One of dance music’s legends making everything Alright once again
Interview by Dan Prince
My old pal Stuart…welcome back to DMCWORLD…where in godsname can we find you today?
“Hey me beauty…how the hell are you Dan? It’s been too many moons and too many sunrises…hope you’re well pal! Today you can find me situated in my studio in the thick beautiful Kent countryside, up to my neck in a remix I’ve just started doing for DJ Pierre…coming along very nicely too…muchos respect.”
Well you have done it again, caused absolute carnage on the world’s dancefloors with your music. Let’s kick off ‘It’s Gonna Be Alright’ that drops on Black Rock with a Matt Playford remix in tow. What was your approach to reworking this classic dance anthem and how did this release come about in the first place?
“Thanks pal, appreciated. Well ‘Alright’s’ always been one of my favourite tunes and I have always had the utmost respect for it. The collaboration came about with Sterling contacting me, he had heard my music and liked it and asked if I would be interested in reworking ‘Alright’. My approach was to completely move away from the original without using any of the piano or baseline, I wanted to maintain the emotion and dance sensibility but make it modern. I worked with the vocal and rebuilt the track. Matt had just released an album on black rock and I really liked his sound and so he was asked to put together a remix. Thanks to Steve Mac and Mark Lawrence at Black Rock who have handled the release brilliantly. I have put three EP’s out on Motion (Black Rock’s sister label) and we work really well together so they were my first choice for ‘It’s Gonna be Alright’.”
What was your take on Matt’s remix?
“I really like it, he takes it deeper which is perfect for my deeper sets. He told me that Skream dropped it at DC10 a couple of weeks back so that is nice to hear.”
The second track slamming into the Buzz Chart this week is your rework of ‘Back In Time/Horse’ on Afro Acid. Please talk us through the release…
“The A side ‘Back in Time’ has a big piano feel good vibe, with a strong vocal which is going down really well. The AA ‘Horse’ has a bad ass bass, on a slightly deeper tip but equally large vocal and my trademark drop. Both tracks are gaining momentum. I am grateful for the initial support from DJ Pierre and all the crew at Afro Acid.”
One of your cooler moments of your career was DJing for Norman Cook and Zoe Ball at their wedding. One of the not so cool moments was losing your car keys…with your records locked in the boot. So the story goes, Zoe’s dad Johnny stood up before his speech asking who could break into your car and save the day. Who were the A-Listers who stood up saying they could indeed, break into you car…?
“Ha, Thanks for reminding me. The volunteers were Suggs from Madness, James Barton from Cream, Steve Coogan and John Thomson from Cold Feet. Great question BTW.”
What can you tell us about your Ghetto Booty House tune you have just created with another house music legend, Mr Terry Farley…
“It was Terry who told me it is ghetto booty house, it’s quite deep, coming on Black Booby Records with Remixes by K-Alexi and Black Booby. Terry and I have history as I had releases on Junior Boys Own back in the day. We have been collaborating on projects for a few years now and we work really well together, we talk music, drink coffee and always come up with the goods. He has such good ears and knowledge…priceless.”
The top 5 records in your box this weekend…please give us a few words on each tune…
1. Kant vs. MK – Ey Yo (One More Tune) – never fails to get the crowd rocking and jumping.
2. Sonny Fodera – Where You At (Defected) – all about that baseline and the dirty vocal.
3. Patrick Topping – Forget (Hot Creations) – great rave stabs, filthy bass and sweet vocals. top label.
4. Maceo Plex – Conjure Superstar (Kompact) – my tune of the summer, amazing track by an amazing producer. Amazing Mace.
5. Gui Boratto – Joker (Michael Mayer Mix} (Kompact) – mindblowing remix, never fails me. Impeccable.
The last GREAT live gig you went to?
“The Funktion at the Source Bar with Joey Negro, Dave Morales, Full Intention and myself. Was an amazing 15th year anniversary celebration.”
Your residency there seems to be rocking at the moment?
“Yeah I am there on a monthly residency, it’s really rocking at the moment, Maidstone seems to be going through a really good phase musically bringing some heavyweight names to the area.”
A recent quote from a certain superstar DJ…“I believe true DJing is actually an art, but it’s a dying art, as everyone is pushing the sync button…it’s a real shame when you see a ‘DJ’ plug his laptop in and call this DJing. Music will always evolve but sometimes not in the best way.” What are your thoughts on that?
“We live in society that demands perfection, one little mistake and the crowd lets you know. At the end of the day it’s still about the choice of the music being played and the experience not the sync button. If you are talking about it as a craft then it sucks but for kids without experience it’s the only way they know.”
Loved that post on your Facebook page when you revealed that your 13 year old daughter was playing some tunes and casually asked you if you’d heard of Justin Martin, Dale Howard and Sydney Charles…well, what did you say?
“I informed her that I am proudly supporting their music in my sets. It did make me smile, she has grown up on a healthy diet musically. Nice to be down with the kids too, she helps me out every now and then.”
You are bezzie mates with a lot of the dance music legends who somehow have come out the other side and are still standing. Just. Who from your DJ pals was always a real worry when you agreed to go out partying with? Who always delivered messiness?
“Too many to mention…I always enjoyed Ibiza with Slipmat (Slip Matthew to me), Jon Carter was always lots of fun… Johnny Golden from Manumission…just too many from all around the world…it’s been a good ride…”
An up and coming producer we should be checking out in 2015?
“Wax Worx who has just signed a track to Suara called ‘One House’ his productions have gone from strength to strength. Definitely one to watch out for in the future.”
What is the record that…
…reminds you of your childhood?
Tie a Yellow Ribbon Round the Old Oak Tree by Dawn Ft Tony Orlando
…always get you dancing?
Don’t Stop ‘Til You Get Enough – Michael Jackson
…reminds you of being broken hearted?
I’m Not In Love – 10cc
…you wish you would have made?
Music Sound Better With You – Stardust
The Forbes DJ Rich List with some producers earning more than $20 million a year. Thoughts?
“Good luck to them. Never been bitter about other people doing well and I certainly wouldn’t turn down being in that bracket.”
And finally, what is coming out next from you studio wise?
“Including those mentioned above, releases I have coming out are ‘Women At’ on Nocturnal Groove, ‘Electric’ on Motion, new EP for Glamour Punk, remixes for Afro Acid and Glamour Punk and the follow up to ‘It’s Gonna be Alright’ with Sterling Void my remake of his classic ‘Runaway Girl’ (Black Rock 2015) and not forgetting ‘Play House’ on Black Booby as The Low End Theory (Farley Silvester).”
Cheers dude. See you soon. x
“Thanks a mwillion for this dude and let’s grab a coldski real soon…catch ya soon.”
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Stretchy Xx
