There’s a new beat on the street
Interview: Dan Prince
Hey Ralph, good to speak to you again. A great launch weekend for your new ‘beat’ gourmet and loft party experience lst month, congratulations. How did the nerves compare to the opening of Back To Basics in 1991?
“I was much more nervous for beat as I am part of the promotion team as well. I always just turn up and DJ at Basics. Promotion is not a game I’m used to – it’s super stressful. The roof was leaking two days before the first beat and we had over a foot of snow. We had buckets catching the drips but high up so no one could see. The hot cupboards also burnt out the electrics and melted a plug just before service but luckily a barman was a sparky by trade!”
A very privileged part of being a DJ is that you get taken to the best restaurants in the world by the clubs you are playing at. Tell us about some of your favourite gourmet experiences from around the globe you have enjoyed these past three decades…
“Hi Dan, thank you very much. Well, I’ll always ask to try the local food. You can have posh food that tastes the same anywhere, I want to try the real deal. My favourite food is Japanese. I got introduced to a tiny little place in Tokyo called Iguchi Ryousei. It has four tables and the owner Ryu does everything from cook to wait to clean up! Always forget the menu just leave it to them to cook and you’ll discover loads of dishes and tastes you’ve never experienced before. Everyone thinks Japanese cooking is just Sushi but you have Teriyaki, Tempura, Okonomiyaki, Tonkatsu, Ramen and so many more. I also loved going to Tel Aviv in Israel too, the food is amazing. The guys drove me across into the Arab town of Jaffa as well as no one knows how to do grilled fish better.”
Your partner in beat Tom Van Zeller has worked with some exceptional chefs over the years, Raymond Blanc, Pierre Koffman and Tom Aikens to name but a few. What is the finest dish he has ever created for you?
“Well I’m not sure he has created anything especially for me but he’s served up some good grub! I think the starter killed it at beat – Cured Salmon from Ayrshire – Razor Clams, Persimon Fruit, Avocado and Ecume de Mer. Wonderful.”
The space you used for last month’s opening weekend had no cooking facilities at all. How did Tom manage?
“Glad you asked that, I’m not sure people realised how hard Tom’s task was at beat. It is a great loft space but as you say no cooking facilities at all and he was cooking for 125 people a night. We could bring in a couple of gas hobs, hot cupboards and have boiling water. It is actually amazing what you can cook with just hot water. It did really restrict us on menu choice though and we do need to be able to give him at least some ovens next time! To give him credit he didn’t even complain!”
You met through a mutual friend, but Tom has been a regular at Basics for years. Who have been some of his DJs he has enjoyed down at your disco?
“I met Tom through Wes from The Electric Press. Tom worked in New York when he was starting out and discovered house music there. He use d to go out late after doing his shift in the restaurants. He was going to see Danny Tenaglia.”
What did you learn from the launch that will help improve loft party number 2?
“Well we actually did two nights in a row as we sold out the Saturday quickly so May 17/18th are beat 003 and 004. We definitely improved the Saturday after our launch night but in general we had done so much prep that I was really happy we got most things bang on. It was cold on Friday due to the snow and heating not working so we hired in some industrial heaters and located every draft and got it far more comfortable for Saturday.”
The whole ‘Supper Club’ is now a established brand all around the world, it took people a little time to understand the whole eating and partying under one roof format. If beat does indeed continue on it’s upward spiral, would this be something you would be looking to take internationally? Ibiza would be perfect…
“Yes for sure. London has got to be first though. I’m looking at spaces there now.”
Did you know everyone in the house at the opening weekend?
“We did have great friend support, it was like a soft launch really. Even Darren & Charlotte Hughes (promoter of We Love Space) came and he rarely comes out! It actually made me nervous that I knew so many people. Now we got to do it again and widen our reach.”
Before the launch you admitted you had been wanting to do something different from your normal set and give a nod in the direction of the classic lofe parties started by DJ David Mancuso in New York city? So, what did you spin…?
“Well Dan you’re welcome to check it out for yourselves as it’s on Soundcloud…
https://soundcloud.com/ralphlawson/ralph-lawson-beat-001-loft
What is the current top 10 you are spinning?
“Here is my session from Mixmag DJ Lab last week…
DJ Dove – Come On (Ralph Lawson 2020Vision mix) (Mn2S)
Jonny Cade – Find My Way (2020Vision)
Quell – Don’t Go (2020Vision)
Ray Okpara – Ghetto Blaster (Rodriguez Jnr remix) (Mobilee)
Marcello Giordani – God Given (Endless Flight)
Double T – Tee’s 5 (Holic Trax)
Tale of Us – Another Earth
Ejeca – Jump (2020Vision)
Solee – Caillou (Parquet)
Rosco Sledge – Frisson (2020Vision)
http://www.mixmag.net/videos/ralph-lawson-and-simon-baker-in-the-mixmag-dj-lab
I bet you have been inundated with famous DJs wanting to come down and play for you, who has been on the phone?
“You know what we did have a couple get straight back to us. DJs seem to love food and cooking. I can’t tell you right now but we are talking to one who is rather high in the world rankings and known to be a great cook already and one’s DJ name says it all.”
What is coming next from you studio wise Mr Lawson?
“I am releasing Dusty Dubs and Gold Dust on May 20th. It features unreleased, rare and classic productions that I found on DAT tape in my Garage.”
Wowzer. What are your plans for Ibiza 2013?
“I return to We Love Space on June 23rd and September 22nd and play Channel Zoo on August 3rd.”
Where can we catch you festival wise this summer?
“I am in Croatia twice – Love System festival May 30th – June 2nd and Hideout Festival July 5-7th. I am also going to Sonar Barcelona and Burning Man USA. I am up for Glastonbury if anyone wants a late addition too!”
And finally Ralph, have you ever cooked dinner for Tom and if not, what would you cook him?
“Yes. After beat he came back to my house knackered, drunk and starving as he doesn’t eat at all on night he Chefs. I cooked him an omelette, but under his instructions and it turned into this beautiful Spanish Tortilla. Jane came down in the morning and the first thing she said was…
“Did Tom cook that? It can’t have been you – it was delicious…”
beat
May 17-18, 2013 Munro House, Leeds
We open at 7pm for drinks with dinner served after 8pm, the loft party kicks off from 10pm until 2am. Tickets including TvZ’s 3 course dinner and loft party entrance are £30. Loft party entry only is priced at £10.
dinner /loft tickets for Friday 17th:
http://www.residentadvisor.net/event.aspx?470485
dinner /loft tickets for Saturday 18th:
http://www.residentadvisor.net/event.aspx?470489
