:: INTERVIEWS :: LISA PIN UP

To the casual observer, Lisa Pin-Up is an incredibly contradictory person. She is smart but she’s also amazingly attractive (and blonde); she’s still youthful but also experienced and wise; she’s confident, independent and unafraid of showing off her body, but she’s also married and settled; and she’s still fresh and in demand, despite being one of the longest serving DJs on the hard house circuit today. To the uneducated it would be easy to assume that Lisa must have got the big gigs because she brings much needed eye candy in a male-dominated environment. Such assumptions are, of course, ridiculous; Lisa has built her career and her reputation from scratch by herself, using her own talents and ability (along with her supportive right hand man, her ever-loyal husband Peter). It’s true that Mother Nature has blessed Lisa with stunning beauty, and this won’t have hindered her rise to the top, but this is not someone who has reached the top of her game (and stayed there for so long) on the size of her tits. Far from it – Lisa is not just a highly respected DJ, capable of packing out dancefloors across the globe; she is also an amazing track-writer, a fantastic studio producer and a businesswoman who has been at the helm of her own hugely successful brand for over ten years.

More than this though, Lisa is a perfect role model for many of today’s rising DJ stars. Rarely have I met someone who is so professional yet friendly and accommodating, particularly in the sometimes ego-heavy world of DJing. I have yet to meet anyone, from promoters to fellow DJs and punters, who has a bad word to say about Lisa. She keeps promoters and clubbers happy by consistently delivering crowd-pleasing sets, she always takes time to greet each and every fan who comes to congratulate her after a set, and she personally responds to every single letter and email that is sent to Pin-Up towers. The Pin-Up name is a massive global brand, but Lisa built up that reputation from scratch herself, so it’s hardly surprising that she continues to be a dedicated, hands-on businesswoman (no cheap jokes please!). Oh, and she’s a really lovely person too.

I caught up with Lisa shortly after she arrived back in the UK from Ibiza, where she had once again rocked hard house dancefloors to their foundations.

Ru: Hi Lisa, thanks for taking the time to speak to me today. This year marks the 10th anniversary of the start of your hard house career, with a residency at Pushca…

Lisa: Well Pushca was never really a hard house club, it more funky and glam, a bit like Miss Moneypennys, who were the next big club to book me. I first spread my hard house wings at Freedom @ Bagleys in London, where I had a long 5 year residency. At freedom I knew I could just be myself and play as hard as I liked!

Ru: What has changed in the hardhouse scene since your time at Freedom?

Lisa: Not a lot really in my eyes. Clubbers are still totally up for it, and I am still pumping out those bouncy party tunes. I have never gone out to educate a crowd, I just like to give the clubbers who come to see me a damn good time! The only thing that I have noticed changing is on the production side -the quality of the tunes that are produced these days has really progressed. I would love to still play out some of my old tunes, but I feel that hard house tunes back then were produced very poorly, even though the tunes were fabulous. Some just sound very flat, like they don’t have a lot of content to them.

Ru: You’re famous the world over, and have played at some of the most credible events, which one would you term as “coming home” to?

Lisa: Its funny, but it feels like I have so many second homes! Anyone that knows me knows that I am a bit of a cockney sparrow, originally from London so I love playing there. But I have played Birmingham so many times now and have made so many friends that I could practically be part of the midlands. The same goes for the Southwest of the country were I have been DJing regularly for over 10 years and I know tons of people. I also have a soft spot for people in Brighton and Norwich as I think they are totally on my wave length. The Irish and Scots, now they are people after my own heart, I think they are the maddest clubbers! We always have a huge party. So really anywhere really! As long I have a dancefloor full of ready-made party people, a few vodkas and my tunes, I really just feel like I am at home where ever my feet take me!

Ru: You’re playing at the Super Heroes Tidy Weekender for us, rightfully taking your place amongst some other top heroes, but who is your Super Hero DJ?

Lisa: I’ve never really ever had a super hero DJ. Before I became a DJ myself, there were plenty of DJs who I knew would give the crowd a good time if I saw their name on a flyer, but my own style has never had any major influences from other DJs. I think everyone should look from within when DJing, and I based my own style on just being a mad clubber and what made me dance on the dancefloor. When I first went clubbing there was one DJ who I thought was amazing, his name was Sabrina Duncan, a resident at the club I went to every week. I have never heard someone be able to mix two tunes together for long, very clever indeed.

Ru: If you could have a Superhero special power, what would it be?

Lisa: Now that is a good question! When I was little I really did believe I could fly. I used to dream it all time and when I woke up I would still think it was true! Luckily I never actually jumped out of any windows though. Sometimes, when I’m really tired and get a little bit too canned, at the end of the night I wish I had ruby slippers like Dorothy from The Wizard Of Oz, where she clicks them together and says "there is no place like home" and there I would be home in my bed! So my superhero outfit would definitely have some of those! Apart from being able to fly, and some magic shoes I wouldn’t mind having a bull sh*tter alert, I’m a bit gullible and it would be good to spot it straight away when meeting someone!

Ru: Which is your favourite Tidy Weekender so far and why?

Lisa: Every one has been amazing. The first one I played will always be special, especially because it was where the four original Tidy Girls played b2b, that was amazing. The last weekender was pretty good too as my set was being recorded live, so every time I heard the crowd go wild I knew that I could relive that moment time and time again, everytime I listened to the CD.

Ru: What do you get out of playing at a Tidy Weekender / what does the experience mean to you?

Lisa: As I said before, I play at so many places around the country and I have pockets of friends everywhere. Well I know at the Weekenders I’ll see all those individual friends I have made, all under one roof. I think that the Tidy Weekenders are the most well-known hard dance events, it’s where everyone comes together all of which makes it very special indeed.

Ru: A lot of the Tidy lads (and some of the “sensible shoe” wearing girls too) lust after you, and each time you try and leave a club or an event you’re mobbed… how does your husband cope with that?

Lisa: Well, before I became a DJ, if we were out clubbing I would always drag Peter up to the dj box at the end of the night so we could let the DJ know what a good time we’d had. So, because we were those clubbers ourselves once I know just how they feel. And Peter knows how much I love to chat, so it’s a fantastic opportunity at the end of the night to speak to all those wonderful clubbers who have partied their socks off, and made my job all so worthwhile. I do usually get a little over-excited when I first come off the decks, with all the adrenaline pumping through my veins and I could stay around chatting for hours if left alone! Peter has to drag me off eventually, as he is the poor one who has the long drive home.

Ru: What is the most bizarre chat-up line you’ve had from a clubber?

Lisa: Just usually "Will you marry me?" I usually joke back "Ok, but I’ll have to ask my husband first". It’s all tongue and cheek though, just a laugh, nothing scary. I find it quite flattering. Anyway, everyone knows that I’m joined at the hip with Peter anyway.

Ru: How would you describe a typical Lisa Pin-Up set to someone who is yet to see you?

Lisa: I am never dark or deep, I just want to go out there and have a good time, and I hope that reflects in my music. I can play quite hard at times, but if I do it’s a bit cheeky and naughty, something that will put a smile on your face. I’m a bit of a ring leader and it’s my mission by the end of the set to get everyone on the dancefloor to stomp as hard as they can. I’ve been described as playing bounce, not the bounce of old, but a more up-to-date sound with really hard off-beat basses with a modern feel. I love my vocals, the cheekier the better, and I sometimes even add really unusual vocals over the top of other tracks to make them that little bit more unique. I love it when people say I’ve converted them into liking hardhouse, so do come along even if you don't usually like this style and - I promise you that we will have a damn good party together!

Ru: You are not only a DJ of course, you are a highly successful artist too, with stomping tracks such as Another Jam, Future Acid House and Blow Your Mind – where do you get your inspiration from? Do you wake up of a morning and say to yourself “Lisa, today I shall make a hard-house track”?

Lisa: The great thing about being a producer is you can make the tracks that you might not be able to find anywhere else, to fit into your set just the way you really would like. As I have already said I really love the huge extremely hard off-beat basslines, which I can now put into my tracks. I have even been back in the studio and changed some of the old basslines in my old tunes to make them sound more up-to-date and how I like music at the moment (check out my new version of "really like cocaine" that I play out, more dirty and bouncy). I get most of my inspiration when I am DJing out – I even take a pad and paper along with me and jot stuff down when I am playing if an idea pops into my head.

Ru: What words would describe the Lisa Pin-Up brand

Lisa: Fun with tons of energy.

Ru: If I could wave a magic wand, and gave you the choice of a number 1 selling record OR front cover model for Vogue, which one would you choose?

Lisa: I would love a number one record for the cash, but would be worried that this would make the tune a little too commercial. I never got into the scene to be a commercial DJ, as that would attract the wrong kind of crowd (p*ss heads basically). The quality of my dj sets comes first, and having the right kind of people at my gigs. As for the cover of Vogue, I can't see that happening, but of course I would never turn it down! I’d much rather be on the front cover of a dance magazine – and I’ve done quite a few!

Ru: What is your most memorable set?

Lisa: Really it’s unfair to pick any one gig out, I just have so much fun every weekend and if anyone can see me behind the decks they can see I am a very happy girl indeed! But some gigs just stick out, when I get so high on my own adrenaline, such as the Tidy Girls b2b Weekender, Frantic at Brixton Academy, Creamfields Ireland, Tidy Ibiza, Global, Wakefield this year was pretty damn good too. Thinking about it there are tons more I could mention, the list could just go on and on!

Ru: What are your current top 5 tunes?

Lisa: "Feel the beat"-Lisa Pin-Up, "Psycho maniac"- Lisa Pin-Up, "Lizard" (Mauro Picotto)-Robbie long and Stormtrooper bouncing remix, "Back once again"-Pitchers, "I can't help myself"-Bounce Brigade.

Ru: If I were to raid your CD and record collection, is there anything I would be surprised to find?

Lisa: Not really, nothing you would not expect from Lisa Pin-Up, you can read me like a book and will always know exactly what to get from me.

Ru: There is a new club night in London called Starkers where all the punters, staff and DJs are naked, except shoes, would you consider playing there if you were asked?

Lisa: Now why would I want to do that? One of the best bits about going out clubbing is first deciding what to wear, then dressing up in that perfect outfit for the weekend! I love my clothes and am always out shopping, it shows your personality. That club should be renamed “Perverts”!

Ru: What projects are you currently working on?

Lisa: I have just been working on two new tunes. I like to stretch my new projects over two tracks, so I can get my mainstream “hands in the air anthem” of the night on one side, and get my nasty naughty ideas out on the other side, which is more banging and hard. I’ve just finished two of these kind of tracks and only just been road testing them. I always get so excited about my latest productions, always thinking it is the best I’ve ever produced… until I go back in the studio and make my next one! The latest tracks are called “Feel the beat” which is the big party tune with a big bassline but with a huge trance build-up, and my next tune is called “Psycho Manic” which is quite a hard tune, but still uplifting and cheeky.

Ru: What is the one track guaranteed to get you up dancing when you’re not DJing?

Lisa: With a few vodkas inside me I can dance to anything!

Ru: What CD are you listening to in your car at the moment?

Lisa: Before I was a DJ I used to buy all the DJ mix tapes, but now because I listen to music so often while out DJing and producing, I don't listen to music in the car. I like to rest my ears between gigs and like to listen to talk radio. I love it when the drunks ring up late at night, very funny!

Ru: What would your ideal night out include?

Lisa: Vodka & good company, but truthfully I could enjoy myself almost anywhere!

Ru: If you could be a Goddess for the day (other than a DJ Goddess that you already are) who would you have bringing you grapes and pampering to your every whim?

Lisa: I don't know, but being pampered is not something that really appeals to me, I hate facials, saunas and that kind of stuff I am a bit of a tomboy really and going out doing stuff is more fun rather than lying around on my arse. I prefer enjoying someone's company and going out and having a laugh. Someone like Eddie Izzard would be quite fun.

Ru: What is your most shameful moment?

Lisa: Sometimes in the morning I think to myself “What the hell was I up to last night”, but I am what I am and it all rolls up into making me the person I am.

“My first time” questions… Please complete the following:-

My first kiss was with… Some kid at school, can't remember his name

My first love… Peter, how soppy!

My first car was… A mini metro

My first set was… My first proper set was for Pushca in London, but did play some terrible club near to where I lived and a corporate night that the television programme Euro trash put on that was totally rubbish.

My first porno movie I saw was… Truthfully, I’ve never watched one! As I was a glamour model before becoming a DJ you would think I’d be a bit more liberal minded, but I am a bit of a prude really. I did have one experience where I was in a hotel room and I wanted to watch that film Haunted with Catharine Zeta Jones, and I paid a fee to watch it. But when I put the channel on, only hardcore porn come up on the screen and I had to get this grotty maintenance guy up to my room and watch this big willy on the screen going in and out of this girls bum while he tried to change the channel. That was a bit embarrassing!

“My favourite” questions…. Please complete the following:-

My favourite DJ - Me! Might as well be blatant!

My favourite producer - Me again! (well if you can’t plug yourself, then who can?)

My favourite TV Programme - Synchronicity on BBC3, flipping fantastic!

My favourite book - Anything by David Gemmell, I think his books are amazing.

My favourite film - Been a while since I watched it but "The Game" with Michael Douglas

My favourite holiday destination - Ibiza, Ayia Napa

My favourite city - any, they are all only just filled with buildings anyway