Obsession is a dangerous thing. I've been obsessed with making beats and DJing since I realised I wasn't going to make it as a professional footballer. I was 14 then. I had fucking no chance to be honest. I love profanity, it's another obsession of mine, as is football (that's soccer to you yanks) And yes, that is patronising but better to be on the safe side.
So where were we? Yes, obsession. Ever since I frequented the Tunnel Under 18's and had this otherworldly experience. What the fuck was this music they were playing? I had never heard this shit on the radio. How could you get it? Where did you buy it? Fuck me, I'm on a podium with a lightstick and a Daniel Poole jumper. That was it, I wanted to play and make this kind of music, I was hooked.
First electronic record I bought was a Belgian import - Neon - The Creator. Bet you can guess what that sampled? (The first record I ever bought was The Human League - Don't You Want Me Baby. Well, technically my mum bought it as I was only 4 years old but you get the picture) It turns out that the records they were playing at The Tunnel were Slam - Positive Education and a very sneaky promo mix of Energy 52 - Cafe del mar - at least 3 years before that tune blew up. Those were the 2 in particular that stood out for me.
Fact: I saw The Prodigy at the Tunnel U18S for three quid. No bullshit. They were promoting Experience.
Anyway, obsession. So I've gone through phases like everyone else, loved happy hardcore and mental techno back then, got quite a few gigs playing that as well, learned my craft as a DJ, how to read a crowd, things that have always stayed with me - but I always returned to House and soul music.
Bought a sampler, tried to make trax, failed miserably. Went to Uni, lived in France for a year - I can speak French. Did I mention that I can speak French and lived in France? A series of girlfriends came and went, relationships often a casualty of this all-consuming obsession. Got my degree and a series of jobs that I had no interest in, first release in 2003, house, mortgage etc etc always wanted to jack it all in and just dj and make music full-time. Which I finally did at the end of 2006. Best decision I've ever made.
Which takes us to now. The bold digital era. The digital era has taken away as much as it has given. What I miss most is getting up early on a Saturday morning, going to the record shops, and scouring, hunting for those records that you heard or read about, knowing there were only gonna be 5 promo copies in the shop and paying over the odds to get one. And absolutely delighted to do so, buzzing because you knew you were going to play it out later that night and watch people go nuts on your dancefloor. Or finding a new amazing track by a hitherto unknown to you artist and championing their cause. Budgeting for 35 quid on vinyl and spending 80. Then doing it all over again on the Monday. Those were the days.
Nowadays it's click, preview, add to cart, no human interaction. Not all change is good.
So anyway, I'm lucky enough to have some good residencies here in Glasgow, I play all sorts these days, hip-hop, soul, funk, rock, indie, pop, electro, reggae, latin, fidget, b-more, drum n bass, house, whatever, anything goes. Crowd pleasers mainly, anything to get a dancefloor reaction usually, but obviously it depends on the gig. I believe it's healthy to be influenced by forms of music other than House, but I'm still obsessed with making House music, perfecting the beats a worthwhile obsession in my view.
