Ahead of the next LP on Henry Street Music – George Calle “Havana Hustlers”. We had the opportunity to sit down with label head Johnny “D” De Mairo and George himself to chat about the record. We dig into the great history of the label, how the new LP came about and what they both have planned for the future.
Can you tell us about your history and how you got started with Henry Street…
Johnny- I have been a DJ since 1979, started Henry Street Music in 1994. I was not happy with where house music was going, as a huge record collector I found myself for the first time in the mid 90’s not wanting to bring records home due to space issues and felt the records had to be worthy!!
My philosophy being a disco guy was if I took records that were 20 years old and flipped them properly, I would get 20 more years out of them – my label basically started what is now called Nu Disco.
With many great releases behind you – do you have a favourite?
JD- Fortunately I have sold millions of records worldwide with the hits like “Missing” by EBTG, Tori Amos “Professional Widow” & of course, The Bucketheads “The Bomb!”, one of my favourite records I a&r’d would be Jordan Hill For The Love Of You and on Henry Street, King Britt – Non Stop Action – The Force kills me every time I hear it.
‘Havana Hustlers’ has some amazing new versions of some stone cold classics. How did this project come to pass?
JD- This is 100% all George.
I’ve been a fan of his for years and in the last few years his ideas and execution have blown me away, he is in a great place right now. You can love or hate this project – but you can’t deny the level of quality and what he put together – brilliant.
George Calle- For me it was a process that kicked off as a couple of singles I started once the lock-downs began. It was therapy for me. Once I had 2 in the can and Johnny was giving me great positive reinforcement, I just went wild with my wish list of songs I always loved and maybe needed a new remix for me to play.
Can you tell us a little bit about the production behind it, how did you work on this one and do you have any favourites from the LP?
GC- I decided a few years back that asking “engineers” to run the mechanics just would never allow me to create a consistent personal sound. So I purchased the top of the line Ableton and went through the growing pains. Day & Night was the first one and it was a terrible learning curve. By the time I got to Running Away about 16 months later, I felt incredibly comfortable with Ableton etc. I also bounce most of my productions past Keith Kemper who is the secret sauce when it comes to the beautiful lush organ and piano runs you hear throughout. I got truly lucky to have found a work for hire vocalist who is simply wonderful. I can’t really tell you her name because she is pursuing a pop career of her own but seriously, what a professional!
How was it working with music of such profile, giving your own take on things?
GC- Now that I read your question it feels much more of a responsibility than when I was working on the project. I guess I’m hoping the versions I created while never being able to replace the originals, which will still be relevant in 20-30 years. I made them for me to play them.
Do you have a favourite from the album?
JD- Honestly, they all hit me at different times. Obviously Pearls and Change I feel has nice potential, but Could Heaven is also nasty.
What kind of music do you try to sign, do you stick to one sound or like more of a mix?
JD- As I said before, always been a Disco head so that sound will always hit me hard when done right. Having said that, I think I have a pretty good ear and can shift gears fast.
I have the balls to go whatever direction is needed, good music is good music. I currently program my radio station which I think you and your audience would love and would give you a glimpse into my brain – be careful!!!
https://live365.com/station/THE-JOHNNY-D-EXPERIENCE-a47613
What was your most popular record so far?
JD- During my Warner Years, Missing by Everything But The Girl and Tori Amos “Professional Widow” were very successful – as for Henry Street Music, The Bucketheads The Bomb, Armand Can Helden The Funk Phenomena, Johnick Play The World and others – my label is known for having the ”who’s who” of house music (before everyone with an iPhone became a DJ/producer)
Tell us a little bit about your time on the radio, how has the music industry changed since then?
GC- I’ve had the great fortune of having played major market FM Radio in 3 different time periods really, plus the awesome Sirius XM guest sets.
When I was playing on KTU from 1996 – 2000, I had such autonomy to play and break new music and I loved that aspect of exposing millions of prime time listeners to new music, I just knew they would connect with. Ultra Nate Free, Tamperer Feel It, Mousse T Horney we’re al songs that premiered on my 4pm mix show. There were so many pop hits that also debuted on my mix show but that would have probably made it regardless. The Thunderpuss mixes, Hex, Mijangos, Eric all had a platform to expose new hits to the world through my show. Programming was definitely listening at 4pm.
Things changed and new mixers came in around 2000 and they made some really sloppy choices that made it on air which ultimately led to the restrictions being placed on mixers which have led to progressively tighter and tighter corporate reins on what gets through to US mix show.
This album was actually going to feature a Tom Petty song which was my working title: The Last DJ. If you look up the lyrics “the last DJ who plays what he wants to play” could’ve easily described my first go around at WKTU NY then # 1 station in the US.
One of these days I’ll release that cover version. I really connect with it.
How the music industry has changed? Every way possible. Digital, live feeds, record stores gone, playlists tightened…Tik Tok breaks new music…I hardly recognize the place. That’s why I wanted and Johnny supported my idea to release an album which is just so contrarian for today.
Are there any tracks from your past, that you would love to do a version of?
GC- I’m in a constant mode of looking to redo the songs that made me so happy. Hard to pinpoint one to be honest.
If you could pick one record from your back cat that you are most proud of?
GC- For me it’s hands down Anastacia – I’m Outta Love which I did with my old partner Mauro DeSantis. I modelled it after one of the Donna Summer Epic extended mixes but had a very low tempo for the time. Super disco productions, horns, strings, keys… and it got trashed off the official single by a promoter at the time I came to learn. I could never figure out why that mix didn’t get the exposure it deserved tempo/style ahead of its time but must’ve pissed off the 130 bpm late nite NYC promoters. Oh well, it all happens for a reason. That promoter has recently reached out. That’s the way love goes as Janet Jackson tells us.
JD- Very hard to choose. I’ve never said this but..
Walk 4 Me by Robbie Tronco was so NOT what I was doing at the time, but I knew it was special and remains one of my biggest catalogue records.
Are there any contemporary artist that you appreciate and inspire you?
GC- I absolutely love Julie McKnight. She has multiple songs that are just simply end of the world last record I want to hear before dying.
JD- I refer more to older singers, not too knocked out by current scene. I like real singers, Roberta Flack, Patti Austin, Gladys Knight, Donna Summer – they can talk and I want to listen to every word.
With the album releasing right now, what’s next for both of you? Where can people find you next?
JD- After we hit 20 million downloads, we will get our money and share a pizza – with the remaining money, maybe a coffee!!
For real I will continue to put out what I feel is right – my a&r has not changed. I do not care about “for the moment” music – my main thing for my legacy is to continue to build my brand/label and have as little waste as possible – I want to look/listen back in 10 years and not want to skip anything.
GC- I’m already back in the studio re imagining my Last DJ album…hey hey!
*****
Havana Hustlers – https://www.beatport.com/release/havana-hustlers/3641069
https://henry-street-music.bandcamp.com/merch
https://www.beatport.com/label/henry-street-music/646
