The legend brings us another piece of beautiful dancefloor music and another Knuckles masterpiece…
Interview : Dan Prince
Hey Frankie, welcome back to DMCWORLD young man! Another summer, another beautiful slice of Knuckles magic, this time courtesy of your Directors Cut production outfit and ‘Let’s Stay Home’ featuring Inaya Day. We will come to the record later, but firstly I want to ask you about the conscious decision you made a few years back about bringing the tempo and BPM down in your music. What was the thinking there?
“For some time now I just didn’t find enough versatility in dance music or on the dance floor. So much disposable music has been force-fed on the dance music community for so long, I just thought it would make for a nice change to do something different. Plus, with music being like fashion with so many trends coming around and going around the time just seem right to make a strong effort”.
The EDM explosion has obviously taken to the States by storm, these last six months however, as it always happens, the sound of house is back in vogue, people are loving a sultry vocal again! Did you have a feeling your beloved sound was zooming back into favour on the dancefloor?
“I’m not the best when it comes to paying attention to what’s going around me musically. I only know what I feel and what works for me. Again, like in fashion there are so many trends in sounds that make up today’s club music, it’s never been my nature to follow what other DJs/Producers are doing. As a rule I forge my own way. No disrespect to any of my colleagues or contemporaries. I’ve just found developing ones own signature sound is the best way to garner success”.
What is the current top 10 you are spinning?
1- Lets Stay Home by Director’s Cut starring Inaya Day
2- Need U 100% (Director’s Cut Signature Mix) by Duke Dumont
3- The Look (Director’s Cut Classic Mix) by Spencer Parker & Dan Beaumont
4- Disco Revenge (Kupper Remix) by Guusto
5- Hallelujah (Robosomic) by Kerri Chandler
6- Back To Basics (Director’s Cut Signature Mix) by The Shapeshifters
7- Crystallize (Director’s Cut Mix) by Art Department
8- What You Waiting For (Reel People Vocal Mix)
8- Days Like This (Deeper Dub Re-Rub) by Sean Escoffrey
9- Call On Me (DJ Spen, Gary Hudgens & Thommy Davis mix) by The Fanatix
10- We Gotta Love (Director’s Cut Signature Mix) by Joe Smooth feat. Paris Brightledge
So let’s get to grasps with the new tune. Talk us through the history of the track…
“There’s no real history behind it except to say it draws its inspiration from clubbing in NYC back in summer of 1980. The idea for the track came to me around this time last year. We (Eric and myself) developed the track last summer but because of my touring I was forced to put it on the back burner. We were also focusing on this special project for Inaya, her duet album titled, “Inaya’s All Stars” where she is duetting with a number of notable stars. I tossed the track over to her. 20 minutes later she tossed it back with the idea and chorus structure. The song was finished that same afternoon. That was in December. By the time I returned home after playing on C4 for New Years we went straight into production”.
What is it about Inaya Day’s vocals you love?
“Inaya is to the millineum what Jocelyn Brown was to the ’70s, ’80s and beyond. The rich natural essence of her voice is so familiar and reminiscent of everything great about soul music. I am so lucky to work with her”.
Her songwriting skills are also amazing, writing for the likes of Randy Crawford, Missy Elliot and Bootsy Collins. Are there any future plans to work together?
“As I mentioned before we have her ‘All Star’ project in the can right now. The plan is to have it complete by September/October and ready to launch in the new year”.
You have just played at the Waterfront Music Festival in Chicago starring on the Chicago Heritage of House Stage alongside the likes of Derrick Carter, Mark Farina and Jamie Principle. How did you feel to be headlining the Heritage of House stage?
“I’m honored and thrilled to be chosen and like everything I commit to my plans are to show what’s new and familiar about House Music in a grand way”.
Where have been some of the other stand out gigs been for you recently?
“Since the beginning of the year I’ve been working some of the best venues starting on the beach in Phuket in January and the ‘Bugged Out Festival’ in London, on the beach again in Cancun and my residency here at home in Chicago. But one of the most outstanding gigs was ‘Boiler Room’ New York City. It was a classic throwback to an old school loft party in NYC. The vibe was perfect and the situation ideal. It was the best party I played in a very long time”.
As Director’s Cut you have recently produced mixes for Duke Dumont and Art Department. What is coming out next from yourself and Eric Kupper?
“At present we’re working on a remix of Hot Stuff for Donna Summer but we also have various other projects with the likes of Kathy Brown, Dawn Tallman, Jamie Principle, Paul Johnson, Hurts and of course The Shapeshifters”.
How do you two compliment each other in the studio, who excels where?
“Years ago Eric helped me to define my own signature sounds. In that we’ve managed to bring the warmth of analog to digital sound without compromising sound quality. I like to think we bring out the best in one another. We know each other well and trust each other. We always bring our A game to each and every project”.
Do you ever argue?!!?
“No, never. We may agree to disagree but we never let the sun go down on any kind of disagreement”.
Who are some of the producers you are giving high fives to right now?
“Frankie Feliciano is one of my all time favorites. Dbow, Sean McCabe…”
When a guy wanted to make it as a DJ back in the day, they had to learn their stripes working shit warm up slots, grabbing slots whenever they can and wait for their first big break. These days kids just out of school are making hit records in their bedrooms on their laptops and two months later are earning six figure sums headling Ultra. The world has gone crazy right?
“Actually, at the end of the day it doesn’t mean much. It’s like the equivalent of being throw into the deep end of the pool without learning how to tread water. They maybe the new kid on the block and everyone maybe excited to welcome the new kid but, when reality sets in and it’s realized that new kid doesn’t have much in his repertoire beyond a two hour set, he better learn quick how to hold hi own. However, this isn’t usually the case because most f these new jacks keep enough people around them blowing smoke up their butts that they actually start drinking their own Kool-aid. Ultimately, fading into the woodwork until their next track comes along. The bottom line, technology has made it easy for them to learn their way around computers and teach them how to put two tracks together. But, technology can never teach them style or give them musical personality”.
Do you think these young producers are missing out on all of the fun we all had on the dancefloors for a while, knowing what it feels like on the other side of the DJ booth…?
“If they’ve never really danced on a dancefloor like no one was watching or, have gotten lost in a song because the lyrics of the song touched them emotionally, moving them to the realization that music is everything. Absolutely EVERYTHING! They can’t get enough of it. They want to learn who wrote these songs and melodies and what inspired these creations. And after learning all about it they want more, to dance more and learn how to become one with the music. Welcome to my life!
What is the last great album you listened to?
“I’m Coming Home” by Johnny Mathis. The only album he recorded under the guidance of Kenny Gamble and Leon Huff at Philadelphia International”.
And finally, the Ibiza season is up and running. Where can we catch you and why do you love the white isle so much?
“I can be found at ‘BOOOM’ and ‘Ushuaia’. I love Ibiza for two reasons. 1- Because the island is Mecca for any working, successful club DJ and 2- Because of the friends I’ve made throughout the years. It’s like my summer place”.
‘Let’s Stay Home’ will be released worldwide on July 15th 2013 on Nocturnal Groove.
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