The main man returns with a brand new track ‘Be Mine’ – a DMC exclusive
Interview : Dan Prince
Julian welcome to DMCWORLD…where in the world are you right now?
“I’m in my studio in the UK – I have a converted barn in the middle of nowhere – a great place to create.”
Massive dancefloor damage yet again, this time courtesy of ‘Be Mine’…a real late night summer tune with vocals from Sheryl Deane of The Thrillseekers fame. Talk us through the history of the track…
“Sheryl (photo below) had written the song a few years back with Phillip Larsen from Manhattan Clique. I was working on a backing track and suddenly had one of those light bulb moments when I could hear that song working over the instrumental. It was as simple as that I literally dropped the vocals in and didn’t have to change a thing – that’s when I know I’m on to a good one!”
December 2012 saw you form Ruffloaded Recordings with Robert Turner. How have the last nine months been for the project and what can we expect in the near future?
“Really good – our first release Noise Freakz & Jorden Milnes ‘Edge Of Letting Go’ received Radio 1 support along with Kiss, Gaydio and Capital and peaked at number 6 in the music week chart. Ruff Loaderz collaborated with Cutmore and Inya Day on ‘Hold Your Head Up High’ which we’re releasing in September and the Jochen Simms EP is coming out the same month. We also have a section to the label called Deep Loaded which is all about Deep House and we have just signed a new up and coming act called Skinner & Bracks which I’m really excited about. We’re fortunate in being in partnership with Notting Hill / Transmission who we love working with.”
How did the whole Sneakbo project happen, are you working on any future stuff together?
“I was asked to remix Sneakbo’s single ‘Zim Zimmer’. It did pretty well and my remix got Radio 1 support so I was approached by their manager to remix his next single ‘Ring a Ling’. They then asked if I had any instrumentals so I sent over some powerful ruff beats that I thought Sneakbo could potentially write on. Sneakbo loved one of the tracks and has written a great vocal on it – just tweaking it now!”
You have remixed dozens of megastars over the years…Beyonce, Rihanna, Snoop, Lenny Kravitz and Robbie Williams jump out of the page…what though is the one artist and track you would really love to remix that has so far eluded you?
“Coldplay.”
And who have you turned down over the years? Come on, be brave!
“I remixed two of Beyonce’s singles on her last album under my Jochen Simms guise – ‘Run The World’ and ‘Count Down’. I then got the opportunity to remix her 3rd single but it was a ballad and in honesty ballads just aren’t really my thing – rather than make a pig’s ear of it I thought it best to say no. I was gutted though as I really wanted to get my hat trick!”
Who is the best vocalist you have ever worked with?
“For my own safety I’m going to say Sheryl Deane! We met shortly after she’d worked on the Thrillseekers project and we worked together on a few trance tracks! 10 years on more than music was made – we live / work together and have a 2 year old little boy whose favourite place in the house is the recording studio!”
Let’s rewind for a moment, you are one of dance music’s most prolific ever producers. How old were you when you caught the dance bug and where were some of the early clubs you learnt the ropes at?
“I remember being 14 at school drawing pictures of my studio instead of listening to the teacher and at the same age I got a job collecting glasses in a working men’s club and bought my 1st piece of equipment which was a set of Hitachi decks – check out the photo below! By the time I was 17 I‘d saved enough money along with a few loans to set up my recording studio in a spare room at my mum and dad’s! At this time my favourite hang outs were Echoes in Bow, Spectrum, Albany in Deptford and Sound Shaft.”
Early DJ heroes?
“Tony Wilson, Nicky Holloway, Steve Proctor, Carl Cox, Rocky & Diesel and Paul Oakenfold.”
And who are the DJs you’d pay to see in 2013?
“Fat Boy Slim, Carl Cox, Mark Knight, Chemical Brothers, Basement Jaxx, Groove Armada , Daft Punk, Fredde Le Grand and Calvin Harris.”
You have a fabulous versatility in your production skills to lock into current trends without compromising on your edgy production values. What do you think are your greatest attributes as a producer, what keeps everyone coming back for more…?
“I live and breathe music and think that because I started out in the clubs it’s just a massive part of who I am musically. I call the edge I have “The Grit” and all my productions have it in there or else I’m not happy. I listen to all kinds of music by doing remixing and it’s a great challenge to work on some real pop tracks and then turn them into something you could potentially here on a dancefloor.”
I interviewed Kaz James this week, something he said was kinda interesting…”I don’t think it’s necessary these days to actually be a good DJ like it was 15 years ago at the start of my career. These days you can get away with pressing play on a laptop.” Discuss…
“Technology does make it easier for people to DJ but 15 years ago DJs weren’t the prolific producers that some of them are today, so it swings both ways. I’ve produced tracks for many DJs who have spent years carving out a career as a DJ but not had the time to be in the studio learning how to produce. I think that in the current industry people expect that a DJ will produce their own music so in some ways it’s a harder job. As long as a DJ puts 100% into what they do and knows how to give a crowd what they want, then as far as I’m concerned job done.”
Please list your ten favourite Julian Napolitano productions you have created over the decades…
JDS – Nine Ways
Perpetual Motion – Keep On Dancing
Jochen Simms remake of Olive – You’re Not Alone
Jochen Simms – Sonic Wave
JDS – Punk Funk
Ruff Loaderz – Be Mine
Ruff Loaderz -Crystal Walters Gypsy Women
Ruff Loaderz & Scott Giles – Let Me Be Your Fantasy Remake
Ruff Loaderz & The Hayman Ft Pernille Still Waiting
Ruff Loaderz & Cutmore featuring Inaya Day – Lift Your Head Off
How do you approach your DJ gigs in 2013, ever let your hair down?
“I’ve been told I’m like a mad scientist as I’m more into analysing the crowds. It’s essential for me as a producer that I people-watch to see how they react to the music. I hate standing in a DJ booth, I like to be on the edge of the dance floor watching what people are dancing to the most and what tunes are getting the best reactions – I do tend to freak people out a bit at times as I must look so serious! I then take all that energy back to the studio and put it on the operating table – I love creating after a big night out.”
Anthem of the summer?
“Daft Punk – ‘Get Lucky’.”
Craziest ever Ibiza moment?
“It’s got to be the Clockwork Orange after parties. They went on for days!!”
The film you can watch over and over?
“The Business.”
So we come back to yours after the club, what is the Back To Mine 5 you spin us to mellow the vibe?
Massive Attack- Teardrop
Enigma- Sadness
Seal – Kiss From A Rose
Moby- Porcelain
Zero 7- Destiny
Groove Armada – At The River
Thoughts on this quote from a certain household DJ… “It was different when I started out back in the day, there was no glamour side of travelling around the world, getting paid fortunes for gigs, it was all about the music. I think people get into it for all the wrong reasons today.”
“I get what this DJ is saying. When I started out dance music was faceless and it was just about the music. It was a niche genre of music and it did feel like we were all part of something unique and underground. However I think it’s amazing that dance music has become so mainstream that it allows DJs to command such enormous amounts of money for gigs – it shows dance music has reached out to the masses which has been a good thing for my career.”
Who are some of the producers from around the world you are giving high fives to at the moment?
“Disclosure, Calvin Harris, Michael Woods, Groove Eternal, Fredde Le Grand , Will Gold , Cat Crazy Chocolate Puma, Mark Night , Skinner & Bracks, Fat Boy Slim, Sub Focus…”
Everyone has one, what is your guilty pleasures record?
Rick Astley – ‘Never Gonna Give You Up’.”
What are the 3 things you need to get you through an all night Ruff Loaderz studio session?
“1. Listening to new music for inspiration before I start.
2. Lots of sugar filled sweets – Haribo are great.
3. My dumbells!”
And finally, what once piece of advice can you offer to the thousands of aspiring producers reading this wishing to follow in your footsteps…?
“Love what you do and don’t let anyone tell you that you can’t do it. Learn to play the keyboards it’s an absolute life saver. Try not to rely on anyone, always be in control of your own brand and have a clear direction of where you’re going with your sound. Work with as many people as you can, for me it’s all about collaboration as you can learn so much from others…”
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