One of the star’s at next month’s massive Scottish Soul Weekender…
What kind of a set will you be playing at this massive new event?
“I draw from the past, mainly the late 70’s / early 80’s, but more often than not the tracks have a contemporary spin via re-edits, both my own and other peoples’.”
Is there anyone you are looking forward to catching at SSW2?
“Ian Levine is a name that caught my attention – I doubt many people nowadays would be aware of his legacy to UK club culture via his time at the Blackpool Mecca, and later down the line at Heaven. In the 80’s, British DJs making their own records was seen as a new development, but he was not only doing it back in the 70’s, but scoring dance hits in the US. He was a true pioneer back then.”
DJs seem to love spinning in Scotland…
“The Scottish crowd are known for being appreciative – if they like you that is. I’ve always enjoyed playing up here – the people are knowledgeable and passionate when it comes to their music. I’ve had so many great nights in Glasgow, Edinburgh, Dundee and Aberdeen.”
How does it feel to have been on top of the scene for the last twenty years?
“Make that 37 with a 20 year hiatus in the middle! I’ve seen things from both sides, so it’s obviously good to know that what I’m doing connects with enough likeminded people for me to earn a good living out of what I do, as well as remaining relevant to a younger generation of clubbers.”
Do you think house music is having a renaissance right now?
“There’s a major passage of time since the early house releases began to come out in the 80’s, so, just as people went back to explore the 70’s Disco era, I think there’s an interest in house from its more organic days, with edits being done that are more DJ friendly for today’s context.”
How do you manage to keep it fresh, new and I guess, vita? Is it a case of having pressure as a legendary DJ/Producer to always be one step ahead in the house scene?
“I just do mixes or edits to play at my nights, it’s all about what works for me rather than keeping one step ahead. These days I’m more about re-packaging the past, rather than presenting the future, as I was during the early 80’s Electro era. Besides, I’m viewed more as Disco (although that’s a narrow term for what I play) rather than house.”
We hear you have some label news of your own?
“I’m finally going to launch my new label in 2013, so that’s something I’m looking forward to.”
What do you see as your greatest musical career highlights so far?
“The first ‘Credit To The Edit’ compilation in 2005 really helped launch my career internationally, so that was a milestone, as was the Essential Mix in 2009, which was so well received, and took my name to a much wider audience. On a production level, the ‘Killer Album’ by Manchester’s Ruthless Rap Assassins in 1990 gave me great personal satisfaction.”
What was your first break in the industry?
“I just started out as a kid who loved records, especially black music, and I suppose my first big break would have been getting to play in local clubs when I was just 15. Later down the line, landing the residency at Wigan Pier in 1980, and then taking over the then Jazz-Funk night at Legend in ’81 (before I took it in the Electro-funk direction). These were the key events in my early career.”
So after over twenty years, what does the future hold for you?
“The best, I hope, is yet to come. I definitely feel I have unfinished business with regards to making music. It’s been impossible to find the time to concentrate on this since I started deejaying again in ’03, but I’ve finally made a breakthrough and got the first tracks underway. I’m also continuing to document dance culture, especially the pre-rave black scene here in the UK, which holds the key to all that followed, yet is still largely obscured.”
And before you leave us, can you tell us something you think we should all be listening to before we head out the door to SSW2?
“Give that Essential Mix a spin if you haven’t checked it out before…
http://soundcloud.com/gregwilson/essential-mix-greg-wilson-mix-for-bbc-radio-1
…or the early 80’s Floorfillers, would, I’m sure, be appreciated by the SSW crowd…
http://soundcloud.com/gregwilson/sets/greg-wilsons-early-80s-1/
Greg Wison headlines alongside Motor City Drum Ensemble, Prins Thomas, Al Kent and a host of others in The Blue Room at SSW2 taking place Friday November 2nd to Sunday November 4th at The Cairndale Hotel, Dumfries DG1 2DF, Scotland. All info at www.scottishsoulweekender.com
Over 60 DJ’s including in The Pressure Point – Tony Humphries; Paul ‘Trouble’ Anderson; DJ Spen; Rahaan; Deep City Soul ; Carl Dupree; Doc Link; Moodymanc; Jeremy Newall; Yogi Haughton; Roual Galloway; Lee Marvin; Neil Ferries; Harry Bennett; Elements Of Soul
Live line up: Friday November 2nd: 11.30pm Alison Limerick + Deep City Soul (Birmingham)
Sat 3rd: Live 2pm – Ricky Reid from The Soul Renegades (Edinburgh)
Sun 4th: Finale in The Pressure Point: 5.30pm Driza-Bone – 9 full piece band
The Blue Room: Prins Thomas, Al Kent; Motor City Ensemble; Greg Wilson (Credit To The Edit); Jeremy Newall; the Kat DJ’s – Phat Phil Cooper & St Hodge; Shaun Gillies; Roual Galloway; Yogi Haughton; Simmone Black; Harry Bennett; Elements Of Soul; Lee Marvin; Neil Ferries
The Shrine: Ian Levine; Snowboy; Ralph Tee; Ian Wright; Moodymanc; Kenny Mac; Tim Keenoy; Fryer; Tony ‘Mappy’ Hayzer; Barry May; Deano; Rob Lawrence; James Cronshaw; Andrea ‘Sista Soul’ Robertson; Yogi Haughton
