October 31, 2024 |
Few organisations have had as much impact on the UK’s queer club scene as A Lawless Agency. Working predominantly behind the scenes, the event producer uses its wide spanning talents to cover all things dance music, churning out some of the most popular events the country has seen over the past decade. Body Movements? False Idols? Little Gay Brother? That’s all Lawless.
With experience in creative direction, event design, music programming, casting, brand consultancy and PR, you’d think the group’s plate would be full, right? Wrong. Founders Clayton Wright, Lucy Fizz and Jasmine Blatt have now turned their attention to talent management. Not the type to do things by half, the launch doesn’t come with just any old DJs, but a group they’ve coined the ‘Superstar Seven’ comprising of Wiles, Liam Parsons, Mark-Ashley Dupé, Lady Lloyd, KaYa, Joel Mignott and Frankco. Spanning house, techno, disco, afrobeats, pop, UKG and soul, each member of the collective has their own personal style which has garnered staunch followings around the UK and beyond. Here, we sit down with Fizz to discuss all things talent management, why they started A Lawless Agency and their advice for any young queer artists looking to break into the entertainment industry.
What inspired you to create A Lawless Agency?
A big inspiration for creating the agency was working as a performer alongside so many other amazing queer artists and wanting to see my friends shine and succeed, whilst also ensuring that they felt valued and looked after.
As a performer who doesn’t fit the conventional idea of what a dancer should be, I wanted to create an agency that caters to the misfits and gives them the opportunity to take the spotlight. I think this is something that makes Lawless unique.
What sets A Lawless Agency apart from other agencies?
At Lawless we believe in colouring outside the lines, and that everyone should be celebrated for their individuality. We have the privilege of working with a diverse roster of talent, from gogo dancers to DJs, and even classical piano playing drag queens. Every single one of them a superstar in their own right.
Why is it so important to you to bring queer artists into spaces beyond underground clubs and highlight their identities through their bookings?
There’s such a wealth of creativity and artistry in the queer community and at Lawless we want to give our artists the opportunity to shine beyond the underground scene.
There’s no reason for them to be pigeonholed into LGBTQIA+ specific bookings. Their talent needs to occupy the same space as any mainstream artists. We recognise the challenges of breaking into a domain that can sometimes feel resistant or apprehensive. We work with bookers to create safe environments for these artists.
A Lawless Agency started out representing dance artists. Why the decision to represent DJs? Why make this change now?
We’ve helped secure gigs for DJs since we started, and for the last couple of years DJs have approached us looking for full-time representation but we were still developing our business. Now feels like the right time. We’ve made superstars out of our dancers and we’re ready to do the same with our DJs.
Superstar Seven artists have a diverse output that ranges from Tech House to Pop and Country. What went into the decision to launch with these DJs?
All of our DJ talent are people we’ve worked with for years. We know their sound, their needs, their likes and dislikes. The fact that their musical styles are so different is what makes them such a strong roster. There’s something there for everyone, meaning we will have the talent to fit any brief.
What is your advice for young queer artists who are looking to break into the entertainment industry?
I would advise young queer artists who are looking to break into the entertainment industry to know their value and not to settle for just any gig. Actions make change, and there’s a lot to be said about the power of ‘NO’.
You’re specialists in matching the best talents to the needs of a booking – what goes into these decisions for you?
Each gig and brief is different. All three of us, as directors of Lawless, have a combined wealth of experience in every aspect of events. Between us we’ve not only created festivals and club nights, curated music programming for venues, and danced on world stages; but we’ve also produced large scale corporate events and worked on activations for luxury brands for example. We’ve been the booker and the talent, so we understand every aspect of a booking. That’s what makes us able to match bookings perfectly.
What are the main things you hope the Superstar Seven will bring to the entertainment industry?
Their authentic music experience, cultivated through the different underground scenes that they represent.
What are your plans for A Lawless Agency and the Superstar Seven in particular? Where do you see them in five years?
We see the Superstar Seven featuring on every major festival lineup and playing in clubs around the world. Opening for artists on tour and being the faces of campaigns. Not disclosing specifics just yet, but watch this space for new club brands and special releases…!
What is the next big opportunity coming up for the Superstar Seven artists? What can fans look forward to?
We have some big gigs lined up for Lawless talent such as Drumsheds and leading UK festivals. Watch out for the announcements on our instagram page @alawlessagency.
Photography courtesy of A Lawless Agency.
from left: Lawless Agency co-founders Jasmine Blatt, Lucy Fizz and Clayton Wright
