Name, Location, What You Do:
Saucy Lady, Boston, Vocalist-Songwriter-Beatmaker-DJ.

Influences:
It all started with my dad’s intensive jazz and classical record collection. Free jazz was playing all day and night since my mom was pregnant. I hated it. It’s so hard to digest! But now I appreciate it. Growing up, almost every day my dad and I would share our favorite tunes, hip hop, classical, or whatever genre, and listen together enthusiastically, and in full blast. My folks let me study piano and opera so my ears got trained too. Another influence was in college I was a radio DJ and urban music director so I had access to a lot of new incoming music then. But specifically artist wise – Sun Ra, Monk, Grant Green, Sonny Rollins, Anita O’Day, Blossom Dearie, Bobby McFerrin, Take 6, EW&F, Cat Stevens, Madonna, MJ, Quincy Jones, Herbie, Nile Rodgers, NWA, Aaliyah, Erykah Badu, D’Angelo, Toshi Kubota, Yujiro Ishihara, Joao Gilberto, Elis Regina, Schubert, Schumann, Beethoven, Bach, Rachmaninov, Mahler, Ives, Satie, Debussy, etc. Plus, sounds from nature are inspiring. Leaves brushing against trees on a windy day, bird calls, ocean waves, tennis ball hitting the court, kids playing in a park at a distance, Japanese summer festival ambience, sounds of Japanese Gagaku wind instruments.

Favorite Records at the Moment:
Ken Nordine’s Word Jazz – I used to listen to his collection of word jazz when I was a kid and recently re-discovered it. So humorous and soothing.

Cal Tjader – Tjader- Ade – I didn’t even realize I had this record until last week. Every track is so killer!

Garrett Private Life I & II – I’ve been listening to both obsessively to chill and meditate.

Best Digging Story:
Digging through some $0.50 crates, I found a beat up compilation that included Brothers Johnson track “Tomorrow”. It’s easy to find their records but it was the first time I heard that track, apart from Tevin Campbell’s version back in the 90s. I was mesmerized by it, and it inspired me to start recording my first album. I did a cover of it and it was the very first professional solo vocal recording I had ever done.

Favorite Mix and Why. Any Genre, Any DJ.
I don’t have any particular favorite “mix” as in a mixtape. I listen to a ton of DJ mixes, and I really dig Mark Grusane’s live mixes. Mark’s sets always make me feel like I’m drugged out in a sleazy 70s dive discotheque with faintly lit party lights where you can feel musty cigarette odor absorbing into your fishnets. It’s a mood. Also, Scuba’s mixes in general are pretty spellbinding. I usually listen to his mixes in the car and I always end up speeding. I did get a speeding ticket once as a result. Thanks Scuba.

LP, 12”, or 7” format?
I love them all. I don’t have a preference, as long as the pressing sounds good. That said I have been buying more 7” lately because it’s just lighter to carry and it’s got a crisper sound.

Junk Food You Can’t Live Without:
Ice cream. Recently I’ve been eating all plant-based foods, and found it hard to find the perfect ice cream substitute. But I finally found one! It’s the “So Delicious” brand that uses cashew milk. The Salted caramel cluster flavor is to die for. I just ate one today too. I’m gonna get fat soon.

Most Memorable Gig Played:
Opening for Soul Clap and Dam Funk in Cambridge, MA because it was the first time I encountered a fanatic Saucy fan. She wanted my signature written on her dress. But the sharpie was running out so all I left her with was a stain that barely ready the letter S.

Record That Never Leaves Your Record Box:
Got a few heavy hitter tunes that usually remain in my crate but there is one record I ALWAYS bring with me that I NEVER EVER Play. It’s Howard Jones “Conditioning”. That dollar record has flown with me all around the world and I feel bad for the guy now.

Shout Outs, Last Remarks, and Gig Info:
I’ll be DJing at Friends and Lovers in Brooklyn on Saturday Jan 19th for the monthly Shake party with Monk One and Prestige. Got some fire tunes prepped for that.

Also got my sophomore album “Supanova” set to release on April 2nd off Star Creature Universal Vibrations. It’s space themed, musically diverse and intricate, plus the artwork’s fun with comics. Shouts to Yuki “U-KEY” Kanesaka aka monolog for the production efforts and Tim Zawada for the release support!

Dig Deeper!