It’s impossible to read coverage of Tracy Young without coming across a mention of her status as DJ to superstars like Lenny Kravitz, P. Diddy, and even Cher. Apparently this article is no different.

After a decade of building a reputation on Miami’s party circuit, and multiple residencies in the Florida city’s uberclubs Liquid and Space, Young has garnered more than the usual levels of notoriety from the A-list elite – notoriety that led to a fateful encounter with Madonna, which would serve as a turning point in the DJ’s career. The Queen of Pop liked what she heard one night in Liquid and decided to take Young under her sizeable wing, even asking her to play at her and Guy Ritchie’s wedding reception. 

Some things last longer than others, it seems, and Young still has a great working relationship with Madonna; she recently followed the Sticky and Sweet tour around the world. “My whole life literally changed overnight,” croaks an exhausted sounding Young late on a Thursday night from her new LA home. “It was like she said, ‘Tracy here is your career, take it and do what you want.’”

Not one to let opportunity pass her by, Young capitalised on what she saw as an untapped niche – A-list parties. The label celebrity DJ does not seem to bother the ever pragmatic Young, “I mean, you gotta take what you’re given.”

She’s certainly grabbed all she’s been given, turning it into numerous albums, a record label and an upcoming clothing line. Not bad for a girl from small-town Virginia. Granted Young’s style of music and fashion will certainly not be to everyone’s tastes – her track Ferosexual, to name one, pushes past even the widest boundaries of cheesy techno – but you have to admire her industry, and ability to fill a dance floor.

After her fleeting visit to Hong Kong for this fortnight’s China Pride party, Young heads straight to Washington D.C. to play at a national rally petitioning for equal rights in same sex marriages. Her political and charitable commitments are something that she relies on to maintain motivation. She would have stayed in Hong Kong longer, she says, had it not been for this drive to make her voice heard.  “My opinion has changed dramatically on [same sex marriage],” she states. “I used to think there were bigger issues going on in the world, but… equal rights are equal rights.” 

So, why squeeze in the China Pride party when she already has so much going on in the US? “I’ve wanted to come to Hong Kong for the last 15 years and I’m delighted that I am finally getting to do it.” It becomes clear that sleep deprivation is settling in when a yawning Young breathes, “Will I be able to get around without Japanese?” Well, she is busy and it is late.

Mary Agnew