Miss January 2006 Candice McKenzie
Funky House DJ
By Staff | January 1st, 2006Miss January 2006 is DJ Candice McKenzie, an up-and-coming DJ from England. Funky house music and mixing disco are her favs, and she’s working her way through countries around the world. BrianX.com proudly presents Miss January 2006, DJ Candice McKenzie.
BrianX Magazine: Tell us about your youth.
Candice McKenzie: I was quite active as a child. I did gymnastics religiously and I was always playing out in the street with my friends. In my teens I got into football but that was because I fancied the players! I was always into music, from as long as I can remember. When I was young my dad used to record me singing nursery rhymes! I started listening to electronic music on the pirate radio stations when I was 10 or 11 starting with Happy Hardcore. My listening tastes then developed to US Garage, UK Garage then Funky House. The boys teased me in High School. I was a really ugly duckling and was teased all the time for my looks. They also didn’t take me seriously when it came to music.
How did you get into DJing?
I used to work in Clarks (a shoe shop) and one of my colleagues there was a DJ. We were doing a fashion show and he made a mix tape for it. I loved the tunes that he put on his tape but I was more impressed with the way he mixed one record with the next. I asked him to teach me how to mix and he ended up lending me his decks so I could teach myself. I used to make him a mix tape every week and ask ‘am I mixing yet’ and every week the answer was ‘no, you are not mixing on the beat.’ It was so frustrating as I didn’t get what the ‘beat’ was. It took a while but one afternoon I finally got it which was a huge relief as I was starting to pull my hair out!
Favorite music to DJ?
My favourite music to DJ is Funky House and Disco.
What kind of clubs have you played in? Where?
I have played in many clubs both at home and in Europe. Home includes a couple of the big ones, Ministry of Sound, Pacha London and Revolution as well as many smaller bars and clubs. In the countries that I have played in Europe there are usually only one or two clubs in the town so the club can be classed as a ’superclub’. I once played in a strip club in Slovenia.
Have you done any serious modeling?
I have never done any ‘official’ modelling where I have been asked to do it. The only ‘modelling’ that I have done is the photo shoot for the new photos on my website. I’m too short to be a model; I’m only 5ft 1 1/2″! [Editor's note: These days even someone that high can model. Not everyone has to be a runway model! There are different types of modeling out there...]
Has your sexy look affected how people react to you?
Yes and no. There have been some negative comments, people assume that I am using sex to sell and to get bookings but on the other hand there have been some really positive comments which is great. However I look there will always be someone out there who will judge me and have their opinion, that’s fine. I’m happy with my image and that’s the main thing. I find that a lot of male DJ’s don’t take me seriously. A lot has to do with the image thing. I find it hard sometimes to gain their respect and I feel like I always have to defend myself. [Editor's note: This is common among female DJs]
Best experience so far?
I have had many great experiences, I’m not sure if I can put my finger on just one. The best thing about my job is being able to travel to parts of the world that I may not have travelled to for a holiday. For example, I don’t think that I would have ever visited Croatia if it wasn’t for the DJing. It is such a beautiful country and one of my gigs was in a bar on the beach. It was a beautiful night and I was playing outside in the warm summer air, pure bliss.
Worst experience so far?
The worst experience was receiving verbal abuse from a promoter in front of the MTV Europe cameras because I said that I would start my set with one particular record, and then I changed my mind.
Have people recognized you on the street as a celebrity?
I get recognised sometimes, usually in record shops, people will come up and ask if I am Candice McKenzie and they will say that they recognise me from my website or heard me on the radio. It’s nice when people come up and talk to you and I always make time to speak to them as they are the ones who keep me in business by attending gigs etc. Sometimes I get stared at when I’m on the tube or train, which is a bit weird though.
Has anyone ever run up to you in the street and brought you flowers?
Ha Ha, no! If that did happen I would be really embarrassed!
What’s the most common statement people make towards you?
You’re so skinny. I bet you can eat whatever you want. The truth is, no I can’t. I am either allergic to it or my stomach rejects it because I have Crohn’s disease.
Pet Peeves?
People assuming that I only get bookings because I am female and the promoter wants a girl DJ behind the decks to pull in the crowd.
Are you a big partier?
I have Crohns disease and it really has a big hold over my life so I cannot be a big partier or I will suffer big time the next day! I do like to enjoy myself though, as they say - everything in moderation!
Name anyone, alive or dead, who you would love to meet & hang out with.
Mel Cheren. I am currently reading ‘My Life and the Paradise Garage, Keep on Dancing’ and it is fabulous! I would love to go back in time and experience the days of Disco with him. That would be so cool. [Editor's note: Mel Cheren is a co-founder of garage music]
What do you want the world to know about you?
Believe it or not I am actually a very shy person and I can be quite sensitive.
Greatest risk you have ever taken?
In March 2003 a week before I was due to fly out the Miami Music Conference I was hospitalised because of the Crohns. The doctor said the earliest I would be discharged would be Monday but my flight was on Sunday so on the Saturday I discharged myself. I literally took the drip out of my arm, left the hospital, caught the bus home, made myself a fried breakfast, withdrew all the money in my savings account and the next day, flew to Miami. It was so worth it!
It’s 12:01pm, what are you doing?
Getting out of bed!
Secret Pleasures?
Shopping. My purse is always empty because when I have money I have to spend it! Records, clothes and shoes are always on my hit list. I am currently in love with Knee High Boots and I have far too many pairs in my closet.
Favorite upcoming projects?
At the moment I am working in the studio on my first track with my boyfriend Nick Abnett. I am also looking forward to returning to Europe to DJ. I play regularly in France, Croatia and Slovenia and it’s always a pleasure to return to those countries.
Where do you see yourself in 5 years?
Being at the height of my career, playing further a field than Europe in the most fabulous clubs in the world and producing more tracks.
Where are you from/live now?
My origins are half West African, half Jamaican and I was born in South East London, England where I still live!
