An evening with Vanity Fairy
A Wednesday evening with London musician Vanity Fairy (real name Daisy) started in disaster. A forgotten phone derailed the schedule, and I arrived over 30 minutes late to meet her.
We had planned to take some photographs at The Mildmay Club, chosen for its glittering dance hall, but were told they were in the middle of commercial filming and the only place we could take photos was the fluorescent glare of the Members Bar, complete with an audience of regulars.
The search for atmosphere led us to Bar Dona, cue a 20-minute walk through Stoke Newington and Dalston. With its velvet-drenched interiors and mezcal-soaked cool, the bar seemed promising, but a live jazz night derailed any chance of photography. Luckily Bar Dona’s entranceway delivered just enough sparkle. The rest of the conversation unfolded over drinks at a nearby pub.
Daisy has all the makings of a disco icon, minus the ego. She’s playful but also put-together, stylish without feeling fake. Even with all the setbacks, we still had managed to have a decent conversation.
Read the interview below and follow Daisy to find out about her latest shows.
Tell us a bit about yourself.
I’m Daisy. I recently moved to East London from Suffolk. I’ve been performing as Vanity Fairy for four years. My brother co-writes and co-produces the music with me. People who come to my shows tend to describe the music as ‘fun and joyous’. Once a lady came up to me after a show and said ‘your music should be described on the NHS’ which was so lovely. I love bringing happiness to people through music.70s and 80s disco divas have been very influential in my musical journey. Artists like Womack and Womack, Diana Ross, Sylvester and Sister Sledge. What do you like and dislike about East London?
London is the polar opposite of where I grew up - a tiny, quiet village in the countryside with nothing going on, and the nearest city a 40 minute drive away. The city can feel very overwhelming as a result. Sometimes it’s a bit much. So many people. I miss being in nature. The peace, the fresh air. But on the flip side, it’s so nice to be here.
There’s so much going on. Being able to see my friends and playing music at the drop of a hat is brilliant. I love the music venues, the cafes, the art scene, the fancy greengrocers - I like to window shop in those. Which London artists are you most excited about right now?
I really like Jessica Winter - she’s what I’d describe as ‘kitsch art pop’. She’s wonderful, her songs are so catchy. Really interesting production. Also Warmduscher, Opus Kink and Mermaid Chunky are all fantastic. What does a day in East London look like?
Although I play music and love to see friends perform, I’m generally more of a day person than a night person. On a day in East London, you’ll find me exploring different cafes. I love WAVE (We are vegan everything).I spend most of my free time going to gigs. The Windmill in Brixton and The George Tavern in Whitechapel are my favourite music venues.What would you be doing if you wern’t making music?
I’d have Vanity Fairy as a fashion brand. In a Halsten-esque / Zhandra Rhodes style. Sequin-laden, glittery, kaftans. Based in London, but delivered to the world!Learning to sew is on my bucket list but at the moment my friends hand make all my stage outfits. I go shopping and pick the fabrics, give friends a rough idea of the style and then they turn them into stage-worthy garments.Listen to Vanity Fairy
