Dance/pop diva Erika Jayne is gonna be all over Portland like a sparkly tiara this weekend, performing at Aura (1022 W. Burnside) Saturday night (along with Chelley) and Sunday afternoon during the Stark St. Block Party extravaganza at Boxxes/Red Cap Garage (1025 SW Stark) — along with a special appearance alongside Larry Tee at Aura’s Boogie Boutique Late Night After-Party Sunday evening.

Just this week, Jayne returned to the #1 spot on Billboard’s Hot Dance Club Play charts (for the June 26 issue) with “Pretty Mess,” the title track off her debut disc of sultry beats and breathy vocals. The feat marks her fourth consecutive time at the #1 spot on the chart, following three previous singles — “Stars,” “Roller Coaster” and “Give You Everything.”

Just Out recently had the chance to chat with the Atlanta-born vixen via telephone. Our interview follows.

Just Out: Where are you now?
Erika Jayne: I’m at home in Los Angeles, and we have a show tonight and Sunday night.

JO: It sounds like your schedule is fast and furious these days, running all over the place.
EJ: Thank god, yes!

JO: What exactly is a pretty mess? How would you describe it?
EJ: “Pretty Mess” is a song about all the roles that we play as women, basically to get what you want at the end of the day. Sometimes you’re a princess, sometimes you’re a temptress, and sometimes you’re a pretty mess, and that’s really what the song is about.

JO: Reading reviews and write-ups about your music, you obviously have very retro influences. What is it that you think you bring to the mix, to make it modern?
EJ: I think you can always try new sounds. There are tons of things out and really in your own view on what’s going on — you really [are] what makes it current.

JO: On that note, your musical references are very cultural and era-specific — 1920s Paris, old Hollywood, Studio 54. Is that sort of history buff angle a conscientious artistic decision?
EJ: Now that you mention it, I do kinda like history and I kinda have the History Channel on a lot but that doesn’t really influence, you know [my creative decisions]. There are just times that are appealing, both fashion-wise and culturally. Things were changing in the ‘20s and the disco era, attitudes were changing, women were more free and people were more free and rediscovering new ground.

JO: So you’re bringing liberation up-to-date through the ages, and where we’re at today?
EJ: Yeah, fantasy, love and escape! [That’s it for] 2010.

JO: Describe your creative process. I read about some of your collaborators, Peter Rafelson (Madonna, Britney Spears, Stevie Nicks) and Eric Kupper (Shakira, Destiny’s Child, Kylie Minogue), and others. What input do you have in it?
EJ: It’s best to have a close relationship with anybody that’s producing or writing or that you write with and stuff like that and basically just talking about what influences you. I’ve been very fortunate to work with people that I actually like and that I respect and we kinda have the same views on a lot of things, both sonically and lyrically, and it just seems to work out.

JO: Do you seek out your collaborators? Do they approach you? Does it just happen through mutual connections?
EJ: Both, you know? Sometimes you run across people and you think, “Wow, I think that we would work well together,” and then other times it’s people you know and it turns out to be really great.

JO: Are you more fond of performing than recording and the music-making process?
EJ: They’re two very different processes but they’re both exciting. The studio, you have to really pay attention and go in there with a goal [that’s] specific — What do I want to do today? — and when you perform, [it’s] the same thing: you have to have a specific goal, that’s to connect with the audience and have fun. They’re both demanding.

JO: You mention “Run Along” as your Atlanta song. What have you observed, vibe-wise, with audiences, clubs, between the coasts? Do different regions take to songs differently? What’s been the reaction?
EJ: Different parts of the country like different sounds, and you know… Everybody basically likes to have a good time, it’s just, how is that [happening]? New York tends to be a little more sophisticated, the south is really, they are so warm, it’s just southern hospitality and they love love love to have a good time, so I’m always happy to do shows in the south. Vegas, I mean, c’mon, everybody’s there to party so that’s just wild. And Los Angeles is, you know, lights, camera, action. So it’s great.

JO: Have you been to Portland before?
EJ: This is gonna be my first trip to Portland and I don’t know what to expect so, yeah, I have no idea. I’m very excited.

JO: What are you listening to now?
EJ: Honestly, this is gonna sound so bad, but I’ve really just been listening to me. I’ve been recording some new stuff so I’ve kinda been self-involved lately — but if I were to jump in my car, it’s always tuned to the hip-hop station in L.A.

JO: Do you have any dream collaborators? Say, for instance, have you heard any feedback from Prince regarding your cover of [the Apollonia 6 Purple Rain hit] “Sex Shooter”?
EJ: Well, if he’s called, I’ve definitely missed the call. He hasn’t left a message so far. (laughing) … Sure, there are always people out there that you think about working with, but I wouldn’t confess just yet…

JO: What are your recording plans for a new album? I know the remixes [featuring Tracy Young, DJ Escape and Johnn Vicious, Larry Tee, Klubjumpers and more] for Pretty Mess are out now.
EJ: That’s right, [they hit] No. 4 on Billboard for “Pretty Mess,” which is really cool. Yes, I’m in the studio currently doing new songs and looking forward to releasing them soon.

JO: You’re performing at Santa Barbara, San Francisco and Toronto Pride, along with Portland Pride.… What’s the significance of performing at Pride for you?
EJ: I’m bringing a whole lot of fun, and my love for performing and for great audiences, and Pride audiences are definitely there to have a good time.

Just Out has its hands on a copy of the Pretty Mess Club Remixes and will give it out on site this weekend at our Pride festival booth (#8) to the first person who drops by and says, “I’m a pretty mess.”

You read that right. See you then.