WORLD EXCLUSIVE! The Godfather of House returns with his first solo project in 20 years
Interview by Dan Prince
Hey Marshall – a huge welcome back to DMCWORLD…where in the world are you today?
“Hey Dan, I’m in Manchester…back after a month in the US.”
What was the first piece of music you heard this morning after falling out of bed?
“Sleezy – ‘D-Do You Believe’?
So massive news for dance music and a great way to start the new for you with the release next month of your first solo project for nearly 20 years!!! Please talk us through the history and the amazing Frankie Knuckles ode in this glorious house tune…’Lock The Doors (House Stories)’ in da house!
“I told the story to House Of Virus and they freaked. Time to make a new song!”
What is your favourite Frankie Knuckles story?
“I have a few favorites, but for the sake of privacy I’ll stick with the lock the doors one!”
The tune comes out on your brand new label Freakin 909 – what are the plans for the label this year?
“I recently hooked up with Sleezy D and there’s an epic Sleezy D album in the works by myself and House Virus. We are also currently working with Jimi Polo – a new edit of ‘Better Days’ which will be coming out on the label. Lots of hot stuff…too much to mention right now!!”
House music is having a real upsurge at the moment. Lots of producers are back in the game, lots of great new tunes, lots of new people embracing the love of House music again. It never went away for many…but you must be loving this new rush of your sweet music?
“It’s pretty weird; it seems to be a generational thing. Beautiful girls come up to me and tell me their parents met at a rave, it turns me right off but nice to know. Shows are selling out in a matter of hours and people are even bringing their kids to the show. I see kids singing along with all the songs because they know all the words, probably because their parents have been playing the songs since birth.”
Who are some of the producers you are digging right now?
“I’d say House Of Virus, Maurice Joshua and Joe Smooth.”
Another tune you are involved with, the marvelous House of Virus ‘100% House Music’ – please talk us through the tune…
“We were in a hotel room in Amsterdam and the boys had a song that I thought was hot…I had my Macbook Pro so I was able to record vocals. Simple as that!”
What are the big 5 tunes in your box this weekend…
- 1.New Day New Light-Lay-Far…very smooth and emotional
- 2.Blame-Sacha Williamson…super fonky – and that’s spelled right, not funky, FONKY!!!!
- 3.Don’t Say It-Ross Couch…just a nice hooky tune
- 4.I Can Feel It-Miguel Migs…hot beat
- 5.Tania-Harry Romero…blazing
You will be starring at The Trapeze Club in London’s Shoreditch on February 28th. Can you recall the early days of our capital city, the clubs you played and partied at…the DJs you were giving props to?
“Ummmm. The Wag, Shoom, Heaven, Danny Rampling, Derek Boland, Mike Pickering, Paul Oakenfold…”
Another date I see in your diary this year is for Es Paradis in Ibiza in July – a club it seems who are going to have a major summer. What were your first impressions of the white isle when you first ventured there?
“Gigantic clubs and people really up for partying. Well, I suppose that’s going to be the case when people fly away on holiday. Also got to hang out with a lot of fellow DJs which was cool.”
Tell us about an album in your collection we would be surprised to discover you owned?
“Anyone that knows me wouldn’t be surprised by anything that I listen to, but I’ll say Led Zeppelin – ‘Physical Graffiti’.”
It is your birthday. Who are the 3 DJs dead or alive you invite to spin for you…and what singer do you ask to sing you Happy Birthday?
“Ron Hardy, Larry Levan, and Derek Boland. Happy Birthday would be sung by Whitney Houston…”
A celebrity you would not want to get stuck in a lift with?
“Dennis Rodman.”
When was the last time you pressed rewind and listened to a track over again because it was so damned good?
“This morning. I was listening to War – ‘The World Is A Ghetto’.”
Tell us 3 bucket list adventures you wanna do in your lifetime?
“Get $100 million. I can’t think of anything else because the $100 million would pretty much take care of anything else that popped into my head.”
A tune nestling in your set that just won’t go away from last year?
“Lady Alma – ‘It’s House Music’.”
Boxing Day last year looked a magical affair at The Hacienda special with The Warehouse Project with David Morales, Graeme Park, Mike Pickering, A Guy Called Gerald, Justin Robertson, Jon Dasilva, Buckley and 808 State. You were at The Hac in the early days…what are your memories of the club?
“Lot of concrete, concrete poles, wild and crazy party people. Sound system that had no earthy reason for sounding so good, because the acoustics were all wrong.”
Where were you on New Years Eve and what did you drop at midnight?
“I was at Gorilla in Manchester and I dropped The House Music Anthem…”
What has been the proudest moment of your career to date?
“There have been a lot, but I think getting my first gold record for Ten City-Foundation.”
And finally…what is coming out next from you studio wise…
“That would be “Lock The Doors” but stay tuned for the Sleezy D album…”
Thank you Marshall. See you in Ibiza…
“See you Dan, fly low and beat the radar…”
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’Lock The Doors (House Stories)’ is out March 16th on a worldwide Beatport exclusive…
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