Worldwide Dance: Lucy Fizz

In this interview, Transgender icon and inspiration Lucy Fizz tells us all about her wild lifestyle, how she got to where she is now and challenging society’s view on the LGBTQI+ community.

You’ve been keeping busy, dancing your way through the summer, going back and forth from London to Ibiza! How’s it all going? What’s the wildest thing that’s happened so far?

Summer’s always crazy, but this year has been next level. I usually dance five nights a week, but it’s the weekends this season that are killer. Saturdays I have Pleasurehood at XOYO in London then I go straight to the airport and fly to Ibiza for Glitterbox on Sunday night. It’s exhausting but I love what I do so much it keeps me dancing my socks off all the way through to Monday morning.

One of the wildest moments of the summer so far was getting a speed boat over to the final boat party of Defected Croatia with the special guest DJ, Peggy Gou and having two people parachute jump from a plane as we arrived at the party. Dancing for Honey Dijon, who is a huge inspiration to me and watching her DJ for the Classic Records party at the same festival with her tits out was also pretty wild.

Ibiza must be a second home to you now. What do you think makes the island so unique and desirable? What do you say to people who think Ibiza has had its day?

I love Ibiza. It sounds really corny but there’s just this amazing energy about the island, I can’t quite define it. Like any nightlife scene Ibiza is constantly changing and evolving. I would have loved to have experienced Ibiza in the ‘80s and ‘90s, the parties back then sound wild. Anyone who says Ibiza has had its day only needs to look at the packed-out dancefloors every night of the week to see that’s not the case.

**We’ve seen how good your moves are through your Instagram videos. Did you have any professional training in the past? How did you get into this world of club dancing? **

HAHAHAHA! I’ve never had a dance lesson in my life. I got into nightclub dancing because I have an insane amount of energy and love for the dancefloor. What I do isn’t about showing off my moves so much as inspiring people to let go and have fun. When you see people dancing, lost in the music, just living for that moment it inspires others to do the same. Before I worked in nightlife I used to go out clubbing all the time. I was always the one thrashing about in the middle of the dance floor in a fierce outfit. Club promoters saw how infectious my energy was and started hiring me for their events. Dalston Superstore was one of the first places to book me after many impromptu performances dancing on the bar.

Going back to your roots now. What did you want to grow up to be? Do you know what inspired you to take this path in life?

I originally moved to London to study medicine - I was going to be a doctor - but I was also transitioning at the same time and decided to take a break from studying to focus on myself. When I returned to med-school I realised that I wasn’t fully invested in the course and that I needed more freedom to explore my new life. That’s when I discovered electro music and the East London queer scene. For the first time in my life I found a community where I felt a sense of belonging. The dance floor is still the space where I feel most free to express myself and that’s what inspires me to do what I do now. I want people to feel the same freedom that nightlife culture has afforded me.

What are some of your best memories out partying and performing? Any particular anecdote or story that changed your life and stayed with you?

I would absolutely love to relive one of my nights out at Trailer Trash - an amazing, anything goes party in Shoreditch I attended religiously every Friday from around 2007 to 2009. One anecdote that always seems to get brought up is when I went to their Easter Sunday warehouse rave naked and covered in melted chocolate. I think for quite a few of my friends it’s their first memory of me.

More recently, I will always remember Defected Croatia as one of the most overwhelmingly-positive experiences of my life to date. Aside from the incredible music and gorgeous setting, the amount of love and sense of community I felt at the festival was unreal. I’ve never felt that level of positive energy from an audience before. It has left me feeling inspired and fully charged to power through the rest of the summer.

You’re associated with renowned parties like Glitterbox, the NYC Downlow, The Black Madonna’s We Still Believe parties and XOYO. What do they all have in common and why do you enjoy working for them?

All of these parties give queer performers a platform to shine. It’s so inspiring, seeing people live their life to the fullest. That sense of liberation and freedom of spirit really translates to the audience and creates the electric atmosphere you feel at these events.

The NYC Downlow at Block9 in Glastonbury is now known for being one of the best nightclubs in the world. Do you agree? Why do you think it has such a good rep?

The NYC Downlow is definitely one of the greatest nightclubs in the world. The mindblowing Block 9 set design, outrageous drag performers, incredible rosta of DJs and the fact the Downlow only exists for five days a year all combine to create a magical clubbing experience that is like no other.

Right now, aside from the above, where are your favourite places to go out in the UK or further afield? Favourite clubs to perform at?

I don’t really get much chance to go partying for myself in London but when I do I prefer to go to a sweaty warehouse party - I really enjoyed Fold when I went there earlier in the year. This summer I’ve been going to Circoloco a lot when I’m in Ibiza. The dance floor gets crazy busy but I love going there on my own and getting lost in the music in the middle of the heaving mass of sweaty ravers.

When I’m performing I find it really important to be able to connect with the crowd. I loved working in the Wild Corner (the toilets at Hï) when DJs Joshua James and Jonjo Jury did their Savage Disco takeovers at Glitterbox. I’m also a huge fan of crowd surfing so anywhere that will let me get away with doing that is top of my list!

And finally, as an LGTBQI+ advocate, do you think there are enough sexually liberated parties out there now or would you like to see more? What could the music industry be doing to give better support to the community?

Personally I would love to see more spaces where LGBTQI+ folk felt comfortable to party in a more queer/mixed environment. It would be amazing if more venues could implement changes like more diverse and inclusive DJ line-ups, zero tolerance harrassment policies, gender free bathrooms and queer friendly secuirty etc. to make the LGBTQI+ community feel safe. Everyone would benefit from a more diverse and inclusive clubbing experience.

Interview by Alice Tilley