A champion of British culture
Norman Jay MBE is quite simply a British icon, recognised around the world as one of the most respected DJs in the business. Through his beloved Good Times Sound System, DJing in early New York clubs such as Dancetaria, The Shelter and Body & Soul, London’s seminal High On Hope and Talkin Loud and pirate station Kiss FM, the Godfather has ticked every box worth ticking. His mix of music has seen him entertaining the likes of Prince, Mick Jagger and Robert Di Nero, there isn’t a festival or club in the land that hasn’t see his magic touch whilst he made clubbing history by becoming the first ever DJ to appear as a panelist on the BBC Question Time TV show. A self confessed ‘Beatle baby’ born in Notting Hill, Norman was officially cited in the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Birthday Honours List in 2002 appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire, an MBE no less. Today Norman is still rocking the show. Dan Prince catches five minutes with him ahead of the wondrous Winter Sessions alpine weekend and finds out the latest on the 2012 Carnival news…
Good afternoon Sir. I remember you once telling me you suffered from altitude sickness, what on earth are you doing headlining an alpine festival?
“Ha ha, yes I do. I manage it okay now but I had no idea what it was for a while, I was sick for days after travelling anywhere of altitude, but it’s all under control now.”
Winter Sessions takes place in the wonderful Chamonix resort in the French Alps, people call it the Ibiza of the winter…
“It’s certainly at the upper end of the scale of resorts. A really beautiful setting for a dance event for sure. It’s not cheap, but it has a wicked vibe and attracts some cool French, Italian and UK people. The promoters certainly have their fingers on the pulse musically as well which is really refreshing. I love it out there, there is a special flavour there – a similar vibe as you get when you’re doing beach parties or full moon parties, they have a special quality about them – I guess playing music to people when it’s snowing up a mountain has something special about it – it’s different and amazingly exciting.”
I have to admit, I have tried to ski and snowboard but somehow always manage to end up in the bar very quickly. Will you be joining me?
“Dan, I don’t ski, I don’t snowboard – I wish – but at my time of life I’m not going to learn now.”
Last year you sent out a very heartfelt press release stating that after 30 years of DJing at the Carnival, Good Times was taking a one year sabbatical from the world’s biggest free street party. What is the latest on 2012?
“At this moment in time we are making our plans as normal for the event. All things being well I hope we will be there but it’s very difficult when the whole organisation is in doubt. The Olympics unfortunately have a lot of the blame, there are no resources really. All the grants have been squeezed and The Olympics have taken the lions share, it’s one big black hole.”
It’s not just the Carnival though, it seems the Games has made sure a lot of festivals have been cancelled this year?
“They have. It’s been impossible to organise any sort of equipment, even get the toilets! There’s just more rules, more red tape and it’s simply costing more money. We are a free event, we can’t charge entry and we don’t want to change that. Kensington and Chelsea Council aren’t backing everyone this year, we were warned but someone at the end of the day has to pick up the bill.”
I have been interviewing DJs like Sneak and the Murk boys in recent weeks and they have all said the same thing when asked when I ask them if they could ever see themselves hanging up their headphones – they replied when they can’t hear the records anymore! You still loving it?
“Of course I am. I’m still into it all as I ever was. What’s different from me and guys like that though is that they are evangelists for championing music and music only. I have always married the championing of music with youth style and culture, especially in the UK. That is my primary concern alongside the music. Here in the UK we have so much of a prouder culture than the US, we celebrate our lifestyle, our fashion and art.”
And that’s why you love your involvement with the Vintage Festival so much?
“Exactly! The venue Boughton House in Northampton that the Hemingway’s have secured for this year’s event in July is jaw dropping. To me this event is the soundtrack of England.
It didn’t work so well at the Southbank last year did it?
“It didn’t, but they gave it a go. The event isn’t suited to being in a building. The UK has the biggest camping tradition in the world and Vintage needs to be in the glorious British countryside. From a black mod’s perspective loving the whole 60s pop motion taking in rock and ska, I love these events. They bring a new crowd to the scene, a crowd totally resistant to modern eclecticism which I think is great. I have been involved in the scooter scene, the vintage car scene, the music and fashion scenes for such a long time that I jumped at the chance to get on board with the event. Watch out for some pop up parties in around the main event as well.”
Hey, Norman, even your football team are doing well this season, what a year you’ve got in store!
“Heh heh. Spurs are doing really well again this season, just as long as we finish above Arsenal, that’s all that matters Dan.”
WINTER SESSIONS WEEKENDER 2012
FRIDAY 30th & SATURDAY 31st MARCH 2012
CHAMONIX, FRANCE
THE boutique snow and music festival in the heart of the French Alps
Confirmed artists so far:
NORMAN JAY, ZERO 7, TROJAN SOUND SYSTEM
MR THING, DK (NINJA TUNES), SOUNDCRASH SOUND SYSTEM
CHEEBA, LAZY HABITS, RUNNING NUMBERS, JON KENNEDY
RUSS JONES, PADDY FREEFORM
and more to be announced…
Daytime mountain activities:
MOUNTAIN TOP STAGE & SOUND SYSTEM, SKI & SNOWBOARD COMPETITIONS, MOUNTAIN TOP BAR & BBQ, ALPINE CAKE BAKE OFF, I-POD BATTLE, SPACE TURKEY WRESTLING, BEST ONESIE KING & QUEEN and much more….
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www.wintersessions.net www.offthepiste.com www.soundcrashmusic.com www.hautepursuit.co.uk
Get a flavour for Winter Sessions Weekender 2012 here: http://vimeo.com/34027803
