JD Samson’s home for the holidays

Australian appearances by Le Tigre band member and queer feminist icon JD Samson are something of an annual festive season occurrence now — having spent the past three years in a relationship with one of our country’s finest exports, singer-songwriter Sia Furler, Samson usually throws in a few DJ sets when the pair return each year to spend Christmas with Furler’s family.

This year was no different, as she slotted in a string of queer club dates across the country over the past few weeks.
“When I was five I said I wanted to live in Australia with my Grandma when I grew up, so I have always been an Australia-phile,” Samson told the Star Observer.

“I have been to Australia nine times and only three of those have been since I started dating Sia; I’m really super lucky to have Australian fans that have brought me here often. I’m also lucky to be able to spend the holidays here and for Sia to show me all the places that she loves from her childhood.”

When the Star Observer interviewed Sia last year, she spoke frankly about her desire to have children and of she and Samson’s plans to use a sperm donor, before admitting that the more private Samson would scold her for her openness. Samson admitted that dating a self-described ‘blabbermouth’ sometimes proved testing.

“I like privacy; it’s important to me. I never had it as a kid so I’d like to have it as an adult,” said Samson.

“It’s hard when you are in the public eye in general, so I like to keep as much as I can safe and precious.”

While the two have no plans to collaborate musically (“She doesn’t like working with me because she thinks I tell her what to do, but she always wants to be the boss,” insisted Samson), they did both contribute songs to Christina Aguilera’s latest album, Bionic, last year.

While Aguilera had promised a futuristic collection filled with hip electro collaborations, the resulting record was lambasted by fans and critics alike.

“I loved the record, to be honest,” said Samson.

“I loved Sia’s tracks, and I thought that in general the record was a great concept. I loved how someone as talented as Christina worked with people who have inspired her and collaborated with people that she respects. I thought it was a really great project and I think the backlash from the press was kind of ridiculous.”

For now, Samson’s focused on her own band, MEN. They’ve just released the video to new single Off Our Backs – watch it for yourselves, but let’s just say it gives the traditional game of tug-o-war a hot makeover — and their debut album, Talk About Body, will follow on February 1.

“We have been working on it since 2007, so we are super-ready for people to hear the songs and to support the record on tour. I don’t know if I would call (the music) sexy, I would say its kind of intellectually stimulating and contains a discourse around sex.”

info: www.myspace.com/djjdsamson