Warmth, glamour and sheer talent have proved a winning combination for Essex’s own Denise. She tells us about the joys of both painting the town red and mixing the decks – and explains why she’ll always be an Essex girl at heart.
‘If there’s one thing we love to do in Essex, it’s glam up,’ Denise says. ‘When I was a teenager, I adored going to Culture Shock at Hollywoods in Romford to watch the Sharpe Boys, and I loved Berwick Manor, but it was Pizazz in Grays where I had my first clubbing experience.
‘I’ve recently spent some memorable evenings upstairs in Sheesh where they have DJs and live entertainment. There have been many great nights in Essex over the years that have inspired my idea of what makes for a good time! It’s made me realise that with awesome tunes and amazing friends, you can’t go wrong, which was a lot of the driving force behind why Jemma and I founded the Discoliscious brand.’
The BFFs first came up with the concept for Discoliscious in January last year with the intent to provide towns and cities across the UK, and sometimes overseas, with the ultimate inclusive party experience. The mission is to unite people on the dance floor and spread feel-good vibes! We say right on! But just how did they catch this jitter bug which has turned into all-out disco fever?
Denise is no stranger to music, having performed on stage as Roxie Hart in Chicago and released several charity singles, including a cover of On My Own from Les Misérables and a duet with Duncan James of Blue ‘That’s What Friends Are For.’ The Time of Their Lives actor and musical mum Jemma shares Denise’s lifelong passion for music. In some ways, it’s what helped to bring them together.
‘I was three years old when I bought my first record, Bonnie Tyler’s Holding Out for a Hero, with some pocket money,’ Jemma shares. ‘I never learned how to play an instrument, but from when I was very tiny simply adored music and always craved to be taught how to play the drums.
‘I began discovering some basics about eight years ago but only became more serious about my DJ’ing a few years back. That’s when I bought my decks and began practising regularly. My friend Rob Harnetty, a resident DJ for Cream, helped me out a lot! Denise bought her decks about the same time, and we thought it’d be fun to put on our own night. This was the beginning of Discoliscious. We hosted our first party in the summer of 2023 and haven’t stopped since. Just over six months later, we’re building a brand together.’
Since launching, the disco divas have hosted club nights, brunches, and corporate events, changing line-ups regularly and ensuring each occasion is unique. Jemma and Denise usually perform their own sets, lasting around 90 minutes to two hours each, accompanied by a saxophone player, percussionist and their fabulous Discoliscious dancers.
‘I love so many genres of music,’ Jemma says, ‘though Madonna was always a big inspiration to me. I love anything from Motown to minimal techno. If there’s a good edit of a disco song, it’ll be on my playlist!’
Jemma and Denise have also had some amazing people come to play for them at their events, including James Haskell, Zoe Hardman, Laura Pradelska and Nadiya Bychkova. One thing any gatecrasher can expect from a Discoliscious party is the best disco and house bangers [old and new], brilliant musicians and all the ingredients needed for an unforgettable night out!
‘The whole point of a Discoliscious party is to ensure a good time is had by all, and to offer a safe space where everyone feels free to express themselves,’ Jemma explains. ‘We’ve had a lot of great nights [and some days too] though for me one of the most special will always be our launch party. All our family and friends were there to support us, and we were lucky to receive quite a lot of media interest, especially with Louise Redknapp there alongside Vanessa Feltz on the dance floor.'
For both Jemma and Denise, one of the greatest things since starting the brand is that no two days are ever the same, and they’re most certainly never dull.
‘Every city we travel to is different,’ Jemma says. ‘It’s part of what makes running the brand so exciting. We always have a fantastic time in Dublin. The crowds in Leeds are always a fun bunch and whenever we’re in London, we discover guests who are always enthusiastic and up for having a blast! We’ve shared lots of glorious memories and have some fantastic tales from our travels – not many that I can share in detail – but I think starting Discoliscious with Denise has got to be one of the best decisions I’ve made.’
For some working alongside your best friend would seem like a dream come true and a never-ending adventure filled with love and laughter, though of course for some pairs, it could also be their worst nightmare, packed with hair-pulling, name calling and foot stomping.
Luckily for Jemma and Denise, it’s been a story much closer to the first example and a true venture of harmony.
‘We complement each other well,’ Jemma adds. ‘We play to our strengths and like to have fun. Life is short and if one person doesn’t want to do something, then there’s no point in forcing the other one. Our whole ethos is about making the most of the moment and enjoying every second.’
Of course, with jam-packed schedules, it can take some juggling to keep up with everything.
‘The benefit of having each other is that we’re able to share the work between us, allowing us to plan events around our other projects and commitments,’ Jemma says. ‘Some days it can feel like we’re balancing a lot of spinning plates, especially as we’re both solo parents, but we love what we do, so we make it work.
‘We’re also incredibly lucky to have a fantastic team behind us, including our graphic designers, PR, accountant and some brilliant external suppliers. They’re an immense help and make the days run a lot smoother! It enables us to keep looking forward and set up some amazing dates for the future. We have a pretty busy diary over the next few months, but I’m really excited about everything we’ve got going on.’
Catch Denise and Jemma on the flipside at one of Discoliscious’ upcoming events. Details can be found on their social pages @Discoliscious, @JemmaBolt and @Vanouten_denise. The newly launched website discoliscious.com is where you can find all their info .‘We’re playing in Ibiza on August 28. More festival sets and London brunches are to be announced,’ Jemma reveals. ‘Hopefully, we’ll see you there. We can’t wait to get the party started!’
