NIGHTCLUBBING and cabaret in Cairns has an exciting change afoot, with the Velvet Underground reopening as The Ruby Room this Saturday night.

And who better than super DJ Havana Brown, the only female DJ to sign a major label recording in Australia, to kick off the celebrations.

Havana has found plenty of success with her Crave compilation series spurning successful national and international club tours, not to mention her debut being a smashing success in the US.

Singing since she was six years old, Havana’s first group Fishbowl were signed almost as soon as they formed, but unfortunately split before they released a single.

“When I look back, it was a pretty dark time,” Havana says.

“Getting signed is a big deal for a new artist.

“You think, woah, this is it, but it wasn’t.”

Fortunately for her, the rough start also led to the revelation she needed.

She says it was during one night out that she realised the DJ had the best job in the room – and she wanted it.

She pursued DJing with a passion in London and “worked her little tush off” upon her return to Australia in 2006.

The hard work paid off, with Havana becoming the first female DJ in Australia to sign a major label record deal with Universal Music in 2008, opening for the Pussycat Dolls and supporting high-profile musicians such as Rihanna, Chris Brown, Lady Gaga and Britney Spears.

“Now I’m very confident about what I want,” she says.

With that success, her Crave series (now at Volume 5) selling 150,000 copies, and her US hit We Run the Night hitting top spot on the Billboard charts and selling more than 500,000 copies, it’s taken a special event for Havana to kick off at this exciting time. 

“It’s exciting, nerve-wracking and intimidating all at the same time,” she says.

“I’ve been working on this (song) for a while and I didn’t want to release anything until I was completely satisfied with it. I can’t wait for people to hear this song.”

The Ruby Room will host Havana as the first of many high-profile DJs to feature there. The lounge will also feature live entertainers, percussionist and sax, cabaret shows and a mixed music format.

The party is set to start from 9pm every Thursday, Friday and Saturday night, with Thursday being ladies night and Friday featuring a retro theme.

See The Ruby Room, in the Reef Hotel Casino on Wharf St, opens this Saturday night, featuring DJ Havana Brown. Doors open 9pm.

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