Another Dimension
Turntable Stories - Narratives, Memories and Histories from In-between the Grooves - Fraser Mann
Dawn Amber Harvey [+]
Writer
Description
Let me state quite categorically, from the start, that in applying to write for this anthology I am a fraud. I was a minor face on the London gay scene for more than 15 years. I worked as a DJ, technician and producer. As a DJ, I’m ashamed to say, I never once used turntables. I was lazy, CD-wielding trash. I have no place here. I do not belong. Though I still feel I have a story to tell. Mostly I want to tell you about DJing at Marvellous, an under-rated Sunday night gay club that ran in a back street venue in Brixton in the early noughties. I want to talk about the joy of Sunday night clubbing in this underground sanctuary. Escapism was the key, and the real world felt a million miles away. I want to describe the parade of characters, on the staff and on the dance floor, that made Marvellous a unique environment. I want to introduce the drunk drag queen host, the flamboyant goth-legend DJ, the punters who would bring in enormous fans to dance with, the stunning trans supermodel who would drop by. I want to talk about the music – disco, baggy, indie, funk. I want to talk about the power and euphoria of controlling a dance floor. I want to talk about the lack of inhibition, the sheer state of abandon and the vital role clubbing has played in queer culture. I’ll probably talk about some other venues too. I haven’t decided yet. So, what do you think? Would you care to listen? Shall we drop the needle on the record? Ha ha, yeah right, let’s just press ‘play’ and I’ll begin. (Parental guidance: will contain bad language.)