Godskitchen is heading to Metro City in Perth on Friday October 9, 2009. It promises to be a tranc-e-licious affair, one crammed full with some of the hottest names around, including Cosmic Gate, Blank & Jones plus John ’00’ Fleming. And one can’t forget about Jes (just Jes), a young New Yorker who has forged a path for herself singing with some of the greatest names in dance music. She’s also released two long players of her own which lean more toward a rocktronica sound. Add the fact that she’s darn cute to boot, and you have one of the most anticipated acts completing this year’s Godskitchen line up.
On the phone from Hollywood, Jes chatted about the upcoming Godskitchen tour and some of the more amazing gigs she has played.
How did you come to be involved with Godskitchen? It’s one of the leaders in dance music. I’ve played at a lot of Godskitchen clubs and festivals. I’ve been on many Godskitchen CDs.
What are you most looking forward to about playing at Godskitchen? It’s funny – I know everyone I’m playing with. It’s going to be fun all of us travelling together – it’ll be like seeing friends.
What is your best summer concert story? I’ve been pulled into the crowd a few times. We’re constantly reaching for each other and sometimes you can just get yanked in.
Do you have an all time horror festival story? Recently, just a few months ago in Chicago, all the music went out and I sang the show a cappella. And you know what – people don’t know what’s going on. Your monitors in your own world all stop and it was a very Milli Vanilli moment, except I actually sing. And then they tried to get it all started again but put on all these different versions – because I have many different versions of the songs I sing – and they were all ones I hadn’t rehearsed for a while. So there I was trying to make people believe I knew them. Basically they just shut it all off and I did it all a cappella. And you know what? It went from horror to being a really good thing.
What is your favourite festival or concert series? I’ve played in Taiwan a lot and they’re crazy there. I’ve been back a couple of times. I always look forward to playing there. I’ve done so many incredible things. We played in Beblos in Lebanon on the beach and the ocean was right behind us. The waves were literally hitting our backs. The toilets were falling into the ocean. I’ve also played in the ancient city of Petra in Jordan and we played in this ancient place and they put all these Persian rugs on the desert floor and it was like 10 000 people. And the Bedouin people who live in the caves all came out to watch the show.
What 3 things should every punter bring to an outdoor festival? These days it seems to be a camera and a recorder. I remember when I started out you couldn’t do that. Now you have no control over it, so you better just do your best. But I would say… earplugs. And definitely lozenges for all the screaming.
If you had unlimited funds and could organize a festival or concert series where would it be, what would it be called and who would be featured on the line-up (and who would headline)? It would be in Mexico in the city of Tulum right on the coast. I’d bring BT, Calvin Harris, Above & Beyond and Madonna and we’d call it The Night of No Looking Back.
What are your current pet peeves about the music industry? It’s really cutthroat and a little bit of a hustle. I wish that people were a little more direct.
What do you currently love about the music industry? It’s definitely a different music industry now what with the internet. Depending on how clever you are you can reach so many places.
Godskitchen hits Metro City on Friday October 9 with tickets available now from www.mellenevents.com.
***
