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Jodie Harsh

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Jodie Harsh
Background information
Genres
Occupations
Instruments
Piano/keyboard
Years active2008–present
LabelsWarner
Websitewww.jodieharsh.com Edit this at Wikidata

Jodie Harsh is a London-based DJ music producer, promoter, and drag queen.[1][2]

Career

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Nightlife

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Jodie Harsh adopted her moniker at the age of 18 when she moved to London for her studies at the London College of Fashion.[3] Her name is inspired by television personality and glamour model Jodie Marsh, and is intended to be "a piss-take of that naff celebrity culture, where people are famous for doing nothing".[4] She started exploring the drag scene and working in nightlife. She hosted her own parties at different venues across London, with her debut event taking place at Soho Revue Bar (now The Box).[5]

She founded the gay club brand Room Service in 2010, which was initially based in London but later expanded internationally. As a promoter for Room Service, Harsh booked renowned DJs like Honey Dijon to perform.[6] During these parties, she also began to DJ herself due to budget constraints for hiring opening act DJs. Harsh's reputation as a DJ grew, and she received bookings from various clubs in Europe and beyond, as well as fashion brand events. In 2016, she achieved further notoriety when she launched the party Dollar Baby in East London, where she was accompanied by her friend Lady Gaga on opening night.[7][8]

In July 2021, Harsh launched club night Feel It in association with live music venue Omeara,[9] alongside Clayton Wright.[10] The club night has hosted sets and performances from acclaimed artists like Jessie Ware, Annie Mac, Eats Everything, Patrick Topping and Charli XCX.

Music

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Harsh started writing and producing music a few years after becoming a DJ. She created remixes for various artists, such as Beyonce's "BLOW", Fergie's "LA Love", and Justin Timberlake's "Suit and Tie". Additionally, she produced The Night, an EP for Melanie C. Harsh then began developing her own artist project and collaborated with SOPHIE to co-produce the track "Secret (Shh)" for Charli XCX's Vroom Vroom EP.[11] Later, they co-wrote start's debut single "Tuesday".[12] Harsh released subsequent singles and an EP under her own Harsh Beats label, including "Don't Try Me", "Filthy Rich",[13] and "Beats and Pieces".

As the pandemic forced clubs to shut down abruptly in 2020, Harsh's DJ career came to an unexpected halt. This prompted her to venture into music production and release her own tracks, as well as to start livestreaming and podcasting.[14][15] In November 2020, she unveiled her first single signed to a record label, "My House"[16] initially under Another Rhythm records, but later signed a deal with Warner Music UK. "My House" gained popularity and was played on Radio 1 Playlist for several months, becoming the top trending sound on TikTok, and featured cameos from 61 British drag queens in the music video,[17] including nearly every queen who'd been featured in both seasons of RuPaul's Drag Race UK.[15] The dance track instantly became a post-lockdown anthem as clubs reopened across the country.[18] Harsh's subsequent singles included "No Sleep",[19] "Good Time", "Shock",[20] and "Hectic".[21]

Harsh has created remixes for several artists, including Sonny Fodera,[22] Kylie Minogue,[14] Years and Years,[22] Charli XCX,[14] Rina Sawayama,[22] Fatboy Slim, and Sigala. In 2021, she signed a major global publishing deal with Universal Music.[23] In 2022, Harsh was featured on the BBC Radio 1 playlist for her "My House" and her SG Lewis co-production "No Sleep".[14] In 2024, Harsh supported Troye Sivan on the UK/EU Something to Give Each Other Tour.[24] She opened for Sivan at the Wembley Arena in London on June 27.[25]

Book

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In May 2024, it was announced that Faber & Faber has acquired Harsh's memoir You Had to Be There for UK and Commonwealth rights (excluding Canada) and audio rights. Scheduled for release in autumn 2025, the book details Harsh’s intense decade in 2000's London nightlife, capturing a liberated, pre-social media era.[26]

Other

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In addition to her music career and DJing, Harsh is the host of "Life of the Party," a podcast that has completed two seasons so far. The show features interviews with a variety of guests from the music industry, including the likes of Fatboy Slim, Amy Lamé, Nile Rogers, Roisin Murphy, Joel Corry, The Blessed Madonna and Annie Mac.[20][22][27][28]

In April 2016, Harsh appeared in Absolutely Fabulous: The Movie, a 2016 film adaptation of the cult British television series.[29] She played herself in the movie, which also stars Jennifer Saunders, Joanna Lumley, and supermodel Kate Moss.[29]

In 2021, Harsh made a guest appearance on the third episode of the second series of RuPaul's Drag Race UK on BBC Three.[30] She also co-hosted an episode of BBC Radio 1's Dance Anthems, alongside Charlie Hedges.[31][32] Harsh has also made notable appearances on radio shows such as the Essential Mix for Pete Tong's show[33] and on Radio 1's Mini Mix.[34]

Out described Harsh as "Britain's Best-Known Drag Queen"[35] and The Guardian characterized her "Britain's most famous drag queen DJ/friend to the stars" in 2008. PinkNews described her as "Britain’s busiest working drag queen" before Drag Race UK,[36] and BBC referred to her as a "staple of the UK's club scene for more than a decade" in a 2021 article.[15]

Personal life

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Harsh was born in Canterbury, Kent. She attended the London College of Fashion.[37] While at university, she first adopted the persona of Jodie Harsh to make money through nightclub jobs and DJing.[37]

Discography

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Extended plays

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Title EP details Track listing Source
Beats N' Pieces
  • Released: September 2020
  • Label: Harsh Beats
  1. "Fascinating Light"
  2. "Paris"
  3. "Nerve"
  4. "Burn It Down" (ft. Rowetta)
 [38]

Singles

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Title Year Label Source
"Tuesday" (ft. SOPHIE) 2019 Harsh Beats [39]
"Don't Try Me" (ft. Vula) 2020 [40]
"Filthy Rich" [41]
"Never Knew (L.O.V.E)" [42]
"My House" 2021 Warner Records [43][44]
"No Sleep" [43][45]
"Good Time" 2022 [46][47]
"Shock" [48][49]
"Hectic" 2023 [50][51]
"Celebrate" Harsh Beats
"Like It Like That"
"Hit Me Up" (ft. Bryn Christopher) 2024
"Joy"

References

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  1. ^ "Jodie Harsh: 'Drag is my work suit' – Profiles – People". The Independent. 18 June 2009. Archived from the original on 9 June 2022. Retrieved 17 April 2013.
  2. ^ "Jodie Harsh enlists 61 iconic UK queens for new music vid - including RPDR UK's Tayce, Bimini and more". Attitude. 5 March 2021. Archived from the original on 13 June 2021. Retrieved 2 May 2021.
  3. ^ Gibsone, Harriet (29 April 2023). "Jodie Harsh looks back: 'My goal was to be different, to be anything but normal'". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 5 May 2023.
  4. ^ Backer, Stina. "Jodie Harsh: 'Drag is my work suit'". The Independent. Retrieved 2 September 2024.
  5. ^ "Jodie Harsh – The Vogue". Retrieved 5 May 2023.
  6. ^ "In Session: Jodie Harsh". Mixmag. Retrieved 5 May 2023.
  7. ^ Stroude, Will; jane (31 January 2017). "Scene and Heard | Dollar Baby, East London". Attitude. Retrieved 5 May 2023.
  8. ^ Cuby, Michael (5 July 2017). "Jodie Harsh Is the Life of the Party". Paper.
  9. ^ "LGBTQ+ stars celebrate the launch of Nancy's, Feel It's new "den of debauchery"". GAY TIMES. 6 September 2022. Retrieved 6 May 2023.
  10. ^ "Jessie Ware debuts new single at first anniversary of Jodie Harsh's Feel It". GAY TIMES. 19 July 2022. Retrieved 6 May 2023.
  11. ^ Spanos, Brittany (8 March 2016). "Charli XCX 'Vroom Vroom' Album Review". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 6 May 2023.
  12. ^ ALi, Jon (6 December 2019). "Queer Necessities: Big Freedia, Greyson Chance & More on Billboard Pride's December 2019 Playlist". Billboard. Retrieved 6 May 2023.
  13. ^ Daw, Stephen (1 May 2020). "First Out: New Music From Kehlani, Todrick Hall, Hayley Kiyoko & More". Billboard. Retrieved 6 May 2023.
  14. ^ a b c d "Jodie Harsh: "My first time in a club felt like waking up from a dream"". Mixmag. Retrieved 5 May 2023.
  15. ^ a b c "Jodie Harsh on My House, clubs and 'drag queen rock stars'". BBC News. 24 April 2021. Retrieved 6 May 2023.
  16. ^ "LIFE OF THE PARTY". Red Bull. Retrieved 6 May 2023.
  17. ^ Tabberer, Jamie; jane (5 March 2021). "Jodie Harsh enlists 61 iconic UK queens for epic My House music video". Attitude. Retrieved 6 May 2023.
  18. ^ "Jodie Harsh teases new music: "We're going to be dancing next year!"". GAY TIMES. 22 November 2021. Retrieved 6 May 2023.
  19. ^ Kelleher, Patrick (10 July 2021). "Legendary queen Jodie Harsh wants you to know 'drag isn't as easy as it looks on TV'". PinkNews. Retrieved 6 May 2023.
  20. ^ a b Wonderland Staff (2 August 2022). "Jodie Harsh Talks "Shock", Podcasting and Touring With Jessie Ware". Wonderland. Retrieved 5 May 2023.
  21. ^ Gibsone, Harriet (29 April 2023). "Jodie Harsh looks back: 'My goal was to be different, to be anything but normal'". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 6 May 2023.
  22. ^ a b c d Forrest, Jo (1 July 2022). "Jodie Harsh returns with anthemic new single 'Shock'". TotalNtertainment. Retrieved 6 May 2023.
  23. ^ "UMPG and Jinsing sign DJ Jodie Harsh to global deal". www.musicweek.com. Retrieved 6 May 2023.
  24. ^ "TROYE SIVAN UNVEILS ELECTRIFYING BAG RAIDERS REMIX OF "GOT ME STARTED"". Universal Music Canada. Retrieved 14 September 2024.
  25. ^ "Troye Sivan's 2024 Something To Give Each Other tour setlist in full". Official Charts. 27 June 2024. Retrieved 14 September 2024.
  26. ^ "Faber nabs Jodie Harsh's new book about the 'decadent' years she spent in London". The Bookseller. Retrieved 14 September 2024.
  27. ^ "Premiere: Jodie Harsh teams up with Love Bailey for mesmerising new video". GAY TIMES. 26 October 2020. Retrieved 6 May 2023.
  28. ^ "Google releases mini-documentary about drag queen Jodie Harsh". Mixmag. Retrieved 6 May 2023.
  29. ^ a b "La Voix, Charlie Hides & Jodie Harsh to Star in 'Absolutely Fabulous' Movie". Drag Near You. 16 November 2015. Archived from the original on 3 February 2019. Retrieved 2 February 2019.
  30. ^ "Drag Race UK announces new guest stars, including legendary former contestant". Gay Times. Retrieved 29 January 2021.
  31. ^ "Drag queens Jodie Harsh and Bimini to host Radio 1 shows". BBC News. 11 August 2021. Retrieved 6 May 2023.
  32. ^ "Bimini, Tayce, Lawrence Chaney and Jodie Harsh to host their very own shows for the first-ever Radio 1 Drag Day". www.bbc.com. Retrieved 6 May 2023.
  33. ^ "BBC Radio 1 - Radio 1's Essential Mix, Jodie Harsh". BBC. Retrieved 8 May 2023.
  34. ^ "BBC Radio 1 - Radio 1's Dance Party with Annie Mac, Jodie Harsh Mini Mix!". BBC. Retrieved 8 May 2023.
  35. ^ Crummy, Colin (19 October 2015). "Why Jodie Harsh Is Britain's Best-Known Drag Queen". Out. Retrieved 2 February 2019.
  36. ^ Smith, Reiss (20 January 2020). "Baga Chipz, Sum Ting Wong and Derrick Barry weigh in on the DragCon UK 'pandemonium'". PinkNews. Retrieved 6 May 2023.
  37. ^ a b "Hey, Ms DJ...Jodie Harsh". Gay Times. p. 42. Archived from the original on 19 August 2011. Retrieved 18 May 2020 – via jodieharsh.com.
  38. ^ "Jodie Harsh offers 'Beats N' Pieces' on new EP". Mixmag. Retrieved 9 March 2023.
  39. ^ Murray, Robin (1 November 2019). "Jodie Harsh Shares SOPHIE-Driven Disco Banger 'Tuesday'". Clash Magazine Music News, Reviews & Interviews. Retrieved 9 March 2023.
  40. ^ Daw, Stephen (6 February 2020). "Queer Necessities: L Devine, Sam Sparro & More on Billboard Pride's February 2020 Playlist". Billboard. Retrieved 9 March 2023.
  41. ^ "Start your weekend off right with Jodie Harsh's new banger Filthy Rich". GAY TIMES. 1 May 2020. Retrieved 9 March 2023.
  42. ^ Phillips, Aimee (17 July 2020). ""Fascinating Light" by Jodie Harsh". Notion. Retrieved 9 March 2023.
  43. ^ a b Kelleher, Patrick (10 July 2021). "Legendary queen Jodie Harsh wants you to know 'drag isn't as easy as it looks on TV'". PinkNews. Retrieved 9 March 2023.
  44. ^ "My House - Jodie Harsh | Release Info". AllMusic. Retrieved 9 March 2023.
  45. ^ No Sleep - Jodie Harsh | Releases | AllMusic, retrieved 9 March 2023
  46. ^ "Jodie Harsh releases "ultimate party banger" Good Time - and it's a bop". GAY TIMES. 18 February 2022. Retrieved 9 March 2023.
  47. ^ Jodie Harsh - Good Time Album Reviews, Songs & More | AllMusic, retrieved 9 March 2023
  48. ^ Wonderland Staff (2 August 2022). "Jodie Harsh Talks "Shock", Podcasting and Touring With Jessie Ware". Wonderland. Retrieved 9 March 2023.
  49. ^ Jodie Harsh - Shock Album Reviews, Songs & More | AllMusic, retrieved 9 March 2023
  50. ^ Staff, Notion (17 February 2023). "In The Mix: Jodie Harsh". Notion. Retrieved 9 March 2023.
  51. ^ Jodie Harsh - Hectic Album Reviews, Songs & More | AllMusic, retrieved 9 March 2023
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