She was dubbed ‘The Lady In Red’ at this year’s ARIA Awards – though it’s hard to imagine Havana Brown’s latest mix taking much influence from balladeer Chris de Burgh. “Everything I release is always going to be inspired by the club scene,” says Brown. “That’s where I found my voice, and the club sound is definitely where my heart lies.”
From the outset there’s a sincerity in her tone that is both comforting and unexpected: Havana Brown sounds like the girl next door. In a fitting revelation, she admits to scoring a blink-and-you’ll-miss-it role on Neighbours as a teenager. “I was one of the lead character’s girlfriends – she was a little crazy!” Brown laughs. “It was fun because I grew up in the suburbs of Melbourne.”
Not long after her small-screen debut, Brown heard London calling. Deciding to ditch university, much to the dismay of her loving family, she bought a ticket to ride and began to navigate the well-worn path of an Aussie starlet forging a career abroad. In many ways, Brown has sunny old England to thank for her skyrocketing profile. It was there she found herself broke, while the constant tension brewing within her band, Fishbowl, saw them self-destruct just shy of releasing their debut record.
“When the band broke up I spent a lot of time in nightclubs,” Brown says. She soon realised that she could have the best view in the house by becoming a DJ. “I thought, ‘I could do that.’”
Less than a decade on and Havana Brown is unstoppable. In her short career she has been nominated for a slew of awards, including Song of the Year for ‘Warrior’ at this year’s ARIAs. Add to that the mini-empire she built thanks to her Crave remixes, totalling an impressive ten compilations at last count, and you could say Brown does indeed run the night (or at least continues to give it a good crack). Not bad for a working-class child of immigrant parents. She believes her work ethic was instilled in her at a young age. “I’m always working – I don’t really know what else to do,” she says. “When I’m back in LA, I’m in the studio every day working on and writing new music. I hope to be releasing more original material early next year.”
In the meantime, when she isn’t touring the globe as the hand-picked support for Chris Brown, Rihanna or Enrique Iglesias, Havana has enough to keep her busy. “I have club residencies in Las Vegas, New York and Atlantic City. I am constantly on the road, but it’s the lifestyle I chose and I love it. I’m so happy to be back in Australia for the start of summer. I can’t help but be in a good mood – it’s always so beautiful here.”
Brown will play a New Year’s date in Sydney before heading down to Canberra for the Summernats festival of fast cars and music.
“I’ve heard Bliss N Eso and Illy are playing too. I can’t wait, I love those guys,” she says. “It’s going to be a big party! I don’t even know who I’d be going for but I just wanna hear those loud cars. I love when they zoom past – it’s just sexy!”
Brown is starting 2015 right where she wants to be – and with an uninterrupted view of the finish line.
Catch her atSummernats 2015 alongsideBliss N Eso, Illy and The Radiators atExhibition Park, Canberra fromThursday January 1 – Sunday January 4, tickets online.Also appearing alongside Will Sparks at Marquee, Wednesday December 31 (tickets here).
