Bimbo Jones is turning a new corner in sound. Bringing back and manipulating
an energy sorely missing lately in dance music, the trio just released their debut CD
called Harlem 1 Stop. With the phenomenal vocals of Katherine Ellis and the slam-
ming beats, they have already scored a number one hit on the Billboard Dance Charts
with “And I Try.” The group really has jumped the track to a higher level and presents
disco/dance music in a new and improved light.
Rage: I’m surprised I haven’t heard of you before. You have Rage: When did you first meet Lee Dagger and Marc JB (the
such an incredible voice. This music combines classic disco masters of the remix who’ve scored dozens of #1 remixes for
and dance in such a new and powerful format. Please tell me every pop star on the planet)?
about writing some of these songs. KE: I think it must be about four years ago. It’s been
Katherine Ellis: They all come about differently. a long time coming. We just enjoy working together
As you’ve heard, the subject matter is quite diverse. and we fit it around other things that we were doing
Although at the end of the day, it is about human until such time when we got a serious backing.
relationships pretty much. “Make You Mine” is about
basically fancying somebody in a nightclub (laugh- Rage: Your video for “Harlem 1 Stop” is really hilarious and
ter) and wanting to make sure they end up with you. it’s so danceable at the same time. When you throw the
“Don’t Want Me No More”… that’s self-explanatory in laundry out of the basket... did you come up with that?
the title, it’s just when a relationship has got a bit tired KE: I know. It was my husband. I had a hangover. I
and you know that someone is not really interested mean quite a bad hangover actually. He was like,
in you anymore. “Come on, let’s make a video for “Harlem 1 Stop.” Just
do the washing up. It will be fine.” I had an apron and
Rage: Yeah and “And I Try” is just an anthem to keep going. some gloves a friend had given me as a joke… cause
KE: I did actually set out to write kind of a “Ain’t I don’t actually do a lot of tidying up. So I put those
never loved a man” type, a classic blues, soul “I want on and started washing up. I love showing off. If the
him but he doesn’t want me” song. That was my camera is on me, I’m gonna perform. It wasn’t like we
intention. particularly planned it. He was like, “Get the laundry!
Throw it around!” Just having a laugh really. We didn’t
Rage: There is one song that leans toward hardcore rock n’ really set out to make “THE VIDEO.”
roll and that’s…
KE: “Fuq You.” Rage: This music is really incredible. The energy is terrific.
After so much repetitive and over-produced dance music,
Rage: Yes, your voice just rails on that. It’s like Ann Wilson this is really a blast of fresh air. What did you want to ac-
from Heart meets the lead singer from AC/DC. complish with this album?
KE: (hearty laughter) Well, I’m versatile. I’m been KE: Fantastic. Thank you so much. Well, it came
doing it for a long time. I’ve developed a lot of differ- together very naturally over quite a long period of
ent skills and styles over time. I’m a very emotional time. We met, we liked each other, we wrote a couple
person and I enjoy expressing myself in many differ- of songs and we just kept writing more when we had
ent ways. Singing “Fuq You” and being able to speak the time. Before we knew it, we had lots of material.
at the end of it is a different skill. Whatever the subject When we got the deal with Tommy Boy Records, we
matter calls for, I like to try and deliver. sat down and looked at everything we had and chose
of Bimbo Jones
the ones that we thought made the best album. I
Rage: You have been a performer since you were 15? think that’s why I made an album with them and
KE: I’ve been making money for over twenty years. we formed a band. Unlike a lot of producers [Bimbo
Not one of those overnight successes (laughter). Jones is] not afraid to experiment and they are not
afraid to go with what feels right and to trust their
Rage: Growing up, which musical artists inspired you? own judgment and my own judgment, to just please
KE: When I was a teenager, it would be people like ourselves. I think the mistake that people make some
Funkadelic and Parliament and George Duke, early times is they decide they are going to make an album
Prince, and classic jazz and blues like Etta James, Billie and then they decide what it’s going to sound like.
Holiday but then also I love The Eagles, Fleetwood For me, I don’t listen to that kind of stuff. Why would
Mac, Pink Floyd… I really don’t have a style. I go for I want to listen to the same song slightly differently
quality and sincerity. ten times? Where’s the fun in that?”
DECEMBER 2008 | RAGE monthly 23
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