Madame X on her mission to marry wellness, fitness and music

Madam X It is always one of the dance music shows. Crissi Vassilakis, best known for her weird and wonderful music groups and pioneering brand Kaizen, started MDMXERCISE It automatically shuts down after requests from friends to reveal your workout regime. After expanding on her hobby, 2022 finds a DJ bringing her two loves, dance floor and physical health together, through a new clothing line with Luke Menikmati.

Clash spoke to Madam X about the new streak, has stuck to her exercise regimen since the tour resumed, and top tips for those on the road and continuing on her “mission to marry wellness, fitness and music.”

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Hey Chrissy. How does 2022 treat you?

Thanks a lot! Finally, things seem to be back to normal. Very happy to go again.

How did you find adapting to the itinerant lifestyle? Have you noticed any changes after the pandemic?

I think everyone is very grateful to be back. Not being able to DJ for so long really killed my soul a bit. I think if anything, I’ve become incredibly appreciative of the job and don’t want to take any of it for granted. There is something so nourishing about being able to express yourself through music, to say the least, that taking this away from us for two years has been difficult to say the least. Every party has been so rewarding and I couldn’t be happier to be back, doing what I love.

You recently revealed your clothing line with Luke Menikmati. How can this be achieved?

I have religiously worked with Luke over the years in all areas of KAIZEN and fashion, and each time he goes to great lengths to pay off my quirky ideas. He is an absolute visionary and a pleasure to work with. We were initially talking about creating resistance teams, but soon the conversation escalated and a year and a half later, we had a full MDMXERCISE clothing line!

What are some fashion inspirations and touchstones for the line?

I really wanted to pay homage to my Greek heritage paying tribute to my ancient ancestors, warriors, and divine beings and blending them with the core “gothic futuristic” aesthetic of my miniatures. It’s a kind of Matrix meets Goddess Athena, and it’s leather outerwear, designed to make you feel like an absolute badass when you’re wearing it. It’s multifunctional, with a black stretchy latex texture for added grip, suitable for rave, fitness and movement.

All patterns and textures of the prints in the clothes are taken from the silhouettes of designs and stencils in ancient Greek pottery, and the circular shapes and forms represent the motions of the planets and the ovals of the sun.

you started MDMXERCISE in closing. Was that a spontaneous idea or something you had been planning for a while?

Totally spontaneous. It was born out of boredom and a desire to connect with people while my sister and I were hiding in the Greek mountains. I’ve had a lot of people asking how I’ve been staying so active in lockdown and what my workout routines are, so I just put up a poll on my Instagram to see who would be eager to work out with me on Zoom, and the rest was history!

I never thought we’d launch an entire fitness community, but this has been a crazy positive for the past couple of years.

I was looking at my old interviews before and found a quote about how often you think about a brand. Have you approached the clothing line in a similar way? completely. It was very important to me to make fitness clothes that could stand the test of time. It’s the worst thing when you buy a cheap pair of leggings that lose their support and elasticity after a couple of washes. I wanted something high-quality, unique, and great in style.

I wanted people to dress and feel empowered. As if they were wearing a coat of armour, or a power ranger suit that allowed them to unleash their inner warriors, moving their bodies away from judgment and suspicion.

I literally see these pieces as super suits.

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There’s been some conversation about mental health in dance music in the past year or two, which is really positive. Do you think discussions about physical health (and a greater focus on health in general) will follow?

I would like to see more of this. I don’t think we talk enough about the effects that tours can have on your mind and body. Late nights, early mornings, time zone hopping, all planes etc – it’s hard to find balance and stay grounded.

I think dancing is a positive form of movement and there is a real negative stigma around club culture being synonymous with drug abuse and unhealthy habits. However, there is indeed an abundance of sober rave parties and communities such as ‘Morning Gloryville’, ‘Ecstatic Dance’, ‘5 Rhythms’ etc., which put the idea of conscious swiping at the fore. I would love to see club music and dance celebrated more positively, so we can dispel these ideas that clubs are bad and DJs are messy.

I refuse to believe that the music I play can only exist with alcohol. I want to complete my mission to marry wellness, fitness and music.

How has the lockdown affected you, both creatively and physically?

I definitely threw myself into my fitness. It was quite a challenge not being able to DJ and practice my art, so diving into my workout was my escape. The endorphins you get from moving your body and exercising, it was a saving grace!

I think from the creative range, what my sister and I were developing with exercise classes and routines allowed me to exercise this part of my brain. I’m never quite still, so naturally I threw myself into what would have provided me instant relief and relief in the shutdown. And then – MDMXERCISE!

And have you maintained your fitness regime now that you are back to doing a full tour again?

Deffo, it has become a part of my lifestyle. Even if it’s just a little movement, or yoga in the hotel room, I use the exercise as a way to get out of the zone and give myself a little time. It is also a perfect opportunity to listen to a new mix and music. My regimen is not as focused on the gym as it was in lockdown. I mix it up a bit now with yoga and pilates. I think it’s good to have a balanced routine, mix things up and honor where your mind and body are in the present moment.

Are there any fitness tips that, like you, are often on the go and don’t have a lot of time?

Resistance bands packs. They are very light and easy to travel with and you can get a seriously good workout with them. They saved me during lockdown. You can repeat many of the strength movements you do in the gym using your own body weight with these elastic bands. Don’t let its simple appearance fool you!

What are your plans, in terms of music and fitness, in 2022? What can we expect?

Much more to come! I’m back to tour the USA June-July and am so excited that, in addition to launching the clothing line, I’m looking forward to using MDMXERCISE live, offering classes IRL. Stage acquisitions at festivals, more collaborations with DJs, and generally spreading positive vibes.

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