DJ Aron, Beth Sacks & Zoë Badwi
by joel martens
San Diego Pride is upon us and the choice of parties and entertainment is truly endless. The “must do” parties are always the originals that have stood the test of time and Bill Hardt’s world-famous trifecta are the ones not to miss: Circuit Daze, Zoo Party and Fete Accompli.
We’ve pulled together three of the talented performers who are coming to Hardt’s parties and they each have something to say about Pride, their careers and what they’re most looking forward to.
Take gander at the moments DJ Aron, singers Beth Sacks & Zoë Badwi had to share and learn a little something about Pride!
DJ ARON: Circuiting the World
For more than 18 years DJ Aron has been traveling the world, making people dance at some of the world’s largest circuit parties. The world-famous producer who hails from Tel Aviv is a world-class producer, making his mark creating his own sound and remixing voices from Madonna to Nelly Furtado and everyone in between.
His current muse is Beth Sacks and they’re both here for Bill Hardt’s Circuit Daze party at House of Blues San Diego on Saturday, July 13. He talked a little with The Rage Monthly about who he is, what he does and a few of his favorite things.
Please give us a brief history on how you got your start as a DJ.
I started out mainly in the beginning as a DJ playing at home for myself as a habit, for friends and for small parties.
Tell us a little about what your biggest influences are when choosing music for your sets. Does the performance location change how you go about building your experiences for each place/location?
My biggest influences were Peter Rauhofer and Junior Vasquez. As for choosing music for my sets, I build my music based on the party and the crowd. Each party has a different vibe and I choose music according to the type of party. When I play live I go off of the energy from the crowd on what song I will mix into next.
Please tell us a story about one of your favorite DJ experiences and moments.
One of my favorite moments was when I was in Brazil and I performed for one of the biggest singers there. She brought me to the stage and was teaching me to dance Samba in front of thousands of people in the middle
of her show!
How has the world you live in changed since you started?
The DJ scene has changed a great deal. There are a lot of new people with new sounds. It definitely is a lot easier to become a DJ with the technical advances of today than it was when I was starting out.
Tell us a little about what it means to be a part of Pride festivals around the world.
To be a part of Pride in general and around the world is very important. As a gay man it is important for our community to really stick together, especially in these times! Being a part of Pride around the world shows the world we support one another and still need to bring awareness to those countries that still don’t have gay rights. We have to continue to fight, be proud and remember that we all deserve the same human rights!
Tell us something people would be surprised to learn about you.
I love to sing and do it all the time. I’m a good cook, I cry in movies and sometimes commercials. And, I can be a big mush when it comes to love!
Where can people find you in your off times and what would you typically be doing?
On my down time I am hiding from the parties, relaxing at home and having dinner with friends and family… and looking for Mr. Right!
For tickets and more information about all the Bill Hardt San Diego Pride Parties: Circuit Daze, The Zoo Party and Fete Accompli, go to billhardtpresents.com.
Beth Sacks: Imagine a Circuit Daze Diva in the House!
Beth Sacks idolized the great disco divas, Gloria Gaynor and Donna Summer. She would spend hours trying to sing like them. Well, as the old adage says, “practice makes perfect.” Sacks must have been paying attention, because these days so many years later, she has entered the divadom realm herself… though her venues are decidedly different.
She’s the queen of the circuit party, performing all over the world with International Circuit Remixer and Producer DJ Aron, performing hits such as “Voulez Vous,” “Imagine,” “Dreamer” and “What’s Up.” That isn’t her only claim to fame, though; she has also performed in Broadway musicals for the majority of her professional career and can also sing opera.
This multi-talented lady is coming to San Diego Pride to perform with DJ Aron at Bill Hardt’s Circuit Daze party at House of Blues San Diego on Saturday, July 13.
Sacks has been working hard musically for most of her life. “I decided as a child I wanted a singing career. I was involved in the school plays and musicals and choir and sang for church whenever I could. I later got involved in local theatre productions in Philadelphia and eventually moved to New York City to attend school for music and theatre,” she said. “After graduating from The American Musical and Dramatic Academy, I toured in national and international Broadway productions.”
Her penchant for classic disco and the divas who sang the music are part of what drives her musical choices for the events she does around the world. Her favorite? “Hands down Miss Donna Summer,” she emphatically said. “What influences me when choosing music to sing, write or perform, is not only what will make the crowd happy and feel like dancing, but maybe even feel an emotion of hope and joy. That is what the music is about… being able to make a difference, have an impact and give someone hope.”
Sacks and DJ Aron work closely together, so she shared a couple thoughts about her favorite moments performing with him. “I have quite a number, but the best is bringing Aron down with me at the end of a set. We dance and sing together and the crowd sings along with us. It is the moment I see all of our hard work and love for music really come to life. To see the people in the crowd so happy and singing along to our music brings me joy. For me, the music is about unity and love and just being in the moment. There is no hate, no judging of each other… everyone on that dance floor is unified in happiness!
The two tour internationally, doing Pride festivals around the world. The experience is a heady one for Sacks and that’s not just about the music she sings. “Being a part of Pride festivals around the world is not just about getting to perform for me. It is so much more than that,” she said. “In this present day we are still fighting for equality for all. I am a big gay-rights advocate and have been for most of my life. We are all humans and deserve to be treated with respect, dignity, love and kindness.”
Sacks is straight but grew in a time when too many of her friends could not be out as people can today. “I’ve watched and witnessed the harsh reality of some of my best friends being shamed for being gay. Our current President tries to take basic human rights away such as healthcare or serving in the military! We must continue the fight for equality!”
For tickets and more information about all the Bill Hardt San Diego Pride Parties: Circuit Daze, The Zoo Party and Fete Accompli, go to billhardtpresents.com.
Zoë Badwi: Rising To The Top Down Under
by joel martens
Australian singer, songwriter, model and actress Zoë Badwi began her career as a model and appearing in Aussie television commercials. She followed that success with a fledgling music career, replacing one of the members of the successful Australian girl group Sirens, during which she was discovered by Grant Smillie, a member of the Australian duo TV Rock.
Her debut single on Neon Records “Release Me” took her to number one on the ARIA Clubs Chart, then garnering her two nominations for “Best Dance Release” at the 2009 ARIA Music Awards, followed again in 2010 with another nomination for “Dance Work of the Year” APRA Awards.
That was just the beginning of a blazing career that has taken Badwi around the world, to some the greatest parties on the globe and performing with some of the world’s greatest DJs. Bodwi will perform during San Diego Pride at Bill Hardt’s world famous Zoo Party, which also features the return of DJ Rosabel for 2019.
Badwi shared what the ride has been like so far and what she’s most looking forward to.
Please give us a brief history on how you got your start as a performer.
I started out in a girl band called Sirens, we sang the “Big Brother” theme song in Australia and had a couple of other singles. I then joined a DJ electronic band for seven years, with some amazing musicians who really helped me hone my craft. During one of the gigs we were playing at a bar, a record company executive came up to me and said “Do you write your own music? I really like what you do—no promises but I’ll send you some music—write on it and we will see how we go.”
I went home and wrote my first single “Release Me,” which went to the top of the Australian Clubs charts, staying at number one for nearly two months and was signed all over the world… that’s how it all started!
What and who are your biggest influences when choosing music?
I love old school soul and house music; I love the soulful vocals and the melodies. They just make you want to move! I also love Dolly Parton, that woman is amazing!
Please tell us about one of your favorite performance moments.
That’s a hard one… maybe Sensation White Party where the “Release Me” film clip was shot. Maybe Brazil at the Spirit of London party, 70,000 people singing my songs back to me was a moment I’ll never forget!
What does it mean for you to be a part of Pride festivals around the world?
I am so lucky… that’s how feel! They are the most fun parties to perform at. There is so much love and people are there to dance, have fun and sing at the top of their lungs. It’s just such a thrill to be able to see it all from stage and be a part of it all.
Tell us something people would be surprised to learn about you.
That my cousin is Jade Thirwall, from the girl group “Little Mix”
Where can people find you in your off times and what would you typically be doing?
Laughing with my friends, it’s what I love to do most. Also, I don’t mind heading the local arcade and playing some mini basketball hoop shooting!
Zoë Badwi will be performing at the Bill Hardt’s legendary Zoo Party, featuring the return of DJ Rosabel on Sunday, July 14. For tickets and more information, go to billhardtpresents.com.