Runner Up at the UK Final and now aiming for The Forum in London to defend his Supremacy title
Interview : Dan Prince and Cutmaster Swift
Hey Ritchie welcome to DMCWORLD, where on planet dance are you today?
“Hey guys, I’m in Leith, Edinburgh.”
Congratulations and commiserations for your Runner Up spot at the UK Finals last week, man that close! 4 points in it at the end, did you think you had pipped Switch and made it three in a row
“I never think I have won until the results are announced and I didn’t see much of his set as I was setting up. I’m really looking forward to the UK Final DVD put it that way! And hey, I did beat him last year!”
How did you think your set went, was there any room for improvement?
“Yes there is always room for improvement – but I honestly think this was the best DMC set I have made. As for performance, there were a few slips in parts that could have been tighter, but overall…no mistakes.”
Was there a lot of pressure on you this year?
“Yes Dan! Going for 3 in a row ain’t easy!”
October 5th sees you defending your World Supremacy 2013 Title, when will you begin work on that set?
“I guess I have started already. It’s the same as last year, the day after I won I was listening for songs, ideas and quotes from TV, movies etc. I never stop! ”
Some of our readers won’t know how long you have been starring in the DMCs, you have been competing since 1999…
“That’s right, 1999 to 2005 making the UK Final 6 times and won the Supremacy in 2002. I then took a break from competitions to learn some new styles and restarted my DMC quest in 2011 when I came 2nd in the World Online and UK Final.”
As you said, you infamously had a 5 year break in the middle, you admit you needed some time to rethink your plan and evolve your skills. Was there ever any doubt you would return to the DMCs?
“Yeah. Even though I was and will always be scratching and stuff as it’s my passion and hobby, I didn’t really consider re-entering DMC until you introduced Serato and the online comp. I really liked the idea of using Serato and DVS and being able to make your set more personal. Now with Serato you aren’t limited to what you can do, it’s just up to your imagination I guess, you can put sounds and samples wherever you want and I really like that this is possible nowadays.”
The sets that you play at the competitions are basically a whole year’s worth of your best DJ routines distilled down to a few minutes of performance. How long does it take for you to get your set just right and what is your procedure when creating your set?
“It depends – some sets I never finish, others can be done in days. Others have months of work and re arranging, I build most of my sets with my machine sampler and sequencer.”
What do you think has been your best ever DMC performance technically?
“The 2013 World set possibly, but as I said before, I really need to see my UK Final set from last week again, it’s all a bit of a blur Dan!”
What advantages and disadvantages (if any) do you think the use of DVS in the competition has produced?
“I don’t really see and disadvantages. But it now enables you to do whatever you want, the only hold back is your imagination and creativity…this is only a good thing for me.”
What is your contribution to originality of the Turntablism?
“Ooh good question, I dunno! I guess just putting myself out there, entering all the comps and being part of it all – 5 x solo UK DMC – 1 x World DMC Battle For Supremacy Champ… and too many 2nd and 3rd places to mention!”
In which past DMC competition era would you liked to have competed in?
“None really – but I wish I was at some of the early 90s DMC events.”
Between the ongoing debate of purist analog turntablist and the digital one, which would you choose and why?
“Digital all the way for normal club, party DJing and DMC routines. Saying that I still scratch for hours daily and pretty much always use non skip scratch vinyl records. For straight up scratching you still can’t beat vinyl – you feel the sound of the sample through the vibration of the vinyl through your fingers. Scratch vinyl is the only vinyl I buy nowadays though.”
Who are your favourite UK Turntablist innovators and why?
“OK, so Woody, Tigerstyle and Muzzel – all dope UK DMC faves from the past. Nowadays it’s Jon1st, Mr Switch, P-Nuts – all the current dudes battling.”
With the vast amount of technology in the DJ market is there anything else you would like to see introduced into the DMC Championships?
“Personally I would like to see DMC try just a ‘straight up scratch competition’ like they did at the 2014 SF DMC – there are tons of scratch DJs out there.”
The DMC competitions has always been a male dominated why do you feel the females aren’t stepping up to the decks more often?
“Good question. And one I don’t know the answer to, strange!”
Best DMC Championship memory?
“So many – going to the World Final in NYC in 1999 as a spectator was pretty awesome – also winning my 1st UK title in 2002.”
What is the current top 10 you are spinning?
“Depends on the gig – if we talking current hip hop/rap, then artist wise… Schoolboy Q – Danny Brown – Kendrick Lemar – Drake – Chance The Rapper – Rick Ross – Jay Z – Kanye – Meek Milli – all this kinda stuff. But I still love 90s boom bap/hip hop/golden era stuff the most – but it really depends on the show. I actually like mixing up trap and glitch type stuff most these days too.”
Where have some of the ‘stand out’ clubs been for you in recent months?
“The Bongo Club – in Edinburgh is my favourite club – catch me at I Love Hip Hop – Tuesdays at the Bongo…”
What your opinion on DJs/ Turntablists trolling?
“Peeps talking shit on the net…? It’s funny…”
And finally dude, October 5th – you gonna bring it home?
“Hell yeah, lets hope so Dan. I will try my hardest for DMC. Can I give a bigup to my online DJ buddies at www.tinychat.com/turntablistworld – a neverending online scratch room jam. And also shouts to the scratch crew online…tableturnsmore – chrisgroove – symatic – daykinator – jon1st – vekked – ctrlx – sirness – bakon – seemorecuts – eddieruckspin – tony2tymes – deef – dopez – dwells – thedoc – lazyboy – redmist and itchy. Peace.”
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