Jodie Harsh

Jodie Harsh adopted her moniker at the age of 18 when she moved to London for her studies at the London College of Fashion.{{Cite news |last=Gibsone |first=Harriet |date=2023-04-29 |title=Jodie Harsh looks back: 'My goal was to be different, to be anything but normal' |language=en-GB |work=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2023/apr/29/jodie-harsh-looks-back |access-date=2023-05-05 |issn=0261-3077}} Her name is inspired by television personality and glamour model Jodie Marsh, and is intended to be "a piss-take of that naff celebrity culture, where people are famous for doing nothing".{{cite web |last1=Backer |first1=Stina |title=Jodie Harsh: 'Drag is my work suit' |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/profiles/jodie-harsh-drag-is-my-work-suit-1707553.html |website=The Independent |access-date=2 September 2024}} She started exploring the drag scene and working in nightlife. She hosted her own parties at different venues across London, with her debut event taking place at Soho Revue Bar (now The Box).{{Cite web |title=Jodie Harsh – The Vogue |url=https://thevogue.com/artists/jodie-harsh/ |access-date=2023-05-05 |language=en}}

She founded the gay club brand Room Service in 2010, which was initially based in London but later expanded internationally. As a promoter for Room Service, Harsh booked renowned DJs like Honey Dijon to perform.{{Cite web |title=In Session: Jodie Harsh |url=https://mixmag.net/feature/in-session-jodie-harsh |access-date=2023-05-05 |website=Mixmag}} During these parties, she also began to DJ herself due to budget constraints for hiring opening act DJs. Harsh's reputation as a DJ grew, and she received bookings from various clubs in Europe and beyond, as well as fashion brand events. In 2016, she achieved further notoriety when she launched the party Dollar Baby in East London, where she was accompanied by her friend Lady Gaga on opening night.{{Cite web |last1=Stroude |first1=Will |last2=jane |date=2017-01-31 |title=Scene and Heard {{!}} Dollar Baby, East London |url=https://www.attitude.co.uk/life/travel/scene-and-heard-dollar-baby-east-london-291495/ |access-date=2023-05-05 |website=Attitude |language=en-GB}}{{Cite web |last=Cuby |first=Michael |date=July 5, 2017 |title=Jodie Harsh Is the Life of the Party |url=https://www.papermag.com/jodie-harsh-is-the-life-of-the-party-2453809236.html |website=Paper}}

In July 2021, Harsh launched club night Feel It in association with live music venue Omeara,{{Cite web |date=2022-09-06 |title=LGBTQ+ stars celebrate the launch of Nancy's, Feel It's new "den of debauchery" |url=https://www.gaytimes.co.uk/originals/lgbtq-stars-celebrate-the-launch-of-nancys-feel-its-new-den-of-debauchery/ |access-date=2023-05-06 |website=GAY TIMES |language=en-GB}} alongside Clayton Wright.{{Cite web |date=2022-07-19 |title=Jessie Ware debuts new single at first anniversary of Jodie Harsh's Feel It |url=https://www.gaytimes.co.uk/music/jessie-ware-debuts-new-single-at-jodie-harshs-feel-it-anniversary/ |access-date=2023-05-06 |website=GAY TIMES |language=en-GB}} The club night has hosted sets and performances from acclaimed artists like Jessie Ware, Annie Mac, Eats Everything, Patrick Topping and Charli XCX.

Harsh started writing and producing music a few years after becoming a DJ. She created remixes for various artists, such as Beyonce's "BLOW", Fergie's "LA Love", and Justin Timberlake's "Suit and Tie". Additionally, she produced The Night, an EP for Melanie C. Harsh then began developing her own artist project and collaborated with SOPHIE to co-produce the track "Secret (Shh)" for Charli XCX's Vroom Vroom EP.{{Cite magazine |last=Spanos |first=Brittany |date=2016-03-08 |title=Charli XCX 'Vroom Vroom' Album Review |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-album-reviews/vroom-vroom-186004/ |access-date=2023-05-06 |magazine=Rolling Stone |language=en-US}} Later, they co-wrote start's debut single "Tuesday".{{Cite magazine |last=ALi |first=Jon |date=2019-12-06 |title=Queer Necessities: Big Freedia, Greyson Chance & More on Billboard Pride's December 2019 Playlist |url=https://www.billboard.com/culture/pride/queer-necessities-december-2019-playlist-8545520/ |access-date=2023-05-06 |magazine=Billboard |language=en-US}} Harsh released subsequent singles and an EP under her own Harsh Beats label, including "Don't Try Me", "Filthy Rich",{{Cite magazine |last=Daw |first=Stephen |date=2020-05-01 |title=First Out: New Music From Kehlani, Todrick Hall, Hayley Kiyoko & More |url=https://www.billboard.com/culture/pride/first-out-kehlani-todrick-hall-hayley-kiyoko-9369765/ |access-date=2023-05-06 |magazine=Billboard |language=en-US}} and "Beats and Pieces".

As the pandemic forced clubs to shut down abruptly in 2020, Harsh's DJ career came to an unexpected halt. This prompted her to venture into music production and release her own tracks, as well as to start livestreaming and podcasting.{{Cite web |title=Jodie Harsh: "My first time in a club felt like waking up from a dream" |url=https://mixmag.net/feature/jodie-harsh-interview-club-night-feel-it-good-time |access-date=2023-05-05 |website=Mixmag}}{{Cite news |date=2021-04-24 |title=Jodie Harsh on My House, clubs and 'drag queen rock stars' |language=en-GB |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/newsbeat-56829829 |access-date=2023-05-06}} In November 2020, she unveiled her first single signed to a record label, "My House"{{Cite web |title=LIFE OF THE PARTY |url=https://www.redbull.com/gb-en/theredbulletin/jodie-harsh-interview |access-date=2023-05-06 |website=Red Bull |language=en}} initially under Another Rhythm records, but later signed a deal with Warner Music UK. "My House" gained popularity and was played on Radio 1 Playlist for several months, becoming the top trending sound on TikTok, and featured cameos from 61 British drag queens in the music video,{{Cite web |last1=Tabberer |first1=Jamie |last2=jane |date=2021-03-05 |title=Jodie Harsh enlists 61 iconic UK queens for epic My House music video |url=https://www.attitude.co.uk/culture/film-tv/jodie-harsh-enlists-61-iconic-uk-queens-for-epic-my-house-music-video-302532/ |access-date=2023-05-06 |website=Attitude |language=en-GB}} including nearly every queen who'd been featured in both seasons of RuPaul's Drag Race UK. The dance track instantly became a post-lockdown anthem as clubs reopened across the country.{{Cite web |date=2021-11-22 |title=Jodie Harsh teases new music: "We're going to be dancing next year!" |url=https://www.gaytimes.co.uk/honours/exclusive-jodie-harsh-teases-new-music-were-going-to-be-dancing-next-year/ |access-date=2023-05-06 |website=GAY TIMES |language=en-GB}} Harsh's subsequent singles included "No Sleep",{{Cite web |last=Kelleher |first=Patrick |date=2021-07-10 |title=Legendary queen Jodie Harsh wants you to know 'drag isn't as easy as it looks on TV' |url=https://www.thepinknews.com/2021/07/10/jodie-harsh-no-sleep-drag/ |access-date=2023-05-06 |website=PinkNews |language=en-US}} "Good Time", "Shock",{{Cite web |author=Wonderland Staff |date=2022-08-02 |title=Jodie Harsh Talks "Shock", Podcasting and Touring With Jessie Ware |url=https://www.wonderlandmagazine.com/2022/08/02/new-noise-jodie-harsh/ |access-date=2023-05-05 |website=Wonderland |language=en-GB}} and "Hectic".{{Cite news |last=Gibsone |first=Harriet |date=2023-04-29 |title=Jodie Harsh looks back: 'My goal was to be different, to be anything but normal' |language=en-GB |work=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2023/apr/29/jodie-harsh-looks-back |access-date=2023-05-06 |issn=0261-3077}}

Harsh has created remixes for several artists, including Sonny Fodera,{{Cite web |last=Forrest |first=Jo |date=2022-07-01 |title=Jodie Harsh returns with anthemic new single 'Shock' |url=https://www.totalntertainment.com/music/jodie-harsh-returns-with-anthemic-new-single-shock/ |access-date=2023-05-06 |website=TotalNtertainment |language=en-GB}} Kylie Minogue, Years and Years, Charli XCX, Rina Sawayama, Fatboy Slim, and Sigala. In 2021, she signed a major global publishing deal with Universal Music.{{Cite web |title=UMPG and Jinsing sign DJ Jodie Harsh to global deal |url=https://www.musicweek.com/publishing/read/umpg-and-jinsing-sign-dj-jodie-harsh-to-global-deal/084195 |access-date=2023-05-06 |website=www.musicweek.com |language=en}} In 2022, Harsh was featured on the BBC Radio 1 playlist for her "My House" and her SG Lewis co-production "No Sleep". In 2024, Harsh supported Troye Sivan on the UK/EU Something to Give Each Other Tour.{{Cite web |title=TROYE SIVAN UNVEILS ELECTRIFYING BAG RAIDERS REMIX OF "GOT ME STARTED" |url=https://www.universalmusic.ca/press-releases/troye-sivan-unveils-electrifying-bag-raiders-remix-of-got-me-started/ |access-date=2024-09-14 |website=Universal Music Canada}} She opened for Sivan at the Wembley Arena in London on June 27.{{Cite web |date=2024-06-27 |title=Troye Sivan's 2024 Something To Give Each Other tour setlist in full |url=https://www.officialcharts.com/chart-news/troye-sivans-2024-something-to-give-each-other-tour-setlist-in-full/ |access-date=2024-09-14 |website=Official Charts |language=en}}

In May 2024, it was announced that Faber & Faber has acquired Harsh's memoir You Had to Be There for UK and Commonwealth rights (excluding Canada) and audio rights. Scheduled for release in autumn 2025, the book details Harsh’s intense decade in 2000's London nightlife, capturing a liberated, pre-social media era.{{Cite web |title=Faber nabs Jodie Harsh's new book about the 'decadent' years she spent in London |url=https://www.thebookseller.com/rights/faber-nabs-jodie-harshs-new-book-about-the-decadent-years-she-spent-in-london |access-date=2024-09-14 |website=The Bookseller |language=En}}

In addition to her music career and DJing, Harsh is the host of "Life of the Party," a podcast that has completed two seasons so far. The show features interviews with a variety of guests from the music industry, including the likes of Fatboy Slim, Amy Lamé, Nile Rogers, Roisin Murphy, Joel Corry, The Blessed Madonna and Annie Mac.{{Cite web |date=2020-10-26 |title=Premiere: Jodie Harsh teams up with Love Bailey for mesmerising new video |url=https://www.gaytimes.co.uk/culture/premiere-jodie-harsh-teams-up-with-love-bailey-for-mesmerising-new-video/ |access-date=2023-05-06 |website=GAY TIMES |language=en-GB}}{{Cite web |title=Google releases mini-documentary about drag queen Jodie Harsh |url=https://mixmag.net/read/google-documentary-drag-queen-dj-jodie-harsh-news |access-date=2023-05-06 |website=Mixmag}}

In April 2016, Harsh appeared in Absolutely Fabulous: The Movie, a 2016 film adaptation of the cult British television series. She played herself in the movie, which also stars Jennifer Saunders, Joanna Lumley, and supermodel Kate Moss.{{cite news |title=La Voix, Charlie Hides & Jodie Harsh to Star in 'Absolutely Fabulous' Movie |url=http://www.dragnearyou.com/blog/la-voix-charlie-hides-jodie-harsh-to-star-in-absolutely-fabulous-movie/ |accessdate=2 February 2019 |publisher=Drag Near You |date=November 16, 2015 |archive-date=3 February 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190203030550/http://www.dragnearyou.com/blog/la-voix-charlie-hides-jodie-harsh-to-star-in-absolutely-fabulous-movie/ |url-status=dead }}

In 2021, Harsh made a guest appearance on the third episode of the second series of RuPaul's Drag Race UK on BBC Three.{{cite news |title=Drag Race UK announces new guest stars, including legendary former contestant |publisher=Gay Times |url=https://www.gaytimes.co.uk/drag/drag-race-uk-announces-new-guest-stars-including-legendary-former-contestant/ |accessdate=29 January 2021}} She also co-hosted an episode of BBC Radio 1's Dance Anthems, alongside Charlie Hedges.{{Cite news |date=2021-08-11 |title=Drag queens Jodie Harsh and Bimini to host Radio 1 shows |language=en-GB |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/newsbeat-58173560 |access-date=2023-05-06}}{{Cite web |title=Bimini, Tayce, Lawrence Chaney and Jodie Harsh to host their very own shows for the first-ever Radio 1 Drag Day |url=https://www.bbc.com/mediacentre/2021/bbc-radio-1-drag-day/ |access-date=2025-01-11 |website=www.bbc.com |language=en}} Harsh has also made notable appearances on radio shows such as the Essential Mix for Pete Tong's show{{Cite web |title=BBC Radio 1 - Radio 1's Essential Mix, Jodie Harsh |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m000x1dt |access-date=2023-05-08 |website=BBC |language=en-GB}} and on Radio 1's Mini Mix.{{Cite web |title=BBC Radio 1 - Radio 1's Dance Party with Annie Mac, Jodie Harsh Mini Mix! |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m000ss5r |access-date=2023-05-08 |website=BBC |language=en-GB}}

Out described Harsh as "Britain's Best-Known Drag Queen"{{cite magazine |last1=Crummy |first1=Colin |date=October 19, 2015 |title=Why Jodie Harsh Is Britain's Best-Known Drag Queen |url=https://www.out.com/entertainment/2015/10/19/why-jodie-harsh-britains-best-known-drag-queen |magazine=Out |accessdate=2 February 2019}} and The Guardian characterized her "Britain's most famous drag queen DJ/friend to the stars" in 2008. PinkNews described her as "Britain’s busiest working drag queen" before Drag Race UK,{{Cite web |last=Smith |first=Reiss |date=2020-01-20 |title=Baga Chipz, Sum Ting Wong and Derrick Barry weigh in on the DragCon UK 'pandemonium' |url=https://www.thepinknews.com/2020/01/20/dragcon-uk-london-queues-drag-race-rupaul-sum-ting-wong-baga-chipz-derrick-barry/ |access-date=2023-05-06 |website=PinkNews |language=en-US}} and BBC referred to her as a "staple of the UK's club scene for more than a decade" in a 2021 article.

Harsh was born in Canterbury, Kent. She attended the London College of Fashion.{{Cite magazine |title=Hey, Ms DJ...Jodie Harsh |url=http://www.jodieharsh.com/site/wp-content/uploads/2009/12/2.jpeg |url-status=dead |magazine=Gay Times |page=42 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110819230958/http://www.jodieharsh.com/site/wp-content/uploads/2009/12/2.jpeg |archive-date=2011-08-19 |access-date=2020-05-18 |via=jodieharsh.com}} While at university, she first adopted the persona of Jodie Harsh to make money through nightclub jobs and DJing.

{{reflist}}

• {{Official website|http://www.jodieharsh.com}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Harsh, Jodie}}

Category:British club DJs

Category:English drag queens

Category:English LGBTQ musicians

Category:English record producers

Category:1985 births

Category:Living people

Category:Musicians from Canterbury

Category:English electronic dance music DJs