Music
Get to know the Zimbabwean-born house music vocalist and BAE Electronic founder
Zimbabwean-born house music vocalist Jackie Queens is also a record label owner, having started her own label Bae Electronia, recently releasing producer and vocalist Thandi Draai's new EP titled Ingozi. Artist Mx Blouse caught up with Jackie about her journey into house music, the local scene, and issues facing the industry at large.
I've heard you refer to yourself as a late bloomer. I think of myself as one, too. For you, what did you mean when you said you are a late bloomer?
I say I'm a late bloomer because I started thinking about singing in my mid-twenties. I grew up knowing I can sing, but it was a never a big deal, even at home. It was just like: well, Jackie can sing, but it wasn't really a thing.
And you have no musicians in the family?
No, but members of my family did things like singing in the church choir and things like that. It's only recently that my mom picked up an instrument, and so the younger ones in the family are also playing instruments, but we didn't grow up like that.
So how did your personal journey into the music industry begin?
I went on Gumtree and I found someone there who is a producer. I used to live in the UK, but the music thing only started when I moved here. At the time I was working in a theatrical dining restaurant where the waiting staff would sing. Because I was now singing every day, my mom actually put me onto this job. So, being in that environment with people who were themselves musicians, some of them studied music and all of that, so that sparked my interest. So, anyway, I found a guy by the name of Dice Jones on Gumtree. He's actually become a very good friend of mine and it's through him that I think I've managed to get to where I am, He's been so supportive, he connected me with a few people. The first track of mine that people know was recorded with his production, He gave the vocals to Enoo Napa and that's how that remix came about.
Was it by luck that it was him you found on Gumtree? Did you know about his work?
Not even. I can't remember how it's started but we decided to link up, we had coffee, and it turned out we got along quite well. He speaks Portuguese and at the time he was starting a label, and that's how I ended up linking up with DJ Satellite. So, he has been an integral part of my journey. There were times where I wouldn't have any cash to pay for studio time, and he would come through for me on that. He's one of my best friends, encouraging me to keep pushing and keep it going.
Before I come back to those struggles that make you want to quit. Tell me about your earliest memory of falling in love with House music.
Crystal Waters, Gypsy Women, Robin S. In those times, it was the big voices, Marshal Waters.
Where were you hearing the music?
On television, back home in Zimbabwe. When Channel O started…
Oh yeah. There was a time they were playing Blue 6, like all the time. I clearly remember, if you woke up early in the morning, you would definitely come across Blue 6…
Sweet Love and Pure. There was Monique Bingham. That was the start of it but also being in Zim and listening to a lot of what was coming out of South Africa, like Brothers of Peace, Oskido. That's pretty much where it started. In the UK, when I moved there, I wasn't listening to a lot of South African house, but I WAS Still listening to a lot of funky house. When I moved here, it's like you are in the thick of it, and so for me, house music is always what I wanted to lend my voice to, I find it easy to express myself through it; sometimes without even saying a lot.
Do you know why that is for you as an artist; this desire to express yourself through this genre?
Movement. Even when I'm recording. I don't necessarily write to the music, I listen and sing along to it and let it take me where it wants. I can dance to house music all night long. I actually did that this past weekend. I was out on Friday just dancing to house music. For me, it's the feeling that house music evokes in you as a person and the fact that it just makes you want to move.
One thing for me about house music; I'm a huge fan of Moloko, for example. Sometimes I just don't even know what the lyrics are, I can just dance to it, and love it.
They say house is a feeling. What I appreciate most about the genre is that you can go to any house music event, not knowing who is playing, what they are playing, who produced the music, you'll still dance. There are people in the community who are known for playing what we call "unshazamables", because sometimes you want to know what they are playing, but with house you can still have a great time and get educated, and find out who the people behind the music are later.
One thing I've noticed is how engaged house cats are, it's very different to the hip-hop crowd who often just want to hear what they are familiar with. House cats seem far more open, and you'll find them circling around the DJ…
Exactly.
It's incredible. As you say, South Africa is crazy about house music. For you, as an indie artist, does that kind of make it easier to penetrate, or would you say your struggles are the same as any artist who does any other genre?
I think it's the same, but at the same time because people are so invested in the genre, you get people who are loyal. It's a bit of a catch 22 but I often meet people who don't know who I am but they know my songs, and they talk about it not knowing they are talking to me. It's really about the music.
With other genres your face becomes important.
Exactly. I've had experiences where people started crying when they realised they were talking to Jackie Queens, saying ‘Oh my God, I love that song'. I don't know if it's the same for everyone but certainly, for me, the relationship I have with fans of my music is very much like we're friends. It feels personal as opposed to having something connected to my image. I certainly don't feel objectified. When people meet me, it's not about what I look like, it's always just about the music. There are lots of struggles, of course, because beyond the underground scene, there's also the commercial layer, which is very different to what we know as indie, underground house music, but I'd have to say that some of my best moments within this are just about being with the people, because the music is what keeps us connected.
I find that with house music, and most dance-oriented genres, vocalists kind of take a back seat. They are not as celebrated as the producers, as the DJs. How do we change that? And is it necessary for it to change? Essentially, would you say vocalists get enough credit?
This has been my gripe for a while. People often say I need a vocalist for this, they'll tag you, you'll get DJs saying ‘we need vocalists for this song', but there's never any follow up in terms of giving people credit, or royalties. House is still very much a boy's club like that.
Yeah, I mean. I'm a fan of music, and I love house music, but I sort of never find out who the vocalists are. Outside of people like, maybe Bucie, I don't know who the vocalists are half the time. I can't say I know their names, I don't know what they look like. We listen to and dance to so much house music but these vocalists are just invisible to us.
It's funny because I was here at Kitcheners on Friday with friends of mine who are producers and someone approached one of them and said: "You know I love that one song you did with Jackie Queens" meanwhile, I'm standing right there next to them (laughs).
So, what do you do in that situation? Do you say ‘howdy, that's me!'?
There's not much you can really do, but I mean, all of these people who know the producers I work with know my music, they just don't know my face. I'm not sure how we can change this, but I think it's definitely something worth changing because as you say, people don't actually consider you an artist.
I often ask myself how a house music vocalist gets gigs, for one, because promoters, I presume, just think DJ mang-mang will play that song, so it's chilled.
I had this conversation not so long ago with singer Donald. We were chatting about it on Twitter. I mentioned something to the effect of vocalists being invisible. He said you need to break out of that and become an artist….
But that's what you are, as a vocalist, so what did he mean?
That's what I was trying to understand: what do you mean? And also, just because I like featuring on other people's tracks, doesn't mean I give up my status as an artist. I enjoy collaboration, I shouldn't be penalized or thought less of. Like, why can't I have a career based on features? Monique Bingham does it. Personally, it helps me with exploring various subgenres within house music, because I'm working with different people with a variety of sounds. I don't think I need to build a name as a solo artist in order to be recognised as an artist. I think this whole thing is because people actually just don't know what goes into making a song, particularly in house music. In hip-hop it's different, as a featured artist, people generally accept that those are your words, but for some reason with house I don't know why people feel differently. You are arranging melodies, harmonies, but people often just recognised the DJ or producers as the sole artist.
Are they doing enough to educate?
I don't think so. I think vocalist deserve to be given more of a platform.
You were nominated for a South African Dance Music Award this year. Do you think initiatives like that can go some way in addressing that lack of recognition?
I don't know. Sometimes I feel like awards are just awards. I'm a firm believer in long-lasting change. Those awards were long overdue, I would say, but I think that's one part of addressing the issue, but I think they can go further to recognizing songwriting, composing…
It kind of feels very surface, right? If I think of the SAMAs for instance, you have those technical genres being awarded. We don't see it, but it happens. Composers, songwriters: those people are recognised.
I think the composer questions would open up a very interesting conversation because a lot of the time the DJs whose names are on the CD, they haven't composed the actual music. They are producers in the sense that they've brought together artists to create something, but when someone is nominated for song of the year, and they are not the composer, there's a disconnect there. Sometimes what they do is they will go to artists and buy an entire composition. That's music and lyrics, and when they register the track, it's their song. So, having a category of that nature begins to open up the conversation: who are the creators behind the music? There are a lot of vulnerable young creators who end up being exploited in the process because of this.
Find Jackie Queens on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram & Soundcloud