When Garry O'Neill's book on Dublin youth culture and style, Where Were You? was released in 2011, its 300 plus pages of photographs documented the fashions of the city from 1950s to the turn of the millennium. Even among all the skinheads, boot boys, mods, rockers and ravers, Dandelion stands out from its pages.
Her retro '60s look has remained steadfast against the changing trends since she first appeared as a purveyor of vintage fashions in the Sé SÍ shop in Temple Bar. Along with her sartorial convictions, Dandelion has been a well-known vinyl DJ since she started playing Monday nights at the Rock Garden around the corner from the shop in 1994.
There is no separation between music and fashion in her eyes. They are both equally part of her identity. “There is no division; they came together, they go together. I'm the whole package,” she tells me.
Her DJing side was evident from age seven, when she bought a copy of Disco Sound Machine with her Holy Communion money. In her teens, Dandelion wrote letters to musicians, labels and industry people she admired including the man who would later become known as Fatboy Slim. "Norman Cook from The Housemartins wrote some nice letters to me and sent me a mixtape when I was 16," she recounts. "He turned me on to some great tunes and I still have the letters." Fast forward to seeing the reaction to her record collection at the Sé Sí Christmas party in 1993 and Dandelion was bitten by the bug.
Dandelion has hosted 16 different club nights and held 8 different residencies over the years across the city, playing a mix of soul, mod, garage and rock. She has played warm up sets for the likes of Ian Dury, Oasis, Pulp, Iggy Pop and Blur. One of her favourite experiences as a DJ took place in the legendary Manchester club the Hacienda.
What a great venue,” she enthuses. “The lovely echo of Northern Soul bouncing off the walls, poppers a go go and a nine hour set!”
Her latest residency is back in The Sugar Club on Lower Leeson Street. She originally started played there in 2007 at a club night called Sassy Sues Go Go Inevitable based on an '60s influencer of hers. It remains her favourite of the 16 nights over the 16 main years in which she made a living as a DJ, though she says, any money made went back into the record bag.
“For me, it was always a lifestyle choice,” she states. “It fed my vinyl habit.”
As for the art of DJing, Dandelion will never be found using a laptop or playing off MP3s. She cites The Rolling Stones (the Brian Jones years) as an anchor in her record collection. She's a fan of Twinkranes, Brian Jonestown Massacre, A Place to Bury Strangers and the new stuff from Dexy's. A current favourite track is No Thanks by Georgie Fame from 1967.
So what advice does Dandelion offer to budding DJs?
“Do your homework, read your crowd, feed your crowd, put on a show but always be true to yourself,” she advises.
Dandelion has seen trends come and go, bands form and breakup, scenes scatter and the landscape of Dublin nights evolve.
“Dublin nightlife has changed so much,” Dandelion says. “Venues have got bigger, door policy is more relaxed, sound systems are better, promoters are young, passionate and participating.”
“I like the risk takers, the people who never played it safe, bands, promoters, DJs, venue owners, anyone who has sweated, cried, lost money, friends, made enemies, had their dreams destroyed, been stood on, had their heart broken and have picked themselves up, reinvented themselves and keep on going for the love of music, you know who you are! I'm with you and I salute you.”
The big question though, if it came down to it, if her house was on fire, would she save her music or her vintage clothing?
“As I said they came together, they go together, so burn baby burn...”
