Many Welsh music festivals have come and gone in the past
decade, but Escape Into The Park remains the pinnacle of the region’s
clubbing calendar and a real curtain raiser to summer, standing strong at Swansea’s
Singleton Park. Mark your calendars for June 13 this year, as EITP welcomes
the likes of Swedish chart-topper Eric Prydz and Radio 1’s Judge Jules.
We caught up with another of the all-dayer’s premium attractions, easy-on-the-eye
Leicester-based hard dance queen Lisa Lashes…
RedHanded: Are you looking forward to Escape Into The Park?
Lisa Lashes: Yeah. Every time I go there it’s bigger and better. Because
I usually go on last, it’s pretty hot and sweaty by the time I get there.
I’m definitely doing last set this year because I’ve got to play
Amsterdam first that day, then fly straight back into Cardiff and off to Swansea.
Are Swansea/Welsh crowds any crazier than the rest of the country?
In England we’re quite subdued sometimes when we go out. The Scottish
are pretty crazy, then I’d say it’s the Welsh, then the Irish,
who are completely mad. I like going down to Cardiff too, I was there a few
weeks ago. It was my friend Pritchard from Dirty Sanchez’s birthday.
He came to the club with all his friends. He got kicked out for messing around
on the dance-floor with a fire extinguisher!
How did you become pals?
I met him at the Escape club in Swansea years ago. Pritchard was on the floor.
I stepped over him and asked if he wanted a glass of water because he didn’t
look very well! Every time I go out now in Wales he always comes out with me
and usually gets on the mic when I’m playing.
Socialising with the Dirty Sanchez lot must get a tad messy?
You have to be careful and go home at the right time before you get caught
up in the craziness of those boys! But it’s fun. We went back to his
house once and his friend tried on all his shoes, socks, jumpers, sunglasses,
pants, everything he had in the house. We were up in his loft and his friend
fell down through the hole, but didn’t hurt himself because he had all
these clothes on! I’d go mad if someone messed around with my clothes
like that.
Can you pinpoint your most unhinged night out ever?
I’ve had quite a few crazy times in the Tidy Weekenders in Prestatyn.
Me and my good friend [fellow hard dance DJ] Anne Savage got stuck up a tree
last time! I remember about 50 people going, ‘Jump!’ I can’t
actually remember getting up there but I remember coming down with a bump!
Presumably chauvinism toward female DJs is less rampant nowadays?
Yeah. When I started out I used to dress quite provocatively. Once, I walked
into the DJ box – my records were already in there – and I won’t
mention their name, but one of the big, top DJs was like, ‘Erm, the dancers
aren’t allowed in here’. And I was like, ‘Well, good job
I’m not a dancer then, isn’t it? I’m here to take you off,
what time do you finish?’ That was quite fun. But there’re still
not enough female DJs, I think.
Out of all the countries you’ve played
across the world, which is your favourite for male talent?
South Africa has some huge muscle men; obviously they’re very into their
rugby. The bouncers and security people pick me up with one hand. I’m
as big as one of their arms! Where do they breed them?
Welsh men love their rugby too!
I don’t quite look at them in the same way as the South Africans; maybe
it’s the sunshine thing!
So how do you counteract any unwanted attention from amorous clubbers while
playing?
Give them a slap! Ha ha. No. Sometimes there are rude boys, but not very often.
There used to be more a few years ago but I just give them one of them looks,
like, ‘Don’t even think about it’.
For more info log on to: www.escapefestival.com
The Joy of Decks