportive. We work very hard to make every show different so that even though we’re doing a lot of shows, they are new and different and definitely worth seeing! Our shows are not for everyone… just people who like to laugh and have fun.

I didn’t really know what to expect coming in. But a lot of people look at burlesque as stripping and naughty. But it’s not. Sure, there is some not safe for work humor in there, but it’s about the music and the art of dance in my opinion. But for you, what is it all about? Why do you do this?

I completely agree with you that burlesque is about the art of dance and telling a story. Most of our new audience members say that the show was nothing like they expected and they had no idea they would laugh so much. For me, burlesque is an art form that allows for complete artistic freedom and celebrates real bodies. I love the ability to create my own characters and be as ridiculous as I want to be. Angel Burlesque definitely tends towards a very theatrical style with fun characters that tell a story.

You ran a Groupon for your last show. What successes have you see with running discounts on deals sites like that? Have you worked with any of the other popular deals sites?

I adore the excitement of the Groupon and it’s fun to see everyone scrambling to get their ticket because it is such a great deal. The Groupon is something that the Old National Centre set up and we do our best to get the word out to our fans.  We have not worked with any other deal sites… I’m not terribly social media savvy… I have Angels who tweet for me (thank you, Pepper!) and also update the website (our goddess of digital media and a super talented lady that you didn’t get to see in January because she is in “Debbie Does Dallas” at TOTS—Brigitte Petite.) I don’t even know any other popular deal sites…tell me about them!

I didn’t expect to see a guy in the lineup. I actually know Rod Tollhouse personally! How did he end up as an Angel?

I’m a huge fan of boylesque. The first great boylesque performer I ever saw was Hot Toddy from Chicago. His routine actually made me blush and if you know me, you have to know that it’s very hard to make me blush. Rod Tollhouse was in the first Angel production, Welcome to Heaven, and it’s been so cool to watch him develop as a performer and every single routine he does is better and better (and he was awesome to start with!) We have a few other male Angels and a couple of gentlemen who might be Angels in the future. Rod answered the first call for open auditions and I loved what he had to offer. Boylesque performers are in the minority but it’s a refreshing change of pace to see a gentleman onstage.

During the show, after each performance was over, there were girls that came in and cleaned everything up. Are they volunteers? Do they ever dance?

Those are our stage kittens and an essential part of every show! The stage kittens that you saw, Bunny Van Doren, Ricki Swizzle and Cora Noire are all Angels and each have some wonderful solos! Bunny’s mirror ball disco sparkle outfit made me happy.

Not all of the dancers are skinny. And I like that. Everyone seemed so happy in her own skin. It just goes to show you don’t have to be a rail to be sexy. How does that affect the way you pick new dancers? I just want to learn more about the perception of larger women being so fun to watch perform!

One of Angel Burlesque’s main tenets is that “Real is Sexy!” What I tell the new performers and what I believe is that every performer has something special to offer. I know that my body type is not going to appeal to every single audience member BUT there is one person out there, at least one, who has a fetish for what I have to offer (mmm… big hips, stretch marks!) In general, women tend to really get down on themselves and think that men (or women, we’re very LGBT friendly) only find one type of woman sexy… but that’s not true at all. Sure, not every Angel is going to be your ideal type but wait three minutes, there will be a different type. Could I be a healthier weight? Absolutely! But will my self-image magically change if I’m forty pounds lighter? Not really. Our self image has so little to do with reality so we might as well love ourselves as we are.

Tell me a little bit more about your Valentine’s Day Heart-On Open Bra. By the way, I LOVE the names you have for the events and for the dancers.

Our Valentine’s Day Heart On encourages performers to celebrate what they love or hate about Valentine’s Day… some people really get into the schmoopiness and some people just want to kick Valentine’s Day in the face so this is a forum to show however you feel about it.  The show titles are a fun group effort. Jeff came up with the idea for Erin Go Bragh…less and Jada Bella added the tagline for Boolesque—Things that Go Bump and Grind in the Night.

Do you have a job outside of Angel Burlesque?

I am a professional stage manager and a stay at home mom. After I graduated from Butler University I did a lot of work at the Indianapolis Civic Theatre—I stage managed, taught acting classes, worked in the box office, helped in the scene shop, did some electrics over hire and worked in pretty much every crew position possible—lightboard, soundboard, fly crew, run crew, spotlight operator… the only place I didn’t work was the costume shop because the first time I sewed a pair of pants I put the crotch on slantways. I’ve been Dance Kaleidoscope’s stage manager for nine years now and tremendously enjoy working with them (p.s. You should come see Super Soul at IRT—it’s going to be beautiful and sexy and fun—the first weekend is already sold out.) I’ve picked up stage management gigs for some interesting productions like travelling to Little Rock, Arkansas to stage manage a Nutcracker that literally had a cast of about 200 dancers. I’ve been to Connecticut with the Indianapolis Symphony and have stage managed a televised NCAA award ceremony event for the Final Four last year. Fun fact, I’ve stage managed for events that have featured performers who have been on American Idol, Dancing with the Stars, and So You Think You Can Dance, so my six degrees of separation to Kevin Bacon is that much closer. (Laughs.) I’m such a theatre nerd that when I met a few of the American Idol singers my first question to them is, how is it working with Debbie Williams? (She’s the AI stage manager.) Being a professional stage manager definitely helps Angel Burlesque—I think it would be fair to say we are the most organized burlesque troupe in town.

Speaking of the dancer names, who picks those? Rod Tollhouse told me how he got his name… but where does a dancer like Ginger Peach or Pepper Mills get her name?

Sometimes picking a name is agony, sometimes the girls walk in with a name that they’ve thought about for years and I think both Ginger Peach and Pepper Mills actually had those names in mind before they started burlesque…??? I think Pepper Mills was her proposed drag queen name. Having a stage name allows performers the freedom to embrace a larger, glittery version of themselves. Sometimes picking a name is a long process of throwing out different options. A few ladies have tried something… changed it… changed it again. Katie Angel is my real name because I couldn’t think of anything better.

Do you have any rituals before a performance?

I usually end up doing my hair and makeup fifteen minutes before the show starts because I don’t have time before then… I have to ask someone to keep me focused and if they see me out checking on something backstage they shoo me back to the mirror to get my lashes on. We generally will do a performer circle so I can make announcements… if there’s time someone tells a dirty joke and I end with the saying, “Remember, if you’re not having fun taking your clothes off…” and then everyone yells, “why the hell are you doing it?”

Do you ever get nervous up there?

I was so nervous before my fan dance because it was such a different style of performance for me—I’m so much more comfortable being ridiculous and making fun of myself. During this performance I was trying to be on the serious side and was a little terrified of falling over in my heels (my plan if I bit it? Do a little extra floor work while I was down there.) I get more nervous that there will be no audience—the analogy that we make (Pepper and I) is that it’s like in sixth grade when a mom rented the whole skating rink and ordered six supreme pizzas and no one is going to show up, wha wha wha… .but I’ll have to say that even when we’ve had audiences on the smaller side, the size of the cast has never outnumbered the audience (I’ve been to plenty of community productions where that has happened!) and the audience is always very loving and loud.

There are a lot of photo galleries on your website and videos of performances on YouTube. Photography is actually encouraged during a performance. Out of all the photos ever taken of you, do you have a favorite?

Matthew Mayer is such a huge friend to us and has taken beautiful photos and video of us. Benjamin Swisher from zaptownmag.com takes wonderful photos too and we’ve been very lucky to have so many great photographers at our shows that I couldn’t name them all. It’s funny because we could have three or four photographers shooting the same show and the perspectives they have are all so different. You can tell when each photographer finds a particular performer sexy because there are tons of pictures of that person and not so many of others. I will try to remember to attach one of my favorites—it’s definitely not the most flattering shot of me but we all have such joy on our faces—the shot really sums up what I love about being onstage. (And the audience is giving us a standing ovation so that’s cool!)

Girls get pretty close to naked on stage. Do you ever get requests for more? How do you handle requests like that if they come in?

I don’t really ever get any requests for more nudity… although I did see that Ben Swisher who spent a lot of time editing photos from the Deluxe show went into booby overload and just wanted to see more. As we’ve progressed, I’d have to say that our confidence has grown and our pasties have gotten smaller and our style of panties has gotten more daring. Angel has broken our “merkhin cherry”. Merkhins used to be essentially wigs for your lady parts that prostitutes would use to hide their thinning hair. The burlesque version of merkhins are a pasty for your naughty bits so that you don’t have any panty lines or strings on your hips and gives a great tease, especially with fan dances. The only requests that we often get on our website is for performances at private bachelor parties and we don’t do those. We will teach workshops for private bachelorette parties or ladies nights in. Every so often one of the ladies will get a creeper alert on facebook… usually it’s pretty harmless but we try to give each other heads up about people who are being inappropriate. I’ve heard about girls getting requests for pictures of their feet but no one has asked me. (Laughs.)

Tell me a little bit more about Bunny and her blog Backstage with Bunny.

Bunny was the sparkly disco ball stage kitten you saw at the show. That adorable logo is the product of Brigitte Petite and we’re all completely jealous! Backstage with Bunny is a very new feature—Bunny has a crafting blog and she offered her blogging services to help add new content to our website and I’m grateful for her help.

I love the tagline “sassy… and always classy!” That is a pretty accurate description of what I saw. Who came up with that?

I think that’s mine but I might be wrong… I like the word sassy. Our other tagline is “Real is sexy” which I also thinks sums up AB very well.

Belle Breeze and Desda “Mae Q” Moana are “head angels”. What makes someone a head angel versus an angel?

Belle and Desda are my right hand ladies. They each bring something different to the table in terms of their sexy, sexy talents and have been very supportive of me and helping this company grow. Along with Jada Bella, Desda and Belle have been with me at the first show I produced, before there was an Angel Burlesque. (I was working with Belle at a community theatre show and said, “Hey, I’m going to produce a burlesque show… want to be in it? And she did. And she was awesome.) They can help run rehearsals when I can’t be there, Desda does a lot of our choreography, Belle does a lot of poster and graphics design for us and they both are great for bouncing off ideas. Belle, Jeff and I co-write the full length productions—I will come up with the first draft and then we’ll go to La Hacienda and edit… they think we are insane there but I think we’ve come up with our best jokes over chips and salsa. It’s usually after a rehearsal, and I’m exhausted and a bit punch drunk but you can’t say, “Tippytoe Princess Dance and Charm Academy” without giggling a little. Most of the Angels have been incredibly helpful—Belle, Desda and I teach the workshops, Jada Bella has guest taught a workshop, Pepper Mills is our “Union Rep”, Twitter lady and official ambassador to the drag and LGBT community, Bunny Van Doren is starting the blog, Brigitte Petite handles all the website details, and I could not function without them.

How do you pick new performers? Have any ever come out of an Open Bra before?

The very first show consisted of me drafting my friends to come and take their clothes off (one of my superhero powers is getting people to take their clothes off… comes in handy when producing burlesque.) The first two full Angel shows had open auditions and then I found myself with twenty-five performers that were amazing so I stopped holding auditions. Our Open Bra has turned into the chance for new people to “audition” for Angel Burlesque. Both Layla Seduisant (who did the Nun routine) and Cora Noire have come out of the Open Bra shows.

I saw you post a picture on Facebook the other day… that “all bodies are good bodies”. I love that picture too. What was your first reaction when you saw that photo?

I love that picture and my first reaction was to figure out how to take an Angel version of the photo. I was laughing to read the comments – so many of the gentlemen commenting were talking about how hot the “woman on the right” was—the lady with the most athletic body. We have comment cards at Deluxe and will routinely get one card per show (probably the same person) who complains about the fat girls… 1. I’d love to see what that guy looks like, I’m sure he’s a beefcake, 2.  if you want to see super skinny ladies, allow me to direct to you to a Playboy magazine with huge fake boobs… they are fairly easy to purchase, I do believe. The negative cards just make me laugh.

What’s next for Angel Burlesque? What does 2012 have in store for you and all the angels?

We have so much going on! We have our monthly Open Bras on the last Monday of the month and our Deluxe shows on the First Friday (except for February because apparently the entire Old National Centre is occupied by something going on… I haven’t really heard, something about a football game?) I plan on bringing even more special guests to the Deluxe shows—Jeez Loueez is booked for March and I’m in talks with more spectacular performers. We are appearing at the Days of the Dead Horror Convention and again at GenCon with the Glitter Guild from Chicago. Angel Burlesque also is performing in the Indianapolis Fringe Festival for the first time and I have some ridiculously fun ideas for that. We keep our fans up to date with our website, Facebook page and Twitter.

Do you ever perform outside of the Circle City?

Some of the Angels are starting to apply to perform at the regional burlesque festivals which I find very exciting. I am applying for festivals in St. Louis and Chicago this year; fingers crossed! Ricki Swizzle and I are heading up to Muncie in a few weeks to perform with Ryder Cox’s Femme Fatale show. Some Angels have performed with the Bloomington Burlesque Brigade in Bloomington (we loves the B3 girls and Jada Bee).

“What’s a burlesque show all about?” How would you answer that to someone who has no idea what to expect from a performance?

Burlesque is fun, sexy, good-natured fun that celebrates real bodies. Our performers don’t take ourselves too seriously and we want to make sure the audience has a wonderful time.

Katie, thank you so much for taking the time to sit with me today. I could ask you questions all day long. In all of the interviews I do, I always give the artist the last word. Go.

Real is sexy. Come see a show.

Click here to “like” Angel Burlesque on Facebook.

Click here to follow Angel Burlesque on Twitter.

Click here to watch Angel Burlesque on YouTube.

On the longevity and success of the club, co-owner and resident DJ Nicolas Matar says, “Cielo has been a labor of love from the very beginning for all those involved. Everything we do is for the love of dance music – from the sound, hospitality, lighting, and quality of music, all are designed to provide a superior night of clubbing.”

When first opened Cielo was a neighborhood pioneer in the Meatpacking District, establishing roots in an area best known for meat warehouses and transvestites. Since then the area has developed into a hub of designer hotels, fashion boutiques and high-end restaurants. To this day, the club has never strayed from its vision of being a music-driven dance venue and over the years established itself as one of the top clubs in the world. The venue’s one-room design and sunken dancefloor provides an intimate connection between the DJ and clubber that is unparalleled. The club  serves as host for two of the longest running weekly parties in the U.S. The Legendary Body & Soul doyen Francois K helms Deep Space Mondays and house music legends Louie Vega & Kevin Hedge host Roots Wednesdays. Over the last year, the club has also seen its share of global superstar DJs including, James Zabiela, Chris Liebing, Ben Watt, Roger Sanchez, Mark Knight and Nick Warren. Nine years from its inception, Cielo still strives for excellence, never straying from its original vision and constantly delivering as an international clubbing destination for both DJs and clubbers.

Click here to “like” Cielo on Facebook.

Click here to follow Cielo on Twitter.

Click here to watch Cielo on YouTube.

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We got downtown a little early, so we decided to grab a drink at Old Point Tavern. Since I work for Live Nation part-time, we parked at the Old National Centre and walked over to OPT. The parking lot was empty at 8:30, and with doors opening at 9 I was a little surprised. But when we got back shortly after doors had opened, I quickly realized it was nearly sold out. The room was packed with people. There were so many tables down there I could barely get out to use the restroom.

My tickets were at will call, so I walked across the lobby and grabbed our tickets. Since I work so many shows in that building, I had to stop and talk to a few people I knew. When we got downstairs, I ran into another friend that I hadn’t seen in a long time. It was great catching up, and we ended up sitting with him.

Introducing Angel Burlesque

At 9:30, the lights went down and Jeff Angel took the stage. Jeff is married to Katie. Belle Breeze joined him and they started introducing the evening and telling jokes. They would tell jokes all night long… some not safe for work. But they were hilarious. Jeff was a riot, and I loved watching his facial expressions as she talked. After they welcomed everyone, Jeff went over the rules. They had a few rules for the evening, to protect the audience as well as the dancers on stage.

The first rule was in regards to photography. There was to be absolutely no flash photography. Jeff explained that some of the dancers wore high heels, and that the flash would throw off the rhythm. Makes sense. But then he started talking about regular photography… and that was okay. It was actually encouraged.

Then Jeff talked about “hooting and hollering”. It was allowed… it was mandatory. He said that the “more you yell, the better they dance”. And he was right. Throughout the evening, the louder people yelled the more entertaining the performance got. After the rules presentation, they introduced the first performer.

Penguin’s Lament with Jada Bella

Like I said, I had no idea what to expect. But this number was awesome. Out of the gate, the entire troupe was on stage dancing around like… like penguins. It was cute, and before I knew it Jada was taking her clothes off!

Before you get excited, this is not a strip club or anything. It is VERY tasteful. There were a few dancers that showed more than others, but it was never uncomfortable. The focus of Angel Burlesque is on the art, not the nudity. It is never about the nudity. The hosts would joke about it from time to time, but that was more to keep the audience at ease.

Speaking of the audience, it was a packed house. The show was at Deluxe, and the room isn’t very big. It’s a perfect setting for a show like this, but they crammed a ton of tables and chairs in there, and if you wanted to use the restroom or grab another drink you had to fight your way out. But the room was full.

Other Acts Include

After Jada came Patsyy Blue Ribbon. I just love their names. From Patsy Blue Ribbon to Red Hot Annie, all of these performers had names that pretty much fit the performance. There is one guy in the group… his name is Rod Tollhouse. It’s a long story, and I know Rod personally… but it’s not safe for work for me to tell you where the name came from. Needless to say, his part of the evening was entertaining.

Some of the other performers included:

• Desda Mae Q Mona
• Bastet
• Pepper Mills
• Tessa Von Twinkle
• Dominique de Beaute
• *Cristian Riquelme (he is actually dating Pepper Mills)
• Layla Seduisant
• Red Hot Annie (from Chicago)
• Sugar Lee
• Belle Breeze (performed and hosted)
• Rod Tollhouse
• Desda Moana
• Katie Angel (founding member of Angel Burlesque)

The music was fun too. Some of the songs were pop songs, with a twist. But most of them seemed to have been created for the individual performances. Some of my favorite songs included Some Night in Alaska, Rumor Has It, Puttin’ On The Ritz, Funky Fans, Sooner or Later, Pink and Art-Tease-T.

Speaking of Red Hot Annie

Red Hot Annie is not from Indianapolis. She is actually from Chicago. She came down for this performance. She is actually one of the top 50 burlesque dancers in the country, and does live events, teaches belly dance classes, and even emcees and hosts corporate events. She’s a tall drink of water, and has some red hair… I guess that’s where the “red hot” comes from!

I actually had the chance to talk to Red Hot Annie after the performance. When all was said and done, all of the dancers came out and were shaking hands and dishing out hugs left and right. Annie walked by, and I introduced myself to her before we left. She was very nice, and it seemed like she has found her fit in this space. I was glad I got the chance to meet her.

Curtain Call

The show didn’t start until 9:30, and it was late by the time things wrapped up. But it didn’t seem like the show went on too long. Having a break in the middle was nice. When it was all over, Jeff came back on stage and talked about their SuperBra XLVI. SuperBra is an Open-Bra Event held at Crackers Comedy Club and will take place on January 30^th, 2012 at 8:30.

Not familiar with the open-bra format? It’s sort of like an open mic night where the audience can get involved. Imagine that… coming to a burlesque show and getting your chance to show the world what you’re made of. Some of the girls in the current Angel Burlesque lineup were discovered during an open-bra night. If you think you have what it takes, give it a try. You might be surprised with how well you can shake it!

Tell Us What You Think!

Before the show was over, Jeff and Belle told us about a comment card that was on the table. I grabbed one, and while I didn’t fill it out, I wanted to look at it when I got home. They asked for input, including:

• How was the performance?
• How was the sound and lighting?
• How were your seats?
• How was the service?
• How did you hear about this event?
• Any recommendations?

I am sure they use this for data collection, but if I was a performer, I would want to know what the audience thought of the production. That’s the only way you are going to get better.

The show was incredible. I didn’t have any expectations when I went in… and I left energetic and excited to have seen my first show. It won’t be my last. I had a chance after the show to chat with Katie Angel, and we will be scheduling an interview very soon. I can’t wait to learn more about the show, the dancers, and more!

Have you ever been to a burlesque show? If so, what did you think?

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*Cristian Riquelme is actually in a band. They performed Swamp Rock for the crowd. Live music didn’t really fit the theme of the evening, but it was a nice chance to use the restroom and grab another drink. They played two songs, so I was still able to catch most of their energetic performance.

I can’t sleep when the sun goes down either! I love that song man… did you ever think you would have so much success when you produced that track?

No, I never knew that. It’s so hard to predict what is going to be big and what will not be. I’m so happy that Axwell lifted the song and made the release happen.

You are originally from Sweden. Isn’t it cold over there?

Yes, it’s crazy cold here… the only thing we can do is spend time in the studio. I guess that is good! We have like 7 months of winter. Every time spring comes it feels very surprising.

You are involved with quite a few labels… Ultra, Axtone, La vida Locash. Why can’t you just pick one? Does it ever get confusing working with so many different labels?

(Laughs.) Yes, it’s like this in the dance music industry. Now I’m working exclusively with Ultra Records for the album, so that feels good.

I love your single Teenage Crime too. You are pumping out one great single after another. Is there an album in the works here?

It’s set to release in early March. I’m just doing the last mixing and mastering. I’m really happy with the result.

Tell me about your relationship with Empire Artist Management.

Empire Artist Management is my worldwide management company. They are the ones who deal with my remixes, gigs and other inquiries. We have a great connection and we are achieving the goals together.

Your website just redirects people to your social media sites. Do you manage all of your social media sites? You are crushing it on Facebook and Twitter by the way!

Thanks! Yes, I manage my Facebook and Twitter efforts. Sometimes my management will post a contest or gig. Twitter is an amazing way of staying in touch with fans and other DJ friends; it’s so easy!

I love the artwork for the single Alive. Who designed that?

His name is Ricky Tillblad. He has done a lot of stuff for the Swedish House Mafia guys as well!

You aren’t playing a ton of shows… is that because of the album?

Yes, my main focus has been in the studio. It takes so much time to make an album. It’s crazy… It feels good to let go of it after all this time!

There is a new DJ Mag Top 100. I am not that impressed with the list. It seems that the guys at the top are all producing pop tracks. How does the Top 100 list affect you and getting shows?

Right now I think the list is about the people who does the biggest productions at the moment and who gets it out to the masses. I think it would be nice if there could be a more diverse mix of DJs on the list, but it’s up to the fans so there is not much to argue with. If I get on the list I think it would affect me positively with bookings, but I still have alot of work to do.

There are a ton of remixes of Can’t Sleep. When a DJ remixes your track, do they need permission from you? Do you get to listen to the remix before it’s released?

Yes, its often the label who goes after the remixes. I always have to approve the remix though.

You also did some modeling early on. Do you still do that, or is that in the past?

No, I gave that up. I think my modeling agency was pretty tired of me anyway since I was always DJing, and I rarely had any time to work.

What’s the biggest crowd you have ever played in front of? Do you get nervous playing in front of big crowds?

I think it was around 15,000. I don’t ever focus on the size of the crowd… I always try to get everyone going, in smaller clubs with capacities of 300-500. The thing that can get me nervous though is if I am tired before the gig. That can sometimes set me off balance so I always try to rest before and show.

What’s on your iPod right now… what are you listening to these days?

I’m listening a lot to old music… some The Doors, Jefferson Airplane, and Iggy Pop. I like that stuff. Since I’m doing gigs all the time, it’s nice to listen to that kind of laid back stuff when I’m not in the club.

Tell me a little bit more about Adrian Lux TV.

It’s under development at the moment… more to come!

Your logo is on a lot of stuff… do you ever wear your own merchandise around the house or the studio?

(Laughs.) Yes, sometimes if I am hungover or on laundry days.

What’s next for you… what’s 2012 hold for Adrian Lux?

I think the main thing will be the release of my album, and then taking my gigs to the next level.

Thanks for taking the time out of your busy schedule to sit with me. In all of the interviews I do, I always give the artist the last word. Go.

I want to thank my fans around the world who have faith in my music. I wish I could gather all of you guys and have one big party!

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The tees are influenced by the key elements of Tiësto’s performances – light, color, and symmetry. The cutting edge graphics appear on fine cotton tops for both men and women. CLVB LIFE apparel promises to set off the next major shift in contemporary fashion, and demonstrate the influence and power of the millions of fans of both Tiësto and electronic dance music. Tiësto says, “the launch of CLVB LIFE clothing is something of which I’m really proud. Alongside music, fashion is a great love of mine and as I travel the world I pick up inspiration everywhere. I have been working on this collection for a while now and I think it perfectly embodies the attitude of the CLVB LIFE experience worldwide.”

Recently voted “The Greatest DJ of All Time”, Tiësto plays to millions of people a year, with over 200 shows annually, from Rio to Ibiza, Vegas to London, transcending musical genres and appealing to a broad global audience.

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The La’s make the trip across the Atlantic for their first New York show in 20 years, an amazing coup and a “must see” opportunity to catch Lee Mavers and his seminal, psychedelic outfit. Many more artists will be announced over the forthcoming months.

David Pichilingi, CEO Sound City comments, “Sound City has established itself as the coolest city centre festival and business conference in the UK. In the short space of 4 years we have delivered our bumper boutique events in Norway, Dubai, Texas and our home city of Liverpool. The UK businesses, individuals and artists we have showcased and assisted have gone onto generate over £12 million of real money for the UK music and digital economy. We do not mess about. For us to partner up with New York is the next logical step. Liverpool and New York have always shared a special relationship with each other. Two of the world’s biggest cities and both synonymous with art, music and pop culture. This is the first announcement in what is going to be an exciting time for the growth of our strong brand.”

The inaugural New York Sound City (NYSC) will take place on Monday, March 12, 2012 as a one day and night music event and will feature key public and media partners from both the UK and the US. By day there will be sessions from the very best transatlantic innovators, forward thinkers and new creative’s, with the primary aim being to build working and creative relationships between the music communities in both these great port cities – as well as inspiring and educating in equal measure. The daytime sessions will feature one-to-one networking opportunities, roundtable sessions and high-quality keynote addresses.

And by night, after a VIP reception for business and media, Sound City will present “Six of the Best” featuring three of the best emerging acts coming out of the UK together with three of their NYC contemporaries. This will be open to the general public as well as NYSC delegates and will feature The La’s playing their first NYC gig in over 20 years, with full line-up TBC.

Access to the conference, networking events, lunch, cocktail parties and the live show at night will cost ($120). Tickets for the live show that evening will be priced at $30. Places are strictly limited on a first come, first served basis and capped at 100 delegates.

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“Our goal at Nervous has always been to add a positive, fun, glamorous, and slightly edgy element to NYC’s nightlife culture. Our vehicles toward this goal are music, events and fashion,” said Nervous Records founder and president, Michael Weiss. “Société Perrier is a great new website that captures the energy of nightlife right now, and is exactly the kind of site we feel our events and music should be affiliated with. And, of course, they also add an element of nightlife that has been missing from the Nervous repertoire…mainly refreshment!”

“Nervous Records is one of the finest dance music imprints in the world, and Mike Weiss is one of the most tireless supporters of global club culture,” said Darren Ressler, Société Perrier’s Global Editorial Director. “To be able to present parties with world-class DJs at Cielo — one of the best clubs in the U.S. — along with Nervous Records is incredible. People had better plan on taking the next day off because these parties are going to be amazing!”

Perrier, the first imported bottled water in America, arrived in the U.S. at the height of disco and made its nightlife debut at Studio 54. A long-time supporter of the arts, SocietePerrier.com launched in July 2011. With local editors based in New York, Los Angeles, Miami, Mexico City, Montreal, Toronto, London, and Moscow, the site’s mission is to explore global nightlife and culture in all its forms and includes sections focused on nightlife, art, music, fashion, travel, and cocktail culture channels — all of the essentials that make for a great night out. By visiting SocietePerrier.com you can check out Dubai’s indoor-outdoor superclub Nasimi Beach or get a snapshot of Italy’s best nightlife destinations, as well as profiled visual artists such as Peter Jensen and Lady Aiko, fashion stars like Opening Ceremony and Rachel Comey and hot mixologist Aidan Demarest. SocietePerrier.com is connecting the dots between all forms of nightlife and provides one place to look, listen, learn and live it up.

With connections to the disco era, music has always been an element in what Perrier is all about. The music section of SocietePerrier.com is an important section of the site and is the place to download exclusive tracks/DJ mixes and learn about the DJs and bands making waves on the global nightclub circuit. So while you’re exploring the finest clubs in Tel Aviv or discovering the magic of Stockholm, download an exclusive Sociéte Perrier DJ mix for the next flight out of town.

“Société Perrier helps keep the discerning global nomad up to speed in the areas of art, music, fashion, travel and nightlife entertainment through its easily navigable website.”
- CoolHunting.com

“Where all the elements of nightlife come together in a global party that never ends.”
- Blackbook

About Société Perrier
Partnered with some of the world’s premier clubs, bars, hotels and event spaces, the Société Perrier website and events reflect the hottest parties and happenings around the world. Spanning eight cities and five countries, when you see Société Perrier – you know it’s where you need to be.

About Nervous Records
Nervous Records is one of America’s longest–standing and most influential dance labels. The Nervous catalogue includes seminal tunes from such luminaries as Josh Wink, Armand Van Helden, Masters At Work, Frankie Knuckles, David Morales, Paul van Dyk, Roger Sanchez, Murk and more. In additional to its club music legacy, Nervous also was one of the forces behind the 1990’s resurgence of East Coast hip-hop, with such groups as Black Moon, Smif-n-Wessun, Funkmaster Flex and Mad Lion all releasing the most impactful work with Nervous. Recently Nervous has strengthened its rep as the top purveyor of underground house music with acclaimed compilations from Oscar G, Boris, Chus & Ceballos, Tom Stephan aka Superchumbo, Ralph Falcon, Starkillers & Austin Leeds, Behrouz and Funkagenda. Nervous has also moved into the burgeoning Nu-Disco genre with acclaimed released by Catz&Dogs, Soul Clap, Maxxi Soundsystem, and Danny Daze.  Nervous also has established a bi-monthly residency at one of NYC’s premier venues, Cielo, showcasing talent like The Juan Maclean, Treasure Fingers, Richard Grey, Prok&Fitch, Pleasurekraft, Junior Sanchez, Kenny Dope, and more.

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I don’t even know where to start. there are so many things that I want to ask you. Let’s just start at the beginning. What originally got you into the electronic dance music?

After moving to New York I dove head first into the club scene that was blooming in the mid 90′s. There were tons of mega clubs and many choices. There were almost too many DJs to see. It was very inspiring.

Some call you trance. others considering you progressive. What do you call it? How would you define your genre?

It’s house music.

Where are you originally from?

I am from St. Petersburg, Russia.

There is a new list of the top 100 DJs. I am not that happy with the list this year. What are your thoughts on the new list.

I don’t really pay too much attention to it. I saw the new list briefly… don’t really understand it. There are a lot of guys on the list I have never heard of.

Tell me a little bit more about your relationship with the 2008 Olympics in Beijing.

I created a song for the campaign that Coca-Cola used arranging for 2008 games called Peace On Earth. In return they made me my own bottle of Coke with the theme design “Peace On Earth”.

You are killing the social networks. You are on Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube. How do you find time to update all of these social media sites?

I have program that updates them all at once. Plus I have some help managing the content as well.

You have a pretty impressive tour lined up for this winter. You will be in Russia, the Ukraine, New York City, and Chicago. I might come see you in Chicago! Do you ever get tired of being on the road?

There are times where I just want to stay home for a bit. Yes, of course I get tired. I’m only human.

It seems like everyone has a podcast these days. I listen to several; love yours by the way. Anyway, do you find there is a lot of competition for listeners, or does all of your fans tune in?

I’m not really sure to be honest. I just upload mine and not worry about it anymore! (laughs)

What is 3AM Eternal?

It’s the name of a track by a group called K.L.F which I re-made over the summer.

So I have a friend who LOVES your single Addicted. She also liked the entire album, but that track stuck out to her. Her name is Ambular. She just wanted to say hello!

Hi Ambular!!!

You are performing all the time, but I bet you still like to see a concert here and there. What’s the best concert you have ever been to?

The last time I saw Depeche Mode… I’m really due for another concert; it’s been a while.

You are currently living in New York City, and you were on the Electric Zoo lineup this year. What was that like, playing in the Big Apple with 85,000 screaming fans?

It was amazing… any show in hometown is special.

You are getting ready for another artist album. What can fans look forward to with the new release? Is it better than the first? Is it different than the first?

I’m not sure if it’s better than the first. It’s hard to judge who has heard the first one and second one to say the second is better. I think first is better. Maybe I just heard too much of the second because I have been working on it for two years. It’s hard for me to judge. Sometimes you have to step away from the record so you can get a fresh perspective again.

You have done residencies over the years. Do you prefer a residency or would you rather play a new city every night? What advantages does a residency offer a DJ?

That’s a tough question. Residencies are fun because you really get to build and establish your crowd; you get familiar with the room and the people and with every gig it feels more and more like home.  You see the same faces and so on… but playing new ciites is very exciting as well. Everything is new and new faces at a new club… a new experience. It’s hard to pick one; I love both.

Who are you listening to these days? What’s on your iPod?

AZARI & III and some new Vision Quest stuff… Empire of the Sun and my new album (checking making sure it’s all good).

I feel like I could ask you questions all day man. Thank you so much for taking the time to sit down with me. That being said, in all of the interviews that I do I always give the artist the last word. Go.

Thank you!

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The other day I was just browsing on Google+ and I saw your name. Actually, Peg Fitzpatrick shared a video of you singing your hangout song for Google+ Hangouts. What a cool concept. What prompted you to do this?

Thanks! I told everyone on Google+ that I would write a special Hangouts song once I reached 20,000 subscribers. I really enjoy writing fun/funny songs… check out the “City Songs” series on YouTube and you’ll see what I mean!

You had to record that a few times… what happened? Google+ is new, so it’s okay for you to break it!

Well, to be honest, I forgot to press record! I debuted the song live in a hangout and my video camera was set up to record the performance. I’ve actually forgotten to press record before. Luckily this time it wasn’t a bad thing, as I had just written the song the night before, and I’d never played it for anyone, so a little extra practice was probably a good thing!

I LOVE the lyrics to that song, by the way. You might be the first person to write a song about this new social network. Anyway, you just seem fun!

Thanks! I like telling stories. I like getting a reaction, whether tears or laughter. As long as I get some sort of emotional response.

Anyway, let’s get back to the interview. (I could ask you more questions about that, you know…) Anyway, let’s start at the beginning. When did you first get started? You have an incredible voice you know. When did you first realize that you could sing?

I started singing when I was a baby; before I could talk. I was singing full songs by the time I was something like 1 or 1 and a half years old. It was apparently kind of creepy. I started playing piano at age 4, French horn at age 8 (just in case I wasn’t already nerdy enough), and decided that I really wanted to be a singer, so I studied opera and classical music and got my degree in voice performance. I wish YouTube had been around to help guide me in my musical pursuits. I didn’t even realize I could be a singer/songwriter – the town I grew up in was pretty small and conservative, so if you wanted to study music, you went the classical route. At least in my family. It’s so cool that kids can go online and see thousands of examples of other kids making music, writing songs… it’s so much easier to find inspiration and influence now, I think.

You have a tattoo! I bet you have a few. Do they hurt? What do they all mean?

They hurt a little bit but it’s worth the pain. The tattoo on my left shoulder is something I drew when I was working at a restaurant in NYC. I included that story in my song Up Here. The design on my left forearm is something I saw in a tattoo shop when I had just come back to LA from London. It spoke to me. And now it’s on my arm.

I have to admit, I am listening to “To Know I’m Ok” on Spotify right now. Speaking of Spotify, how do you think this service, and the Internet in general, has affected the way people absorb music?

Well, it’s changed everything, hasn’t it? Everything is accessible with one click, new music is readily available, people can discover artists with no real effort at all… that’s the upside. The downside is the obvious “less money in recorded music” thing. But that’s just the way it goes. Artists need to find new ways to make money, and view recorded music as a marketing tool. I think the good outweighs the bad.

You have played some pretty impressive venues this fall. My good friend Curtis People has played Hotel Café before. Is it possible to pick a favorite venue?

It’s hard to pick a  favorite. Wembley Stadium was pretty awesome. Tough to compete with that. I’m really into warm, cozy venues with amazing sound, so Hotel Café in LA and Rockwood Music Hall in NYC are great venues. I’ve played some incredibly inspiring, old opera houses in Italy, and any one of those teatros definitely ranks high on the list.

Art… you are just one creative individual. You have some artwork on your website. Tell me more about those. Are they for sale?

I created a lot of that art during my PledgeMusic campaign. That’s how I raised the budget for my new album. I did a lot of art in high school, so I picked up some paintbrushes and markers and other stuff and started creating. It was so great to have a reason to do it again. I sell it at shows sometimes, when I have it to sell. Pieces tend to go pretty fast. I look forward to a long tour on a nice bus, so I can make art during and sell it every night at my shows. (Of course, there is always a long list of things that I intend to do on the long bus rides… what actually gets done is a different story!)

People can find your music on YouTube, last.fm, iTunes, Amazon… you are also on Facebook, Twitter, MySpace… how do you find time for all of these social networks?

I’m everywhere! (laughs)

Yeah, it’s tough to find time, and I do everything myself, so the answer is that I don’t always do it as well as it could be done. Ideally, I’d release a new YouTube video every week, I’d tweet all day long and pay attention to MySpace every now and then. (Does anyone still use it, though?). I do the best I can to keep up with everything.

Speaking of YouTube, you actually became pretty popular on there. Your video Say It’s Possible has over 4 million views. What’s that feel like? How much do you attribute your success to YouTube?

A lot of the success I have been so fortunate to experience is directly related to the videos I posted on YouTube, and the exposure I got from those videos. I’m very grateful.

You have a LOT of recordings online, but my favorite has to be Hallelujah by Leonard Cohen. That is actually one of my favorite songs of all time. (That song is in Shrek, you know!) Anyway, why do you record so many cover songs? Do you play a lot of covers when you perform live?

Thank you! I love that song, too, and was always reluctant to cover it because so many people do. But I think I did the song justice and I’m really proud of my version. I feel like it moves people, which is always the goal. I didn’t start out recording cover songs, and I play almost all originals at my shows, but sometimes a song moves me and I record my own version of it. I also like the fact that people might search for a song or artist they already know and discover me in the process.

I have not seen you live. I hope to change that soon. (Get to Indiana!) What can someone expect from a live performance?

My live performances are highly emotional, intimate, intense and fun. I sing my ass off, not afraid to admit it, and I put every ounce of myself into my performances. Which is not to say that I jump around and put on a crazy show. Completely the opposite. I feel like my performances create an introspective feeling in the listener, and my highest goal is to connect with the audience.

You had a song featured on Road Rules. I love that show! MTV doesn’t play music anymore, so it’s nice to get your tunes on there by whatever means possible. What was it like the first time you heard/saw that on TV?

To be honest, I don’t think I ever saw it!

You have performed with some of the biggest names in the business… for instance, The Fray, Natasha Bedingfield, and Tyler Hilton. (Tyler is actually really good friends with Curtis.) Do you get nervous playing with such big names?

No, I don’t get nervous around most artists. I’m always honored when they ask me to play or tour with them. There is a short list of artists who would totally intimidate me, and I hope to have the opportunity to share a stage with every single one of them someday!

I love it that you blog. I blog! Where do you come up with ideas for a new blog post?

I just write about whatever is on my mind, when I feel like writing. I should probably be more consistent with it. I’ll add that to the list of things I should probably be doing!

Let’s go back to that Rockwood show. If I’m not mistaken, that was a free show. But the free stuff didn’t stop with the music. Tanqueray was also there, right? Free gin? Shut the front door… how did you manage that?

I’m embarrassed because I think it was actually another gin company, not Tanqueray! I feel bad announcing Tanqueray when the promotion should have gone to this other company. I think it was Hendrick’s. The club hooked that up. I didn’t arrange it.

I know you are in LA now… but where are you originally from?

Upstate New York.

Who are some of your biggest influences?

Joni Mitchell, Johnny Cash, James Taylor, Bob Dylan, Carole King, Sam Cooke, Patty Griffin, Dolly Parton, and Linda Ronstadt.

You have played so many show over the years… in all of those shows, what’s the most embarrassing thing that has ever happened to you on stage?

I don’t remember! I’m sure I forgot some lyrics at some point. I think I had a wardrobe malfunction once… which is to say that part of my dress fell off… I’m not easily embarrassed on stage because everything that happens is just something to talk about, something to work with, a moment in time. I’ve had many more embarrassing moments OFF stage…

Let’s look into the future for a second… where do you see yourself in five years?

I will have released a couple albums that I love, and I’ll be touring all over the world most of the time, writing for other artists, too, living between LA, NYC, Nashville and London.

When this is all said and done, and you are no longer performing, what do you want to be remembered for? What is the Terra Naomi legacy?

I’d like to be an artist who helps people connect with their own emotions. I want my music to move people, to inspire them, to ignite in them the feeling that they can live the life they wish to lead. I’d like people to feel like my songs really touch them.

Man, I feel like I could ask you questions ALL day! But I know you are busy. Thank you for taking the time to sit and talk with me. With that being said, I always give the artist the last word. Go.

Thanks for coming up with great questions. It was really fun to answer them! I wish all the best to you and everyone reading this interview, and look forward to playing music for you live in your towns/cities/countries sometime in the near future! I’m touring Europe and the UK in January / February, and the US in the spring, so I’ll see you then!

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Honey Dijon… isn’t that a salad dressing? Where did you come up with your name?
Well let’s just say it involved smoking way too much pot in the winter and getting the munchies and sandwich commercials coming on with ads for Honey Dijon mustard and my good friend said that would be a great name for me. We threw it on a flyer and it kinda stuck. Sometimes I feel like it sounds like a stripper but people love it!

Tell me a little bit more about your new single Until The Day.

Well I’ve always loved soulful vocals mixed with techy music. It’s a cover of a 90′s house classic by Murk who’s music still influences me and Dajae sang on one of my favorite house tracks ever Brighter Days. I’ve always wanted to work with her and I thought she could bring something special to the project and she did. She killed it.

What is “The Mix Up”?

It’s the next release on Toolroom Records that I did with with my studio partner Sebastian Manuel. It’s a big room monster and I can’t wait for it to drop.

This goes without saying… you are gorgeous. Are you a model!

Thanks for the compliment. I am so not a model! Just a DJ who loves fashion! I’ve actually tried singing but I sound like a chicken at slaughter. (Laughs) However that might sound good on a track so who knows. Maybe I will give it shot!

You are friends with Danny Tenaglia. He has to be one of the most revered producers out there. How long have you two been friends?

I’ve known Danny for years. He’s always been a bit of a mentor to me along with Derrick Carter. I’ve played with Danny a couple of times from his old residency at Vinyl to Pacha here in NYC. He always inspires me because he loves the art of DJing so much.

I bet you travel a lot… how many stamps are in your passport?

I’ve had pages added twice if that means anything! (Laughs)

You are originally from the Windy City. I am from Indianapolis; I am in Chicago a lot. But you are currently living in New York City. What promoted the move to the Big Apple?

I felt that I had to find myself and explore other worlds. The Midwest can be kind of conservative and I’m a bit of a wild child and constantly curious and NYC at the time was the center of decadence. However these days NYC feels more Midwestern than ever with all of the gentrification that has happened.

I love the cover of Until The Day. Who did the artwork for that? Is that Chicago in the background?

It is the Chicago skyline. The good folks over at Toolroom did all of the artwork. Dajae and me being Chicago natives played a part in that and I think they nailed it.

Derrick Carter is on your label. I really enjoy his stuff. When you are on a label with all these great producers, do you typically travel with them? How does a tour for you work?

I just got back playing with Derrick in Chicago at Smartbar for his birthday. It was amazing. We sometimes end up on the same bill but I think it’s better when we all have our own platform. Too many egos lol!

Who is your all time favorite DJ?

Ron Hardy.

What’s a typical Friday night look like for you?

I do a disco party every Friday Under The Chelsea Hotel in NYC. So If I’m not traveling you will find me there.

Who are some of your biggest influences?

People that have the courage to live their truth in a world of sheep. Grace Jones is def the most influential person to me. Teri Toys, Lea T, Azzedine Alia, Jean Prouve, Quincy Jones, Maya Angelou.

You have played in some pretty impressive venues. Is it even possible to pick a favorite?

Footwork Bar in Toronto always amazes me, Sub Club in Glasgow, Stereo Nightclub Montreal, and my Sunday night home Cielo in NYC.

You have a TON of releases. A lot of those releases are actually available on iTunes and on Beatport. In your opinion, how has the Internet changed the way people absorb music?

Yes. It’s way too much. I think a lot of great music gets lost to people who have the means to create hype. Evening now is more about marketing than quality.

I could ask you questions all day long. Thank you so much for taking the time to sit and talk with me. That being said, in all of the interviews I do, I always give the artist the last word. Go.

It’s time for the Percolator!

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