Interview by Nicky Trax
Spinna – welcome to DMCWORLD! Let’s get straight into it! Wonder-Full, your worldwide party and homage to the legendary Stevie Wonder, can you tell us what inspired you to launch such an event?
The party started out as a small celebration for Stevie’s Song’s in The Key Of Life album in 1999. It was a small intimate party with several DJs including myself, Bobbito, Kool Marv and E-Love. Bobbito and I did an underground mix cd of Stevie Wonder related music called Wonder-Wrote the following year which became a cult classic. In 2001 my wife and co-collaborator Keita (Keistar Productions) and I created Wonder-FULL which has now taken on a life of it’s own, it’s bigger than us and quite global, hence this forthcoming 2nd installment in London. It was born out of necessity, a way to celebrate a musical legend while they’re still breathing on Earth.
Tell us about a goosebump event you have been involved with…
The moment where life stood still for me was a few years ago in Washington D.C. when Wonder-FULL took place and Stevie made a secret guest appearance. It wasn’t the first time he’s visited the party, but it’s one of my most shining moments. I got a chance to be his backing track, cutting up doubles of the infamous “Funky Drummer” break by James Brown while he performed “I Wish” acapella behind me. I was nervous as hell but it felt so good! Another defining development in my career is my relationship with Spike Lee. In the same manor that I honor Stevie Wonder, I also pay homage to Michael Jackson and Prince with an annual event called Soul Slam which has been running almost as long as the Wonder-FULL parties. When Michael Jackson passed away in 2009 I was recommended to Spike as someone who could DJ for his free all day Michael Jackson birthday party in Brooklyn. The party is called BK Loves MJ and it’s massive every year with up to 50 thousand people in attendance from all over the world. If you had asked me 25 years ago that I would end up meeting and working with both Spike Lee and Stevie Wonder I would probably say no way.
How amazing that Stevie dropped by!
Incredible! He’s been to the party a total of 5 times in different cities including NY, LA and DC, the first in LA back in 2005 after the birth of his sixth son. They’ve all been special moments and the crowd never knows when it’s going to happen. Sometimes I’m not even sure. You can plan as much as you want for these things to happen but with Stevie you can never be 100% sure, he operates on his own clock. Now that I think of it, he called in on my birthday party a few years ago at the Edition hotel in London.
Have you one special moment?
The most special moment for me was a few years ago. Stevie Wonder invited me to his home and studio to hang out. I believe he really wanted to become more familiar with ‘the guy who’s been honoring him’ for so long. The experience was surreal but monumental to my entire existence. We talked about everything from politics to music and love. He’s one of the humblest human beings I’ve ever encountered. Recently there’s been a new Robert Glasper project released via Sony music, “Everything Is Beautiful” which contains songs all inspired by Miles Davis. On this album is another defining moment for me, “Right On Brotha”, a track produced by myself and Chris Rob featuring Stevie Wonder on harmonica! I still can’t believe it happened, but I can believe it happened.
As well as the Wonder-full events, you also compile “The Wonder Of Stevie’ compilation albums. Vol 3 is out now on BBE Records, for those that don’t know, can you describe the ethos behind these releases…
The origin of these compilations is to expose the writing and production talents of Stevie. He’s written and produced for countless artists that many are not aware of and his music influenced so many to where the cover versions are endless. I’m always finding undiscovered cover versions of his catalog.
Do you have a favourite album and if so, why is that one more special?
I have many favorite albums, but Songs In The Key Of Life has to be in my top 3. It’s like the bible for top albums in the world. It’s complete conceptually, musically, spiritually, and emotionally. If you want to dance you have Another Star, As, I wish, if you want some socio political consciousness you have Black Man, Pastime Paradise, If you want some jazz rock fusion you have Contusion, if you want ballads you have Knocks Me Off My Feet, Joy Inside My Tears, the break up songs, Ordinary Pain, Summer Soft, fun songs, Sir Duke, Ebony Eyes, optimistic songs, I am Singing, Saturn. etc etc.
You’ll be playing alongside Paul ’Trouble’ Anderson and the Rhemi duo Neil Pierce and Ziggy Funk at the Deep Into Soul & BBE party on July 10th in London, looking forward to it?
These are all my musical cohorts. I have an enormous amount of respect for everyone on the bill, especially Trouble who is a legend who is one of the spearheads of the dance music scene in the UK. I always look forward to hearing these gents on the decks, mainly because there’s always something new (or old) to learn from their selections.
Brooklyn born, you began your recording career in 1994 as a member of the underground hip hop group Jigmastas. Can you tell us how you first got into music and what set you on your path into the business?
My first introduction to music was through my dad’s record collection. There was always music playing at home. I gravitated towards records at an early age playing 45’s on Fischer Price and Mickey Mouse portable record players. I’d say becoming a DJ was my destiny. I was highly influenced by local mobile DJs in Brooklyn and radio mix show disco DJs in the 70’s. Once Hip Hop was birthed as a street culture I was immediately hooked, not only from the DJ aspect but the everything else that comprised the movement like the B-boying and even a little graffiti writing. It was just part of the environment. I always aspired to make records even as a little boy, I wanted to be in a band like the Jackson 5. Hip Hop gave me the outlet to development my chops as a beatmaker. At the close of the ’90’s would I would eventually branch out into house music and other genres. I had frequented many House music clubs in New York such as the Paradise Garage, Club Mars and the Red Zone to name a few so that dance bug was always in me.
Although you started in hip hop, you’re acclaimed for breaking down musical barriers between the worlds of hip hop, house, soul and jazz working with everyone from Mos Def, Masta Ace, Pharoahe Monch and Eminem, to Eric Roberson, N’dea Davenport, and Mary Mary to Stevie Wonder, Roy Ayers and Sergio Mendes. Why is it so important for you to cut across the genres and is there one song that you can play in all the different?
At the end of the day, it’s all about good music. There was a point in time where you were able to hear everything in a club setting. It’s only in the last 20 years or so that things became so compartmentalized in music. It’s the music industry on a whole that uses these separations to sell music but the average lover of good music likes many genres, not just one thing. Larry Levan, Tony Humphries, Louie Vega and David Morales all played Hip Hop early in their careers. Mark 45 King, Todd Terry, Marley Marl and Kenny Dope are the biggest trendsetters in breaking down those walls. I took my nod from those guys, they did it all. I’m simply continuing that Dj aesthetic. There’s a few songs that come to mind that can be played in different scenes, Soho – “Hot Music”, Cymande – “Bra”, Love Thang – First Choice, they just work! The common denominator is funkiness.
You also have notable side projects such as the Polyrhythm Addicts, the Free Radikalz and your alter ego Chopp Master Flopp. Tell us more…
In this business you have to keep it moving, meaning re-invent yourself. It helps with overall branding and longevity. The Polyrhythm Addicts is a super group. Apani B. Fly, Shabaam Sahdeeq, Mr. Complex and Tiye Phoenix are all respected MC’s with visibility and credibility in their own rights. The Free Radikalz was a short lived group made up of Delouie Avant (formerly part of 90’s R&B group Goodfellaz) Jazz keyboardist James Hurt, Selan, and myself. Chop Master Flopp is one of my alter egos, a silly name I came up with for my heavily manipulated sampled beats.
For those that aren’t familiar with your sounds, how would you describe your DJ sets?
Musically I’m diverse. If it’s a house set I can go from classic to deep to soulful and even a bit if dirty Detroit Techno if the crowd is right. I love my disco, funk and soul as well. When it comes to Hip Hop I keep it pretty boom bapish, funky and classic. If it’s new music it has to have soul. I primarily use Serato DJ when I’m traveling due to the convenience of having your entire music library with you. I use CDJ’s with USB sticks on occasion but my first preference will always be vinyl. Lately I’ve been playing more vinyl. After 10 years of staring at a computer screen I’ve become less attached to the music. Records will always keep me connected. It’s how I was raised.
And before you leave us to head out to WONDER-Full LDN, what should we listening to?
99.9% – Kaytranada
The Anonymous Nobody – De La Soul
Everything Is Beautiful – Robert Glasper X Miles Davis
Infectious – Jigmastas
The Rebellion Sessions – Black Milk & Nat Turner
Weekend Love (Louie Vega Remix) – Mike Steva
DJ Spinna brings his world famous WONDER-Full LDN event & ‘The Wonder of Stevie Vol 3” LP Launch to Deep Into Soul in conjunction with Keistar Productions & BBE on Sunday July 10th 2016 and joined by the legendary Paul ‘Trouble’ Anderson, Rhemi Music’s Neil Pierce and Ziggy Funk, David Bailey and Pete BBE at The POW, 467 Brixton Road, Brixton, SW9 8HH.
All info on www.facebook.com/DeepIntoSoul or Twitter @deepintosoul
