Bump & Grind: The Nitty Gritty with Burlesque Artiste Velvet Jones
You may have heard of Burlesque star, model, and costumier Velvet Jones from her many appearances at popular venues around the UK such as Proud Cabaret, Sexhibition, the Cocoa Butter Club, LADS, and the Bristol Burlesque Festival. Or perhaps from her many modeling appearances sporting vintage looks for reproduction brands such as What Katie Did, Collectif Clothing, and Playful Promises. Her list of both performance and modeling credits has skyrocketed over the past few years, so we guarantee you’ll be seeing much more of her in the future.
Many folks in the vintage scene can say they came to the scene for a variety of reasons, and the same can be said for burlesque. When and how did you get your start in burlesque? Did it start with vintage or vice versa?
I started my burlesque journey 5 years ago. I’d always been a fan of burlesque and the vintage scene but admired it from afar. In 2014, I went through a bad breakup and wanted a distraction from the emotional trauma I was going through. I decided to do a course with “The Cheek of It School of Burlesque,” and I’ve never looked back. Through doing burlesque, it’s made me more confident to wear vintage and adapt it to my style.
You’re an entrepreneur— a freelance burlesque artist, dressmaker, designer, and model, engaging both in performance and creation. How much of your time do you devote to burlesque? How time-consuming is the process of brainstorming your acts and costumes?
I believe every burlesque artist should have 2 or 3 acts in the arsenal that are polished and are on point. I focus on my existing acts and really try and hone my craft, making my acts the best they can be. For this reason, I’m not churning out a new act every week.
My creative process of coming up with an act starts off with the music. I’ve got to love the track! Once the music is found the rest is easy. The hard part is finding the track.
What are some of your favorite acts to perform? Favorite places?
My favorite act is Mustang Sally. I do it to the Wilson Pickett version. It’s a very sultry and beautiful bump and grind act. I wear one of my own creations; it’s an iconic green sequin number. I team it with a big afro. It’s a powerful act and celebrates a woman’s sensuality.
You seem to incorporate a lot of different styles into your acts, ranging from vintage-inspired to more modern fashion, even some gender-bending looks. Where do you find inspiration for your acts?
The inspiration comes from the track I’m using. If the track makes me feel a certain way, I want to portray it in how I look. I have an act which I perform to Love Man by Otis Redding. To me, that track gave off a very masculine sexy energy. For this act, I start off as a very feminine woman in a beautiful long robe (made by me of course!), and I transform into a man and end up in a man’s tux. I also love performing this act because I love the audience’s reaction
There’s still a significant gap when it comes to diversity in the vintage scene. Do you see the same happening in burlesque and modeling as well?
Of course! In burlesque, especially there is a massive gap. Producers seem to only book one POC (people of colour) in line ups and I would l love to see more POCs in any lineup. This is why shows like The Cocoa Butter Club are so important. If you haven’t heard of them, I encourage you to see one of their amazing shows which celebrates performers of colour on the cabaret scene.
Who are some artists in your field that inspire you?
Some of the UK artists that I’m a huge fan of are Lilly Snatchdragon, Demi Noire, Bunni Morretto, Evelyn Carnate, and Dinah Might to name a few.
I love their work, and they truly inspire me to become a better performer.
You’ve already accomplished so much in the past few years as a burlesque artist and as a model. What are your goals for the future, as far as your artistry is concerned?
I want to travel more. That’s a big goal of mine for the year. I want to perform internationally. I want to model for loads more brands vintage and non-vintage.
We all know artists have their own preferences. What are your burlesque must-haves? Vintage must-haves?
Burlesque must-have is my Shea butter shimmy bar by Lush. It has pigments of gold glitter and makes my skin look amazing on stage.
Vintage must-have is my Sarah’s Doo Wop Doo turban. When I team this with anything I wear, it gives it a vintage feel.
Do you have any tips for those wanting to start a burlesque career?
Be true to yourself and really focus on what makes you interesting and stand out from the crowd. Once you know who you are and you’re walking in your power the world is your oyster. Invest in costuming and go and see as many shows as you can.