Exclusive interview with the New York angel before her new release with The Cube Guys
Welcome to DMCWorld. A pleasure to have you in the magazine. Well, a brand new tune setting dancefloors alight right now ‘I Wanna Dance With Somebody’ – a track that The Cube Guys were closing all of their sets with last year. Tell us about the history of this classic Whitney rework and how you became involved…
“Well as you see the cake was already baked…lol. I just was the icing! I was approached by Matteo Esse who was the man to bring us all together. When I heard the dub I was like to my DJ…”Q…this Dub is fiyahhhhh” and he said…do it girl, do it! And it’s done!”
The tune is swinging our way as the one year anniversary of Whitney’s untimely passing happens. In your opinion, where did Whitney rank up there with some of your idols from the glorious years gone by?
“Well I don’t idolise singers, but I respect the gifts or talent of their artistry. And her voice is in a class really by itself. She can be heard in any genre of music. Wow, amazing Whitney…I love her and I do a lot of her music in my band gigs.”
I have been reading through some of your interviews and many of them begin where you began – brought up in a musical household and then singing in church. Which was obviously very important for your path. 2013 though is a very different world for aspiring children wanting their fame and fortune with the likes of reality television shows seeming the easiest route to success today. What are your thoughts on the whole Simon Cowell world where a simple tap of a viewers mobile phone can make or break a career?
“Those are machine shows designed for someone else to make money as any other reality show…but true talent will always shine through. If James Brown, Michael Jackson or Little Richard had been around to do shows like that they may not have won because they are too genius an artist. They are creative artistic souls when they perform and sing. I think if God gave you the gift or assignment to be artistic and bring forth a message to the world, well nothing can ever stop that!”
You grew in Brooklyn in New York City. We have interviewed some of your area’s finest DJs over the years such as Danny Tenaglia and Kenny ‘Dope’ Gonzales who all reminisce about the back in the day block parties. How important were these jams to the future success and development of the New York scene?
“They were very important parties for everyone as they brought communities together. This was something done in communities for a huge ‘release’ in the summer seasons for the people…I loved them…they were wonderful and you heard all kinds of music.”
Your father Jay Otis Washington was a singer with The Persuasions – otherwise known as the grandfathers of acapella. Your mother too must have given you musical inheritance thanks to her singing group with her two sisters…what is your favourite musical memory as a child?
“Singing at the age of six for my grandfather Reverend Licorish at church and he giving me 25 cents. Wow – my first paid gig…25 pieces of candy…lol.”
You are without doubt one of the true believers and voices of house music. A radio show, a record label, showcasing new talent whenever you can are just some of the avenues you are involved with to promote the sound. So why is house music the best sound on planet earth?
“Real house music gives me energy on the dancefloor, it’s like a gym class! The lyrics inspire you if the lyricist is positive with what they do – and it’s the music that is not prejudice – any age can work it without someone saying if they are too old on the floor. Yeah, okay, we know house music is “life” from the mid 70’s ‘til now, but it’s still here breathing…”
A great quote from you…“people are yearning for the quality of yesterday’s house in today’s feeling. There is too much sleepy music out there.” Which major artists out there do excite you in 2013 then?
“Always Kathy Brown, Fireball and Su Su Bobien all get my spirits rising. I like Darien…sexy smooth and makes me groove with it! Those are on the house tip. There are some bands I’ve heard recently and not sure of their names, but if they are the freestyling types of bands without all the choreography but moving on the spirit of the sound and room – well they got me. Because it’s nature and it is spirit filled!”
It’s a sunny day in Ibiza and you are lying by the pool. What are the classic albums you slip on to mellow the mood…?
“Ahhh Chaka Khan, Ledisi, Eric Benet…oh my goodness…and J Moss…I’m set…”
You have had residencies in Ibiza for many years. It is the capital of the clubbing world in the summer. For someone who doesn’t drink, smoke or take drugs – how does it feel to be entertaining thousands of people who are obviously the worse for wear. Is there a message in your songs or do you simply let people live their lives how they want to live?
“Of course they must walk their own journey. I must live by example and by my own experiences, they will do the same and eventually they will come over. It’s so cute…once they get really into the music…that will be their high!”
What is the best event you have ever performed at?
“It’s always when I’m live with Cerrone. I’m the lead vocalist with the group and I am still mesmorized by his drumming…”
It’s your night off and you fancy a dance. What DJs would you like to go and boogie to…?
“Gotta find me some DJ Spen…lol or Dimitri From Paris…”
The dancefloor wouldn’t have been quite the dancefloor without your beautiful voice keeping us busy over the past two decades. I interviewed one particular lady last year who is very well known for one major No. 1 smash. She admitted sometimes she wished she could forget the lines to the song as she was “fed up singing it so many times”. Do you ever get tired of singing any of your classics?
“Oh nooooooooo…I am so humbled and grateful before God for this opportunity to entertain…oh my goodness…see what I sing I believe in to the point that I’ve cried on some of my songs…the spirit of them lift and encourage even me…”
You are a Pisces-Aries, generally sensitive, emotional and expressive people so lyrics must speak to your heart. What is the best lyric you have ever written or sung?
“A song that I wrote for a young lady called Chinah Black for my church project…song entitled: Everybody Is Somebody…’
Not many people know this, but Barbara Tucker is really good at…
“Sleeping on planessssss…”oh we’re here already…” lol…”
What is coming next from the barbara tucker studio?
1. DJ Kent’/ SA ” How Can I Be Sure w/ DJ Q
2. DJ Fresh/ SA “Show Your Love” w/DJ Q
3. DJ Spen/US…”Breathe Love Breathe Life
4. Glasses Boys/Poland “Beautiful World w/DJ Q
5. Bobby & Steve/UK “Groove Odyssey w/DJ Q
6. Playone: Express Yourself, We Can Take This Party w/ DJ Q
7. The Barb & Q Project (Barbara Tucker and her DJ – DJ Q get together for magic on the mic…with productions by Playone).
8. And the biggest project: 30 house artists from the US – House For The Homeless – written and produced by Barbara Tucker. To raise money and awareness for a woman’s homeless shelter in Brooklyn, under the organization Brooklyn Community Services. Song: We Can Heal. Mixes by Spen, Neil Pierce, Playone, Gianngi/It, Spellband/Luis Raidio, Jacko, Luis/BT, Davide Fiorses and others to come…some artist include Freddy Jackson, Jayotis Washington, BT, Kenny Bobien, Susu Bobien, Vicky Martin, Jay Williams, Anwar Robinson, Dawn Tallman, Carolyn Harding, Karen Bernard, Melonie Daniels, Kimara Lovelace and more. This project will be under BStar Music Group and Room Control Records…soon to be released and looking for licensing…”
And finally, who are some of the hot new artists we should be looking out for in 2013?
“I’m not sure, but I shall be looking out for them. For me an artist doesn’t just have a voice – but has a presence, a style and can captivate the crowd…so let’s see who’s out there. Thanks for the opportunity to be interviewed Dan…god bless…”
The Cube Guys & Barbara Tucker – ‘I Wanna Dance With Somebody’ – (White Label)
https://soundcloud.com/thecubeguys/thecubeguysbarbaratucker
http://www.myspace.com/missbarbaratucker
http://www.thecubeguys.com
http://www.myspace.com/cubeguys
http://www.youtube.com/user/proveraluca