Meet Jonathan Bestley. DJ, club host and rising scene star, he’s a one-man war against stereotype and musical dirge…
First, the Blind Date-style Cilla Black questions – the reference of which will be lost on you because you are only a fawn: what’s your name, where are you from, and what do you do?
Name: Jonathan Bestley.
From: The pastel suburbs of South West Laaaaandon.
Occupation: Superstar DJ.
We can’t quite imagine you stacking shelves in B&Q by day, somehow, but we hate to stereotype. So, with that in mind, do you have a day job or does werqing on the gay scene fund your lifestyle?
I am not a day person. I work exclusively by night and if I have surfaced from my crypt whilst the sun is up, you’d do well to scarper. Case in point: went to Ibiza – spent as much as I could hiding in caves reading Jane Fonda’s autobiography.
You play tunes. And absolutely quality ones at that. What music do you listen to at home when you aren’t playing for a dancefloor?
I’m not massively into one thing – I just love a good vocal, but you can’t beat a bit of Judy, Julie, Liza or Ethel for a dance around the kitchen.
“My upbringing definitely had a more feminine influence and my Dad is certainly “brains over brawn” so I never had an overtly “masculine model” to live up to”
How old are you anyway? Seven, eight?
21. And Kris Di Angelis still thinks I’ll age past him. The blood of those twelve virgins won’t keep him young forever!
It’s Pride this week. As a yoot on the gay scene what does Pride mean to you?
My Prides have always been amazing. My first Pride I ended up dancing on the main stage with Dusty O and this year I get to play to the amazing crowd in East London. It’s the day where everyone gets to let their hair down and just be themselves. With everything that’s been going on with marriage and equality, there’s a lot to celebrate this year.
You have a distinctly androgynous look. When did you start veering away from the masculine model that we are born into and told to adhere to?
My upbringing definitely had a more feminine influence – lots of aunts – and my Dad is certainly “brains over brawn” so I never had an overtly “masculine model” to live up to. Using hair as an indicator, I had a long floppy fringe in Senior School, then bleached it all and had a little blonde crop when I turned 18 and have chopped and changed it since then, so I’ve never really been defined by what’s between my legs.
Do you consider your look more feminine, androgynous, alternative or none of the above?
I would say androgynous or alternative. When I first started on the scene, I did crazy outfits for a while then went through a “femme” phase, but I think I found my look about six months ago. I tend to try and keep things fairly simple now. It took me a while to work out, but I work with what I’ve got.
Have you ever encountered any form of homophobia?
Personally, not too much. I wasn’t bullied growing up because I could give as good as I got verbally, and being so little people tend not to be aggressive towards me. I find that any problems I encounter are usually due to ignorance. Incidents like trying to return items to shops that I’ve paid for on card and “I’m sorry Madam, it must be MR Jonathan Bestley”. That’s annoying.
How did your Mum and Dad take the news you were gay and your unconventional image?
They’re both very accepting. It was hardly a surprise when I “came out” and it was a much bigger deal for me than it was for them. My Dad’s a Church of England priest and his first words were actually, “Oh finally. I’ve been saving up for your sex change since you were three months old so it took you long enough.” So, I’m really lucky. I’ve started taking my Mum out and her and Dusty O are becoming firm friends. It’s nice to be able to open up their worlds a little bit.
Where can the Pride public experience the Bestley magic over the next few weeks?
I’m going to be repping War in the East Bloc tent at Summer Rites, playing at Circa and then be round and about over the weekend. It’s gonna be a big one!
You seem to have been involved with the cooler club nights right from the word go, was that on purpose?
Yes and no. Once I knew I wanted to work in clubs, I went for every opportunity I could find. I interned for about a year with a few different people, but my biggest job ended up being running Meat for Kris Di Angelis. Once you’ve done a night like that, you can pretty much cope with anything.
How would you describe your sound?
If you’re gonna stick a label on it, then probably house with a nu-disco edge, but I look for a foot-tapper – something that just makes you bounce a bit. My upstairs Tramp residency at Dalston Superstore is great cos I can play a bit of everything
• Jonathan plays for War in the All About East Arena at Summer Rites: Pride in the Park on Pride Day Saturday 29th June and Tramp’s 1st Birthday on Saturday 13th July at Dalston Superstore (117 Kingsland Road, Dalston, E8 2PB).
