After overhearing some lunching ladies at work chatting about a 60-something DJ-ing grandmother causing a storm in Paris nightclubs over fashion week, my ears pricked up like Bugs Bunny on Red Bull. One google page later, and I’ve found the absolutely freakin’ awesome Ruth Flowers, stage name, DJ Mamy Rock.
Totally making my life, Ruth has kindly spoken exclusively to She’s No Plain Jane to share a little of her inspiration, style and life behind the decks as a total rock ‘n’ roll granny. How stoked am I?
Originally from Bristol (also Jane’s hometown - apparently all the cool people chill in the South West), 69 year-old Ruth Flowers has gone from collecting her pension to performing sold-out gigs in just a couple of years, taking control of some of Europe’s hottest dance floors including the luxury villas of Cannes Film Festival.
“It was at my grandson’s party-disco that I had the idea to become a DJ,” Ruth tells me, “he celebrated his birthday in a nightclub in London. And he told me that I could join them. When I arrived, the bouncers didn’t let me go inside. It is true that I didn’t really match their usual clients, but I finally managed to enter…and I was dumbfound…there was such an atmosphere! It was so different from the parties I used to go when I was young. There was a real osmosis between the lights and the music, it really drove me! It made me feel so much younger!”
What an attitude. Just goes to show how wrong these preconceptions of the older generations can be. One of Jane’s best attributes is that she doesn’t let her age define her, or prevent her from doing anything she wants to do – a concept Ruth embraces without a doubt. “This night shattered my view of things but above all the way I saw my life,” she continues, “I had a lot of free time, I was on pension you know… I talked to my grandson about being a DJ, he thought I went mad. Later I met a French director/producer, Aurelien Simon, who had the same crazy idea as mine and he proposed to help me to became a DJ. As I enjoy a challenge, I said yes, let's do it.”
It’s too easy these days to take the easy way out, to be lazy or put off an idea, especially if there are lots of people telling you that you can’t do something, or that you shouldn’t because of your background/age/culture. Yet Ruth wasn’t afraid to take life by the horns even after she had retired, and take on an epic adventure.
“For years, I've been practicing a lot, I met some great DJs, and Aurelien made me discovered electro and house music,” Ruth muses. Her sound is an exciting mix between the old a new – electro finds its place tuned with classics from the Rolling Stones and Queen, demonstrating a seriously cool accumulation of musical taste. What really drew me to Ruth however, was her style. You can’t look at a picture of her behind the decks without fighting a smile – diamante encrusted headphones, signature oversized sunglasses, bling chains and spiky silver hair. I feel downright bland in comparison.
Ruth elaborates on her look: “I have always been an extrovert - when it comes to clothes, the style you see me wearing is one especially for my DJ persona. I like my casual style because it is comfortable. I have a new, rather glitzy, blue sequined jacket, which I am keen to wear, with of course plenty of bling!” The metallic chokers, tracksuits and trainers that make up Ruth’s get-up are definition in themselves why woman need not reach for the Littlewoods catalogue just because they’ve reached a certain age.
“I search any shops and large stores for clothes, I also go to charity-shops. I am quite capable of designing and creating my own clothes and have done for many stage shows,” she says, “I admire my own style.”
Ruth has embraced the potential and talent that she has as a 69 year old woman. What a waste it would be to discard your strengths and potential as a human being just because you hit a certain number of candles on your birthday cake. I asked Mamy Rock what she would say to people who think that women tend to blend into the background after 40.
“Well, that is a very topical point here in the UK - when many very competent and talented woman are losing there jobs, as presenters and news-readers, due it seems to their age. What nonsense it is, especially as it doesn't appear to apply to the male sex.”
I thought of Arlene Phillips’ departure from Strictly Come Dancing last year, only to be swiftly replaced by the younger Alesha Dixon. This seems to be depressingly true – all the more reason to hold your heads high and refuse to give in to the stigma. If you’re lucky enough to be of an older generation and your brain still works, and you’re in reasonably good health, why the hell shouldn’t you fully fulfil your ambitions now that you have the time? Why shouldn’t you go and travel to that place you’ve always wanted to go, learn how to do that something you’ve always wanted to do, or wear that something you’ve always wanted to try on? Now is the time isn’t it? Don’t let society/ignorants tell you otherwise. If you’re with the common belief that we walk this Earth just once, make sure you do all you want to, regardless of the obstacles. Women like Ruth stand as representations for the opposition to frump, and it’s so inspiring to see her do so well and totally sticking it to The Man.
Look out for her new track “Behind the Decks” which will be making waves in the very near future, plus DJ Mamy Rock is set to make appearances all over the globe in 2010 – keep your eyes and ears peeled because there aint no stoppin’ this diva for a while yet. In her own words:
“I’d rather sign a contract with a record company than sign up for the nursing home!”
Check out Ruth Flowers’ website and myspace pages.
