Lady
dj of Neu wave electric and sounds beyond, artist of Hairworks
and comrade divine. Madame Hair is a modern day joan jett meets
eartha kitt.
In the aura of the band Black Sabbath's roadie. I had a fabulous
chance to chat with....the great Madame!!!!
Lady
T: Tell me a bit about yourself?
Madame Hair: I'm a local artist, DJ, lover of love, singer, puppeteer, filmaker,
actor.
Lady
T: What
came first dj ing or art or both or???
Madame Hair: Music came first,
singing to be exact, at a very early age; I would listen to my
am/fm radio thinking/feeling that i had discovered a new world,
a new universe. I was drawn to music immediately as well as using
it as an escape/coping with my reality at the time. I began singing
along to all the various genres/music at the time, rock n' roll,
motown, blues, jazz, disco/ gospel. I love being a spectator
as well as performer; Fast forward to 2001 in a Berlin underground
type of bar located in the heart of Kensington Market (Club 56)
I decided to ask the bar owner if I can DJ a night, he said "yes,
you're on next week!" and
there began the dj-ing thang. The art/cartooning/doodles began
around 1994 when my brother passed away, I found myself doodling
hundreds of sketches a week, the work evolved from stick figures
to real creatures...candy coated creatures. Funny how art has
a way of reminding you what & where you have been when you
yourself have put it away. My grandmother began drawing at age
86...she was a real inspiration to me. Years later I took those
sketches, those characters and began painting, that too evolved
thankfully to some outlandish wonderful inspiring work.
Lady
T: What
is your connection to french new wave, run dmc & ac/dc
when u spin??
Madame Hair: Being a lover of love I can't help
but hang onto the fantasy of Paris in the 50's & 60's, the
romantic vision I have of France, the language itself is so musical,
I wanted to create that world, that fantasy for others to enjoy
as well then add a dash of RUN DMC, a dash of AC/DC and you have
a madame HAIR dish. This is used as metaphor for my reality in
life, in love; as a cab driver once said to me "we go from
pheasant to feathers very quickly",
things change drastically...I love those types of changes/surprises
in music hence the various genres and themes.
Lady
T: How long have you been painting???
Madame Hair: I have been painting for about
7 years, self taught, started from doodles on napkins.
Lady
T: I have heard that u plan to paint with poop??? Is that true
and why???
Madame Hair: Oh my dear Lady T you are so funny. I had a poo show at Park Gallery
in 2006 using ACRYLIC PAINTS! No poo was used, sorry to disappoint!
I had paintings of a family of poo's and their neighbours. Why
did a pick this topic, well years of constipation and one becomes
very close to those poo's, they are like children being born...how
lovely. I need more fibre in my diet.
Lady
T: Who are some of your favourite artists from Canada or beyond,
painting or musically and why?
Madame Hair: This list can be very long...where do i begin...Favourite artists:
Chester Brown comic book artist; Rob Elliot Toronto artist (monkey
man)...Van Gogh loved his vision, the way he painted our world...dreamy.
Tim Burton..love his sketches, Fellini for just being Fellini...passioniate & funny...Woody
Allen...as for music, Suckerpunch is one of my favourite bands,
they were around in the 90's from Toronto, Chris & Sean Dignan
have gone on to do solo stuff, they are so bloody talented. Edith
Piaf, Patsy Cline, Tina Turner, Etta James, Jains Joplin, Eartha
Kitt (who by the way I will actually see 2 weeks from now in New
York City at Carnegie Hall, it's her 80th birthday party)...Shirley
Bassey...the stones...(70's stuff), Peggy Lee, Charles Mingus (i
doodle listening to his music, he makes my spirit & hand free).
Lady
T: What do u think of Art culture in toronto???
Madame Hair: Toronto has an incredible arts/music
scene that needs to be nourished & cultivated
and funded properly. There is a plethora of talent in this city.
I find there is a real sense of community these days in Toronto,
artists/musician's helping each other out, very supportive & inspiring.
One of my favourite spots in the city is a little Irish pub called
the Cloak & Dagger 394 College St. close to Kensington Market
which is full of artists, writers, musicians, actors, comedians...incredible,
each night you will find something so out of the ordinary in this
gem. I DJ there 1st Friday of the month...my rock n' roll night
entitled "Bitch Tap" an ode to Spinal Tap.
Lady
T: When u dj , i have heard that you have an interesting way of
spinning hypnotic music to your audience??? What do you think?
Madame Hair: You are getting sleepy, your arms are getting heavy; Oh my darling,
I think I play from my subconscious most of the time, as if I myself
were under a trance, a music spell, some how I am entering the
music universe and pulling from there.
Lady
T: What kind of walls do you plan on breaking down in the art world?
Madame Hair: Rules? Oh, walls, right...
I hope that I continue to have the freedom to create what is in
my heart & mind...
Lady
T: Do you think that Our Canada includes Quebec???? and why??
Madame Hair: Our Canada must include Quebec, real treasure. Je t'aime.
Lady
T: Have you displayed your art outside toronto?? (if yes where?)
Madame Hair: I haven't had shows outside of Toronto as of yet, hope to soon.
I have been making buttons of some of my cartoon characters,
those buttons are floating all over the world. I had a couple
tell me they met on the train to Montreal, each of them wearing
my buttons which opened up conversation...they were strangers
at the time...how lovely.
Lady
T: Do you have any Crazy/ depressing dj stories that you would
like to tell me???
Madame Hair: There have been times where I have dj-ed to the bar staff & wait
staff...at least I get to hear the music on some loud speakers.
Those are some special times.
Lady
T: Are you still into your Lovely puppet Art pieces?
Madame Hair: My puppets "Germaine & Gigi" are still living with
me, they have not paid me rent in over 6 years; I am thinking of
having them star in another film. I'll keep you posted. The first
one was "Lovers & Other Lunacies" I shot that in
2003...
Lady
T: When will they be ready to perform???
Madame Hair: They best be ready to perform yesterday! Soon they will re:appear.
Lady
T: Whats next for madame Hair???
Madame Hair: I have been obsessing over clowns since February of this year,
I'm planning a solo show for the fall, I'm still looking into
finding the perfect space for them. This is a new series of paintings
which have inspired a story/zine, I'm hoping that I can have
the zine coincide with the opening of the art show. My inspiration
for this show is from an 8x10 painting I did a few months ago,
it is a clown named Vladimir, a very sad little Russian clown
who is missing his wife Verushka terribly, she has run off with
a contortionist. As well she is a catotonic mime...somewhat reduntant...hmm.
These paintings will be larger than life...I've never painted
on large canvas like the ones I will use for this show...I'm
thinking 5 feet x 5 feet.
Lady
T: So i here that u a BIG FAN of Prince??????
Madame Hair: I am a big fan of Prince, my friend doctor Baggie started a Prince
night here in Toronto and I was DJ-ing the event...it is every
2 months at the Drake Hotel entitled Purplelectricity...
Prince is so prolific, he is music itself.
Purple Rain is one of my favourite songs of all time, the passion/tragedy/need/love
of that song is brilliant.
Lady
T: Have you thought of writing books?
Madame Hair:I have an x-rated ABC book I put together some time ago; I'm working
on some zine/book ideas, need cash to photocopy in colour...& publish,
all in good time.
Lady
T: What
about children & adult story picture books...now that
has u written all over it!
Madame Hair: Adult story picture books is what these zines are; Lady T, I need
a publisher.
Lady
T: Would u own your own bar or gallery soon?
Madame Hair: Lord knows I've worked in so many bars I should own one, a bar/gallery...at
the time I have no plans of that...busy painting, making x-rated
lounge music & dj-ing.
Thanks!!!!!
: )
CHECK out some of MADAME HAIRS shows near you....
Unstoppable
opening party is Thursday June 14th, 2007
at Gallery X
6-8pm
group art show
part of PRIDE festivities
491 Church St.
Suite#200
416-925-6665
French Kiss
1st & 3rd Thursday of the month
avec DJ madame HAIR
7-10pm
The Drake Hotel
In the Lounge
an evening of French music
BITCH TAP
1st Friday of the month
DJ madame HAIR
10pm
no cover
The Cloak & Dagger
394 College St.
Eartha Kitt meets Black Sabbath
rock n ' roll night
madame HAIR
will be singing a few x-rated little lounge songs at Lunacy Cabaret
Saturday June 23rd, 2007
8pm
www.lunacycabaret.com
part of The Toronto Clown Festival
www.myspace.com/madamehair
www.madamehair.com
ms_hair@rogers.com
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