Interview by Brooke Gibbs.

FMM: You released Venus Bitch on Friday. Congratulations!

Jimi: Thank you. Feels good to be out.. again.

FMM: People have had the weekend to listen to it and get behind it. What has the reaction been like so far Have people reached out to you about the release?

Jimi: Yes, absolutely. I think from the previous track to Venus Bitch, is obviously way faster, way higher energy, so people are like, ‘Oh, my God. Girl, I did not expect that from you.’ So, it's really awesome. I've loved the response and, yeah, the feedback's been great.

FMM: It's nice to surprise people, especially if they're saying that they didn't expect this from you based on previous releases.

Jimi: Totally, and the little rap moment as well. I'm like, I'm Nicki Minaj, girl.

FMM: You've got it all. You've been a performer for some time now, so you've got it all in the bag there. It's going well for you.

Jimi: So much fun. I'm loving it.

FMM: It's released just in time for Mardi Gras, which is very exciting. What inspired this track and what does it mean for you as a performer?

Jimi: It's literally all about celebrating the femme energy and just really empowering myself and what I've got to offer. I just really wanted to put this out now more than ever. We need to be celebrating all types of people out there and everyone's got their feminine side, you know? There's a couple of tracks that are ready to go, and I was like, let's pop Venus Bitch out there because it's like a power banger where we can all just dance and let loose. So, I think celebrating the feminine side and empowering that kind of thing was why we went with that.

FMM: That's such a beautiful message, especially when a lot of people might be attending Mardi Gras for their first time, or maybe they want to go but haven't been able to for their own reasons.

Jimi: Yeah, totally, totally. I mean, we're all there to celebrate ourselves and one another, so get on the dance floor and scream it out loud, because some people feel like they can't find their people or associate easily with people. I definitely felt that, hence why I'm saying I'm from a different planet, because I am, so all planets are welcome.

FFMM: Do you have any advice for people that may not have found their place yet?

Jimi: Good question. Well, when I moved to Melbourne, you kind of have to put yourself out there, but there's trust that there's always going to be a community with like minded people like yourself. It might take a little while to find it, but it is out there, and Facebook groups are awesome If people still use Facebook. Do you still use Facebook? I think they do, yes. But, yeah, go out to the bars. If you like a certain type of music, go to those venues that have that music there so you can find like-minded people. Or if it's a golf club or whatever, your people are out there.

FMM: Thank you for sharing that advice. It's a really nice message for people that are still trying to find where they fit in as well.

Jimi: Yeah, definitely.

FMM: And speaking about Mardi Gras, you're performing at the after party, so what can we expect?

Jimi: Yes, I have an eight-minute mega mix show of my tracks, some unreleased stuff. I've got four gorgeous dancers. We've got these crazy, light up star things that we're giving out. It's like super high energy. Then after the show, I jump on the decks and give a half-hour absolute banging set to bring on the dance floor even more. I'm super excited. Yes, it's an after party at Arc and it's going to be fire and the visuals are so cool. It's like all intergalactic and I'm super excited. And the costume is mwah!

FMM: That sounds very exciting. I can't wait to see that, and I can't wait to see what your costume is going to be, too, because you look gorgeous right now, so I can't imagine what your Mardi Gras outfit will be.

Jimi: Oh, my God, it's so next level. I can't wait to show everyone.

FMM: You're currently on tour at the moment across Australia. Last night, I believe, was the first night, so I'd love to hear all about that and how it went.

Jimi: Yeah, awesome. Last night we were in Adelaide at Poppin Out Festival run by the Marys Poppin Crew and it was awesome. It was like this big Laneway Festival as well as in the venue. I did a back-to-back DJ set and I performed Venus Bitch, which went off, which is cool. Then I hopped on a plane straight from the club. Oh, it was brutal. Now I'm in Port Douglas doing some DJ sets here as well, and singing at the Sheraton for sunset sessions. Then Japan tomorrow for Snow Machine Festival and then Mardi Gras after that, and then Pitch Festival and then Chill Out festival. It's all happening and it's just like I'm having the time of my life. Living the dream, darling.

FMM: Incredible. It sounds like you're very busy, but busy in an exciting way.

Jimi: Absolutely, absolutely.

FMM: Do you have any pre show routines? I've seen some things that you've shared on Instagram before shows, and it always looks like you're always living the best life as you just described it. I'd love to hear how you plan for these shows.

Jimi: Well, I mean, it takes a couple of hours to do the makeup, so that's always part of the routine for me, and I listen to lots and lots of music. I use that time to find music, to listen to people's mixes and stuff like that. So often when I'm getting ready, I'll be taking screenshots and then downloading tracks to be playing that night. In terms of the live singing shows and the dancing shows, you just got to stretch, Mum. We got to stretch it out, otherwise you're going to injure yourself. Those splits don't come easy, Darling. Yeah, so just stretching and breathing for the live shows and just really listening to the current music for the DJ set, so you stay fresh. Stay on it.

FMM: You mentioned that you spend a lot of time listening to music. Do you have any recommendations you'd like to share?

Jimi: Oh, my God. Like, secret recommendations? There's this playlist on Spotify called House Music All Life Long and it's like 68 hours of house music. I put that on and then when there's a song I haven't heard before, I'm like, oh, my God, put that song on song radio and then just feeds me all this new stuff. I love that, but in terms of specific artists, I'm actually quite a chiller as well. I think my personal Spotify rapped was like Tuesday cafe afternoon or something like that.

FMM: That's surprising. Wow. I wouldn't have picked that.

Jimi: I thought I was a party demon, but apparently not. But yeah, there's this new artist I'm obsessed with called Jacotene and she's super young and writes her music and it's incredible. So, if you like yourself a good bluesy voice and a grit and amazing songs, go listen to Jacotene for sure.

FMM: Thanks for the recs. I'll definitely have to check her out as well as that house playlist. It sounds great.

Jimi: It's a party.

FMM: For anyone that might be coming to your shows or who will see you at Mardi Gras, who hasn't come across you before, how would you describe yourself and your music?

Jimi: Lke the ultimate party diva, pretty much. You know, it's going to be a good time. My music is very uplifting. It's all about bringing people together, having a good time, leaving everything at the door. No matter who you are, if you’re at my show, you're going to make some friends, that's for sure. I'm going to deliver the party, so you can count on that for sure.

FMM: Love it, and that's the best way to go as well. It sounds like you've put a lot of work into making sure your shows are such a welcoming and inclusive space.

Jimi: Yeah, definitely, and the whole intergalactic, interplanetary thing, I think, just lifts us even more out of the reality that we're in because some parts of reality at the moment especially is totally awful. Coming into a space like planet Venus, you just leave it all at the door and you can escape and you can kind of fly through space, get lit and have a good time.

FMM: Just be who you want to be and who you are.

Jimi: Exactly. Whatever planet you are from, that's for sure.

FMM: You've obviously got a lot of other shows coming up, as well as international dates. It sounds like you've got a big year ahead, but what else? Is there anything else you want to share that you're working on? You mentioned earlier there were some other songs maybe as well.

Jimi: Yeah, so I've got a bunch of releases this year, probably every six to eight weeks. We've got some singles coming out, potentially an EP at the end, but we're seeing how we go with that. I think I'm going to stick with the party vibes, but I've got some more mid-tempo kind of stuff in the catalogue that I'm just kind of waiting to figure out when's the right time to put that out. I've just started working with guide dogs as well, so that's really cool. I'm working with the guide dogs people because I think it's really important.What else is there? I mean, just planning all the parties, baby. I'm off to America in June as well for a little tour there, so I'm super pumped about that. Yeah, it's going to be fun. 2024.

FMM: It sounds fun, but also very big. How do you balance everything? Even the guide dog sounds amazing, but where do you have time for this?

Jimi: Yes. Horizontal days. I call them horizontal days where I just choose a day and I'm like, all right, this is going to be a horizontal day where I'm just like fully shut off. I have my gratefulness breaths that I try and do once a day, which is just like a really slow in and out ten times and finding a little spot and just pausing for a minute and just going, reflecting and then it kind of resets me and I'm ready to rock and roll again

FMM: It sounds like you balance it well and I'm really excited to see what the rest of the year has in store for you as well.

Jimi: Me too.

FMM: Well, thank you so much for your time. Was there any other comments you wanted to add about this release or about any of the upcoming shows?

Jimi: Just come along. Come see what it's like. Us drag queens, we're not that scary. We are beacons of colour and light.If you like the look of it, come on down and I'm sure you're going to be surprised at how much fun you're going to have.

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