I was fortunate enough to nab ten minutes of my biggest girl crushes time, Uffie, for Whos Jack Magazine, check it out: www.whosjack.org/when-tania-met-uffie/ or for you lazy clickers just do some scrolling...
When I was first introduced to the biting sardonic synths of Uffie in the form of Pop the Glock back in 2006 I was hooked on this electro crunked sensation with the face of butter wouldn’t melt but mouth could burn with lyrics such as ‘If you front, you can go f**k yourself in the back.’
The Uffmeister spent 4 years prior to recording her debut album Sex, Dreams and Denim Jeans which was released this summer gone, by artfully crafting hype and intrigue via live performances globally whilst subtly seducing unsuspecting Uffie addicts on good ol’ music marketing platform myspace. Not many artists can boast 17 million plays before your debut single has actually been released.
Just to name drop a little bit more she has previously collaborated with a few artists you may have heard of; Justice, Crystal Castles, Yolanda Be Cool and Pharrell Williams anyone?
Once dubbed the ‘Vanessa Paradis of electro cool’, Uffie is Shoreditch’s newest resident and arguably Ed Bangers finest internationally recognised slice of electro-rap originality. Anna-Catherine Hartley, aka Uffie, managed to squeeze in a break from her globe trotting schedule to tell Jack about her new range for Diesel and how she just can’t seem to get rid of those German lesbians…Let’s start from the beginning, what was your first introduction to music, and how did that catalyse the young Uffie to make pop the glock in 2006?
Well growing up in Hong Kong I just listened to my parent’s music which was Bob Marley, Pink Floyd kind of thing then we went back to the States, travelling, then living in the States when I was 13 I started listening to a lot of hip hop that was a big influence for me. Then when I came to France
Can you update Jack with what have you been up to at the moment?
Lately I have wrapped up a tour in Australia a few weeks ago, I’ve kind of been recuperating from that travelling around in New York now I’m in Leeds doing some Diesel parties and getting ready for the launch, as well as working on my second album.
Busy girl then! In the past you have always prided your music as being underground, what made you want to catalogue your music in an album that could be accessed by the masses?
I think as an artist, especially as your new, there’s something you need to do to prove yourself to yourself, with an album its just something you need to be really dedicated and follow through to do and it comes with really ups and downs and hard times making it, so for me it was something I wanted to prove to myself I could do, more of a personal challenge.
You started higher education at a fashion college, is that something you still want to pursue?
Definitely, my Dad was in fashion, it was a world I grew up around and it was something I really liked and it just seemed like a natural direction to go, and as the music grew, with the touring I was unable to continue school but it was something I’m still really interested in.
Who are your favourite designers or labels?
I’m a huge fan of Fendi, Jeremy Scott, Marc Jacobs is great, there is a New York
Recently you collaborated with Diesal, were you involved much in the creative process?
O definitely, it was important to me to actually be the one creating it and not just put my name on something, so I came to them with a bunch of designs and mood boards and the design team really helped me to see what I could really do in terms of fabrics and cuts. I especially like the bustier pieces in the dress and jump suit as I find them really flattering, and for me it’s so hard to find basic T-Shirts that are really flattering and a nice weight of the fabric. I definitely love those and the Jeans as well.
Where can Jack fans expect to see you next?
Well tomorrow I will be in Gastonburg, next place Sweden , then the week after that in Moscow and Budapest , then Jacata then on new years I will be playing in Korea
Your album is entitled sex dreams and denim jeans, who is your favourite denim designer or cut?
I’m a big fan of not skinny skinny jeans, slim fitting but I hate low waisted jeans, and they’ve got to be mid rise.
Pharell Williams of NERD features on your album, what is your nerdiest habit?
I definitely sit in bed eating cereal watching trashy TV all day! Let me think, um I’m not quite sure! I think I’m a massive nerd in a way!
You have expressed your annoyance in previous interviews that music making is now arranged via email, do you think this process hinders the creative process of music making a little bit?
I think so, as the cool thing about collaborating with people is meeting up with each other and exchanging energy and tossing ideas around, however I think it’s convenient to do things for mp3’s but I think you use a little bit of humility.
You have a young daughter, is she a fan of your music and would you encourage her if she wanted to follow a similar career as you?
She’s a huge fan of Vampire Weekend, I don’t know why but whenever I play that in the morning she jumps up and down and gets really happy! No, I wouldn’t stop her from following the same career but as much as I love what I do there are lots of ugly, ugly parts of this industry that of course you would never wish upon your child so you like to live in the fake reality that they will never know about certain things, so I hope she will be a dentist!
Your stage name Uffie, comes from the French name for egg, how do you like your eggs in the morning?
There is two stories they are always changing, well I was the last child that my dad was having and he was always saying enough enough enough and Un Oeuf translates as a little egg and some how that got turned into Uffie. I like toasted eggs and soldiers, soft boiled or poached with some bread for dipping!
What been your favourite festival you have played this summer, festival highlights and disasters?
Something always goes wrong, this is summer has been the summer of injuries, I think I’ve been in hospital 4 times. Stage diving was not a great idea! Definitely hands down the best festival was
Summer Sonic festival in Japan
Whats the most obscure letter of object you have ever received from a fan?
There’s always really weird stuff! Always the guys that say ‘I wanna have your babies’ and stuff. Every time I go to Germany there are always lesbian couples who always ask me to go home with them! It’s quite strange.
How do you feel about the constant Kesha comparisons?
I just don’t care.
You’ve worked with quite a few producers; are there any other artists or producers you want to work with in future?
I would like to collaborate more with Neptune productions as I love Pharrell and think he’s an amazing producer, I think right now I’m doing a collaboration with Yolanda Be cool, who I met on tour in Australia, I think its quite nice to randomly meet people you connect with and do something together.
If you could only take 3 objects with you on holiday what would they be and why?
Sunglasses, super sunglasses from Italy , my ipod, and a bottle of rose probably!
Thank you for speaking to Who’s Jack magazine Uffie, good luck with the rest of your tour.
