Last week I returned from NYC. It was a great trip and my gigs as DJ Relentless and Jade Elektra went fantastic. It was so great to see a lot of my old friends. But upon my return, there was a snow storm and the news of several deaths. We lost a great AIDS activist and Hollywood royalty....Elizabeth Taylor. And one of the pioneers of Disco and House....Miss Loleatta Holloway. I had heard that Liz had been sick, but really didn’t know how bad it was. But the news of Loleatta seem to come out of nowhere.

And ironically, one of her struggles as an artist became one of mine when I returned to Toronto. Loleatta Holloway is one of the most sampled recording artists in the world. Her voice has been stolen and used on many House tracks. And in the Bitch Track genre that is definitely the case. Once the producers get your vocals, they basically can do whatever they want. So, needless to say, I have never made a dime off tracks like “Bitch You Look Fierce”, “How Do I Look” and “Trade”. The labels that put these tracks out have never paid me anything for my creativity or work. So, when I hear about my tracks being sold or given away free on the web, it really upsets me.

Well, my husband had told me a while ago that there was someone who had been stealing our music videos and reposting them with his website’s name on them. At first I didn’t pay it any attention because I thought- “It’s just a fan who loves my work”. But then on March 26th, he found a facebook page for the blog called “Circuit Party!” that actually had links to where you could download my music for free. Now, since I have registered my tracks with BMI and ASCAP at laest there is an agency that looks out for my best interest in collecting my money for my work. So, a war began. I spent most of that afternoon rallying my friends, fans and fellow artists to take this guy’s page down. In my search for information, I found out who was responsible. His name is Marc Gallemore. So, I wrote him and told him that I was upset and that I had informed my friends who are the other artists he was stealing music from. After a day or so of going back and forth, we finally came to an agreement and he removed my material.

The funny thing is, the other artists are dragging their feet in contacting him. If they don’t do something about it, their music will become public material. They will never see a dime for their work. When Blackbox stole Loleatta Holloway’s vocals to make the track, “Ride On Time” (which is a silly title because they producers were italian and did not understand the lyrics they stole which were “Right On Time”), she sued them and won. It amazes me that people think that they can just do whatever they want and no one is gonna do anything about it. So, I am glad that I stood up for myself. I hope that Harmonica Sunbeam, Franklin Fuentes and Joelapussy will do the same.

But I did have something wonderful happen when I returned. A friend of mine named Hector Alemany gave me a documentary about one of the authors of the first safe sex manuels, Richard Berkowitz called "Sex Positive". After watching it, I decided to write him on facebook and  thank him for all his hard work. I also sent him a copy of the track I recorded for World AIDS Day called “H-I-Vogue”. And believe it or not, he actually wrote me back and said he like my track. That was a major compliment for me to have someone of position in the fight against AIDS to recognize my work. Here’s what he wrote:

“H-I-Vogue is fantastic - there is no more important target audience than youth of color and the Madonna/Paris is Burning take is perfect for that. I cant believe the widespread self-deluding insanity of "DDF free, UB2" - on Craigslist and A4A - as if that's going to protect anyone from anything. You nailed it.”

I am still waiting to see if the AIDS Prevention Organization, BlackCAP is going to use the track as a fundraiser. I donated it to them and the New Jersey group, Our Youth. I hope that the sale of this single will help raise money for these very important organizations that work with gay youth. We definitely need to educate them and give them some guidance.

Here below are the links to my last Martin Luther King Day Mixes from 2009.  I know here in Canada, MLK Day is not a holiday, but for an African-American it is a very significant day and should always be observed.

I decided to repost these links because it was truly a happy time in America. President Obama had just been elected and the world looked new. It’s a shame that it has been such a struggle for him. I believe he has been one of the greatest presidents ever to be elected, but the political machine in Washington D.C. has tarnished a truly historic moment. Fear and loathing has replaced hope and dreams. And everyone is blaming him when they should all be looking at themselves and the past which has led us to this moment. But in my heart, I knew that it was going to be a struggle.

It is no different than when those first black kids walked into the first de-segregated school or the first African-American sat in the front of the bus. They knew they had earned their right to be there, but it was going to be a long battle for equality. So...somebody had to start the movement. Somebody had to take the first blow of oppression in order for everyone to move forward.

Thank you, Rosa Parks and The Little Rock Nine for paving the way so that my black brothers and sisters could be a little free-er. Thank you Dr. King, Bayard Rustin, Malcolm X, Billie Holiday, Duke Ellington, Ozzie Davis, Jesse Jackson, Halle Berry, Hattie McDaniel, Josephine Baker, Dorothy Dandridge, Eartha Kitt, Dr. Ben Carson, Nina Simone, Miles Davis, Sidney Piotier, Louie Armstrong, Mohammad Ali, Joe Louis, Aretha Franklin, James Brown, Michael Jackson, Diana Ross, Lena Horne, Alvin Alley, Stevie Wonder, Dorothy Height, A. Philip Randolph, Richard Pryor, Fannie Lou Hamer, Angela Davis, Bill "Bojangles" Robinson, Jackie Robinson, Jesse Owens, Carl Lewis, Langston Hughes, Zora Neale Hurston, James Baldwin, Leontyne Price, Marvin Gaye, Bill Cosby, Michael Jordan, Alice Walker, Sapphire, Spike Lee, Maya Angelou, Colin Powell, Tiger Woods, Oprah Winfrey and the countless number of African Americans who keep the struggle going everyday.

We still have a long way to go, but it's nice to know that we have and had some of the greats out there on the frontline.

I hope that this post will inspire some young person out there to pick up the torch and continue the fine work that these individuals have started.

And that is why I celebrate Dr. King and President Obama every January.

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Mixed Set #1  Format: House & Club  Time: 34 minutes 1 second

Introduction: Martin Luther King’s closing of the “I Have A Dream Speech” 

A Black Man In The White House (Scott K’s Boxmusic Mix)-Groove Junkies f/Rick Keller

Brotha (Spen & Karizma Club Mix)-Angie Stone

We Can Make It Happen (Original Anthem)-Stan Courtois featuring MJ White (Gay Artist)

Yes We Can (Pete Heller PHELA Classic Club Mix)-Boy George (Gay Artist)

He Did It (Troublemen Remix)-Harley & Muscle featuring Dawn Tallman

Mixed Set #2  Format: Soulful House  Time: 33 minutes 53 seconds

Lift Every Voice (Mousse T’s Main Vox)-Jasper Street Company

New Day (Quentin Harris’ Shelter Vocal)-Atelewo

Come Together (Classic Mix)-Halo & Kemal featuring Michelle Weeks

Beautiful People (Direct Hit Re-edit)-Barbara Tucker

Feelin’ Good (Todd Terry’s “In Es Project” Mix)-Nina Simone

It was a year ago that I arrived in Toronto with what belongings I could carry across the border. I was coming to a completely new land where the possibilities seemed endless. I was booked at Gladaman's Den as the guest DJ for New Year's Eve. I was a little scared and worried because no one knew me or had heard of me.  The few DJ's that I had met here sort of ridiculed me for working at Gladaman's Den. How was I to know that it had a reputation for being a hustler bar. I even had one DJ tell me that he would lose his job at Fly if he had ever worked there. It amazed me when I started a "Vogue" night there and some of the ballroom community came out to support. And even a few actually had heard of me. Little did I know that by February everything would change.

Ryan G. Hinds (a longtime fan of my alter-ego, Jade Elektra) would ask me to perform for a Haiti Benefit at Buddies and suddenly my name was everywhere. I spoke on a panel at the Art Gallery of Ontario about "bitch tracks" and what they meant to the ballroom scene. I got hired at George's Play and the leap to Church Street from Yonge Street seemed like a million miles. And then I kept hearing the buzz about Crews & Tangos re-opening. Everyone was talking about it and about the auditions to work there. I figured, "I'm the new kid - they wouldn't hire me - they don't know me". But as fate would have it, I was the DJ for Michelle Ross at Play and one of the owners saw and heard what a good job I did with her show and was asked to come over (special thanks to Amanda Roberts for that).

As my alter-ego, Jade, I did a few appearances at Buddies for Dwayne Minard, Michael Boyuk and Mark German’s party called “GownTown”. I was lucky enough to also get a quick guest spot with Michelle Ross over at Woody’s (of “Queer As Folk” fame) on a Sunday. And I even competed in the Miss Play pageant which helped get my name out there as well. 

On April 30th, I did something that I never thought would happen in my lifetime. I got married. And for those who witnessed it, they told me that I was shaking and very nervous. I barely remember anything about it except the words that we were legally married. This event would shape the rest of the year along with my life.

All of these events ended up getting me booked for the Blockorama stage for Gay Pride Day in Toronto where with the help of the ILL NA NA Diverse City Dance Company I was able to perform my classic underground track, “Bitch You Look Fierce”.

Also for Pride, I did voice-overs as Jade for DJ Fierce Tease who was chosen as the feature DJ at the Gay Days event at Disney. Which led to me working with him and Vjuan Allure on producing a new single based on my husband's artwork.

Then I got contacted by Derek Forgie from MTV (special thanks Michael Boyuk for the connection) to do a couple of appearances for new TV shows for the fall of 2010 ("Pants Off Dance Off" and "1 Girl 5 Gays").

I also made quite an impression when DJ Blackcat and myself shared the decks at the "Share Good Love" event over the summer. I had a great time spinning some classic House that night.

Eventually, Paras Prashad talked to me about having my own show at Crews & Tangos. I thought about it for a while and looked around at the shows that were already in progress. I wanted to create something different with a different format. So, I came up with the idea to do a variety show that would not only feature some of the best female impersonators, but also live acts. I wanted to create not only a drag show, but also a TV show called JADED (a snapshot of what the scene was like in Toronto).

About that time, my husband introduced to me to a really creative individual and activist named Brian Finch. Along with asking me to write a blog for PositiveLite.com he was instrumental in helping me get the TV show idea onto YouTube and I also created a character for his series called “The Hags Of Cabbagetown”. He also introduced me to Kevin Grant who gave me the opportunity to be one of the first DJ’s featured on his new site called ClubGenX.com, where you can listen to mixed sets programmed by me.

My weekly show at Crews gave me the opportunity to work with many talented performers. And since I had already been asked the year before to book the annual show in Bermuda I took Chris Edwards (the first person to book me in Toronto), Sofonda Cox, Nikki Chin & Yuri to represent Canada in not only one of the biggest events in that country but also a huge political statement where Gay Rights are still being fought for. Thank to Mark Anderson (also known as Sybil Barrington) for letting me put together the drag show I had dreamed of doing there.

So, when it came time to go back to New York City at the beginning of December, I really felt like I had accomplished a lot. I went back with a new sense of self. 

On World AIDS Day, my now husband, John Allan proposed to me. On World AIDS Day too I premiered my new single “H-I-Vogue” on Verlia Stephens’ radio show on CKLN 88.1 FM. Although I was very open with my close friends and lovers about my HIV status, a year ago I would have never dreamed that I would be doing an interview on the radio talking about warning people of the dangers of sex sites and the alarming numbers of gay men who are still having unsafe sex.

So, you see....a year can make a huge difference in your life. It definitely made a difference in mine. I finally feel like I have found my purpose in life. I am doing the work that I was put on earth to do.

RELENTLESSLY SPEAKING ABOUT MUSIC
(Another Blog by DJ Relentless)


Rating System:

No * means horrible

* means you better get used to it

** means there is something to like about it

*** means I like it a lot

**** means I love it



"What's My Name" Rihanna featuring Drake (Def Jam Records)    

So, it seems Rihanna's first single from her new album is tearing up the charts and has become a radio and dancefloor favorite. Now all she needs to do is keep hitting 'em hard with hits to make up for the disappointing sales of the last album. So, the label is pulling out all the stops with a duet with Canadian Hip Hop royalty, Drake. "What's My Name" sounds like a ploy to keep her fans chanting her name all night. Good production. And thank God it's not another downtempo track below 90 BPM's. I can see this being a hit. But be on the look out for my next pick, "Who's That Chick" which I believe is going to be a real club banga. The album version is already dancefloor friendly.  ***


"Yeah 3X" Chris Brown (Jive Records)   

This new single by Mr.Brown is the type of fluff that I can't stand. In the same vein of Taio Cruz and Justin Beiber, this is that Pop Radio Friendly crap that is going to have straight girls in gay bars trying to push their tits together when they come to the DJ booth in hopes that this guy is a straight guy who happens to work there. This is exactly the type of song that true Club and House DJ's dread hearing rolling off someone's lips when requesting a song. But I am sure there are some DJ's out there who enjoy playing "I Like It" by Enrique Iglesias mixed with "Dynamite" and then into "Baby". YUCK! Now...don't get me wrong. I'll have to play it to keep my job, but I won't like it one bit!

"Peacock" (The Remixes) Katy Perry (Capitol Records)   

I actually play sound tech for a few drag shows here in Toronto and although I loved "California Gurls" I have grown to not like Katy Perry as much.

I think she writes a good Pop song, but the way folks were going crazy for Lady GaGa- it's getting just as ridiculous. Not even the remixes by Manny Lehman & Hector Fonseca didn't change my opinion. The only good thing about them was the 130 BPM. The original sounds like a cheerleader chant at 140 BPM's. And I actually heard this song the day album was released as two queens fought over who was going to perform it on stage.

The journey of this Christian Gospel recording artist into the "I'm empowering girls by being sexy but not slutty" Pop diva is really making me want to vomit. Just because you haven't been caught getting out of a limo without panties or you don't have a sex tape on the internet yet does not mean that your extra skimpy outfits that even Sesame Street wouldn't tolerate don't translate as "slutty". The lyrics to her new track is going to encourage young girls to walk up to a boy and demand that he shows his "cock". No......that's not slutty. *

"The Time (The Dirty Bit)" The Black Eyed Peas (Will.I.Am Music Group)   

I told my husband that i think that The Peas recorded this track as a homage to Jennifer Grey  (from "Dirty Dancing") who's is doing well on "Dancing With The Stars". You see the track actually has the chorus from "The Time Of My Life" by Bill Medley & Jennifer Warnes.

But then it breaks into an electro beat that is sure to get the crowd hyped. It's cheesy and cool at the same time. And even though Will.I.Am and Apple D ruined my audition for a club called "The Griffin" in the meat-packing district in NYC last year, I have to give them credit for being clever Pop machines. The $100 tip I got from Mickey Rourke for playing "Hot & Cold" by Katy Perry made up for it.  ***

Don't forget to check out my mixshow on November 18th (Thursday)  DJ Relentless continues his residency for Queer Club Radio (88.7 WRSU-FM) in New Brunswick, NJ. Worldwide Webcast direct link: http://wrsu.rutgers.edu/listen.php  or  www.queerspiritradio.com

I had never seen so many people fighting to get attention. Some thought that by doing their own thing that no would notice how needy they were. Others pulled out all the stops to get attention by trying to out do everyone. I mean after all, it was a drag show that brought all these people together. From the locals who thought their self importance was obvious to the visitor who played the “outsider” card, there were no dull moments.

But it was great to the seasoned performers who just sat back and watched the madness unfold on stage and back stage.

I must say that I am very proud of my good friend, Mark Anderson (aka Sybil Barrington). He has definitely grown as a performer and a person. The work he is doing with this show goes far beyond just a drag show. I mean that in a historical and political sense. And I am not sure if the local gay community realizes how important this yearly event is. Without it their very existence would be at jeopardy. Especially since they don’t have their rights there.

I started working with him on these shows back in 1993 and to see the progression of the show from then to now is amazing. Back then, we used to perform in a run down theatre called The Clayhouse Inn, but today the show is held in City Hall. That is quite an accomplishment. Sybil Barrington has earned her validation. I am so proud to call her my friend. Keep up the good work.

It was also great to see my vision of a produced show come to life. There were some great moments during the show. And since I hand picked each performer, I knew that all their different personalities would combine to make the production interesting and entertaining. I was so happy to give this opportunity of seeing a new country and culture to young performers like Nikki Chinn and Yura.

Hopefully all the performers learned a few things about how the art of female impersonation is done in other places. When working in a drag revue, being a team player is very important. And realizing that you must do what is best for the over all show is the real focus of the production.

Watching seasoned performers like Chris Edwards and Sofonda Cox bring their magic to the show made me very happy. The balance of creativity, wisdom and youth made this show work. So, all the performers contributed to making this one of the best productions, Bermuda has ever seen. And for that I am very grateful. I feel very validated at the moment as wel