DJ Ron Slomowicz: So first let's talk about the CD Femme Fatales. Your music has been included on several compilations over the years, how is this one different?
Jan Johnston: Well, the fact that it's the Leading Ladies of Electronica certainly grabbed my attention. Mike Burns of Interstate was the person that had asked for that track and licensed it from Armin van Buuren, who I'd signed that track to. I was very, very happy about the compilation.
RS: Have you worked with any female producers before?
Jan Johnston: No, I haven't. Kirsty Hawkshaw and myself have been talking about doing a project together. We were both working in Malta last New Year's Eve and we had dinner together. We thought nobody would expect us to do this. Before the Leading Lady CD came along, we already had in mind working together. So, the girls are definitely pulling something together.
RS: Awesome. You just mentioned live gigs on New Year's Eve, so do you gig out often, do you tour a lot?
Jan Johnston: Oh I wish. This year has been very healthy with tours because I did the Two Tribes all over Australia with Prodigy and some great guys I've worked with over the years. That was wonderful, but generally there isn't enough gigs for personal appearances like myself, because the DJs tend to drain the budgets so there's nothing left over for personal appearances.
I think the clubs and promoters must reason that the songs are going to be played anyway in the sets so we have got it covered. But if they would just take the time out to let me and the other girls gig a little more during the year, they'd find that they have a great night. When I'm actually gigging the crowd loves it. I love it because it's wonderful to travel, it certainly helps the Visa card because you're constantly out there finding new opportunities. You know what it's like at the moment, it's not like labels are coming along and bestowing on you the chance to record. They want finished masters, so you have to pretty much do it yourself now. So, the gigs always help but there's not enough of them, which is very sad.
RS: I totally agree. Talking about labels, let's go back to your beginning. Your bio starts in '94 with you on A&M records and an album which BT found the song on. Back then, what was your musical style and who are your musical influences?
Jan Johnston: I don't know who my influences were. I definitely loved the singer/ songwriters like your Suzanne Vega and the Sundays. The music was very melodic and I've never lost that. My writing has stayed the same, it's just that the vehicles that I worked with changed a little. The dance world with 4-on-the-floor just added a different ingredient. That's where I sort of started, and then Brian found that record and when he flipped it and saw that it was myself writing he thought he had to get in touch with me. I gave him dry vocals first for Calling Your Name and that was so well received that I went in to the studio with him and he played me a piece of music and said will you write something to this. I set off as a singer/ songwriter with verse, bridge, chorus, verse, bridge, chorus, middle 8, chorus 8. I think I was probably the first person in dance to do it that way where you're actually writing a song with emotions with a dance track. That's what opened all the doors for me.
