Welcome back to Where Love Lives, with me, Lulu Le Vay.

Sorry I haven’t been here for a while as I’ve been away galavanting across Europe, but never fear, I’m back in time to share with you this final episode of this first series, going out with a bang with super special guest, Ana Matronic. Ana barely needs an introduction, but for those who need a quick reminder, Ana was co-lead vocalist in gender-defying, mega glam rock-disco outfit, the Scissor Sisters, her show Disco Devotion aired on Radio 2 for 5 years. She is  also a prolific DJ, electrifying dance-floors far and wide, from Fire Island to Bristol Pride. She loves robots, to the point where she has bionic circuitry tattooed on her right shoulder and is a passionate supporter of queer and trans rights. I am delighted to have her on today’s show, talking about the things she loves, from queer communities and disco history, through to her very sociable cat, Bootsy, who joins us mid-interview. One thing this podcast has done over the last 12 episodes is champion women across a range of creative platforms, so this is a very special episode to conclude this series. Enjoy the show. Check out the book Hot Stuff by Alice Echols and keep an ear out for Ana’s new podcast which is coming soon…

Remember, if you like this podcast do please leave a review on whichever platform you use and share with your friends. Do follow me @drlululevay and remember, I love you.

Welcome back to Where Love Lives, with me, Lulu Le Vay. This is Episode 11, the penultimate in this series, and this show is mega extra special as my guest is artist Ryan Gander in conversation with the lovely Miranda Sawyer. This dynamic pairing wasn’t exactly planned, as on the day of the interview I was so sick with Long Covid symptoms I could barely speak, so dear Miranda stepped in and saved the day.

I feel very humbled to have such supportive and understanding friends, which reflects what this podcast is all about. Friendships are just as important as romantic relationships, so this show is dedicated to the importance of friends in all of our lives. As Maya Angelou says about what makes proper friendship: ‘Try to be a rainbow in someone’s cloud’. So here’s a shout out to all the rainbows out there, starting with my guest Ryan Gander who took time out of his very busy schedule to come into the studios at Soho radio last month.

Ryan is a self described ‘neo-conceptual’ artist and ‘amateur philosopher’ whose work ranges from a life size abandoned betting shop made of glass through to animatronic multi expressive googly eyes popping out of walls. What I love about Ryan’s work is that it’s witty and playful, whilst being able to offer insight and social commentary about the crazy and wonderful world around us. He’s also very humble, fun to be around, and not up himself, which makes me like him even more. To explore his work do follow him on Insta and read all about him here. Remember, if you like this podcast do please leave a review on whichever platform you use and share with your friends. Do follow me @drlululevay and remember, I love you.

Welcome back to Where Love Lives, with me, Lulu Le Vay.

Summer is here, and it’s hot hot hot outside! But, it’s also sizzling inside as today’s guest is walking, living and breathing art piece Bishi. Bishi is a composer, singer and producer who channels the ancient tones of Indian classical music and the choral harmonies of Bulgarian vocal music and fuses it with queer indie electronic subcultures. She has more flair for tech than Steve Jobs and is a passionate advocate for inclusivity and gender equality in the music industries. We discuss this important work in the interview, but do take some time to check out these links, for Keychange, Witcih, 2% Rising,and the F List. Bishi’s Reflektions EP is out now!

This podcast was produced and edited by me. Remember, if you like this podcast do please leave a review on whichever platform you use and share with your friends. Do follow me @drlululevay and remember, I love you.

Welcome back to Where Love Lives, with me, Lulu Le Vay.

The sun is out and Soho is buzzing, in both London and New York, so I hope you’re all staying positive and making the most of this lovely weather, while it lasts!

Last month I had the fabulous Princess Julia on the show, if you missed this, what is wrong with you?! Go back and listen again as it’s a cracker. This month, however, I have writer and academic Tim Lawrence in for a chat, in my first remote interview, about his love of writing and David Mancuso (I think I made him blush down the ethernet cable). Tim is a prolific writer of all things disco, his books ‘Love Saves The Day’ and ‘Life and Death on the New York Dancefloor’ are absolute must-reads for all those interested in New York culture and nightlife between 1970-1983. He has also written Arthur Russel’s biography and is currently working on David Mancuso’s, which I personally cannot wait to read.  Check out everything you need to know about Tim here and also to his podcast, Love is the Message, which he co-hosts with pal and fellow academic music type, Jeremy Gilbert.

This podcast was recorded at the slick studios at Soho Radio and was edited and produced by me. And don’t forget! Do follow me @drlululevay and if you like this show do please subscribe, comment, share with your friends, and remember, I love you.

Welcome back to Where Love Lives, with me, Lulu Le Vay.

Goodness me, Spring is here, hooray! In this episode I have very special guest, the first lady of London’s fashion scene, Princess Julia. What a life this woman has had so far! And what outfits? From Blitz Kid bombshell having starred in Visage’s Fade To Grey, Julia has – and sill does – model, DJ, paint and write. She’s a shimmering ball of creativity who in her own words is ‘a little bit arty and a little bit party’, so of course, the perfect like-minded soul to have on my show. This was a really enjoyable chat on a sunny Monday afternoon, so I hope you enjoy the show as much as I did. 

Do follow me @drlululevay – would love to hear what you think of this podcast.

Remember to subscribe, like, comment and all that jazz, share with your friends, and remember, I love you.

Welcome back to Where Love Lives, with me, Lulu Le Vay.

This is the first episode for 2022, so I’ve decided to make it an absolute treat for all you gorgeous people out there by inviting into the studio my good pal Miranda Sawyer, for a good old chinwag about the things she loves.

This show was recorded last October 2021... 

For those who don’t know, Miranda is a journalist and broadcaster – or in her own words ‘a professional gob shite’ – whose passion for and knowledge of popular culture has made her one of the UK’s leading figureheads in the field. From her first break at Smash Hits back in the late 1980s, she has since written for just about everybody, from GQ and Vogue through to The Guardian and Observer. Miranda writes and talks about music, art, radio, TV, podcasts and film and is one of the sharpest and down-to-earth women I know. So settle in for a fun conversation. Her awesome kid Frankie also makes a cameo appearance…

If you like this podcast please do review, subscribe, like and share with your friends! Enjoy the show.

This podcast was recorded at the slick studios at Soho Radio and was edited and produced by me.

Do follow me @drlululevay – would love to hear from you!

Welcome back to Where Love Lives, with me, Lulu Le Vay.

In this month’s podcast I have had the joy in interviewing my new pals, all female sound system Nzinga Soundz, formed in the 1980s, whom I met last year when I was researching a project on women DJs. Every now and then some people come into your life that take you by surprise, and to be honest, it was a bit of love at first meet. Nzinga Soundz are the legends that are DJ Ade (Lynda Rosenior-Patten) and Junie Rankin (June Reid). And they are one of the UK’s longest running all women sound systems. Their musical repertoire spans reggae, soul, calypso, African, Latin and Jazz (and June has admitted to dropping a bit of Rod Stewart), and over four decades they have played at community events through to supporting reggae giants Burning Spear. As well as being hugely knowledgeable practitioners, they are also active in research and academia – they are at the forefront of discussions about women’s contribution to sound system culture. Do check them out, as they are really fabulous and your lives will feel much richer knowing more about them!

If you like this podcast please do review, subscribe, like and share the love with your friends! 

Welcome back to Where Love Lives, with me, Lulu Le Vay.

This month I was able to entice into the studios at Soho Radio in London ‘Boogie Chanteuse’ Amy Douglas, who was over from her home in Brooklyn, New York to launch her new project Hard Feelings with Hot Chip’s Joe Goddard. Since recording the interview the album has received accolades all over the shop – including 6 Music’s album of the week – which is no big surprise. It’s a modern slice of sleazy bathhouse disco. Amy is an amazing singer and performer but she is also a talented songwriter, having collaborated with the likes of Roisin Murphy and disco kings Horse Meat Disco. She has an impressive repertoire, so do check her out. But be warned, her vocals might smash your windows!

If you like this podcast please do review, subscribe, like and share the love with your friends!

Welcome to the 4th episode of Where Love Lives! We’re 4 episodes in already and I’m really enjoying this first season, I hope you are too!

So far, we have had musical guests, Jazzie B, Colleen ‘Cosmo’ Murphy and most recently Smokin’ Jo, but I really want to make the guests on the podcast as varied as possible, so for this episode I'm delighted to have as my guest author and journalist Sophie Heawood, who popped into the podcast studios at Soho Radio for a chinwag about the things she loves, outside of the traditional romantic narrative.

I wanted to have Sophie on as my guest as I was really interested in her book, The Hungover Games, which is a memoir about how she was jolted into adulthood as a single mother by accidentally falling pregnant in LA after a one night stand, and how she has coped with being situated outside of family norms by "having some of the pages missing." There is so much negative representation of single motherhood, so I wanted to celebrate Sophie and her book, and also make those women listening to this show – and all people – who also feel like they sit outside the dominant narrative to feel heard and seen. 

Where Love Lives is basically a middle finger to societal expectations of femininity and normative notions of how we can find happiness and joy in our lives. So join me and Sophie, middle fingers firmly up, to chat about her loves which include the constantly sunny LA and the strong bonds she has with her teddy bears…

If you like this podcast please do review, subscribe, like and share the love with your friends!

Follow me and do say hello! 

NB: This episode was recorded in June 2021, so some references  may be out of context due to times/changes in COVID rules.

Lulu Le Vay presents her debut podcast, Where Love Lives! This isn’t a podcast dedicated to romantic love, but instead explores life’s pleasures and meaningful connections through conversation with a wide range of creatives.

This third episode features DJ and yoga wunderkind, Joanne Joseph, otherwise known as Smokin’ Jo. Jo has been DJing since 1990, and now teaches yoga. And she’s very very good, trust me, my bum cheeks know…

Jo has had a truly successful career and over her 29 years behind the decks she has played in pretty much every corner of the globe and in every major nightclub you could care to mention: Space (Ibiza and Miami), Fabric (London) Womb and Aghea (Tokyo), Panorama Bar (Berlin), Warung (Brazil), Cavo Paradiso (Mykonos), Pacha, Crobar and Vinyl (New York), Zouk (Singapore), and Cocoon (Frankfurt,) are just some of the venues she has played in recent years. 

This interview was recorded just when lockdown was lifting, so some of the lockdown references may seem a touch out of context.

I love this interview with Jo, she’s extremely warm, good humoured and open, and I thank her for sharing some very moving insights about her life. This interview is a great example of why nightlife culture and music are so important in forming meaningful, inclusive communities, which we discuss while exploring the things she loves… do make sure you subscribe, like and share this podcast with your friends.