A year in Paradise beckons for this UK producer on a huge roll…
Interview by Rob Chadwick
Jey Kurmis is the UK based DJ/Producer with a recent release just out on Moon Harbour and numerous other EPs lined up over the coming months. We caught up with the man to find out his hopes and dreams for the coming year…
How has your year been so far? Do you have any big hopes, goals and dreams for 2016 – and how was 2015 now you look back?
Hi Rob! I started the year of at BPM festival playing at Paradise…so pretty awesome! 2015 was a great year and everything seems to be slipping into place in 2016. All my goals and dreams are becoming real. Since becoming a Paradise resident it has landed me in Mexico, and what’s to come is the rest of the world. Since last year everything has elevated at such a phenomenal rate! I couldn’t be happier!
Are you still based in Leeds…how is the city doing clubwise?
Yes still based closed to the Leeds area…Leeds is great for a night out too. You have Shane running the Mint Club, Mint Warehouse, Cocoon in the Park and the Mint Festival which are always huge! Then other brands like Steven Allison’s Faversham, The Garden Party…always a sell out and always strong acts there too. My favourite night is the Dirty Disco. Stuart Forsyth & Stu Darwin and bringing it back with one of events with there first party back in a number of years last November, with a huge sell out event! The North of England has bread some really successful artists like Waffy, Mark Jenkins, Richy Ahmed, Jacky to name a few… I’m sure there will be plenty more to come in the near future too!
Does Leeds have a sound would you say? Do you have a sound?
In my opinion I don’t think Leeds has a specific sound. I’m sure as long as it’s banging then people have a wicked time! It’s all about the party vibes! This is how I adapted my sound. When making a track, I will use a filter on the master channel and keep dropping it on and off to feel the energy and power behind the loops I’ve created. I think to myself…‘is this something that would really get me moving on the dancefloor?’ – then I take it from there. As for my own sound, I have a lot of people telling me ‘you have your own sound’ and ‘your tracks are unique’ or ‘ I can always tell if its one of your tracks’. I try to make every track sound different, but wouldn’t know how to explain if I do have my own sound?
What are your aims when making a track, where do you start?
I’m all about bass and choppy vox. I spend most my time on these. But everything is important…you need all the elements to bounce off each other. Usually when starting a track I have a general idea, of what I want to happen, but by the end of the track it tends to sound nothing like the ideas in my head…which for me has proved to be a good thing.
Should dance music have a social or political message? Or is it more about helping people have fun?
I personally make music for parties. If music has a political message then it’s interesting as to what the message is. When I’m out listening to tracks I’m there to enjoy the music and meet new people! I have met the most wonderful people on various events because of the love of music, so maybe it is a more social thing? But I spend most of my time getting lost in the set too, so I think it’s different for everyone.
What’s your studio like – do you use hardware or software and why? What are some of your favourite bits of kit?
I currently am living in a smaller space until I move into my next home where I can build my studio again. So at the moment I have been mainly using a huge list of plug ins, akai Apc40 and an M-audio keyboard. I miss using the roland kits which are my favourites, however I feel I have gotten to grips without the hardware. Still excited to get back on it though!
Tell us about your Moon Harbour release – how did that come about? What inspired or influenced the tune?
Matthias Tanzmann has been a huge inspiration to me and one of my idols. So I dreamt about being able to make something that he would like. Now that I have been given the opportunity to work with them I am over the ‘Moon Harbour’ (ha). De Greave & Fourtunes are my own originals and the main track refresh is made with my good friends Steven Deputter and Denie Deltomme. They make up Nukov & Yelmet. We have also made another track named ’Not Too Flabbeh’ which is soon to be released on Hot Creations.
Did you make it with the label in mind? What is the sound of the label to you? Did you get any feedback on the track?
The sound of the label is awesome. Every release has something unique about the track. One in particular I enjoyed is the Cera Alba EP. But that’s only one off the huge list of hits. When I make music I never make tracks with any label in mind. I make them how I like it to be made, and then whatever the outcome of the track, I have a think as to which label it may suit.
What else have you got coming up/are you working on/looking forward to?
I am extremely happy that I have been made a Paradise resident now. (Buzzzzzed!) There seems to be an endless list of such magnificent things that are happening with me this year. A few things are…
Moon Harbour Party at Sonar. Paradise WMC / DC:10 / and many more. Leftroom Parties. Festivals and sets all over the globe. Currently a work in process to hopefully get the North & South American tour on its way. Future releases on some really great labels too…so lots to come, and I couldn’t be more grateful. There are so many people to thank too for their help, as I would be quite lost without them.
Jey Kurmis’ ‘Refresh’ EP is out now on Moon Harbour
Grab it here – https://pro.beatport.com/release/refresh-ep/1685117
