Kevin Saunderson – we kick off with one of the master’s of ALL TIME. We are honoured…
You are recognised as one of the originators of Detroit Techno – you went to school with Derrick May and Juan Atkins and was a fan of DJ Charles – tell us about this guy.
“Well I knew the guy as Electrifyin’ Mojo Johnson – a very unique personality who had his radio show going out at midnight. He wasn’t a normal DJ on the air, he played albums all the way though instead of just singles. People like the B52s, Kraftwerk and Parliament Funkadelic. You fell in love with these records and then the artists thanks to this dude.”
So your American Football days soon became secondary behind your love for music?
“Ha ha. Well my coach got fired and the new guy in control decided to take the team in a new direction. So I knew I needed a new net. Soon after, Derrick got in contact, he’d been living in Chicago and we had sort of drifted apart – Juan was doing his own thing but I was still loving listening to his records on the radio. So anyway, Derrick hooked me up with two DJs at school who were already running parties and that’s how it all began…”
1987 – a big year with the success of ‘Big Fun’. And what a trip. Tipped off by Chicago house producer Terry ‘Hosemaster’ Baldwin about vocalist Paris Grey, then the UKs Neil Rushton flying over and snapping up the track for his ‘Techno – The New School Of Detroit album before an official single release – and then ‘Good Life’ outsold it and you soon clocked up more than 6 million sales – what do you remember about those days?
“Wow. Well I had a lot of energy that’s for sure!. It was an innovative time, I was making music in the studio every day and everything I was hearing out in the clubs sounded great. Meeting Neil was cool and the Chicago scene was ripping it up which is where I met Terry and we became friends – next thing I know he’s hooked me up with Paris and next think I know I was on Top Of The Pops – I had no training and no idea how to do such a TV program so it was a learning curve to say the least! And then Paul Oakenfold booked me to play at his Spectrum night at Heaven in London – it blew me away, I mean a Monday night in London with 2000 clubbers? Doing the remix for the Wee Papa Girl Rappers ‘Heat It Up’ having to put my own sound into the tune and then picking up the DMC Remix of The Year for it, loads of sharks trying to sign me… surreal but exciting time looking back…”
What other DJs out there do you rate?
“Well the problem for DJs is that most of the time we only get into the club shortly before our sets so we don’t get to check out other DJs really. But you know, the older guys like Derrick May and Carl Cox are still showing the younger DJs the way forward. Saying that, there’s a great Dutch DJ called Joris Voorn who blew me away last time I saw him play.”
The Amsterdam Dance Event – a big one then coming up?
“Amsterdam is like my second home, I have had many many great gigs over the years there. It’s always a pleasure and yes, I’m really looking forward to it…”
You’ve DJ’d all around the world – what have been your favourite clubs?
“I’ve DJ’d at some amazing clubs over the years – Space and Amnesia in Ibiza, Zouk in Singapore, Fabric London, The Loft in Barcelona – really good experiences and all have great sound systems.”
Your ‘Heavenly’ album that you released in 1998 was sited by Spin Mag as “one of the best ten albums you’ve ever heard” – what was the story behind this creation?
“That was all about making an album for me, just vibing, just being myself – it all came from within. Inner City, remixing and my DJing took up much of my time – not that I didn’t enjoy it, I simply needed to do it. And I truly, truly enjoyed it.”
