Multi-talented 'Women Ah Run Tings' is a band with a future. A lively, energetic, outspoken group they have already taken Toronto's live music scene by storm. They are popular with local media and a consistent favourite at numerous community benefits and showcases.

konekshuns: How did the band get started?

I had a dream and I woke up (big laugh). Our first show was performing at the Jamestown Freindship Picnic which was held at Massey Grove Park in Etobicoke on Saturday, June 24, 1995. Originally we were called 'Girls Ah Run Tings'. Then Afrikan Princess was in the band and so was Penny, who is now bass player from another women run reggae band Sweet Sensation (she was our drummer).

I actually decided not to join either band (Women Ah Run Tings or Sweet Sensation) as I wanted to do my own original thing.

And there were a lot of other people too, singers like Jade and Coco Brown (who now plays keyboards and sings with Sweet Sensation).

Yes, we started with a lot more people and instruments. We're down to basically drum, bass and single keyboards with vocals taking the place of other instruments. We've discovered that less is more and the different textures of voices is allowed to show.

konekshuns: You do a lot of original material. Often bands usually evolve through doing a lot of cover tunes but you've come straight out with lots of original lyrics. Would you comment on this?

That was one of the reasons I decided to join them now. I think during the time (since I first left the band and came back) Luscious herself ... her writing changed and she was collaborating with different people. Now we have a 'wicked' drum and bass team that can create their own rhythms. Everybody in the band started writing and we just started encouraging everybody to write.

Basically when we started out we were doing one or two covers and a few originals that I've written. When we first started the original bass player didn't know Reggae until I brought in some records to practice with.

konekshuns: Lady Luscious, tell us about how you became a Reggae DJ?

I started out singing, putting out singles Wanna Go Home, Ain't Gonna Be. The first time I actually DJ I was on the Canadian International Reggae Awards and I was supposed to preview my single Ain't Gonna Be. And this was my opportunity to let Toronto hear me and to present my new name Lady Luscious, no longer Jannett Scott. Inspector Lenny ( a popular Reggae DJ) had wrote a tune. Him say 'You wan more' and me say 'You wah know'. Basically I wrote an answer song to Inspector Lenny. I went on stage with two other women and we performed that day. For the whole week I was being flashed on TV. That proved to me, girlfriend, don't listen to nobody. Just go out there and do your thing. Everybody was telling me that I must go and sing, not to DJ. But the television cameras kept showing the clip of me DJing for the next week!

konekshuns: You have two DJs in your group?

Actually MC Lushcious is a rapper and singer. And she's started picking up the guitar.

In this band another reason I joined was to play keyboards again. It's a blessing to get together and create music that really kicks. The greatest lesson this band has had to learn is to destroy the tapes of things we learned as children. To free ourselves to do what we want to do, to play the instrumets we want to play.

It hasn't been a smooth road. There are so many different personalities. But we all love music. We all want to progress. We all believe in each other. From seeing everybody and listening to them talk we don't want to separate, even when (as can happen in a band with so many different personalities) we say we're going to.

konekshuns: Who produced your new single?

Poppop/Carhorny is produced by our drummer P-Nut and lead dj Lady Luscious. That means their money and time went into it.

Everybody contributed to the arrangement. No matter how small the time was that they put into it we all went through it from A to Z. Thanks to each and everybody in the band. This was done in 2 days. One take.

konekshuns: Earlier, you started telling a story about Jamaica Day's special significance for you. Can you tell it now?

The Jamaica Day Incident... What happened. I was there singing my song Wanna Go Home. Nobody wanted to hear the pop song. And everytime I sang 'Wanna go home', they (some audience members) sang 'go home'. Lots of people in the front of the stage were shouting go home in response. At that time the band (who was to be backing me up) ran to the back of the stage and I started talking instead. I said, 'You know sometimes in life you meet somebody and you give them all your heart and soul but what do you get in return, nothing. That's why I ain't gonna be no one else but me.'

Which was the title of her song! Girl went right into Millie Jackson (style of talking performance) and they (the audience) were quiet and then they cheered when she sang! The significance was that it wasn't only a cue. It seemed like the whole audience was suddenly humbled and the band members looked shamed (we don't need to call names). She scolded them without scolding them.

I got off stage and was looking for some so-called friend of mine. But what's important that day was that Afrkian Princess was there to support me and I didn't even know her. She said to me 'I'm so proud of you, girlfriend'. After that we decided to put this band together.

konekshuns: What are your plans for the future?

We're hoping to get funds to make a video and we're looking to community for sponsorship. We've been blessed to have community support so far to help us in putting out our debut record and to put on our record launch party.

Each of us are also beginning to put out solo work as well.