DJ Neil Fearnley - England - Official Interview

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"Carl's Garage and House Website"

DJ Neil Fearnley - England - Official Interview

Name:

Neil Fearnley

Age:

26 years old

Present Location:

Ayesbury, Buckinghamshire
England

Born:

08-February-1971

Occupation

Manager/Engineer

Who has had the greatest influence on what you listen to today?

At the age of about 13 when were all so impressionable, a local group of lads used to run a function in a small scout hut near where I lived. The name of the night was called Funk Fusion and they to me were wicked. The music was better than anything I had ever heard before in the mainstream. These guys really knew there Soul and Funk music. Eventually the functions became so popular that it was closed down by the council!!! These functions were probably the start for me into the world of music, for it was not long after this I bought my own set of Technics decks, and whole heap of records.

After about 6-7 months of playing and practising, I decided to start putting on my own events in my local town. I hired the sound equipment and lighting and charged everyone an entry fee. A few friends and myself were the DJs for the night and it went off well. However as before, the council decided it was no good for the town and thus closed it down!! From now on I was hooked on the buzz of DJ'ing.

Who was your musical idols as a child/ Teenager?

4. Was it James Brown, Marvin Gaye, Stanley Clarke
5. The Commodores, Earth, Wind and Fire, Fleetwood Mac, etc.

Or was it a Particular Sound?

6.The Sound of Philadelphia, Stax, Motown, or the Hiphop influence or certain Rock music influences?

Very Tricky question, I don't think I have ever said that any one particular person is my hero when it comes to music because I believe there is are many individuals who excel within there own fields. During my time I have listened to all kinds of music from Hip Hop to House, from Soul to Funk, but now its house and Garage music where my heart is. Once again within this field there are DJ's and artists who excel at what they do and it would be wrong to compare them against anyone else. Individuality is the key to success I feel.

How did you get into the World of Djing?

7.Was it through taking part in school party ?
8.Djing at a relatives party
9.Or at a local youth club in your area?
10.Where?

After the council closed our original functions, I was sure that I would be back putting on parties in my home town one day. That day was about 4 years ago
I used to run a function called the "Crunch", here in Aylesbury.

I was resident along with my good old friend Don Palermo.
I wanted to bring something to the town that nobody had ever done
Rather that just having local DJ's
(no disrespect to them cause some of the best DJ's I know are just bedroom Dj's).
I decided to book some "names".
Our first night saw Dean Savonne with Henry performing a live PA.

The night was great and went off well with the folk of the town.
Later on I booked Paul "trouble" Anderson and Bobbi and Steve.
Once again it was getting popular with over 900 people in some weeks. The council once again put there heavy foot down and refused us a bar license, hence the attendance went down!!!
( a town full of beer heads)

This at the time was a bad thing for me, but by undertaking this venture I had now met Bobbi and Steve and the other Dj's. At this time I was a regular clubber at Garage City which was then at No1 Nine Elms Lane in Vauxhall now better known as the Coloseum

One Saturday I saw Steve o the steps up to the club and said hello, He asked where he knew me from and I explained about he played for me in Aylesbury.
A conversation struck up and we got talking about what Garage City was planning over the Christmas period period. I told him there was a lot of us from Aylesbury who come to his club and could he let me know. I gave him my phone number, and never expected to hear from him again.

About 1 week later he phoned!!! Stunned and shocked he told me what they were doing. We once again got into a great conversation. What a nice guy he was totally unaffected by his standing in the music world, which I was really impressed about.

Later on I was to meet his twin brother Bobbi , who like Steve
was one of the nicest guys I have met.
During the conversation I told him I was a Dj, which he did no know.
He suggested I send him a tape.
I did, but never in a month of Sundays expected to hear back from him.

A couple of weeks later he called me offering me a spot during Christmas Eve at his club.
What a major result!!
I could not believe my luck.
That Christmas Eve I played the most nerve racking set of my life,
but what a buzz playing for the first time in a top club in London.
THere was a whole coach load of friends from my home town that night, that was great.

Being a DJ what styles of musics do you prefer to play today?

Since the avent of House music back in the mid 1980's, that has been my musical preference.
Today I play Garage and House styles of music that is being classed as the "Sunday Scene" (very rough basslines with vocal layered on top).
I also am in touch with Underground Dubby USA House music

Can you tell us where do you play now ???

I currently play at a residency at 2 club nights called OOPS!!
and the Sounds of the New York Underground

These nights are run by Buzz Records in High Wycombe.
The venues alters regularly, but previous venues have included The Ministry of Sound
and various other places lika an Old Barn in the middle of nowhere!!!

I also have a weekly show I present with Don Palermo on Mix 96 (96.2fm)
every Saturday night at midnight, which broadcasts to Buckinghamshire, Hertfordshire and parts of Oxfordshire.

I play for Bobbi and Steve every so often too at there clubs including Garage City, Lords of ythe Underground and SIN!!
I have them and Micheal Bulgin who controls many of the good London
clubs, to thank for getting me exposure within London
I hope that this year will see me getting my nose in a few more doors!!!

Other venues I have played at include Linden C's "PUMP THE RHYTHM" parties
which I have played everywhere from Bedford to Ilford

1996, was a pretty quiet year for me as far as playing out goes,
but I plan to give myself a big push in 1997
and hopefully get to where I want to be....at the top!!!

Thanks for taking part Neil!!!

Please Email me if you have any queries regarding this Interview (Carl Brown)

carl@garage-music.com

What is Garage? || What is Deep House ||
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