Ahead of the Subculture vs The Warehouse Project event at the Sub Club on Saturday 30/8 those cheeky Mancunian residents Krysko & Greg Lord recorded this exclusive 20 years of Subculture mix for Harri & Domenic. Some old favourites and hot new music for your listening pleasure…
All advance tickets holders for this event can be in with a shout of winning two tickets and train travel to Manchester for the sold out Opening Party with Harri & Domenic at the Warehouse Project on September 27th. Tickets for Subculture are on sale HERE or in store and online from Tickets Scotland.
Preempting the mighty Warehouse Project’s seasonal run, This Saturday at Subculture we welcome the Mancunian music-makers holding down long-running residencies at this infamous party. Ahead of the event we caught up with long standing residents Krysko & Greg Lord to chat over, Yorkshire Puddings, Trance DJ’s & piano Lessons…
So how do you two know each other?
G: Manchester after parties following Sankeys, I can’t remember the first time we met.
K: I didn’t like him the first time we met, and I’m still not sure 12 years on. He’s a c*** basically.
As WHP residents you guys DJ regularly together, When you met was there an instant chemistry musically?
G: Yes but think its much stronger now.
K: Agreed, it takes time and now it’s just second nature when we play together. Something I don’t take for granted, at all.
Favourite footballers:
G: ooh Roger Palmer, Peter “Beardsley” Beardsley, Mario Balotelli
K: “I’d have to say Stuart McCall first (probably not a popular choice with Dom), took Bradford to the Premiership. Then David Wetherall, who scored the goal to beat Liverpool on the last game of the season to keep us up. Thirdly, Andrea Pirlo – just because he’s an all-round amazing player and fucking dude. Oh and Gary Ablett.”
Favourite Hard House/Trance DJs:
GL: Ian M, Judge Jules (I still read his blog!)
K: Tony de Vit & Ian M
Favourite foods:
G: Ottolengi/Middle Eastern, Japanese and Indian
K: Yorkshire Puddings & Caviar
Favourite cookery programs:
G: “Keith “Floyd Uncorked,” Keith “Floyd in France” Keith “Floyd in Italy”
K: “Probably what Greg said..”
Favourite European tracks:
I Cube – Disco Cubism (Daft Punk remix)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2uKja4Ij75Y
Pepe Bradock – Deep Burnt
Tony de Vit – Are You Ready
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_7DihsGLhCE
MDIII – Set Me Free
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pNp_qfXEeRk
The Innocent (Derrick L. Carter) – Jack 1
As the original and longest standing residents at the WHP, have you got three landmark moments from the parties there over the last few years?
G: The one that really stands out is back to back before Dave Clarke last year, I mean we truly nailed that one, The time when Chic played at store was very special!
K: Yes! Agreed with Greg. Following Dave Clarke at 4am could easily go tits up, but we really made that one work. Chic as Greg mentioned was a moment, well before they’d played anywhere in that capacity for years. We were meant to have Jeff Mills on straight after them but he cancelled, think SDC came on. Top night. ANYTIME Andrew Weatherall has played as well, every single time.
Personally for me when Marcel Dettmann’s flight was delayed I played for 4 hours in the main room last year until 2am when Sven came on, to about 4,000 people. Never have chance to really weave in and out of styles for that long to so many people, absolute pleasure it was.
The term “House music”. There are as many stories about its genesis as there are records that fall into that “genre”. What are your thoughts on where it came from? What does it mean to you?
G: When I think of house music, I think of Back to Basics in Leeds and raving!
K: At it’s inception it came from something simple and pure. Kids who wanted to disappear from their elders, their worries and their day to day lives for just a few hours. What better way to do that than to create your own scene almost out of chain of events that allowed it, based around the manipulation of machines by them that then create the soundtrack to the escapism. Something completely unique. That’s what they did. It didn’t come from a commercial direction, and that’s why you can talk about ‘that feeling’ of house.
It had no ulterior motives, it was what it was, and is what it is. Whatever directions it has fired of into since then, the real feeling is still there and living healthily in many basements across the world, being continually pushed forward with new generations who ‘get it’.
For me it hit me like a train in about 1992, and have been obsessed ever since. That’s how it works, it takes over. What a legacy by them few kids in Chicago that just wanted to be different, something that still resonates massively.
Whats your thoughts on the role of the resident?
G: A large part of it is playing weird loud music to sparsely populated dancefloors.
K: You are the character of a night, no matter how little you play early doors, if it’s a regular night you are the back bone. I’ve been a resident for the last 14 years, and that gives you a hell of a grounding. All my favourite DJs have been respected residents and they are all sound as fuck!
What’s your single biggest frustration in the music industry right now?
G: Producers becoming shit DJs and the sheep that inevitably follow.
K: Agree with Greg, but they never last. If you don’t cut it you have a limited shelf life.
We hung out on your last visit to Sub Club. What was your last impression of our Glasgow basement as a punter? What are your expectations of returning to the city and to Subculture as a guest DJ?
G: It’s the BEST fucking nightclub I’ve ever been to. All i keep thinking about is the four hours opening time. That’s like taking concentrated adrenaline , distilling it 4 times and pouring it into your eyes.
K: It’s been on my list as the number one place to play and I’m finally doing it. I couldn’t be more grateful or humbled. When I was up for Harvey I had a total blast and really got involved. When I play I’ll be semi-professional, or at the least amateur.
Are either of you the more sensible of the two when on tour? Does Greg need to adhere to any strict after party // hotel rules or anything like that ;)?
GL: Did you see the state of Matthew when he was at the Subbie! Enough said! But we have definitely both still got potential to backfire.
K: It could easily go tits up at any point. Maybe that’s why it’s so fun. Let’s face it, we’re not surgeons, who wants to hear of impeccably professional DJs? Never trust a DJ that doesn’t party!
Have you ever thought about pursuing a production career?
GL: Toyed with it several times and learnt that i’m really into keys and piano and so i’ve bought myself an upright piano and started lessons, thats what i want to pursue, I’d love to grow that into a live production with some friends.
K: I’ve done a few bits through the years, I’ve done something out with Paul Woolford that came out on Peaches out of Chicago a few years ago, and I’m working with a guy now called Mark Ginter. Also with Mat Playford, again it’s something I want to come naturally, not forced. When it happens it happens.
Are you superstitious ? Do you have any festival essentials? Lucky slip mats or needles ;) ?
K: We never share needles!
Matt & Greg hooked up over the weekend and recorded this exclusive 20 years of Subculture Mix for Harri & Domenic. We hope enjoy it as much as we have…
We’re also giving away 2 exclusive tickets to catch Harri & Domenic at the SOLD OUT Warehouse Project Opening party on 27/9. To be in the draw buy a ticket for this week’s Subculture vs WHP event at the SubClub. Your prize will also include 2 return train tickets from #Glasgow Central to Manchester Piccadilly.
Tickets are on sale HERE or in store and online from Tickets Scotland. GOOD LUCK!
This week at Subculture we have the full crew. Dom the Don and Head Heedjin’ Harri lord it over their Saturday night once again with trio-completing Telford well and truly in tow. Catch these three ruling the proverbial roost and owning the joint as only they can.
For anyone who doesn’t know, Telford’s already an accomplished Subculture resident, playing alongside Jeff Mills, Larry Heard, Theo Parrish, Âme et al. and of course Harri & Domenic. From playing parties at Off Sonar in Barcelona to epic eight hour sets in Berlin’s Katerholzig his name is a welcome addition to line ups at underground clubs throughout Europe and the UK.
He knows a thing or two about how to pick a tune so ahead of Saturday we asked him to empty the contents of his own record bag on to the Subbie floor…
The track you’ll be opening your next DJ set with? Something deep….
Your all time favourite Carnival track? Bob Marley – Sun is Shinning
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pBDVarvFqYI
The track you can always play to rescue a dancefloor? Something Techno….
The track or mix you would listen to on a beach in the south of France? Erik Satie – Gymnapedie No.1
The track that currently gets the best reaction for the crowd? Something Trancey….
The track you’d play at your auntie’s wedding? Bobby Brown
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K_t4UyYh9Ds
An all-time track you wish you’d signed to your label? Any song with the word ‘Christmas’ in the title….
The track/album which you would listen to on your iPhone in an airport? Brian Eno – Music for Airports
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5KGMo9yOaSU
The ideal festival track? Rednex – Cotton Eye Joe We Think Telf is at the wind up here ;)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VcDy8HEg1QY
The track you’d play at sunset in Ibiza?
Kinky Justice – New Day
The track you want played at your funeral? Vivaldi – Four Seasons (Spring)
Your ideal Sunday listening soundtrack? Something techno (again)….
If you could pick any movie from the past, what one would you love to have recorded the soundtrack for?
Back To The Future.
Ahead of the event and to get you in the mood have a listen to this live recording from the Sub Club of a recent session from our well tuned trio…
Advance tickets are on sale from RA or in store and online at Tickets Scotlandto catch Harri, Domenic & Telford go back to back to back all night. More will also be available on the door from 11pm.
For some mid-summerish, mid-month, far from middle-of-the road merrymaking we welcome Dixon Avenue Basement Jams, a duo straight from hedonistic heart of Glasgow. “Real rockin’ raw shit from the street for the clubs” is how they roll, and Sub Rosa can’t argue with that. Dan Monox of Rub A Dub and The Wasp get let off the leash on a school night. Sub Rosa caught up with Dan, They weren’t sure if he’s the beauty or the brains behind the operation, but you lot can decide as they take control of Sub Club tonight for all four hours…
What were your neighbours like on Dixon Avenue? How did they cope with you rocking out that ‘raw shit from the streets, meant for the clubs’? Do you think Dixon Avenue would have come this far if there had been a screamingbaby next door?
We literally did have a basement under our flat, all done up like a club, PA system, lights, smoke machine, dj booth, lino floor, black walls etc etc.. the great thing about the basement was there was nothing to either side of it, and above it was our flat, so we didn’t get much hassle. plus our neighbours were junkies and bams, so we used to noise them up on a regular basis for a laugh anyway! :)
Rumours has it you are a man who enjoys your food…So often we find ourselves deliberating for an eternity on where to grab a munch in our fair city, give us your top five places for a munch at the moment?
We both love our food, so much so that Kenny has recently opened his own cafe in the Southside called No Way Back, and seeing as it’s me doing this interview I can get away with putting that at the top of the list without being accused of having a conflict of interests :). Seriously, if you haven’t been, GO NOW! Great vibe, with amazing food and almost daily new specials, accompanied with great music from 10 am – 4pm, Monday-Saturday.
After that, I’d have to say, Max’s Bar & Grill for good burgers, steaks etc. and great choice of drinks.
Guys restaurant for something a bit more fine dining but without the stuffiness.
Sapporo D’Italia. Best Italian in Glasgow and it’s right across the road from my house!
I’m also very excited at the prospect of the Rum Shack opening in the Southside… It’s going to be Glasgow’s first Caribbean Rum bar and grill. Can’t wait, I love Caribbean food, no fuss and good vibes.
As some of our readers may know, you have just played the infamous sweat-den that is Berghain/Panorama Bar. What was it like and how does it compare to our beloved sweat-den on Jamaica Street?
It was an amazing and quite emotional experience, we have both been loads of times as punters, but I have to say, I’d never been in there stone cold sober before, that was an eye opener, we played for 5 hours and the crowd seemed to love it, as did we. I don’t think you can compare either of the clubs, which is what makes them both so special; they have their own inimitable aura and vibe…
What’s the script on DABJ next release? Who, what where and when will we have a chance to get our hands on it?
Other than the represses, we have been a bit quiet release-wise recently, not completely down to our own laziness, or the fact we have been mega busy… the problem has been the pressing plants have been absolutely inundated recently, partly down to record store day back logs and also the fact that there has been an upsurge in demand for pressing vinyl in general over the last year… Anyway, back to the question, we have two new releases incoming. The first one from a new artist called Modini is due out in 2 weeks, we have switched up the presentation of the records going forward… they will all ship with a limited edition original artwork print from our friend Dan Axon. Not long after that we will have another debut from Glasgow artist Denis Sulta… watch this space!
Here is some essential listening from the boys to get you in the mood…
Guestlist for this event is available HERE or pay £5 on the door.
Tonight I have the absolute pleasure of welcoming Hush aka Alan Miller into Sub Club’s booth. If you add up the years the RPZ/Death Disco/Maxi Dance Pool maestro and I have been DJing, it’s as many as I have breathed! Every time we’ve played together however there’s been a synergy beyond either’s expectations (i hope i’m fair in saying!) and this party should be no different. I asked Hush if he’d be up for sharing a selection of tracks in any direction and he’s come up with some belters – listening in they’ve got me right up for tonight. Cosmic to euphoric tunes, right up the subbie.
kappa x
Jamie Principle – Rebels
You don’t always have to go back to the source, but if you wanna get seminal, Jamie Principle is a pretty solid place to start. Rebels is a jerky, metronomic manifesto for outsiders, a righteous prayer of 303 freestylin’ for those who know “the sacred life”, who follow the calling. Knowledge and redemption through the body, through dedication to the dance. Now THATS a message.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g7FfBdqhUVE
Up Yours – London
My mate HIFI SEAN, who co-founded the thurs night up the Arty with me all them years ago, made this virtolic beast of a track with Horsemeat’s Severino and raggamuffin legend FERALisKINKY. “London” is a raw and irresistible hybrid of grime and house, bursting with attitude from Feral’s uniquely delinquent ragga/reggae. VIBE TON UP.
Dave Angel – Rotation
Dave Angel’s magnificent “rotation” has many of my favourite musical references points rolled into one track:- celestial jazz synths, rapid fire tom and snares, laid over with the most melodic synthetic chords straddled across the staccato rhythms. Beautiful and inspiring. Except i pitch it right down to minus 6 for a mid-set workout. It last longer that way, and thats GOTTA BE GOOD.
D.C. La Rue – Let Them Dance (PH Edit)
Who doesn’t love a good edit? Even thought there are a multitude of BAD ones. This is a real cocker though, re-imagined by disco maestro Pete Herbert, his ear fixed firmly on the pulsing bridge section from DC La Rue’s “let them dance”. This baby will push us FORWARD.
College – Départ
French artist College has a raft of a-grade house artists at home to inspire his productions, and this arpeggiated wonder more than lives up to high bar set by his peers. A wonderfully metallic drone shoots through this post-italo disco gem. “Départ” is a super collapsing star of a track, a strobing pulsar, deeply and darkly galactic, bound directly for dry-ice obscured late night moments.
Ahead of his return to the Sub Club, we caught up with Ben Pearce about football, goals, strips, upcoming music producers and Glasgow town. To keep it simple we asked him to share some of his favourite 5s…
First Up Ben’s best all time football goals:
Solskjaer ’99 Champions League final: (Here’s the last 3 minutes…)
What is there really to explain about this as a United fan, or indeed a football fan, amazing moment.
Rooney Overhead kick vs City Feb 2011:
Funny thing was I was watching this with two City fans, mates at the time, I literally threw my beer everywhere.
Arsenal vs Norwich 19th Oct 2013:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bs64H9LxRt0
I was watching this game & it was just a fantastic goal, brilliant team work.
Ronaldinho for Barcelona against Chelsea in ’05:
One of the most entertaining ever players to watch & whilst he’s scored some beauties, this one stood out in memory… amazing.
Thierry Henry vs Leeds 9th Jan 2012:
This is really the only goal from a team that wasn’t my own that I celebrated properly, his statue being outside the ground, only been on the pitch something like 10 minutes & he does this… best striker that has ever graced the Prem & one of the coolest blokes in football. (bar Pirlo!)
Here’s a sneaky shot of Ben himself taking a penalty at Sonar 5s…
Ben’s top 5 football strips of all time:
Man United 96/98 Home – My first United kit, Solskjaer on the back, loved it.
Man United 95/96 Away: The hilarious invisible kit, definitely didn’t help when I was playing hide n seek with mates!
Chelsea 2012/13 Away: I know it’s annoying to love another Prem’s kit, but that season Adidas smashed it, can’t wait to have them making our kits next year!
CD Lugo 2013/14 Home: It’s a pint of beer inspired football kit, what more do you want!
Croatia Euro 2012 Away: I’ve always had a soft spot for Croatia’s kits, this one is a beaut.
His top 5 upcoming producers / ones to watch:
Real Connoisseur
https://soundcloud.com/real-connoisseur/real-connoisseur-faux-de-baux
On Thursday August 14th Show launches a brand new Thursday night with us. To get the ball rolling they’ve secured the services of Purp and Soul’s top man Ben Pearce. Support on the night will come from two of Scotland’s most exciting and promising DJs and music makers, residents Illyus and Theo Kottis. As producers both have releases on labels such as Glasgow Underground, Moda Black and airplay from BBC Radio 1, topped off with massive peer support from the likes of Pete Tong, Skream and Groove Armada.
Ahead of the event Illyus and Theo caught up with each other for a quick natter about life insurance, weddings and Candy Crush. Both DJ delegates asked each other some questions. Illyus from Glasgow and Theo from Edinburgh put their territorial rivalries to the one side and bounced some questions all the way along the A8…
Theo > Illyus
1.What’s the worst job you’ve ever had?
My worst job was in a call centre selling accidental death insurance. How on earth I ever managed to sell that shit to people I’ll never know. A months free trial was always the deal sealer.
2.Which song do you wish you wrote?
Marvin Gaye – Got to give it up. Everything about that song is genius.
3. What track would you play at a friend’s wedding?
Queen – Another one bites the dust.
4.If you were organising a party and you could invite any artist to play, what would the line-up be?
My party would have to have more than one room because of the crazy mix of people. Theo Parrish, Motor City Drum Ensemble, KiNK, Jesse Rose, Leon Vynehall, Chic, 90’s Van Helden, Rakim, Gangstarr, Big L…. so many more to mention . Have to add Rab C Nesbitt onto the list as well. He’d be the entertainment in the smoking area.
5.If you could pick one track which really moved you, what would it be?
Frank Sinatra – My Way. A classic that belongs to my grand parents.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=egY8rUpxqcE
Illyus > Theo
1. Apart from dj’n/producing (not a real job according to some people) what’s the best job you’ve ever had?
Running my own clothing brand & organising parties across Europe.
2. Are you one of those people that constantly invite folk to play Candy Crush. If so, why & if not, what do you think of them?
Nah that’s not for me but you can catch me rolling in my tractor on FarmVille any day of the week. In all seriousness my mate Jimmy’s mum is so into candy crush she got fired from work and that is so funny, must be so good.
3.Tram / rugby or subway/ football?
I’m going to give you a curveball here – I’m a tram/football kind of guy. And I love Karagounis.
4. If you could ask any artist a question, who would you ask and what would it be?
I’d ask Villalobos for a detailed run down of the wildest night he has had. I bet his patter is class.
5. Since you organise a lot of parties, which one has been the most fun?
When I booked A-Trak I was about 9 rums deep when he handed me his phone to film part of the set. In a spur of drunken genius I instantly head to K in the phonebook and try to ring Kanye; sadly we all know what the signal in Subbie is like so it wasn’t to be. Next time Ye…
6. Lastly, how many bevvies are you gonna buy me?
Well, dinner is on you so I’ll be buying you a couple of shandies for sure…
The guys put these mixes together ahead of the main event. Expect some vibes, sneaky forgotten tracks & straight up club. Enjoy…
Tonight Beta & Kappa take a back seat (front and centre on the floor of course!) and invite Mungo’s Hi-Fi DJs down for a go on Subbie’s soundsystem. Specialising in Reggae and Dub, as well as Bashment from Dancehall to Step scorchers, we only feel it’s right to let them have the four hours and let the vibes soak into the building. James and Jerome have kindly provided a short selection in advance – not to be overlooked.
James “Bungo” Whelan’s picks:
1. Barrington Levy – Money Move
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a00ZsHCSDxg
This tune represents the original rub a dub style in jamaica, with all the instruments played by a band, produced by legendary producer George Phang for his Power House label. The lyrical content of the song has always rung true with me, it’s about how Barrington has made it big and wants to share his money and belongings with all his friends and people who helped him along the way. I think many artists in this time would do well do remember the ethos of this tune.
2. Crime Stopper – Don’t Touch Crack
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gshoewt3wsw
this tune is vibes!! a conscious anti-drugs message combined with a banging kick drum & bass line, whenever this tune drops it’s fire. straight out of the mixing lab stable, this is a proper late 80s london dancehall tune. “parties getting hotter”…!!!!
3. Super Cat – Vineyard style
the don dada once again comes with the real lyrical fire. this is the story of all the fruits and vegetables in the vineyard coming to life and running a sound system session, on a classic dancehall riddim called “the answer”. let it paint a picture in your mind!
Your other selector is the man behind the system maintenance himself, the brilliant man of few words but maximum impact!
Jerome “Breezak” Joly’s picks:
1. Gorgon Sound – Find Jah Way
First release from Peng Sound Records, absolute anthem.
2. Violinbwoy – Dread Out Deh
https://youtu.be/o2RNv1-eDq0
Violinbwoy made this wicked stepper remix of the original Joy White vocals, If you like it check out the dub version.
3. The Bug – Poison Dart ft.Warrior Queen
https://youtu.be/1lGgJ0Xz9bc
Perfect combo or rage beats and vocals, whatch oot for the poison dart!
Doors are 11pm – 3am
Entry is £5 for all, all night!
This Saturday at Subculture Glasgow is truly in the house with local legends and luminous luminaries of the old school still keeping it on the new. We welcome long time buddies Stuart, Orde, Craig and Graeme back to our bosom for a big night with a SOMA takeover. We caught up with Slam in amongst a hectic recording schedule to chat over this weekend’s event. Here’s their top 10 Subculture tracks from the last two decades…
Stuart’s Top 5:
1. M1 – Feel The Drums -Emotive
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BbBMEkzsiLc
2. Flow – Another Time (Universal Mix) – Bottom Line Records
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fhv4Sj9F2S0
3. Chez Damier – Untitled (Side A)
4. Lil Louis & The World – Aahhhh! FFRR
5. Biosphere 2 – The Jungle X Ray Records
Orde’s top 5:
1. Earth People – Mars – Underworld Records
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ddlcVvlaqMA
2. Back To Basics – Definition of a Track (The Backroom) – New York Underground Records
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QZIJhYjPgVQ
3. Mike Parras – Keep Moving – Basic Records
4. Fierce Factor – Funky Horns – Black Label
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=etRpSwFJmIM
5. Chris Cuevas – Hip Hop – Atlantic
Advance Tickets are available from HERE & in store or online from Tickets Scotland.
On Sunday 27th of July DJ EZ returns to Sub Club with his Garage sound and bass-ic beat down. The highly touted Tottenham DJ cut his teeth as a pirate on the London airwaves and at the Gas Club in the city before going legit with his radio show in 2000. Expect old school classics and the best in new urban music from this guy as he takes us all back to the glory of the 2 Step raving days. We managed to catch up with the man himself ahead of the big event…
1. Your love for Garage music was fed back in the early days. What did you find in the clubs there in the small hours? Was it your first proper clubbing experience?
I got into Garage in the early mid 90s, I was playing Hardcore before that and the way I discovered UKG was by listening to the radio and came across some music from the likes of my God Mr Todd Edwards. So from then I done some research and bought some of his music. Stopped playing the Hardcore stuff and switched.
Next up I got in to pirate radio on a station called Freak FM, which done a lot of things for my career. From there I was recognised for doing my weekly radio shows and started getting club bookings, and the rest is history…
https://soundcloud.com/uncledugs/ezfreek1993
After being at Freak FM for four years I was getting a lot of interest from record labels and was approached by Warner Music to mix a compilation called Pure Garage & again, the rest is history!
2. How big a deal was the Pure Garage Compilations for you?
It done wonders for my career. The whole mix series sold over 2 million copies worldwide, and gave me a lot of exposure outside the UK. From that I got my radio show on KISS FM which I’m still doing to this day. Been on there for almost 14 years. To be honest, I owe a lot to Pure Garage Compilation.
New followers who are discovering the music are going back to the archives, and now and again I get the odd tweet of a picture of someone buying an old Pure Garage copy, its fascinating to see it. Even copies of ‘Pure Garage One’ – I don’t even know if I have a copy of that myself! It’s an amazing time right now, having followers from the early 90s to new followers who seen me at the weekend for the first time. This is a sort of balancing act for my DJ sets, where I can cater for those who’ve been around for years and for those into what I do now. 50% old & 50% new. It’s cool!
3. After all this time in the industry how do you keep motivated? Do you ever feel you have “been there, seen that, done that? ” Are you still fortunate to have a passion for it?
100% I’ve still got the passion! This is what I do and will do forever. I think to myself am I still going to be doing this for the next 10 – 20 years and I just can’t see myself hanging up my headphones, Ever! Maybe ill health or something will stop me, but can’t see my self stopping what I’m doing right now. I just love it!
4. Back in the day how relevant were promos and the likes of Exposure tape packs and is Boiler Room etc a modern day version of these concepts?
Funny you ask that as I just done an interview with some guys in Amsterdam, and similar chat popped up. It’s funny times, because when I was DJ’n back in the day it was the likes of tape packs and DJ’s doing their own self promotion, by handing tapes to promoters. Now a days you have so many platforms and avenues to get your DJ sets and productions heard. Soundcloud, Mixcloud, Twitter, Facebook and so on.
So it’s a great advantage for DJs & Producers if you’re getting into it, but obviously all this has its disadvantages. Things like saturation where everyone wants to be a DJ and make a track. For example, every Wednesday I go through all the tracks that are sent to me each week, and I cover at least 200-300 tracks whereas back in the day that would never have happened, you’d just get a White Label sent to your PO BOX.
5. Were you always very forward thinking by embracing technology and the transition from records to CDs to laptops?
I was one of the late comers to CDJs, I found myself going to clubs and still rocking up with vinyl and would often find that some of the clubs wouldn’t have turntables in good condition or they were only used to sit drinks on. Some didn’t have needles and were in a state of repair really. So I held out as long as I could for vinyl, because from day one that’s what I learnt my trade on. It got to the stage where I was actually carrying vinyl and CDs just incase the turntables at the gig were knackered, and then it got to the stage where the turntables were no longer in the club. When it got to the point where I said to myself enough’s enough!
Now I am using USBs with a Pioneer record box which has cut down my workload in a big way, it’s great. It is a massive step and so much different from playing on vinyl, where you can do a lot more technically with CD’Js. But yeh I do miss playing on vinyl, but as I said, you’ve got to move on.
6.You were one of the first to use reverb/delay effects on some Garage tracks, many of these features are now standard in the box features with Traktor etc. Did you see this trick becoming industry standard?
No I never seen that coming either. I was one of the first ones to incorporate that into my sets both on radio and in clubs. I like the use of effects, sometimes I do go a bit overboard, but that’s what I am known for so can probably get away with it in most cases. That’s the trademark, where I differ from some other DJ’s. I like to bring more to the table in terms of a more technical, entertaining style DJ set.
7. Did you ever pursue any production work?
I have done quite a few productions in the past, all the ‘EZ Intro’s’ and tracks that I start sets and mixes with and I’ve also done quite a few remixes back in the day. What I found was that the DJ’n got so much, where I couldn’t devote much time to making the music. Very quickly the bookings extended outside the UK to Europe and now internationally. My plans are to get back in the Studio , and I am actually gonna be taking some equipment on the road with me to get some productions out there. I was in the USA a few weeks ago and on an 11 hour flight I said to myself ‘I could be spending my time right now with a little mini keyboard & my laptop and be able to knock out some tracks.’ Watch this space man!
8. Since it’s been 20 odd years, who would be your one to watch for the future, anyone capable of taking your hat / crown?
I hope to take the hat off for a crown one day, that’s my goal! ;) In terms of producers there is some great music coming out right now. I’m a big fan of Flava D , Tuff Culture, and Cause & Affects. Also Hannah Wants and the likes are making a lot of noise! Good times right now for DJs & Producers.
9. What’s your opinion on longevity of tracks, many of the best Garage tracks that smash a dance floor are 15/20 odd years old. Do you believe they were better produced or a case of music being more throw away now?
It’s funny you say that because some of the key tracks in my set such as RIP Groove , by Double 99 are 20 years old now and still smashing the floor. This is why I love Garage, It’ s got longevity. One of the reasons I got into it was because it has got so many elements , its got the dark side , the vocal side, the jazzy and soulful side, the 4×4 side and the 2 step. So many sides to it.
10. Any particular track that you see being just as big and still in the box 15 years from now?
RIP Groove, is kinda similar to Redlight’s Source 16, it’s one of them tracks that I play in almost every set and no matter where you play it always goes down. It’s got so much legs, it’s just gonna continue and no one will ever get tired of it!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_KSpvES1sWM
11. Do you ever Dj without that famous hat?
Never. I went to a club in Bristol one time and actually forgot and left the baseball cap at home. It was quite strange and was kinda hiding behind the decks and avoiding the photographer. It’s like my Superman wings. There was an option to go to the local petrol station and get a Shell hat but I couldn’t wear that in a club. It’s not cool! ;)
12. What do you do when you’re not playing, touring or on radio ?
I enjoy chilling out, watching a bit of TV and I’m really in to technology. I like to research gadgets , smart phones and the likes. I listen to a lot of podcasts. When I am driving in the car I don’t really listen to music as much, I listen to audio tapes , anything about technology. If I wasn’t in the music industry I’d be doing something along the lines of computers or working in the electronic industry. Big into gadgets!
13. I seen you a couple of times playing at Yoyo in Notting Hill, what do you think about these parties and their role in keeping the old school sounds and vibes on the radar of a younger audience who weren’t there first time round?
It’s great. Events like this and Back To 95 etc are where we still get the older crowd, and the new crowd come along too. At parties like Back to 95 the younger crowd seem to do their homework on the old school Garage. They know a lot about the old old stuff, the 90s sound and the music from the US.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vAfqZuFYli8
14. How often do you see the old crew? Do you still share line ups with the like of Tuff Jam & Ramsey and Fen ?
Not very often, the odd occasion. I’ve got a gig in autumn at Back to 95 so no doubt I will be crossing paths with many of the DJ’s and MC’s of who I worked with during my UK Garage journey. I did a tribute radio show for MC Sparks who sadly passed away recently where most of the MC’s and DJ’s from back in the day came together for this special occasion. It was emotional but great to see everyone coming together and celebrating his life. RIP MC SPARKS…
15. There are still some younger DJs playing tribute to the Garage era now and again with the likes of Brackles on Rinse and Martelo on NTS, do you ever get the chance to tune in?
Of course, totally impressed with their sets, and what they’re doing by contributing to Garage which in turns keeps it alive and the scene moving. I always show respect to anyone that supports Garage music because it’s such a great genre and could well be the best genre lol!!
16. Last time you were playing the Subbie was for Jackmaster’s Numbers party. That was a serious bounce. What’s your expectations of returning to Glasgow?
https://vimeo.com/67190863
Aaaamazing!!! Well this Sunday is gonna be a tough one, I am planing to do better and make it even more special than the last one. If I return to a venue I’m always trying to make it better than the previous set. From the last time I remember the energy of the crowd. They were banging the ceiling and stuff like that. I am hoping for the same on Sunday.
17. Apparently there are 2 million people in town this week as Glasgow is hosting the 2014 Commonwealth Games. Does this interest you ?
Not really, more into football and waiting for the Premier League to start. I am a Spurs fan unfortunately , someone has to support them ;) Tonight I am going to watch them playing Toronto FC which is part of their USA pre season friendlies. I have a funny feeling that we will do well in the upcoming season, FINGER CROSSED!! C.O.Y.S!
18. I know your uncut DJ sets are probably long enough for you, but hypothetically speaking , do you have enough records to play for 12 , 18 or 24 hours ?
Longer than that, If I have a look at my Traktor now. It will probably tell me how long I can actually play for. This is just about 20% of my music in total, not counting the vinyls. Everyone is selling their vinyl, I could never sell mine. That’s my babies right there & no one sells their children ;)
Traktor just loading….
At the moment it’s telling me I have almost 20,000 which will equate to 73 days of music. If you can get a license at Sub Club to do a 73 days uncut set I’m up for it ! Lets do it ! Make sure you have the paramedics on stand by!
