1.The last time we spoke was about 2 years ago with regards to doing a interview. How times flies and all that! I hear that you are about to take on another tour. Where is it this time? Australia, Europe or the Usa?

LH * I'm not scheduled for a tour.. I've done a few "isolated" dates here and there and probably will from time to time.

2. You have bought an album that has been out for a couple of months.It called "Love's arrival". Where you pleased with it? Or are you a person that believes that a piece of music can be bettered. Whats your favourite track on the album for instance? Some of the tracks on hear are out of this world for me. What about you?

LH * Yes, I was pleased with Love's Arrival. As you know, music is ALL the opinion of the people who hear it, so I'd be wasting my time trying to strive "perfection." Perfection would be different in the opinion of just about everyone, and as they say "You can't please everybody.

3. I have to say that other countries that are now getting the Deep House bug are producing some excellant stuff. France, Finland and Norway come to mind. As many state you as the good father of Deep House. Is this some thing that you are pleased with. Are you happy with the God Father of Deep House Tag?

LH * This question is a little difficult for me to answer as it's not easy for me to know what's going on in countries where I don't reside. I did receive a very good EP from some guys who are about to do a release from Spain though. If there is a surge going on in regards to the deeper, more soulful dance music, that's cool. I just hope the people BUY the music and not just TALK about it. That goes on a lot these days. In regards to the "God Father" thing, I don't really know who came up with that, but I guess it's OK if you have to be called something. Everything and everybody seems to need a "catch-phrase" attached these days...

4. I asked you last time about this. When creating a fresh track, do you.Think of the melodies first, then placing the lyrics to fit it. Or do you write lyrics first, and then put the melody around it if it is a vocal type House track.... How do you go about it.

LH * I don't have a "formula" that I follow. I just experiment and whatever happens, happens.

5.Your label Alleviated Records seems to be doing quite well. Who have you got signed for the labels nowadays?

LH * I don't have anyone "signed" to Alleviated. If I come across some music that I feel confident about and think the buying public will enjoy, I'll release it. I'm not really trying to tie anyone down with my label. If I can assist them in getting something out there, that's what it's about. The basics are not very complicated though some of the more "intricate" details can be...

6. You have been working with Brett Dancer from Track mode ( New York City) records in recent years. How did this come about? Are we going to see more collabration between you 2, with regards to new tunes being produced.

LH * I'd been working with Brett in an "advisory" capacity for about 4-5 years and we just decided to go more "public" with it a couple of years ago. We met through a mutual friend [Christopher Stackhouse aka Che'] and just really started communicating back and forth and sharing ideas and feelings.

7.You now or have been residing in Memphis the birth place of Elvis Presley. Why Memphis? Was it a case of getting away from it all, and being able to breath musically, and just to live a normal life?

LH * No special or philosophical reasons. Just wanted to get to a calmer setting so, you pretty much hit it.

8. You are down in History now as being part of one House and Garage music most famous group - Fingers Inc. Can you still believe that you were part of something that special. Do you keep in touch with members of the band. Is there any chance of you reforming - and do an album together again?

LH * In regards to the first part of your question, we're all making history as we go. There seems to be so much focus on the past though that people don't see the history that's developing in front of their faces. For such a "progressive" society, we really seem to spend a great deal of time "back-tracking" things that we "missed" the first time around.... I do speak with Robert Owens frequently.

Unfortunately, I lost contact with Ron Wilson a couple of years after the "Prove It To Me" single was released in 1990. A future album hasn't been talked about but, who knows what the future holds???

9.Deep House music has a very special place in your heart, that I know. I have to say this though, when it is dropped just right, it is a magically piece of music. Why then, in your opinion, hasn't it caught the imagination of the big record labels?

LH * I don't know. Maybe the "big" record labels don't have any imagination.. You can't run a big record label solely on imagination now can you? If this music sold like other styles of music, they'd be very interested. The fact is that there's a whole lot of talk but not any significant amounts of records being sold. That's the ONLY thing that's going to get the attention of major labels. Period.

10. I was firmly put in my place by you on the subject of "djing". Is this something that you can do. But do not wish to make a career out of it.

LH * Yes. It's fun to do it from time to time, but it can get frustrating because the vast majority of club attendees don't really care what they're listening to and are not receptive to much other than their own expectations as to what the person DJing should be playing. Total opposite from the days that everyone keeps talking about and trying to re-live.

11.Blaze and The Master at Work are teams within the world of House and Garage music that command the respect of people that love this music the world over. How come you three have never got it together - musically? Now that would be something special. Or have you worked on a project before under another name.

LH * I like Blaze and The Masters at Work teams, but us working together just never came up. I guess we need guys like yourself working for labels and coming up with good ideas like that.

12. Countries such as France, Finland, England and Norway are begining to take on America at its own game with regards to Soulful and Deep House music. Does this make you smile abit with regards to the music now gaining global acceptance. Its good that this is happening, right?

LH * That sounds cool. I think a really critical issue that has to be addressed now is the part that the public play in this equation. As I mentioned in response to one of the other questions, the public doesn't really seem to be buying the music in any significant numbers lately. The artists and labels can make all the music in all the styles that they want, but if the public don't actively go out and buy the releases [like the fans of Rap and Pop and Rock and Country, etc.] then there's still no hard evidence that they like the music. We'll see what happens...

13. Traditionally within the Usa, Chicago, New Jersey and New York have produced most of the countries best Deep House sounds. But the city of San Francisco, Usa is rightly been targetted by the music media of late. Labels such as Naked Music, PanHandle, Siesta and Red Melon are creating a huge bug around the House and Garage world. Do you keep your ear to the floor from this corner of the world out of the Usa?

LH * I'm not really all that focused on where it's coming from, if I like it, I like it. Where it originates from wouldn't change my opinion. That's pretty much how it is in America if you haven't paid attention to history. It just moves around from place to place, just like the people. Detroit, Philadelphia, Atlanta, D.C., Los Angeles, Portland, Chicago, wherever, it's still the same country. No big deal.

14. What are your thoughts on the Winter Music conference 2002? Will Larry Heard being heading out there this time?

LH * I've only attended once as I just prefer to devote my time to creative tasks. I might attend next year.. TrackMode is thinking about hosting a party, so I'll probably be there in support of that. Normally, if I don't have some "special" reason to go, I usually don't attend any of the conferences. Sorry.

15. Do you still get a buzz out of making House music? Are you okay with it?

LH * Yes..

16.Do you still do your own stint of record shopping or hunting? I usually go to Rhythm Division for 2-Step Garage, and Black Market in London, England for things. What about you? Or do you leave it up to being supplied by labels, etc to keep you up to date?

LH * I get things from time to time from labels, but I BUY what I like... Sometimes even if I CAN get a complimentary copy.

17. Is it hard to keep being creative in a industry that evolves change nearly every 6 months. Is it difficult for you to constantly come up with some fresh and challenging?

LH * I just try to put together some good quality music. Good music sounds good all the time and doesn't really have a lot to do with the trend cycles.

18. One of mine favourite Larry Heard tracks of all time are "What about Love" and "Missing you". Is that you singing on the track of "What about this Love?" How did you manage to get so Deep with "Missing you". Have you got a special Keyboard or something?

LH * Yes, that's me singing on both tunes. I don't have any "special" keyboards, pretty much the normal pieces of gear that are sold in most musical equipment stores. I do a lot of programming of sounds though...

19. I mentioned earlier on that you have a newish album out called "Loves arrival". How long did it take you to bring this to the table? Was this your best album that you have released so far. Or do you have another one that you have done previously that you liked the best.

LH * I pretty much always have songs on tap or drafts of ideas that I'd like to develop. After I decided which songs I wanted to include on the album it was just a matter of recording them. I can vary as to how long that takes depending on life itself. It probably took me about 4-5 months of start and stop recording to complete "Love's Arrival..."

20. I mentioned this the last time, but I times have changed. Are you still wary of the Media with regards to beng mis-quoted?

LH * Yes because it still happens. It's more understandable if the interview is complicated by a language barrier but when two people are speaking the same language and one is not hearing what the other is saying, it doesn't give you much confidence that what you originally conveyed would be quoted accurately...

21. Mr. Glen Underground, is another highly respected Chicagion within the music sphere that many state you created. Have you ever worked together on any projects. Are you a fan of Glen Underground styles of House...?

LH * We haven't worked "in the studio" together, but Glenn did just contribute an excellent remix for the 12" release of "Praise" from my album "Love's Arrival." That's a start in a good direction. Many things are easier said than done and the collaborations we can all think up are also. I guess a lot of these things would have been done by now if they weren't more complex than they seem...

22. You seem to have a huge fan base outside of America, then within. Why is this? Or is this alot of hot air!!

LH * Radio in America is pretty much records that are selling millions of copies ONLY. Artists and producers that are involved in the club scene only have the club environment available to them to expose their music? Radio is a little more receptive to play the songs outside of America, so more people hear them because they don't have to be at a club. They can be in the comfort of their own home. Everyone on the face of the Earth doesn't go to clubs. Though they may enjoy the music, some don't enjoy the environment. I know plenty of people like that right here where I live.

23. Out of all of the places that you have visited around the world, which is the place that you like visiting the most, on a musically basis.

LH * I can't place any one above all the others. I've enjoyed them each for individual reasons.

24. What does the future hold for Mr.Larry Heard? Have you got any thing planned shortly.

LH * I'm trying to get my act together to record one of three concepts that I have for new albums and hopefully, I'll be able to start doing some work with some of the musicians that I spent my teenage years with. We're discussing some possibilities. I'll have to keep you posted...

25. Have you got any advice for any aspiring record label producer/s, DJ or club owner or Dj/Dj producer/s out there? Any rules that he should adhere to in trying to make it in this world?

LH * Not really, just try to use your brain. Everyone's experience is a little different so there wouldn't be any set of directives that would apply to everyone.

All rights of the text and the images belong to Carl Brown, Ipswich, England and Larry Heard -Chicago, Illinois, Usa . If you which to use any of this interview. Please contact us. Copyright laws apply.

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