The countdown is on to the Mother Pride Block Party on 29 June, with a massive array of artists, DJs and performers set to descent on the National Museum of Ireland, Collins Barracks, for an annual celebration of all things fabulous.
Along with the likes of COBRAH, Robin S, Sasha Velour and Blu Hydrangea, the event will see a return to Ireland for electroclash/hip hop chanteuse Princess Superstar, making her first performance in Ireland for a decade or so.
The New York native, whose back catalogue includes tracks such as Bad Babysitter and Licky is currently enjoying something of a Renaissance, after arguably her biggest hit, Perfect (Exceeder), alongside Mason, which came out in 2007, featured in the movie Saltburn (in the Midsummer Night’s Dream-themed party scene, no less).
909originals caught up with her. Tickets for the Mother Pride Block Party are selling fast and can be purchased here.
Hi, thanks for talking to us. In a few weeks from now you’ll be performing at the Mother Pride Block Party in Dublin – do you know what to expect?
I played probably about 10 years ago and it was amazing. What I expect is nothing less than that incredible Irish audience that I love so much!
Many of the younger generation will have first come across you because of Perfect (Exceeder)‘s inclusion in Saltburn. How did that come about?
The director [Emerald Fennell] was a fan of the song when it first hit the charts in 2007, and she was the one that wanted it. I never spoke to her, but I got an email requesting the usage from my music publisher.
Nobody could have predicted what it would go on to do for me! It’s been a wild experience.
Did you expect the movie to take off like it did? And to what degree did it prompt you to get back out ‘on the road’?
I was totally shocked by the response – it was over Christmas as well so it was like a gift from the Universe! I love touring so it was a no brainer to get out as soon as I could!
We first got to know your music in the early 2000s, a time when you had a myriad of scenes, electroclash, hip hop, pop etc. What inspired you to blend these genres to define your own sound?
I just love music so much, and never felt limited to sticking to one genre. My career might have been more successful if I did just pick one, but I couldn’t. I answer to my own creativity 🙂
You’re often credited with paving the way for other female rappers with pop sensibilities. Are there any in particular that have cited you as a key influence?
I do get quite a few DMs or posts from artists who say they love me. Doja Cat was a nice one!
By the time Bad Babysitter came out in 2002, you already had close to a decade of making music behind you. At that stage, did you think that it wasn’t going to happen for you?
Yes of course, you always wonder, ‘should I just stop or is my big break around the corner?’ I couldn’t stop because it was what I loved.
Bad Babysitter was on my fourth album. The British press called me an ‘overnight success’ when it hit #11 on the charts. Gotta love it.
Your career spans the pre-social media and social media generations – do you think it would have been harder for you to break through in a social media-influenced world? Or at least had the longevity that you had?
Actually, I think if I had had social media I would have been able to sustain my career a bit better in the 2010’s. People to this day didn’t know I was the voice of Perfect, or my other club hit, Licky.
You recently told DJ Mag about being ‘overlooked’ by Ministry of Sound for the Perfect (Exceeder) video (and tour!). How did that get resolved in the end?
It didn’t! I just got to tell my story 17 years later, and that feels amazing.
How did your time away from the music industry affect your creative outlook and the themes you explore in your music now?
I think I’m more grateful now to be back, since I missed it so much. I did keep making music but nobody was listening to it.
I even wrote a song about that – a sort of mid-life crisis song called Who Am I Now. I think it only got like 1,000 streams in total, of course, ha!
You marked your 50th birthday a couple of years ago with Gettin’ Older (Pussy Still Pop!). Great tune. I guess that’s your way of saying ‘I ain’t done yet’?
Yes, exactly.
You’ve collaborated with so many artists over the years. Who did you learn the most from, and who was the wildest?
I loved working with Grandmaster Flash, he is such a legend and I got to be on his album. He was so calm and kind and knew what he wanted. The wildest was Kool Keith. He was a crazy genius and always had, like, a porn star with him!
You had a reputation for partying hard back in the day. Are you eternally grateful that there weren’t any camera phones back then (I know I am…)?
OMG, yes! I quit drinking and drugs, too, thank God because that was messy. But fun too!
What does the rest of the year have in store for you? If you survive Dublin of course… 😉
New album, new tour, and an epic time…. 🙂
The Mother Pride Block Party takes place on 29 June, and can be purchased here.
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