Your night in Shoreditch started back in March 2007 at a time when East London was rooted in fashion and trend. You decided it was time a night should begin where it was all about the DJ and the sound system – who has been the best DJs and live artists you had down there?
“The best DJ and live act for us fall under one wing, in the form of the mighty Congo Natty aka Rebel MC, Tenor Fly and Top Cat. These guys embody the original junglist sound and represent a movement that started way back when in 1991. We were lucky enough to swipe up one of their first sets in a very long time and we’ll never forget the energy, passion and good-times vibe they brought to a packed house at 93 Feet East. The New Town Kings have also had a great reception performing at our Carnival Special two years in a row. The only full band we’ve booked, their ska sound is the ultimate party starter. More recently, credit is due to Foreign Beggars, A1 Bassline and Tempa T, all of whom made the Valentine’s Special 2009 one of our best parties yet! You always know you’ve had a good night when the security is forced to cut the power, and that was one of them!”
You have had some great collaboration in the past two years such as Fabric, Timeout, Mixmag, Snowbombing, and DMC’s, huge names in the music scene, tell us how they came about and what’s been the highlights?
“We’ve found that once one door opens another follows, a couple of things under your belt and the right people start to take notice but as with any industry unfortunately at times promotion is increasingly about who, not what you know. A big thanks must go to the crew over at Time Out, especially Dave Swindells and new nightlife editor, Kate Hutchinson. Those guys have really championed our brand and got on board with Urban Nerds’ great music, good times policy since the beginning and has a result have been over generous with their support. Getting involved with one of their first ‘On the Up’ nights was a privilege and a lot of fun and we’ll always be grateful for the exposure. The first Fabric night was a major milestone for us, and one that we won’t forget. Through journalistic pursuits, Urban Nerds’ two James’ have had been in touch with the club for sometime. When Nerds kicked off, Fabric was always something we wanted to aim for – we have a lot of respect for the way they run things down there and have learnt an awful lot from them as promoters. Fabriclive in particular isn’t afraid to push an eclectic, no-limits music policy and Urban Nerds’ mash-up sound just seemed to fit. One year into the Nerds saga we thought it was time to hit-them-up with a proposal and six months later we got the call. That was definitely a great day for all of us, sort of like Christmas come early! Thanks are due to the lovely Danna Hawley for fighting our corner to get us in there and to Shaun Roberts for giving Urban Nerds the green light and letting us rinse out one of London’s tastiest systems!
The DMC link-up has got to get a mention too! First off, big-up Sally ‘Hip-Hop’ Mclintock (or whatever she’s calling herself this week). Anyone who knows Sal well will know about her many names. They’ll also know there’s very few people out there who works as hard and manage to maintain a friendly, helpful and approachable manner. We were drawn to DMC not only because it’s an institution that’s all about the music and about pushing pure turntablism the right way but because it’s a family run company that’s a joy to work with. The London Heats kicked off big time last year with Goldie closing the night and of course Urban Nerds’ World Finals after party, most of which we will forget – that’s down to the mad quantity of vodka we got through in the space of 3 hours! All of us are hyped for the weekend, so here’s to another great London Heat at 93 Feet East and some wicked party sets from Jack Beats & co!
Last but not least, if we’re talking highlights, we’ve got to talk Snowbombing and our recent return to Austria for springnine festival (Ellie you’re our hero)! We were lucky enough to get out there twice this year for two completely different festivals both of which saw team Urban Nerds drink unrivalled amounts of booze and get up to all sorts of mayhem, leaving us sad to come home. Roll on next year!”
We know you went out to Miami Winter Music conference with our girl Sally this year. What was your favourite night and best moment of WMC 09?
“Favourite night was Bang! at The Whiteroom, hands down. They found an underground downtown venue which is our kind of style and then rocked it with one of the dirtiest line-ups we’ve come across at home or abroad with Craze, Shy FX, Drop The Lime, AC Slater, Nadastrom, Benga, Caspa, Plastician, Jack Beats and a whole lot more in the house! It was great to see the full London dubstep team along for the ride and even better, the fact that the sounds got such a strong following stateside.
Since we’re on Miami though it’s all about the days as much as the nights. The Bacardi B-Live pool party was like stumbling in to a Hollywood set with bikini clad girls left, right and centre, free Mojitos on tap and even better, Diplo, A-Trak and the Trouble & Bass crew on deck. Free booze, swimming pools, big DJs, sunshine, food and nibbles, what more do you need? I’m in Miami bi**h!”
You went straight from a week in Miami to Austria for Snowbombing. What was Snowbombing like this year? Can you all board?
“Snowbombing was fully top of the pops, it was the first time we’d been and can honestly say that we’ll do our best not to miss a single one from now on! Out of the 10 strong team we took out there only three actually hit the slopes but it’s a top notch festival whether you ski, board, are just out to party or both (we of course were just out to party)! Urban Nerds took over The Igloo for two nights, a crazy tent with 360-degree motion projection. Our residents did what they do best and brought the house down, Rattus Rattus, Klose One and Mr Fox were really well received with banging electro, d&b and jungle vibes. It was also great to have Oneman out there, he’s a top DJ who really knows his stuff and we’d like to think a fully fledged Urban Nerds team member spending the week helping us out with an endless run of Jagerbombs, beers and trouble making! Thanks for having us Snowbombing and cheers to Alex and Mandy for all their hard work. Here’s to 2010!”
Tell us about spring festival in Austria? We have heard nothing but good things about it…
“The truth of it is we went out to spring not entirely sure what to expect. Although it’s been running for nine years and is very much a firm fixture on the European festival circuit, UK promotion is deliberately minimal, which I guess was part of the draw. Once we got out there we were in for one hell of a shock. Austrians really know how to party and the town of Graz is a wicked place to throw one. The venues out there were one-of-a-kind and we’ll never forget the massive system at Dom In Berg – the rave in a cave (literally), the grimy bass tones of Ska club or the dancing on tables all out chaos of The Postgarage. There is seriously far too much to mention but highlights included Diplo & the Mad Decent crew, DJ Beware, Round Table Knights (look out for these guys, their gonna blow), Mumdance, Sinden, Tayo, Slimzee, Tubby and most of all, being out for the first time as a full team and getting to know our amazing DJs that little bit more. Ellie, we owe you big time, thanks for showing us hospitality on a grand scale!”
If we came back to an Urban Nerds house after one of your parties, a)what sort of music would you put on to make us carry on the party and b)what are your ‘Back To Mine’ artists for a chill out vibe?
“We all have very different music tastes but that’s what makes the night what it is. One of us might put on some reggae or dub. Or it might be an old skool jungle set. An iPod on shuffle running through dubstep, d&b, garage and ragga should do the trick! Often these days if the moods right it’s all about minimal tech to carry the party well into the next day – Claude Von Stroke is killing it right now, as are M.A.N.D.Y. Back To Mine artists…again it’s a mash-up but Massive Attack, Jenna G and Erykah Badu or an old Taskforce EP, a new Rusko mix and recently a lot of UK funky. Rompa would whack on a bit of Roots Manuva to get the brain ticking, Steely Dan, Everton Blender, Stevie Wonder, Bob Marley (standard) or some Alton Ellis”
What’s the best album ever made?
“Smokers Delight by Nightmares on Wax after a long weekend goes best with a cup of tea and a nice sensi treat! Massive Attack’s ‘Blue Lines’ is played on a daily basis too.”
What one artist and DJ that you’ve never had on, would you like on?
“We’d love to get a live show from Wiley, an old skool one with him spitting bars from back in the day. A similar musical journey from Roots Manuva would be sick. DJ wise, we’ve never had Skream or Benga, also A Skillz. We might do something about that soon!”
DMC is in its 25th anniversary this year. Who have been your favourite DMC champions from over the years?
“One that’s still doing it for us in a big way is 2001 World Champ, Plus One. What he’s achieved as part of the Scratch Perverts and now as one half of house duo Jack Beats means for us this is a guy who’s mastered turntablism at its best and then applied that musical knowledge and technical skill to a broader, dance based musical field, touching the masses and rocking a crowd. At the end of the day that’s what DJing is all about. In much the same way 1997 World Champion, A-Trak and consecutive winner in 98, 99 AND 2000, DJ Craze, are both up there with the best of the world’s DJ talent in our view. Anyone who takes that purity and the technical mastery required to get to the top in DMC, then uses that to create a great sound everyone can understand is up there in our book.”
What’s next for Urban Nerds?
“Of course this weekend is a big one with the DMC London Heats at 93 Feet East. We’re also planning another gigantic Carnival warm-up party in August at a new venue and expect something from us at Halloween too. Our goal now is to get the brand ready to take on the festival circuit next summer both at home and abroad. European festivals seem to be the way forward in terms of line-ups and general vibe so we’d love to get back out to the continent and show them how we do it London style! Also, you’re officially the first to know that we’re coming back in a big way on New Year’s Eve! It’s no secret Urban Nerds NYE wasn’t to be last year but the best thing to do in these situations is learn from your mistakes and move on. For us there’s no better way than throwing the mother of all parties so keep an eye out for Urban Nerds NYE 2009/10, we won’t let you down! Other than that, maybe world domination or a political party. Who knows?”
Catch the final DMC UK heat with the Urban Nerds this Saturday @ 93 Feet East! (DMC Competition 7pm-11pm)
