We speak to 80s pop sensation Boy George about his forthcoming album and world DJ tour

Mostly known either as the face of Culture Club or the Queen of celebrity badness, Boy George aka George Alan O'Dowd in fact has a long and illustrious relationship with dance music. From playing and recording alongside the likes of Harry Choo Choo and Erick Morillo, to recording mix CDs for Ministry of Sound back in the nineties, Boy George has always had one foot in the house music scene.

2010 sees him take that passion back on the road with a full schedule and brand new full length pencilled in for release sometime later this year. Collaborations with the likes of Mark Ronson and set lists which include the likes of Axwell, the Swedish House Mafia and other such contemporary big hitters ensure Boy George is as relevant as ever in 2010.

Let's find out, then, how the Boy done good...

What made you get back into dance music?

I never left! Unfortunately there is this misconception that I took time out from DJing where in fact I’ve never stopped. The only time in my life where I actively had to step away from DJing was during the Culture Club years. The overnight success we achieved literally flipped my life on its head and back then trying to maintain any sense of normality, as I knew it, was impossible as I barely had time to catch my breath. DJing has always been a part of my life just like my singing and I’m eternally grateful for that. Being so fortunate to have two careers in music, doing what I love is not something I take for granted anymore.

It’s fair to say I’ve taken somewhat I’ve a long hiatus from the production side of my DJing but never from the actual performing. Although that said I’ve always worked on my own edits and remixes for my sets and I’ve a huge back catalogue of unreleased material in the studio – some of which will actually see an official release this year.

Have you always kept your ear in listening to current electronic music or …?

Absolutely! DJing and dance music has long been a part of my life and I’ve always kept my ear on the ground for personal pleasure. There has been a few brief periods in my life where the freedom to maintain my interest in new records and artists hasn’t been so available to me but that’s never stopped me from keeping up to date on what’s happening in the scene. These days I spend a lot of time sieving through promos and the use of twitter, Facebook etc for new music. For me social networking has really added to the opportunity for discovering new music.

And what is it about dance music that you like so much compared to say, pop or indie or whatever?

Sadly a lot of pop records these days have become manufactured tripe. Indie seems to have lost its spirit from those earlier years of that scene. There are a lot of bands and artists out there who sound all too similar for my tastes and who’ve actually got nothing to say with any of their songs. Whilst I won’t deny dance music hasn’t become increasingly mainstream in recent times. I do believe the scene itself does still encourage, and in certain cases or genres expect, artists to push the boundaries and open the audiences mind. The underground aspect of dance music also still exists in warehouse parties and off the beaten track type events – the freedom of expression in dance culture is one of the most invaluable qualities the scene still maintains over others.

Can you explain your relationship to - and involvement with - dance music over the years?

I used to hang around clubs in the late 70s and fell into DJing through friends and parties. From there DJing led me to some incredible parties in the early years for the likes of Hacienda, The Bomb and Shelleys. Playing for those sorts of clubs in the rave days definitely put my name on the map with the next generation of promoters. It was a huge catalyst which led to me eventually playing for everyone from Cream, Godskitchen and Ministry of Sound on home soil. Alongside Pete Tong, I launched Ministry’s long standing annual series which opened the door for both of us to a new level of global exposure. Since those days I’ve maintained a touring schedule on the international scene regularly playing for venues and promoters like Zouk, Guvernment, Space and many others.

How is the scene different now to when you first got involved? Good or bad?

It has definitely changed there is no doubt about that! The decrease in record sales is of course the most obvious and quite concerning aspect for music has a whole right now. On the skin of it the level of production in dance music has improved immensely from those early years, although the quality filter seems to have snapped off a bit with these download stores, don’t you think? From what I have seen this year alone though, I do think dance music is in a very healthy place compared to where it was a few years back.

From Harry Choo Choo to Eric Morillo you've worked with all the big dogs - how do those hook ups come about?

It really varies per track to be honest it can happen anyway from through friends of friends or through running into someone in a club and chatting some ideas. For example I recently worked with Mark Ronson, who I’d known for some years before he become a popular figure, as we’d DJed together etc in the States when I lived over there. He was working on a project and out of the blue approached me about doing some vocals on the record.

What sort of music have you been listening to recently? In terms of the records you play and the music you make, what are your influences and how have they changed over the years? (Dance music-wise)

Away from dance music my tastes varying, right now I am listening to The Drums, Paloma Faith, as well as a lot of soul records. Dance music wise I love what the Swedish House Mafia guys are doing at the moment – their production just keeps getting better and better with each record! Mark Knight, Dirty South, Funkagenda are also all hot right now. Wolfgang Gartner, Lazy Rich, Marc Vedo and Swen Weber are a bunch of artists with a bright future ahead of themselves.

I understand you have an LP on the way... can you tell us about that?

Yeah that’s right. Extraordinary Alien is the title of the new album, which as yet has no set release date although fans can expect it out before the end of the year. The album itself is actually my first dedicated electronic artist LP and features a collection of tracks that my studio partner Kinky Roland and I have done over the last 10 years. Although entirely unreleased material, for those that have followed my sets over the years there should be a few familiar tracks on there. I am really excited to put this project out because several of the tracks have been extremely popular for me over the years, so it will be proud moment to finally see them out there after so long.

What made you want to work with Mark Ronson on your new stuff?

He was looking to create a song with the feel of ‘Do you really want to hurt me’ but with its own added sexy and summery spirit. Sort of like a drunken ragga record. The track is called 'Tropic Of Cancer' and it was written by Mike Snow and Libertines member Carl, and of course Mark. It was a bit unusual for me singing on someone else’s record but I really enjoyed it. The experience has actually encouraged me to look at working this way again should the right project come up....so watch this space?!

What affect on your music have the last couple of years of your life had had? Has it changed your outlook at all?

The last few years have very much had an effect on my music. There is obviously all the well publicised stuff that has gone on in recent times but coupled with that there has been a lot of positive developments in my personal life which I’ve brought into my writing. These days I’ve taken a back seat with my bitchy side, although not completely, it’s just less raw then it has been in the past and I think my writing reflects that too? For example there’s more humour in some of my recent records.

What do you aim to achieve with your music?

Mostly that people enjoy what I do. In the past I lived a life of excess and I understand how that led to creating many negative media reports. My aim for the future is to remind people that I am a musician and entertainer first and foremost. I am extremely lucky to be doing my passion in life day-to-day and I want to now invest my energies into focusing just on my music.

Would you do anything differently if you had your time again?

I’d probably have kept certain opinions to myself. I can’t count the amount of times a passing bitchy comment has come back to haunt me later in life; you never know who you’re going to offend ;)

So what can people expect from one of your sets?

Good quality sexy house music – those that haven’t seen me before will definitely be in for surprise!

What sort of set-up do you use?

The set-up is a Pioneer DJM800, CDJ1000’s or 2000’s.

Do you consider yourself more than a celebrity DJ?

I don’t consider myself a celebrity DJ at all! I understand how people come to the conclusion of Boy George the celebrity DJ. Separating my media presence from my music has sadly always been an impossible reality but I think it’s a shame that some people still don’t believe that I had to work for my success as a DJ, but the truth is I more than had to earn my badges in the scene. In fact because of who I was and am, I undoubtedly brought more baggage to the mindset of the dancefloor, so winning over the crowd from the moment my name was on a flyer was always a going to be a tough one. However, I don’t regret that because I wouldn’t have wanted it any other way. I’m glad I had to work to achieve acceptance in the scene – it meant there was a foundation for me to separate my Culture Club past from my DJing.

What else have you got coming up in 2010?

As mentioned earlier Extraordinary Alien will be hitting the shelves soon. I’ve also got a new record with my touring partner Marc Vedo coming out imminently. The track is called ‘Sunshine into my Life’ and features the fantastic vocals of Sharlene Hector, whose most known for her work with Bassment Jaxx. Reactions on that have been great so far and I’m confident it’ll be a big record for the tail end of the summer. A little later into the year my collaboration with Harry Romero will also be out; the final edit is a stunning club track so watch out for that one!

On the touring side I’ve shows coming up in Greece, Italy, Spain, Portugal, Belgium, Israel, and a few gigs in Ibiza for Space and Sands (with Beatport). I had tours of Canadian and Australia planned for the end of the year but those have now been moved to 2011 to coincide in with the release of the album.

Thanks guys, love George x

Kristan J Caryl

http://uk.soonnight.com/mag/boy-george-extraordinary-alien,28,4634.html