The producer making the world go house…
Interview by Ian Fleming
Cozzy D is a man with very little spare time. The DJ / Producer / Promoter and Label Owner has been fully cemented in the electronic music industry for more than a decade now, and with a recent release just out on VIVa Limited, we caught up with the man for his take on how he manages to juggle it all so successfully…
]You have signed an EP for VIVA – how did that come about, do you know Steve, what’s it like working with that label?
Yes that’s right, it’s a 5 track EP which comes out on Friday 25th March just in time for Easter weekend. The lead track ‘Make The World Go House’ is a collaboration I did with Roland Clark on vocals. Mine & Steve’s paths have crossed in the past, but It’s my debut release on the label so our first time working together. The feedback has been great with the likes of Carl Craig, Luciano, Groove Armada. B.Traits, Sante, Mihalis Safras all supporting so am very excited and looking forward to its release.
And how is Lower East going – whats the best and worst thing about your own label?
Lower East is going well. Into our 6th year now and over 40 releases under our belts. We’ve got some fantastic EPs lined up for release this year. Look out for releases forthcoming from Joeski, Nikola Gala, Quell, Junior Gee, vs.Mode & myself over the coming months. The best thing about having your own label is having a platform to release music you truly believe in and being able expose it to a wider audience. Over the years it’s been a great way of pushing up & coming artists to other territories where they may have not been known previously. The worst part is most probably the admin side which can be very tedious.
What is the aim there, do you know exactly the sort of sounds you need to find to release? Are you into developing artists?
Personally I’ve always had quite a diverse musical taste. I’m a fan of all electronic music and have never liked to pigeon hole myself into pushing one sound. I’d get bored too easily signing the same sounding tracks, same with my DJ sets, I like to mix it up and play across the board. I’ve always tried to develop new artists too. The likes of Alexis Raphael & WildKats have come through the ranks and now I’m trying to expose the talents of newcomers vs.Mode, but also more established artists that might not be as known in the UK with the likes of Nikola Gala & Quell all releasing on the label this year.
Might the label ever do albums? Do you think there is still a place for them in the modern world?
We’ve released compilations in the past, and albums are definitely something I’d consider in the future. I don’t think it should just be 11 or 12 similar sounding club tracks. To me that just seems lazy. An album for me should take time to produce and put together, and should be a true representation of an artist’s diversity and a real reflection of their musical depth.
How hard is it to get your music heard these days with so many labels putting out so much stuff?
It can be quite tricky at times with so many aspiring producers out there now. I know first hand how many demos we receive at Lower East. It’s always helpful to build relationships with label bosses, support their events and music, show real passion and a desire to be a part of their crew. Don’t just send an email with a link to a Soundcloud page without even having the courtesy to introduce yourself. Those type of emails go straight in the bin.
What is your DJ style- are you slow and slick or fast and rough when it comes to mixing?
I would say I prefer and find it most enjoyable when doing long drawn out slick mixes, but it depends on the type of music I might be playing at the time.
What is the role and art of the DJ – what is your job, to educate or inform or amaze or…?
I think it’s important to understand and entertain your crowd but I also like to educate. I’ve always said I am a DJ foremost before anything else, and have been doing so for 18 years now. I find no greater satisfaction than being able to play something that people may have never heard before and making them go crazy for 😉
What is an average day in your life like? Do you make music every day, or do yoga, or walk the dog – do you have a routine?
As I take on so many roles within the music industry my weeks are quite varied. I tend to go the studio once or twice a week, then the rest of the week I am doing label stuff or working on my events, or sourcing music. I like to spend at least one day a week sourcing new music & putting together material for my radio show on Bloop. To be honest there’s never enough hours in the week and I quite often work late, but I love it and wouldn’t want to be doing anything else.
Do you pack anything to make travel easier? Do you read or maybe write music on the road?
I find travelling the perfect time to listen through the copious amounts of demos & promos I receive. Listening and sorting through music in general always makes travelling easier and helps the time go quicker. I like to watch box set series and read occasionally, usually a biography of some sort.
Should dance music have a social or political conscious? Or should it just be about having fun?
It should be about having fun pure & simple. We only get to live once, and life is short, so we should just be enjoying ourselves as much as possible and doing what makes us happy 🙂
Cozzy D – Make The World Go House EP will be released on VIVa Limited on 25th March
Creche’s 6th Birthday ’12 Hour Daytime Terrace Party’ @ BL-NK alongside Alexis Raphael, vs.Mode, Kipp$ on Saturday 16th April
