“This is a Vjuan Allure Magnique Elite Beat”
The Ballroom Scene’s Iconic DJ And Producer Bring’s His Elite Beatz Across The Globe!
Interview by Tommy Jo Spain
Which came 1st? Your love of DJing or love of Ballroom?
I was going to be a DJ from the start though I didn’t even know it. I had been collecting music since forever from my mom, to getting my own, even when Ballroom came around I was still collecting vinyl, and it wasn’t until I got to Italy I got turntables and DJ’ing began. So I was in love with Ballroom before DJ’ing
What was the 1st House track that really made you feel it?
The 1st track that made me feel it was “Rock to the Beat – Reese and Santonio” it was just the ultimate for me – it was everything, beat drama, full of pockets for creativity with your dance.
Why do you think house music/disco been so engrained in black gay culture over the past 50 years?
I think it is because it is the music that lets you feel in a way no other music does. Our roots are drenched in the beat – no matter what genre a BEAT will make us all move any race, creed, or color. House and Disco kept that beat and delivered messages of all kinds – joy, love, peace, hope, even bad news and sadness. They’ve lifted our spirits and opened our minds and continue to do so. It is definitely the feeling in these songs.
Over the years you have helped move the ballroom sound away from “Ha Dance” samples to its own beats. What makes a great ballroom track?
It is important that we venture on from The Ha Dance, but also KEEP it and do new and exciting things with it, we aren’t just one dimensional. What makes a great Ballroom track to me is a track that everyone can get into regardless of the core audience the song was meant for. Where you can just hear the opening bars and be like “WHOA!” It is the spirit IN the song itself that produces THAT FEELING. Without the feeling it is not Ballroom. We’ve heard others attempt to do what ballroom Producers do and aren’t even phased by what they create – it lacks that feeling…and it’s a feel that is only found in Ballroom.
When I first started out making music I called them ‘Vjuan Allure Exclusives” and had a drop /tag on my tracks saying so. Things went along really well then after a few years later other producers started to make tracks as well and call them exclusives too. I didn’t want us to be all the same thing so I made up “This is a Vjuan Allure Magnifique Elite Beat (Elite Beatz!) and it was on! It was a name that no one would copy, but it became more than a name. It became the sound I would push, it would be the sound I could tell the people THIS IS THE FEELING you keep hearing me speak of. It has become my Brand, it has become my Collective featuring some of the most talented and exciting people I know in Music, it has become my Record Company, and it’s becoming more every day!
I honestly thought when RuPaul approached me that someone was playing a trick on me. I had met RuPaul and even played for one of his appearances in Washington DC, even gave him a CD lolol! But, one day I was checking out the Administrative messages on my website and saw an e-mail from “Ru” – I opened it, couldn’t believe it, but still corresponded with this person. He said “I like what you’re doing, we love your music, lets chat.” I agreed gave him my number and we spoke on a Sunday – when I heard the voice I gagged because it WAS RuPaul. We spoke and his ideas were great, I was onboard at that point with several projects for RuPaul – it wasn’t to make Ru Ballroom, rather to give him beats he never had before.
Who have been some of your other favorite Bitch Traxx collaborators?
I’ve loved working with Harmonica Sunbeam, Jade Elektra, Miss Jay, Mike Diamond, Sahara Davenport (R.I.P.) and there are more coming. Working on a Bitch track is a lot of fun, some of the out-takes are hilarious, they will keep you in stiches!What should ball walkers know to better prepare themselves for walking a category with a track for their production.
Be FIRST!! If you’re bold enough to stop a function for your production it needs to go off, and what better way to blast a category wide open by performing and saying now follow THAT. If you use multiple people in your production PLEASE make sure they are dependable, nothing drains a production or function for that matter than to hear your production has to be fast forwarded because so and so couldn’t make it. Lastly get involved – When I do a production with someone I demand their involvement – if they are a key element in its preparation – then when they walk it they will eat it! Lots of contestants just say “just make it hot” and they’ve put nothing into the mix at all. NO, I need to collaborate with you and get the idea out of your mind, smooth and rough it up – then you go storm the Ball! Hahaha!
You have been DJing internationally for years. What is the major difference between partygoers response to Ballroom music in each country?
I had been DJ’ing overseas long before I unleashed my 1st track stateside and at that time I would be playing the hot songs, the Bitch tracks etc etc – it was easy because their native tongue was different so they had no idea what was being said on the tracks I was playing – they just heard those beats. When I started to play my tracks it took it a step further – they loved them, they couldn’t get enough of them. Some didn’t quite know what to do with them but they knew they wanted more. They always thank you for the music they would not hear otherwise. I think the world has been waiting for Beatz to cut up to and Ballroom filled that void. It is aimed at making you dance, runway, or vogue – you really have no choice.
When can we expect an Elite Beat ball?
Very sooooon, well TENz will be the one of the first to let you know allllllllll about it….and will BE there….…girls get ready!
