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The Lowdown: Kiss FM's Charlie Hedges

"I've played in Australia, Egypt, Dubai, music unites people and that's why I love it so much"

by ridhu, August 23rd, 2012 and has been Read 1915 times.
Last Edited by: Ffion Davies August 26th, 2012.

Kiss FM's Charlie Hedges is the youngest female breakfast DJ and one of the most listened-to voices in the UK. She reaches out to over four million people every week. What makes Charlie Hedges special is that she isn't just a regular radio DJ. Her talents are varied and she is also an accomplished Club DJ, along with being a journalist since the age of 16 and an ambassador for the Prince's trust.

Even though Charlie Hedges is all about music professionally, she still has time to love and play football, including a recent celeb Soccer Six tournament. She is making a mark in television with MTV voice overs and even the odd talking head spot on Channel 5's 50 greatest wedding shockers. Charlie Hedges is also training for this year's London Marathon with her fellow Kiss presenters.

Charlie Hedges has taken her music all over the world and this summer she has her first residency at the famed Space, Ibiza. To coincide with her residency she even had an Ibiza compilations disk released on the 9th July via Pukka Up Records.

Altsounds: Radio DJ, Club DJ, Journalist, Prince's trust ambassador, how do you juggle all these responsibilities?
Charlie Hedges: I just love to work, always have done since I first started freelancing for a magazine when I was 16. And I've been fortunate that I'm living my dream and Djing which is what I've always pushed for as a career which has lead to amazing opportunities such as being a princes trust ambassador

Altsounds: When they are seven, little girls usually dream of becoming princesses, what urged you to think about becoming a DJ?
Charlie Hedges: [Laughs] I was always talking, singing (badly) and dancing around as a kid, I've got family videos of me presenting and telling my mum and dad what I got for Christmas whilst dancing to MJ [laughs]. Silly stuff but I've always been into music. I was listening to the radio with my mum one day and we started talking about the radio and it’s always stuck in my head that I love to talk, I love music and I just never veered off that really.

Altsounds: You describe your style of music as 'Electro-House with a twist.' What exactly is the 'twist'?
Charlie Hedges: The twist is whether you're into your house music or not you'll still enjoy it as I always slip in a few samples everyone would recognise.

Altsounds: What are your expectations, career-wise, from getting the residency at Space, Ibiza?
Charlie Hedges: Career wise, for me now I would just love to continue DJ'ing and globally too. It's my life and my passion to get known further afield too. Playing in Space this year was just such an honour and also a great experience. I'm so grateful. Next I'm at ADE in Amsterdam playing with Carl Cox again as I played with him at Space this year. Carl is a huge inspiration to me.

Altsounds: What sort of a response do you expect from the crowds there? Do you think it will be different from the English crowds?
Charlie Hedges: Doesn't matter where you play around the world as long as the crowd are having a good time! I'm happy and fortunately within 10 minutes of the room opening it felt like the middle of the night. It was banging! I've played in Australia, Egypt, Dubai. Music unites people and that's why I love it so much, it felt like I’d made 2000 new friends in Space this year.

Altsounds: Are you making some adjustments to your style for Ibiza or will you stay 'true' to your form?
Charlie Hedges: I play fairly heavy house to be honest. Electro was probably more where I was a few years ago so no adaption’s no, there's so many styles and names for house music these days, but I seem to be able to get away with my set in all scenes really.

WATCH // Charlie Hedges Showreel 2012

Altsounds: How do you plan to make a mark at Space, Ibiza which has a colourful 23 year old history?
Charlie Hedges: Just be myself, have fun, enjoy my set and hopefully that will rub off on the people watching, that's all you can do and if people like it they'll support you.

Altsounds: You have already met and talked to a number of heart throbs that the world lusts for. Do you still get star struck when you meet such celebrities like Jennifer Aniston and Justin Timberlake?
Charlie Hedges: Not at all to be honest with you. I used to LOVE Justin Timberlake when I was younger so I was kinda giggling to myself before I went in, thinking "I used to have posters of you" [laughs]. But, when you see them without the cameras on and they are chilled out, you forget about just how big of a personality they are and I don't treat them any differently to anyone else. I've never really been phased by the celebrity world as I just look at them as people that have done well.

Altsounds: Everyone has certain opinions about celebrities, was there ever an incident when your opinion about a personality drastically changed after you met them?
Charlie Hedges: Cher Lloyd causes a lot of controversy for whatever reasons, and again I try not to get sucked into reading too much on celebrities or listening to other people’s opinions and I'm just glad that when I interviewed her she was the sweetest, friendliest girl. I think it's always important to have an opinion on someone or something but not to be too critical until you have seen for yourself.

Altsounds: You have your fingers in a number of pies, any plans of spreading your wings further?
Charlie Hedges: At the moment I'm enjoying juggling what I have, we are actually filming a TV pilot whilst I'm in Ibiza so I guess TV! If it's meant to be it would be a cool extra pie to have.

Altsounds: Charlie Hedges the Radio DJ or Charlie Hedges the Club DJ, if you could only be known as one which would you choose and why?
Charlie Hedges: I couldn't choose as they both have different effects on me and have both given me great opportunities at this stage. I think if I'm meant to do one over the other then that path will clear and I'll go for that

Altsounds: With so many work related events filling up your life, how do you find time for charity work etc? Does your life have a few extra hours a day that the rest of us don't know about?
Charlie Hedges: Haha I don't sleep too much when I've got a lot of stuff on so I guess I gain a few hours there. Everything I do, I want to do to the best of my ability so if that means working for however many extra hours then I'll do it.

WATCH // Sub-Terranean with Charlie Hedges

Altsounds: Do you ever think that the 3:30 AM wake up calls to reach on time to wake the listeners up can get too much? Why do just the Breakfast show?
Charlie Hedges: Breakfast is how I got my first break, it's all I've known really waking up early but to be honest I love it, I've always been a morning person, love chatting and getting people hopefully in a good mood for the day.

For updates and news check out: » charliehedges.com and follow Charlie on twitter: @charliehedges.