Gem - Part 2, Colchester, England - Offical Interview
Gem - Colchester, England
Underground is a term that is used far too loosely these days, but there are many artists whom I consider to be key contributors to the underground scene and are still relatively unheard of such as Jovanan (pure genius) , Kenny Dixon Jnr, Mike Dunn, Sanza, Asher & Noel Watson, Deep Dish (finally getting their credits), John Robinson and my personnel favourites Romanthony to name but a few, not all of them are from the USA either which futher expells the myth that all quality soulful house tunes comes from the states
I agree that many UK DJS were slow to get in to the studio and the USA DJS have a tradition of customising there own tracks and edits which goes back to as far as the 1970's, but to succeed these days you have to be more than a dj and cutting your own tracks; Just as essential is spinning as your spining own tunes. I myself am working on numrious projects and have already completed alot of material within a colleagues studio so watch this space for snippets of new unrealsed material!
The influences that have meant something to me within the world of house could have me here all day with me reeling of names like a phone book. But I have to add here it isn't just House artists that influence me. Different art forms such as Films, Poetry and Art all play a part into what I like as a person. Musically, however the people who deserve the most respect are the great Jazz & Rn'B musicians because they where the first underground music scene in the so called "civilised" world to influence the whole shape of popular music today. Since then the music has metamorphosised into many different sounds and forms from Rock n' Roll to Jungle but every style of popular music in the western world today owes a great deal to the slaves sent to the NEW WORLD who through their pain and suffering has created beautiful music which one way or another has touched the whole plant .
I love the recent Jazz musicians who have graced us with there music because they were probably the most innovative musicians in recent times, Charlie Parker, Dizzy Gillespie, Thelonious Monk, Charlie Mingus, Duke Ellington, Miles "Ahead" Davies and John Coltrane have all played there part in shaping the way musicians are perceived by the public and manamaent alikeas not just as entertainers, but serious musicians
Reggae to Indie, JazzFunk to Techno, music of all descriptions inspire me all the time and if music is made from the soul and I feel the vibe then as far as I'm concerned its Soul music, simple...........
As far house music is concerned there are 2 guys who for me are the epitomise of what house music is all about, great music unity, peace and good times; and you will not find 2 greater Djs anywhere else on the planet. Frankie Knuckles and Tony Humpheries are the chosen ones, and are what I would love to aspire to. Although I am never going to be as big as them I know that I can make a contribution to this musical genre that will aslo stand this test of time.
Other House artists that inspire me are The Master of Work team, Nick Jones, Norman Jay, John Robinson, David Morales, Smack, Blaze, Marshall Jefferson, Larry Heard, Sarah HB and a whole bunch more.......
However my biggest inspiration caomes from the party people all over the world who packout the clubs week in and week out. When I am djing its the crowds energy and the atmosphere which makes more determine to play. Imay turn up with a box of records, but I'm nothing without the clubbers there to support me. Any Dj will tell you that is the best feeling in the world to slam on a tune and everyone goes crazy because when the people create atmosphere andd the vibe is so intense and powerful, ten it just gives you more confidence to play within
I am a Club kid who plays records, and I know the true essence of being a clubgoer, and unless you've truly experienced that then you will never be able to cut it as a Dj because to able to rock a crowd then you must be able to understand the crowd that you are playing for, and be on ther samer wave length as them. So my respects go out to the party people of the world.....
Soulful House within England within my estimation has reached its full potential largely due to the fact that the so called Super Clubs and dance music media are hype mongers, that build up over rated Djs so much that their fees soar; entrance fees in clubs go up, and the music that is played is basically commercial rubbish which is a weak immitation of the original underground recipe which was invented years ago!
We must remember that there is now a new generation of clubbers coming through who have only just got into the club scene within the couple of years and are not familiar with the true deeper sound of House, but I am noticing that the tide is turning and a new breed of clubbers are discovering just how stimulating deep house is and slowly the music shall progress and eventually take over.
In a way though I hope Soulful House doesn't become the next big thing because many underground styles of music have fallen prey to the major record labels and have become victims of ther own success, the most important thing in music is gaining artistic notoriety and respect and not necessarially making loads of cash.
I have worked on radio shows before notablyICR fm in Ipswich Basically I got onto this short course which dealt with Radio & Broadcasting production and during te course they actually ran this community station on a restricted service license which meant you could braodcast for a month, so I applied for a show and they hooked me up with a late night spot which called THD (True House Department). I was really nervous at he beginning of my first show, but two records into it and I was relaxed, after that 2 hours just flew by and I didn't really want to leave the studio.
It was nice being able to relax and play differeant styles of music that you wouldn't usually play out as well as being able to talk to your audience because it gives people a better representation of whom you are and makes you feel closer to the people who appreciate your music.
I have been asked to appear on a number of pirate radio stations, but it can get your name blacklisted and I don't want to jeapordize my club work, but who knows maybe I'll give it go under an alias, Girls fm, Pleasure, Underground Vibes, Vibes and all the pirates keep doing what your doing coz your ruff!!!
At the present moment in time I am fortunate to have a number of residencies and on a Friday night I have just started playing at the Double OO club in Ipswich, England above the pub called Bar Fontaine,it is a real stylish club and Paul Arnold from Push your luck hooked me up there. Its a new club, and I have been playing their since it opened 5 months ago. It took some time getting going but now wie getting the numbers that we think we derserve. I play upstairs in the Garage room with Mellow J and we have had some serious jams going together recently. It will soon play host to some serious big names soon so watch this space!!!
My main reesidency is at Colchester where I play the occasionally Thursday and Friday nights and 3 Saturdays nights in the month. Istrated out as a warm up dj about 2 and half ago years ago, but now I have progessed to being a prime time dj. I really do love playing there because the crowd have no inhibitions and are always down for a good time. It holds up to about 180 people so its quite, but they are opening a second floor soon, but the sound system is a dirrerent class and is just a collosal wall of pure sound, its just wicked. I share the residency with Dave Valetine from Self Preservation Society and he's a quality dj who is fast becomming one of the most sought after remixer producer in the country.
There have been a few good quality guest dj's too with Phil Asher, Dean Savonne, Lofty, Mark Wilkonson, Eddie Richards, Fabio and Grooverider as well. Eastside is like my kind of sanctuary, which has seen me have some of my finests moments there; so check out the Eastside Club, High Street, Colchester, England. I sometimes alawys play in the Adnans Bar, Colchester, England and Hollywoods nightclub, Ipswich which is always busy.
Basically I have played in every club and bar in the surrounding area of Colchester and Ipswich area, and have gained vital experience, knowledge, maturity and confidence over the past 4 years, but it is time for me to move on and prove myself on the major scene.
Changing the subject now my favourite labels within the garage/houase circuit depends as each has a certain sound which I try to incorporate within my set. My personnel favourite UK label is Azuli records, London, England. This is because of the way that it is marketed, which is to be recognised as a USA label rather than an Uk one. This is so certain garage snobs would purchase its product who beieve American is better....Secondly another reason why I support them is because they have produced some of the most memorable an magicially music to ever grace a UK label, just listen to Romanthony's, "Fall in Grace" or "Let me show you Love" and you will discover the most innovative deep house music to come out on any label in the past 4 years. Their tunes aere usually seductive, haunting and emotional, and that is why ROMANTHONY stands alone with Robert Owens and Larry Heard as the most enigmatic creators of Deep House.
Azuli's support of home grown taslent can never be overlooked and UK producers who have churned out many a classic on Azuli are Brooker T, Sensory Elements and Chocolate Fudge
Other UK labels that I check are Vice Versa, Matrix, Mousetrap, Nice n Ripe, Tribal UK, Interstate, Freetown/Subwoofer, Hott, Paper, Estoric, Narcortic and Phuture Trax to name but a few, and from te rest of Europe also really like Night Stuff and Rena from Italy, F Communications from France and Touche from Holland
As for the USA labels unsurprisingly the top of my list is Strictly Rhythm Records followed closely by Nervous Recordsboth have produced classic after classic, and no other label can really match the contributions that they have made in the past.
I have the upmost respect for the labels such as Cutting, Easy Street, KMS and Bottomline just to name a few. Recently I have been impressed with the output from Masters of Works - MAW label
For the really soulful vocal house stuff then I always look out for the New Jersey Labels such as Grassroots, Music USA, Music Station and Serious Grooves becuse they always stay true to the original soulful house vibe; and with artists such as Blaze, Alyus, Disciple and Smack Production team you know that you will be getting value for money...
Other USA labels that rate are Tribal America, Cajual, Vibe music, Henry Street, Kingstreet/Nightgrooves, Eightball, Maxi , Shelter, Emotive, Hot n' Spicy......
We here are lucky in England, in the sense that we have such a vibrant club scene for all kinds of music, and there are many open minded people out there, but you do have preferences to different styles of music in certain parts of the country. For instances, your more likely to find a deep house night in London more than you are in Newcastle, but I think you'll find that Deep House is played all over the country; but not in the scale as lets say HANDBAG HOUSE, which is due to the what the records labels judge as marketable. What the media deem as being trendy and what pop djs such as Jermey Healey
Deep House is an underground phenomenom and will fortunately never be mass marketed or exploited. It kicks down the boundaries of your inner self and for that reason alone people are scared of it. You don't need a magazine to tell that a Jovonn tune is kicking it and it doesn't matter whether your from Chicago to Oldham you'll either feel it or you won't.
Dance music and clubs are big business now and the line between commerciality and the underground have been somewhat blurred by the success of clubs such as Cream, Rennaisance and the Ministry of Sound, England. I have nothing against people making money out of clubs and going out on advertising, but when it starts effecting the music then it starts then it a problem.
Many a time I've heard of highly respected and influential djs whom I personally admire play less than inspiring set for some named big clubs because of the fees or contract arrangments involved.
Disco, Harcore and Rap music artists have suffered embarrasment at the hands of major music labels and artists selling out the music, but here in lies the beauty of dance music and that is the power of progression. The power to metamorphosies and come back more resilent than ever before; because music more than ever before rejoices in this changes that it allows it to become such a force in modern day music.
The hopeful signs are that the kids who started these scenes off are now adults with alot of power at there disposal and this means that the geniune inovators within the underground scene over the last 20 years, or so are influencing the big artistic and financial decisions that matter thereby gaining respect from the underground community and never quite abusing the music that they cherish dearly because they are not willing to sell out or comprise on quality.
Just like fine wine House music seems to be getting better with age. house records made 11 years ago, still sound fresh today. House music takes in everybody from all creeds and people with different tastes and preferences. Lets hope that continues.......
For futher information or mix tapes feel free to call Gem da la Vibe on (01206) 852 541(England)
Send in any comments that you may have about this, or anything that has captured your eye when wondering through the site. Hope to hear from you soon...
