Lady Flo

Ze heet Lady Flo en is historicus, danseres en artiest, maar bovenal een groot Elvis fan. Met haar Lady Elvis-show eert ze haar grote inspiratiebron en zo ook vorige week in de Melkweg. De Amsterdamse concertzaal stond in het teken van de 75ste verjaardag van The King, wij spraken met Lady Flo over haar grote, maar vooral sexy, held.

What is your biggest show ever?
I performed in some big festival, kind of 10.000 people. But I prefer intimist atmospheres. I love the interaction with the audience and cabaret style clubs.

Where would you like to have a show?
Italy. Definitely Italy. But I would like to enter USA too!

How did Elvis influenced your work?
Elvis is the first glamour man on stage. In more that he is gifted and such an handsome man, his 2nd degree and humour makes him unic. I discovered playing with the audience and joking on me is a good way of driving a show. Elvis is one of the best show-man we never had. When I look at some live video on me I realize that he inspires me a lot. But actually it’s not worked. It’s spontaneous!

What would you have done without Elvis ever lived?
I would have make him fall in love with me and say “no, I can’t, your life is too full for me” as well he would have think of me without having me, instead of all the groupies and even his wife! Ahahah!

What is your favorite Elvis song?
When I hear “Suspicious Minds” I always think about my mother’s nostalgic face listening too. It makes me something. I love the energy of “CC Rider” live. I love the kitsch songs from movies when Elvis appears as a kind of boyish pin-up!

Where do you think Elvis is right now?
I hide him at home, taking care of him and I can tell you he’s now the same as he was when he was 30! But if he goes outside he becomes the fat sosie of him people know for his “end” (yes it was a sosie, not him!) so I have to keep him for me home.

What do you think his best and worst part was?
The bast was the come-back in 68… no more a boyish pin-up but the sexiest Man in the world with beauty, talent and humour. The worst was the fat fat fat at the end… but actually it was an illusion, a bad sosie of him.

You are playing at the Elvis Birthday Bash in Amsterdam, what can we expect?
I’ll adapt my “Lady Elvis Show” with a live band. It’s a music-hall burlesque show inspired by Elvis and using his repertoire. It tells the story of a poor girl left by his boyfriend Elvis but still obsessed by her passionate love deciding to became a singer. Hard days but finally becomes Lady Elvis, the queen of Las Vegas!

Ever went to Elvis Presley’s Graceland?
Never went to USA… Would you bring me there? I can travel hidden in a suitcase.

What is the biggest goal that you want to reach as an artist?
Keep the audience traveling with me. The best energy I can get on stage is the emotion I see on the audience’s faces.

What is the best thing of being in an artist?
The audience’s reactions. The travel all together. When it works it’s waouh!!!

Are you able to combine it with your other hobbies/work?
I’ve got different jobs but everything is linked. As an historian I work on exhibitions and books, specialized in the image of the woman in between 1900 and 1969. Besides I kind of embody those women on stage as an artist. As an artistic director I work for events and big shows, specialized in “neo retro” – which is my brand – that is to say inspired by old times but turned fashion nowadays. And my hobbies… dance, sing classes, movies, music, culture… I fight for leaving of my hobbies!