Who makes up the Razor band
Kelly – lead singer,  Emma – drums and backing vocals,  Leanne – guitar,  Deb – bass,
Wendy – guitar and backing vocals

You started in 2003 to play at the Lesbian ball, how did you get together, were you all friends? Whose idea was it.
Emma gave me a call and told me to go to her house.  I arrived and met Deb and Leanne. Emma tossed me some lyrics to Cool Woman by Def Leopard and we just went from there.  Seven years later we’re still going!
It’s been amazing getting to know the girls.  Playing live together creates a bond between us that you never experience unless you are part of a live band… it’s very hard to explain but it really is the best drug in the world.

How did you come up with the name Razor?
We wrote so many names down but the only one that we felt kind of suited us was Razor.  We think we are edgy, or maybe we are just on the edge lol! 
But seriously, it had all the right connotations – being lesbians we know what it means to be on the edge of society but if you mistreat a razor you will get hurt and we kinda liked that!

How do you decide what songs you will play?
We all offer songs that we like then we have a crack at them and if we don’t like them we just say “hate it”.  The song pretty much gets dropped after that but at least two of the band have to hate it. 
What’s cool is sometimes we think a song will suck and it ends up been  great to play and sing. 

How often do you practice – do you play regular gigs or just gay events?
We are a casual band but we play all sorts of crowds… straight audiences absolutely love us!!! 
We played in Tauranga at an after-theatre party that had hundreds of very conservative, straight people and they had heard we were a ‘lesbian band’ so it took about two songs to get them to like us then they just went crazy for Razor. Rock will always transcend homophobia, racism and sexism… that’s why I love it so much! 

Who are your favourite lesbian bands/musicians?
Joan Jett, Grace Jones, Pretenders, The Runaways, Florence & The Machine, Pink (although I hate her image but I can’t fault her as a singer), Ladyhawke… I could go on for hours but those are the ladies that come to mind right now.

What can we expect on Saturday night?
A great time from a bunch of chicks who love to rock and aren’t afraid to get down and dirty!

So ladies make sure you head on down to Candy Bar this Saturday to check out this great band.

Launch parties will be happening:

Wellington Friday 9th July
- At The Garden Club, 9pm.
(See flyer for more details)

Auckland Saturday 10th July
- Family & Navel, Krd, 10pm.

This year’s theme, Black & White – A Mid-Winter Celebration, offers a range of costuming possibilities.
From the classic lines of formal ball attire and the stylish ‘little black dress’, to the more unusual interpretations, this year’s costumes will showcase yet again the fabulously inventive style of Auckland’s Lesbian Ball goers.

The team from Candy Bar will be hosting the Candy Bar Lounge adjacent to the ballroom and knowing them they’re bound to come up with something interesting.

As well as the Women’s Bookshop, Candy Bar are also selling tickets this year. They’ll be closed on the night of the Ball but have a huge range events coming up before then so when you’re at the bar supporting them why not pick up your ticket at the same time?
Accommodation
The venue, the Hyatt Regency Hotel, has a range of accommodation options and we suggest you check out their rates and special offers on http://auckland.regency.hyatt.com or try http://wotif.com

Tickets this year are $50 – on sale now
Available from Candy Bar – above Naval and Family, K Road,
Women’s Bookshop, 105 Ponsonby Rd.
For more info see www.leso.org.nz

.

Your last album In Swings The Tide was such a huge success – you toured it extensively. How did you get yourself into a place where you could start focusing on writing for the new album?
After I released In Swings The Tide I toured for three years and when I wasn’t touring, in my downtime, I was usually visiting my wife. And because she’s a performer I was going out on tour with her. So that’s when I was writing.

When I write, I listen to certain albums. That’s how I start my process – it starts the brain working and I start thinking about how I want my music to sound. So the songs are usually influenced by what I’m listening to, which for this album was a lot of rock music, lots of indie punk, lots of Gossip and lots – LOTS – of Ladyhawke.

One of the things I like about the album is that you can really hear the instruments – you can hear the guitar; you can hear the drums…
Yeah, we recorded it at Roundhead Studios. Before we started I told Andre Upston, my co-producer, that I wanted it to sound dirty and gritty and that I wanted to hear that band. We recorded everything to tape, which is what they did in the old days and then we put it back to Pro Tools. It makes it sound more nostalgic.

Love features prominently in the album… the word pops up in four of the song titles and in the album title…
I tried to get the word in every single song title, but people were like, ‘You’re ridiculous; don’t be such an egg,’ so I had to stop.
A lot of the songs were looking back at things that happened in my life and yeah lots of them are love songs, but they’re also songs about people I love to hate and hate to love – people that really annoyed me, and still annoy me. There are all those branches of love. It can’t just be solely about loving one person.

You’re a very confessional writer. Do you ever worry that you’re giving too much of yourself away in your music?
I used to think that – when I was a homophobic in the closet lesbian. I used to be like ‘Oh no people will know I’m gay.’ But I’ve been in the industry for 12 years and I’ve learnt how to be smart and I’ve learnt how to be honest. I’ve had people come up to me after shows and say ‘You’re real, you talk about how insecure you are, but then you also talk about how amazing you are.’ And that’s an honest human being from New Zealand.

Does it feel like the whole of New Zealand thinks they know you?
Yes, it’s boring. Everyone has an opinion of you and thinks they know what sort of person you are. But all those rumours and myths are dispelled if you come to my live show. Some of it’s me acting and bullshitting my way through, but most of it is me just being myself.

You gave up a career in New York to come home and now you’ve moved back from Melbourne. You must love New Zealand?
I love New York – don’t get me wrong. But I was 18 when I lived there and you can’t drink in a bar over there when you’re 18. I had to drink by myself at home. I’ve lived in London, New York and Australia and I’ve been to so many places but it’s always good to come home. Even though this country is small and all of a sudden you find yourself in the social pages and people are talking about you, it doesn’t matter because no one cares.

So you’re going out on tour and obviously you’ll be playing all the songs from your new album but what about the old ones – do you ever get sick of playing them?
After a year of playing the songs from each album I get so over them. People are like, ‘Play that song.’ and I’m like ‘Not gonna!’ and they get really pissed off. But I try my hardest to give people what they want.

And after the tour – what’s next?
I’m going to do another tour after this one, later in the year. Then I’m going to take a hiatus. Love In Motion is the last album Anika Moa will make and then I’m going to start a new band with a few friends of mine. I want to settle down and have babies and focus on living a full life with my family.
It [music] is not the be all and end all – it’s never the be all and end all. And I do choose Shortland Street over going to a gig. I’m a true blue Kiwi.

Popjustice recently called the song “a truly incredible comeback single…a solid gold summer pop anthem”.

News of the World called it “one of the best Kylie songs ever”.

Kylie’s highly anticipated new album ‘Aphrodite’ is released on Warner Music on July 5.  It is Kylie’s eleventh studio album and was executive produced by Stuart Price.
‘Aphrodite’ sees Kylie return to the dance-floor, with a string of high profile collaborators from the pop and dance worlds including: Calvin Harris & Jake Shears, Sebastian Ingrosso (Swedish House Mafia) & Luciana Caporaso, Nerina Pallot, Richard X, Cutfather, Nervo and Tim Rice-Oxley.
The album includes ‘Better Than Today’ which Kylie performed live during her American tour last year to a rapturous response.

Kylie said: “I love the euphoric feel of ‘Aphrodite’…delicious pop on the dance floor”

The track list for ‘Aphrodite’ is:

All The Lovers

Get Outta My Way

Put Your Hands Up (If You Feel Love)

Closer

Everything Is Beautiful

Aphrodite

Illusion

Better Than Today

Too Much

Cupid Boy

Looking For An Angel

Can’t Beat The Feeling

** So ladies,  are you excited – do you love Kylie??

Ivy Lies, Dane Rumble and Tiki Taane
Tipped as a band to watch in 2010, all-girl group Ivy Lies is travelling the country this music month.  Venture south and catch them at the Pukekohe Town Hall for an all ages gig at 3pm on May 15.  But it’s later that night you won’t want to miss, when girls support Kiwi pop God Dane Rumble and the mighty Tiki Taane.

Artisan Guns
Artisan Guns is quite possibly the hottest band in the country right now. The lads from Auckland are playing numerous gigs throughout May hot on the heels of their latest EP, Hearts.  But if there’s one place you must catch them, it’s at 4:20 on K Road on May 15, where they’re playing with the immensely talented Motocade. Don’t miss it.

Mel Parsons
Ok it’s a little far south for Aucklanders but if you do happen to be down country on May 15, make it your mission to see Mel Parsons at Harbour Light in Lyttelton. Parsons’ debut album Over My Shoulder was one of my favourites last year and this girl is hot live.

The Phoenix Foundation
Catch the stalwarts of Wellington indie pop-rock, The Phoenix Foundation, on their home turf as they cap off their New Zealand tour in celebration of new album Buffalo.  Neil Finn once described the six-piece as “one of the best examples of pop music to come out of New Zealand”.
See for yourself why at the San Francisco Bathhouse on May 27 and 28.

Anika Moa
Following the release of her critically acclaimed Love In Motion, Anika Moa kicks off a nationwide tour starting at the Revolver in Queenstown on May 27.  Dedicated to matters of the heart, Moa’s third album reinforced her reputation as one of the best singer-songwriters in the country and introduced us to ‘Anika the rocker’ on tracks like Running Through The Fire.

There are interviews with the movers and shakers of the lesbian scene, the Candy bar girls pop in to discuss cocktails and this Saturday 8^th May, Yours truly (Sarah from LadyFix) will be in the studio chatting to Kelly about lesbian news and gossip!
Listeners around the country can hear The Kel Word Saturday Night Shakedown from 8 till 10pm at www.radioponsonby.co.nz or if your in Ponsonby tune into 107.7fm.

Does it really vibrate?

In a snap shot, I love this mascara because it,
- Thickens lashes
- Lengthens lashes
- Shapes  lashes
- Has zero clumps!
What more could a femme want from her mascara?
If you want to try one, I have five to give away (valued at $29.95 each).
Just email me in one paragraph or less, why you should win one of these little beauties.
editor@ladyfix.co.nz

The Book Club for Women with Bite

Do you enjoy reading?
Do you want to meet new people?
Do you want to share your thoughts, and discuss and debate books by noted female authors in a supportive, safe and fun female ONLY book  group?
If you answered ‘YES’ then all you need is Rubyfruit!

The Rubyfruit Readers Group is a brand new book club for women in Auckland.
The focus of the group will be on providing a safe, supportive and fun space for women to share, discuss and debate the fictional works  of different female authors covering a wide variety of themes and genres.

No experience necessary just a desire to share your thoughts with other women and sink your teeth into some literary gems.

First meeting:  Sunday, May 30th, 2010 (group will be held on the last Sunday of each month)

For more information and to register your interest. 
Please email: rubyfruitreaders@gmail.com

 This group is being run by two lesbian women but its not exclusive to gay women – any females can go along who are interested in reading female authors. The name of the group was inspired by Rubyfruit Jungle  (Rita Mae Brown)  a well known lesbian novel from the 1970’s.

By Paula Yeoman

Canadian crooner kd lang gets contemplative following the recent release of her double-disc album Recollection, which celebrates 25 years in the music business.

The last time we saw you in New Zealand, you were touring your album Watershed in 2008. Were you happy with the response you got to the album and tour?

It was great, especially down there. I just had a really wonderful year. I was feeling really happy and loved getting on stage every night. The band really made it fresh and fun every single night and I owe a lot to them for rejuvenating me.

So you’re back now with Recollection, which looks back on your last 25 years of your career. It’s a big job, where did you start?

It was an ominous task at the beginning but when we came up with the idea for the structuring of Recollection, which was focusing on my actual proper Warner Brothers releases, then it became easier. We just went album to album and picked what we thought was the best representation of that record and then the second CD we got into the more extraneous parts of my career.

Did any of your personal favourites make the final cut?

Some of my favourites made it. My taste reflects more what I enjoy singing live and sometimes it’s the more obscure stuff. But The Valley and Wash Me Clean – those songs are very near and dear to my heart and they managed to make it on there.

If you could pin point the most significant period of change within the industry in the time you’ve been making music, what would it be?

I think it’s the whole Garage Band or Pro Tools thing on your computer. It’s handing people a tool to let them make their own professional grade music in any atmosphere.  It’s similar to the impact on painting when cameras became available to every individual. And the fact that I’m sitting in front of my computer now and that I can turn it on and listen to a radio station in Iceland– you know the world of music has just exploded open.

There’s a lot of talk about the demise of the long play album. Will you keep making records?

Yeah I like making records. I started 25 years ago, so I was actually pressing wax when I started. But I’m also into the idea of just putting out a single and uploading it on my website. I think it’s exciting. I don’t know the answer of where it [music] is going but I know that when you step up on stage and you are performing in front of an audience, you either have it or you don’t.

And live performance has always been very important to you…

Yeah, you could have the best record in the world but when you get on stage you have no connection with the audience. There are all of these tools and all of these evolutions and changes in the music business, but there’s one thing that will never change and that’s how you communicate with people – the real cream of the crop will still sift to the top.

You must have seen significant changes in the way GLBT artists are treated in the industry too. After coming runner up in American Idol last year Adam Lambert suggested he might have won, had he not been gay. Perhaps we haven’t come as far as we’d like to think we have?

I think it’s a kind of a glass ceiling thing – being gay certainly gives you a publicity pitch. You can get some attention with it but I think it’s probably true. I think Adam may have won if he wasn’t out. But I also don’t think he would have gotten as much press if he wasn’t gay. It’s a catch 22.

Of course, Adam then sparked controversy with his appearance at the American Music Awards. There wasn’t the same uproar when Britney and Madonna kissed at the 2005 MTV Awards…

It’s way harder for openly gay people to show affection. Britney and Madonna are very titillating for the male – it’s still very paternal out there. The authority is the male figure.

But you know what I have to say about all of this. To me the whole overtly sexual thing is really boring and really misguided. When I see public displays of affection like that, whether it’s Madonna or Adam Lambert – and certainly in the 80s I was definitely guilty of it – I find it really boring. I think when it’s contrived, no matter what sex or what gender or what orientation, it’s boring.

And finally, what projects are you working on now?

I have just started writing my next record, which I’m really excited about. I have a couple of new collaborators that I’m working with and I’m really excited about that. I’m not touring Recollection but I am getting back into the studio.

kd lang’s double-disc “Greatest Hits” album Recollection is out now. 

Thanks to Warner Music we have 5 copies  of the Recollection CD to give away to LadyFix readers. 

To enter simply email  editor@ladyfix.co.nz with the name of 5 lesbians (international or local)  that you would like to read about.  Make sure to include a postal address. The editor (Sarah) will decide on the winning entries

Paula Yeoman -  LadyFix Contributor