4 minute read
ALLAN JAY
DRAMA QUEEN
Alex Klineberg catches up with Allan Jay to discuss his latest release, Maisie Trollette and the ever-changing music industry
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Allan Jay, a Scottish recording artist with a big presence on the LGBTQ+ dance music scene, found his niche as a live performer and his brand of feel good dance music is perfectly suited to the club and festival circuit
You’ll often find him onstage with shirtless dancers. He even managed to stay busy in lockdown. Allan is releasing a brand new single, Drama Queen, which was produced by 7th Heaven and is a cover of Denmark’s 2007 Eurovision entry.
What drew him to cover that particular song?
“The director of the Maisie documentary, Maisie: Britain’s Oldest Drag Artiste, wanted to use it. I collaborated with 7th Heaven who I’ve worked with before. I’d recorded the same song a while back. We re-recorded the vocals and did it as a brand new single.
The accompanying music video is certainly camp. You can see him dancing around with some of the UK’s leading drag queens. “With the title Drama Queen, it lends itself to that type of thing. On the gay scene I’ve crossed paths with so many of the queens over the years, so I asked them. Between me and the video production company we got them all together and they all said yes right away.” The video was recorded at Legends. They recorded it after restrictions were lifted, obvs.
How has lockdown affected things?
“Performance-wise it’s been hard. This track is being released through DMM records. I’ve also done some tracks for an American label. I managed to do bits and pieces when restrictions were eased. Live performance is going to be delayed a bit longer. As most of my live work is at festivals, clubs and Prides, they’re just not allowed to go ahead at all.
My diary has had stuff in it, then it’s been empty and then it’s filled up again. Everyone is having to deal with it though.”
The Maisie Trollette documentary recently premiered; what kind of response has it received?
“They’re waiting to see what offers they get after a successful screening at the Sheffield Doc/Fest. I’ve only seen snippets of it while they were putting it together. I really want to sit down and watch it properly. I think it‘s important that people realise drag didn’t start with RuPaul. RuPaul is immensely talented – it’s a very different style of drag and there’s a place for it all. It’s good to show people the history of it; Maisie has been doing it for over 50 years.”
What’s your musical background?
“I trained in musical theatre initially. I did an audition for voice over for the Disney Channel. I went along and didn’t think I stood a chance, but I got it! I did High School Musical and it was great. I really love dance music though. It was Sandra London who suggested I should speak to UK labels. I did one track with Energise Records. It did well and I did more stuff with them. I was then approached by other labels. I’ve worked with all kinds of different labels over the years and I’ve been very lucky, I have to say.”
The music industry has changed dramatically in recent years; what’s it like being a recording artist in the age of streaming?
“I think the industry has settled down but not really in a good place. Streaming services are great, but as artists we get very little from it. I love live performance and that’s how you earn your money. I think you get pennies or 0.8 pence for streams. You have to do live events so for me it’s great. If you land in the dance charts more venues want to book you. People curate their own music with playlists and we have less influence over it. People don’t buy records unless they want to frame them. Even downloads – they are 99p but by the time you divide it there’s not much left. On the other hand, it makes music more accessible. I suppose there are pros and cons.”
Allan is very much a fixture on the scene and at Pride events. “I’m very fortunate in that I perform across the whole of the UK. I get booked from Edinburgh to Glasgow to Brighton to Blackpool. I feel very fortunate. I’m lucky in that many Prides have booked me many times over the last 15, even 20 years. I’ve got my dancers and I generally have a new record out so I get asked back. I like to sing ballads but I really love dance records. And these festivals need that type of music. “The industry can be tough for artists. They might have to record material that isn’t exactly what they want to do. I’m lucky in that I record songs I really want to do. I always put my own twist on a record. I then have new stuff to perform with my dancers to a crowd that loves it.”
