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Kevin Mackay give us an Insight into One of the Uk Premier Deep House Labels
Glasgow Underground- Scotland
1.Who or what had the greatest influence on what you listen to today? Was through listen to your parents (Did they have an artists or performer that they constantly kept going on about that influenced you) Was through listening at a early age to the Radio to a particular sound or artist Was through going to the church (being part of a choir?) Or was it by being forced to take musical lessons that influenced your choice?
The list of things that influence what I listen to today is as varied as the styles of music I listen to. Although one thing that is constant is the element of challenging ideas in what I listen to. Be that admiring the way Miles Davis would turn up at a recording studio with his own scales for the musicians to improvise on or the way Maurizio manipulates the most basic musical elements into what seems like orchestras of sound. Like most people I was influenced initially by popular radio and TV. I didn't have parents that said, 'Hey check out my John Coltrane LP', they were into Beethoven and 'Bridge Over Troubled Water'. But what they did do was make me take music lessons (trombone was the instrument).
From there I took up playing with an orchestra with one of Scotland's more experimental conductors. When I say 'experimental', I mean he had a bunch of 16 year-olds doing Ennio Morricone soundtracks rather than 'The Entertainer'. That lead me to be more varied with my musical buying. Nothing left-field but shit like Motown, The Doors and Jean-Michel Jarre. A real mixture.
2.Who were your first musical hero? Was it Artists from the Soul area Hiphop scene Rock/Heavy Metal scene Motown, The Sound of Philadelphia or Stax Records artist's Jazz artists Or just a particular artist
The first artist I heard that really blew me away was Prince. 'Sign Of The Times' was the first album I thought was perfect. As an artist he excelled at everything. Song-writing, production, performance, style, the lot. And 'Sign..' had everything from ballads to rocking dance grooves. Perfect.
3.Had did you get involved into the music scene. Was through doing the DJ at school parties. Playing in a band ( Rock, Jazz, Soul, Punk !!) Working in a music Store, getting interested that way?
When I was finishing school, I bought a mixer to compliment my hi-fi system. I used to make tapes up mixing from CD to record or tape. Mostly tapes for parties or friends to have in their cars. It was only when I moved from my small home town on the west coast to Glasgow that I became interested in Technics, dance music and clubbing. The guy who lived in the room next to me was from Bromley and got me into stuff like The Woodentops, Mandy Smith and the Balearic sound of the time. We used to go to the early Slam parties together and we'd both hang about record shops the next day trying to buy the big tunes that Stuart or Orde had played.
4.If you are a DJ/Producer what was the first club that you played that allow you to gain vital experience to that is invaluable now! Is it still there and have you gone back to play there from time to time?
First paid gig was at Strathclyde University Students' Union. 1992. Trying to play Masters At Work dubs to a bunch of students who wanted REM, Abba and the Grease soundtrack. It never took off (strangely enough). They invited me back about a year and a half ago to promote their Friday nights. We put on Weatherall one month and David Holmes the next and got a grand total of 100 people on each night. Must be something about quality that just doesn't work there! At least I know it wasn't all my fault the place was dead first time around.
5.Being a DJ, what would you considered to being the music that you like playing the best. Garage ( Vocal House ) Deep House ( Jazz/Fusion - Funky instrumental House) Disco House ( Samples of 1970'S disco music added with House Music) Jazz House (Nu Yorkican Soul type of music). The Sunday Scene type of House Music (typified by the London Underground,
As long as it's deep it gets in my box.
6.Where do you play now? Are you a resident DJ, or do you work Freelance?
Freelance.
7.Have you travelled abroad to work? ? (Only write down if its applies) Where did you play.What countries; and was it a success?
Russia, Belgium, Denmark, Norway, France, Ireland, USA. Particularly Norway and Russia
7a.What are your favourite country to DJ in, and the favourite club?
My favourite place to play at the moment is a tiny club in Oslo called Skansen.
8.What are the scene like in your country? Is Garage and House music becoming more acceptable, that within recent years saw music's like (Techno, ACID or Hard-core being the main musical staple diet)Loads of people making great music not many places to play it. I guess I'm lucky in Glasgow having the Sub Club to hang out in. Next to Oslo, it's my favourite place to play and hang out.
9.What do you think of other country involvement within the music of Garage and House music? Such as France (Shazz and ST. German), Germany ( Mousse T, Boris Dglulosch, Tonka) and England. (Grant Nelson, Ricky Morrison, Norman Jay, Paul "trouble" Anderson, Karl "tuff enuff" Brown, etc ) That was the domain of the Americans during the early 1990's.
Glasgow's music seems to be a mixture of the best parts of everywhere else. Dirt from Detroit, cheekiness from Chicago, style from Paris and flare from New York. All rolled into one.
10.Who, if given the chance would you like to work with in the World of House and Garage music? Masters at Work, Don Carlos, Derrick Carter, Kerri Chandler, Grant Nelson, Shazzz..who??
Francois Kevorkian
http://www.wavemusic.com/
. Just to watch and learn.
11.Who do you rate as one to look out for in the future? Who should we keep an eye out for! From your own country? DJ/ music artist/s producer From what you have heard or seen from abroad? DJ/ music artist/s producer
Not on Glasgow Underground - Michael Hunter from Glasgow and Erot from Norway.
12. Are you at peace with the press? Do you constantly worry about being misquoted? Or do you have a good relationship with the press as a whole?
The press is the press. You just have to understand how it works. Never expect anything from it and you won't be disappointed.
13. If you have heard it what do you think of the sound coming from England called BY THE MUSIC HACKS CALLED Speed Garage and 2-Step music? (Only apply if you have heard some of it!)
To me, some of it sounds like old MK records and some sounds like fast R&B. We don't really have a scene so I wouldn't want to comment until I'd been somewhere like Cookies & Cream.
14. What we all would like to know how is the label of Glasgow Underground got started..Was it your idea to create such a label, or did it happen by chance? Has this always been an idea of yours, or whoever to start some thing likes this?
I wanted to start a label that involved more than just my music. That was it. I'd already been running Muzique Tropique for the stuff Andy Carrick and I were doing. GU just added more artists with a similar vibe. I guess I was lucky they wanted to work with me.
16. It seems as if you are producing talent from USA and European producers for some time now. Was this a plan of yours...? What about local scene. Are you planning to produce more tracks from talent around the Glasgow, Edingburg Area?
I've always supported local talent. I've involved DJQ, Andy Carrick, George T., Daniel Ibbotson, Slam and Harri in the label. I would ask others but they're already signed up! As for the American producers, that's because most American labels treat their artists like shit. All I did was be honest and truthful. And the one European act we have (Charles Silence Trio) came about through a wicked demo tape.
17. Scotland in regards to Deep House music has become in vogue of late within the USA, UK and Europe. Is this continuing do you think..? Are more people looking to Scotland for Deep House Music.... is the label really geared towards Deep House music.....
People in Scotland make good music because they always strive to be the best. It takes a lot of work to get a compliment in Glasgow. I guess that's something refreshing for the style mags.
18. You have in the past produced singles from an Act called Abacus... He has a lot of admirers of his work around the world... Are you planning to give him a chance to do an Album with you?
Austin did a remix on the Muzique Tropique album 'Collection'. He originally came to me with a track he had done that sampled our ' Voodoo Rhythm' tune. He wanted to release it himself. I said the only way it could come out was if it was as a remix. That's what happened. He's now signed to Guidance.
19 Has your label released any Deep House type albums before?
We're now up to album number six. Muzique Tropique 'Collection' (1), Mateo & Matos 'new York Rhythms' (2), 'Glasgow Underground volume one' (3), Mateo & Matos 'new York Rhythms II' (4), Powder productions 'Pipe Dreams' (5) & Daniel Ibbotson 'Streamlines' (6).
20. How well did these album do for you? Did you get more acknowledgements from the music industry for it? Are there any more plans for any other album soon?
Very well. Yes. Yes.
21.Sampling what do you think of its use? Is this something that you like to use when compiling a new tune? Or is it something you prefer to do as minimal as possible. Do you prefer to use real instruments to computers and other sampling equipment? Or is this the other way around?
Depends on the use. Taking a tiny part of something and creating something new is good. Ripping off someone else's music is not. Although the boundaries between the two are open to much debate. As a label I tolerate a lot more sampling than I do as an artist.
22. There was evidence that you were teaming up with a number of French House artists over the year in regards to the Sound that you wanted is this poppycock? If not please could you give us some info in regards to this?
Never teamed up with anyone French.
23. What is your favourite Glasgow Underground release? Any reason why as well?
I have different favourites at different times.
24. Being based in the South part of England, "Space"(London) Is one of the few clubs that is dedicated more to the Deep House sound that you are championing? What the scene like in Scotland for your sound...
The Sub Club. Ask Kenny Hawkes if it's better than Space.
25. Have you yourself got any particular favourite Deep House label that moves you... Any releases from that label that you wished you had done, or were released on your label?
Toko. Attaboy's 'New World'. I'd have paid a fortune to have that for GU.
26. Has is the label perceived in the States (USA!) Have you had any favourable feed back about your label over there...?
I get massive support from the States. From what I can gather (from Jeff Craven at Large) people in Chicago react to GU like people here react to Large.
27 Being based in Glasgow, do you feel its an advantage being based there from the labels concerns instead of the music media circle madness that is London?
Yes. No-one kisses your arse for being shit.
27. Lastly, have you any advice for any would be Garage DJ/ Deep House/Producer? What should he or She watch out for? Any advice?
Be prepared to work harder, better and longer than anyone else around you.
28. Are you amazed by some reputed figures that some DJ's/Producers are receiving these days to play at House clubs? Has it gotten out of hand? Or is it a case of good luck to you mate? What are you views on this......
They pull a crowd. The crowd pays a fee. The get some of the fee. Them's the rules.
and Carl Brown Ipswich,(England).
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