As arranged, I entered the Temple Lane Studios to meet with Scarlett Nymph, the driving force behind Sedition Industries and one of the DJs playing at this Friday’s second installment of Rock.Indie.Pop.

(You remember: Rock.Indie.Pop, the new night for alternative gayfolk, queerfolk, transfolk, who like their alternative music. Rock.Indie.Pop, the night that Gaelick readers can gain admission for a 2-for-1 price simply by commenting with the required info HERE. That’s the one… Back to the article!)

I entered Studio Two to be greeted by a smiling and cheery Scarlett, and an array of women who comprise the Sedettes, the Sedition Industries performance troupe, who were sporting a myriad of fabulous tattoos and the spectrum of hair colour. They were there to rehearse for their next show, on 7th August.

First, I wanted to know how Scarlett became involved with Rock.Indie.Pop. “I saw them starting and wanted to get involved. I really liked the idea, the name of the night and what they were doing: alternative, but not in any way pretentious. So, I sent them an email, and they were happy to have me involved.” Plus, this will be Scarlett’s first opportunity to work in the Button Factory since it was refurbished.

She prefers to decide on the night of what tracks will be played, gauging the response of the crowd, rather than picking out a set-list in advance, which is “just like plugging in your iPod and pressing play.” What is certain, is that she’ll be focussing on the Rock rather than the Indie or Pop, so get ready. (Her set is 11pm to 1am, scribble it in your diaries!)

Scarlett has form playing to the LGBT crowd, too: in the past she’s DJed at the Dublin Lesbian Arts Festival (DLAF), several Nimhneach events including its opening night, and she’s worked with The Pony Girls. At DLAF, she played the closing night, and received some great feedback from the women there. “They told me it was so unusual to have this kind of rock music at gay venues.”

Sedition Industries was a long time in the making. Scarlett and her partner Brian had several plans for some kind of incarnation for the project, from pre-photoshop days of working on logos with Microsoft Paint (perish the thought!). She and he were heavily into the goth scene, and Brian had arranged for various UK bands to perform in Ireland. Scarlett became involved in performances with The Pony Girls from around this time, too.

Sedition Industries’ first event was to bring the band Angelspit to Ireland. This was followed by their second with none other than Gary Numan taking over the Vaults in Connolly Station. The next night on 7th August brings us Viktoria Modesta and David TG from the UK, with the Sedettes and Cork’s DJ (via Lisboa) Disflux.

Scarlett is wary of the term “burlesque”, but the idea of dark performances taking place in a club setting appealed to them. “I like the idea of the performance being organic – not interrupting the enjoyment of the night, but the club being part of the performance.”

As for the Sedettes, then, “It’s hard to explain the Sedettes until you see them!” The troupe began as 8, then 10 until they reached their current number of 13 members. Again being careful not to describe them as burlesque, the Sedettes are not solely performance, but the individual members live their daily lives with an alternative, non-conformist identity.

• Scarlett Nymph DJs from 11pm at this Friday’s Rock.Indie.Pop at the Button Factory, along with DJ Seán John and a live appearance from The Late Fragments. (Admission eur10 or eur8 with concession.) You can also tune in to her speaking on BBC Radio Northern Ireland today at 6:30pm!

• You can catch Scarlett and the Sedettes performing, along with Viktoria Modesta, David TG and DJ Disflux on Saturday, 7th August 2010 at 10pm at The Vaults. Tickets are eur15 from tickets.ie

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