EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW: HAVANA BROWN Talks Full Length Album, AGT & Taking DJ’ing to the Next Level

I caught up with quickly rising pop star Havana Brown who is taking the world by storm after an amazing live performance on America’s Got Talent, a fresh new EP and the dance club hit ‘We Run the Night’ featuring Pitbull.

Australian DJ sensation Havana Brown has just released her first EP titled ‘When the Lights Go Out’. She’s revealed to me that a full length album is on the way very soon and she’s currently on tour with rap star Pitbull. Brown has opened for the biggest names in pop music including Britney Spears, Rihanna, Chris Brown and Enrique Iglesias.

Keven: I recently saw you on America’s Got Talent, which was the first time I’d seen you perform live and it was really cool to see your show being a mix of the DJ thing and the whole performance aspect together. What was that experience like?

Havana: It was so much fun. We found out like two days prior that I was going to be doing the show so I went straight into rehearsal for 48 hours and I definitely wanted to be doing the DJ thing just to show who I am. The dancing and everything was a lot of fun even though before I was very nervous. But after it was done I just wanted to get back on stage and do it again. I love performing. That’s what I live for and why I do this.

Keven: Do you feel more comfortable behind the DJ tables as opposed to dancing and performing at the front of the stage?

Havana: Being behind the DJ console…. I guess there is a sense of protection. You’re not really doing or performing your own music. When you go out and expose yourself it is a bit scarier but that’s what I’ve always wanted to do. I need to take DJ’ing to the next level. It was a natural progression and I like challenging myself and doing things I’m scared of (laughing).

Keven: You’ve performed around the world for some massive pop artists so have you ever been nervous that some of their fans may not be as receptive to the DJ aspect of your show?

Havana: One of the first shows was the Britney Spears tour in Paris and yes….. I think it was the first time that I’d even heard of a DJ supporting a major act. It was nerve-wracking but all I can do is be me and perform my best. I think people have received it very well. I think it’s also less tiring for the audience to have a DJ perform before a major act because sometimes two acts beforehand gets a little tedious.

Keven: You’ve mentioned that Janet Jackson is a major influence on you, what draws you to her more than any other artist?

Havana: I remember watching her videos when I was young and I loved how she performed. I loved the energy and it was bold, strong and sexy at the same time. I’m inspired to be an entertainer just like her. That would be the dream.

Keven: Are there any artists that you would love to work with in the future since Pitbull worked out so well on ‘We Run The Night’?

Havana: Right now I’m really concentrating on my music and getting it out there so that people know me as an artist. If that comes along….. Great. I want it to be organic though, I don’t want it to feel forced. I would like it to be something like what happened with ‘We Run The Night’.

Keven: Your EP just came out but are there any plans for a full length in the next year or so?

Havana: At the end of this year, definitely. The EP is just a sampler of what I am as an artist. There’s pop on there, some club, some cheekiness, R & B, it’s fun and it makes you feel like dancing. It’s difficult to choose songs to represent me as a whole but listening to that EP; that is me. The full length album will be coming…. Soon. It’s almost done. We’ve got so many incredible songs.

Keven: Some outlets are claiming you to be the next queen of pop, following in the footsteps of artists like Madonna and Lady Gaga. Do you feel an immense amount of pressure to live up to the hype?

Havana: That is a very flattering comment (laughing). I put lots of pressure on myself to make good music and put on a good performance whether I’d had that comment or not. I’m just having fun and I want to enjoy every moment. The point where you get too caught up is when you start to lose why you’re creating music to start with. I don’t want to lose that feeling. Every second that I’m having right now is a dream come true and I don’t ever want to forget that.

Keven: I was doing a bit of Facebook creeping on your page and earlier this year there was a photo posted of you and in the background there appears to be a naked guy pressed up against the glass, what’s the story behind that?

Havana: (laughing) That shot was taken in club Voyeur in LA. That looks like a real guy standing there but they have all these pictures on the wall and there`s even pictures of girls like naked. So we took that photo intending to get some of the background but when I looked at it a few days later I was like, ``hang on, there`s a naked guy in the back, how`d he get there?” (laughing) I love that cause everyone is like “whaaaat the hell?” I love it. It looks like I’m in some crazy ass sex party. (laughing)

Keven: What is the craziest place you’ve ever played?

Havana: Vegas tends to be my favorite place to play. Everyone gets loose and wild. Everyone loses their inhibitions in Vegas, I mean who goes there for business? No one. I’ve played some crazy places in Asia. I did this show for F1 Rocks where Beyonce and the Black Eyed Peas were playing and I was DJ’ing. The crowd was insane.

Keven: Do you think there will come a time as you become more of a household name where you’ll have to stop DJ’ing, move out from behind the tables and stay at the front of the stage and perform?

Havana: I see myself always doing it. Not that I don’t wanna be a household name and not have that sort of success. I’d still love to be able to do an arena tour and then after every concert, go to the club and DJ. I still want to be able to do those shows as well and I don’t see why not. The bigger shows can be more performance with dancing, fireworks and whatever then I can still go and do a DJ thing and I love that. I’m looking forward to that. I don’t plan to stop except maybe when I get pregnant (laughing). I don’t think that’s such a good look at the club (laughing). But that’s a long time away and I don’t plan to be getting pregnant any time soon.