Celeste Guinness - Guest DJ FF#25
Celeste Guinness, is East London’s, Irish born musical dykon. She’s the creator, promoter and genius behind Dalston Superstores’ infamous Thurs night Dyke party ‘It’s Female Trouble’ as well as being a DJ herself, as well as being in a dyconic trio band ‘Deep Tan’, many fingers in musical pies one might say - but these are all just her moonlighting antics, by day she works at PIAS records: how does she find time to fit it in, while still being a scene celeb?. We got the lowdown in our Q&A below, just in time for her set this Saturday as our guest DJ for our Halloween spesh.
INTERVIEW WITH CELESTE GUINNESS
Hey Celeste, thanks for having a little chat to us and for the spotify playlist (below!) So let's start at the humble beginnings, when did you first start DJ-ing?
I started DJ-ing about three years ago. Being paid to play the music you want to hear just felt like a no-brainer.
too true, so where and when was your first DJ set?
It was in the laser cave at The Glory for Twat Boutique, and it was nearly a complete disaster. I’d spent the whole day making sure I had wavs of all the tracks I wanted to play, and then got to get the (ancient) decks which didn’t have a USB port and would only play mp3s. So I DJ’ed using CDs, and every CD - made up of about twenty tracks - would have only, say, three tracks that would work, or one, or none. Total fucking nightmare. Luckily I had a stash of Zomby CDs with me that actually worked, but it defintiely wasn't the smoothest of first sets.
That sounds like a nightmare for even the most hardened of DJ's! Now, for those who don't know, you also run Superstores' infamous Thursday night Dyke party, 'Female Trouble' tell us a little more about that.
If 'Female Trouble' were a meme venn diagram, it would sit in the sweet spot where political activism, dyke drag and in-jokes about lesbian culture intersect
Too true!!! When's the next one? and how often do they run?
Our next one is our 'Dyke Witch Energy party', which is happening next Thursday, on Halloween. I’m still trying to decide what to carve into the dykonic pumpkins I’ve promised everyone, so if you have any suggestions, let me know. Scissors, of course! But let’s think bigger. Maybe spelling out ‘Dyke Witch Energy’ across fifteen pumpkins could be the way forward.. That could work.
Yesss, get them carving skills ready!!! So pumpkins aside, day you also work for a record label, give us the lowdown on that?
Yeah! I work for '[PIAS], a big European indie music company, and am lucky enough to work with some amazing queer artists. SOPHIE, John Grant and Fever Ray are just a few queer heroes to come through '[PIAS], and I’m happy to play a part in getting their music out there.
AMEN to that! Now, not satisfied with just DJ-ing, promoting and record label tings, you're also in a band, fill us in with the deets.
Yeah, I also play bass in this postpunk band called 'Deep Tan' We’ve just put out two tracks, one of which we wrote and recorded over the space of a week in August (‘Constant Inconsistencies’) and I’m so happy with it. We have big plans for 2020, so stay tuned.
Exciting! Yes, we heard you had a new release, just come out? spill the beans.
‘Constant Inconsistencies’ is about a person who doesn’t show up when people need them. You know this kind of person, the human flake. It could be your flaky lover bailing on a dreamy date you’d planned for ages, or it could be your favourite flaky drinking buddy who leaves you waiting at the bar alone for an hour with just a pint that’s going flat (and the bartender’s pitying eyes) for company. You love them, but where the fuck are they?
ooooh we can all relate to that methinks!!! (for those who fancy a listen, check out the clip below) So A little birdie tells me, you're also in the process of setting up your own label? what's the tea?
I am indeed. It’s all still pretty hush-hush for the time being, but I can tell you it’s called Epicene Records and it’s looking to cross over performers from east London’s club scene to legit music cred success in 2020. Again, stay tuned.
Yess, so down for that! Looking forward to hearing more. Right, so as we're all about female empowerment, what other queer Female / Female ID / NB Dj's would you like to shout about and for us to check out?
Helena Hauff, Marie Davidson, Avalon Emerson, Courtesy, and the rest of Apeiron Crew, name a few.
Yup, solid list! OK so, finally what musical gems can we expect from you on Saturday?
Queer club tunes, vogue ballroom bangers, maybe some italo disco. Definitely some Peaches, at least track by The Orb, maybe some KLF. And Adam Rickett’s ‘I Breathe Again’.
Hahaha killer combo! Bring on the 90's Anthems!!! Amazing - Thanks Celeste, we shall be twirling around by our Leather harnesses to Adam Ricket, tonight! - and Make sure you all join us at Superstore this evening for our Halloween spooktacular
