The incredible DJ behind the new Southport Weekender CD alongside Ashley Beedle.
Mr King Britt, an honour to talk to you. You hail from Philadelphia, one of the three original US counties created along by the main man William Penn way back in November of 1682. Did your parents make you aware of just what a historical and important place you were raised in, the first American capital. What was your home city like growing up in ?
“When growing up in Philly, the schools, parents and church definitely let you know that Philly is probably thee most historic city in the world. Politically, its where the original ideals of our government are on display for all to see. But the most important historical things I relate Philly to, is music. From jazz to hip hop, Philly’s music history is insane!”
So okay, Philadelphia has a great music background. Who were you funking around and growing up to? This is the city that brought the USA American Bandstand with Dick Clark, then rolled over the grooves with artists like Chubby Checker, Bill Haley, Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes, Patti LaBelle, Hall and Oates, Will Smith, Lady B, Jazzy Jeff, Schoolly D, Boyz II Men – wowzer, – where your parents into this music? Were you brushing your teeth moving to ‘P.S.K.’?
“Ha ha ha – I was more into the Gamble and Huff soul sound. My Mom was heavy into Jazz and a desciple of Sun Ra. My Dad was into funk and owned a barber shop where I heard everything from Nancy Wilson to Teddy Pendergrass. In high school, hip-hop was just starting …I grew up with Jazzy Jeff, Cash Money, Schooly D, Steady B and Will Smith… a very healthy city in all genres!”
The sounds that are renowned to fill the streets, bars and clubs of Philadelphia are different to what you play and produce – your sound is much more deep, broken beats, bit’s of afro stuck in here and there… let’s say a touch of the more adventourous…
“Well, I produce everything. So if you know my SYLK130 project, it’s more of an autobiography. So my first album was all funk and soul… the next comprised of all my 80s collabs (including Alison Moyet and ABC), so, each moniker is different. I gravitate toward pushing envelope sounds… like Laurie Anderson, Raymond Scott, Sun Ra, Miles, to Carl Craig and Richard James…I have always loved ‘sound’, due to my ‘free jazz’ upbringing.”
Tell us about the film scores you have done in Hollywood…
“I did 20 scenes for Miami Vice. Its underscoring and it was the most exciting thing to do. I received a call from Michael Mann to help score scenes for the film. He was a big fan of my Sister Gertrude album and we went from there. I have also scored music for commercials as well including Rolex and Mini.”
I used to see you behind the decks way back, maybe early 90s DJing for Digable Planets – I think they won a Grammy? You just about played everywhere all over the world back then. What clubs in that era really stood out?
“Well I was touring worldwide before Digable actually, with E Culture blowing up in 1990. Strictly Rhythm was really breaking ground and that was one of their first jams. So back then the Brainiac Club and The Wag in London were the shhhh!!! Then moving into Yellow in Japan, The Fridge in Brixton, Paragola in Milan, Bar Rhumba, The Ministry, Cacoon. But the best gig with Digable Planets in Europe was the Drum Rhythm Festival in Amsterdam with Guru and Gilles Peterson. Amazing!”
You are one of the DJs renowned for their love of fashion, what designers are doing it for you these days?
“You know, I don’t really buy clothes anymore. I get so much free stuff. Ted Baker has to be one of my faves, Yoji Yamamoto (y3 line), Alexander McQueen, Comme De Garcon! But I have been keeping it simple now, I’m actually auctioning all my kicks in May.”
Best ten records in your box now?
This is off the top of my head as I’m in a cafe doing this interview, but…
1.- ‘Anne’ (King Britt Moody Mix) – Santogold
2.- ‘Eat You Up’ (King Britt instrumental) – BOA
3.- ‘Je Teme’ (Switch mix) – Armand Van Helden
4.- untitled – Wink
5.- ‘Electric Santeria (King Britt mix) – Ursula Rucker
6.- ‘Think Twice (Henrik Schwartz mix) – Detroit Experiment
7.- ‘Dream 12 – The Nova Dream Sequence
8.- ‘Electric Sky’ – Wishuwerehere
9.- ‘I Decided (King Britt Scuba mix) – Solange
10. untitled- ramon tejada”
What DJs did you most look out to try and catch?
“1.- Francois K. One of my heroes and mentors.
2.- Rich Medina. One of my best mates! And a sick DJ….
3.- Frankie Knuckles and his classics set. What! Sick!”
4. – Spinna. He always delivers.
5.- DJ Statik. Part of the new Philly regime…will be one of the world’s best soon.”
Best live gig you ever went to?
“You are killin me. Live Aid in the 80s, nothing can compare. Recently Mars Volta…holy sh*t…amazing!”
Best record ever made?
“‘Off The Wall’ by Michael Jackson. Hands down!”
Who is the most beautiful celebrity in the world?
“None. Each has a unique beauty! My beauty includes brains as well as unique looks, but if you’re gonna push me…
1.- Rucyl Mills, an up and coming singer out of Brooklyn..damn!
2.- Eva Mendez, no explanation needed.
3.- Natalie Portman, in a high school sort of way!
4.- Angela Basset – dope
5.- Adriana Lima, a guilty pleasure…”
Best TV show on at the moment in the States?
“Stopped watching the bullshit.”
The 90s saw you head up the Sylk130 collective with top Philadelphia musicians and performers including Ursula Rucker, Alma Horton, Doc Gibbs, Chuck Treece and Alison Crockette. Albums followed both personally and with various bands and producers including ‘When the Funk Hits the Fan’, ‘Re-Members Only’, ‘Adventures in Lo-Fi, ‘Cosmo Afrique’, ‘King Britt Presents Sister Gertrude Morgan’, ‘The Nova Dream Sequence…then you kicked it right out making hits for Macy Gray, Tori Amos, Yoko Ono, Femi Kuti, Josh One, Curtis Mayfiled, Ben Watt, Dizzie Gilespie, Everything But the Girl and Digable Planets. What is THE BEST you have done for an other artist???
“The Ruckus Soundsystem by Ursula Rucker. A beautiful album. Best remix? Father Lucifer for Tori Amos.”
And finally, a great, no brilliant collaboration coming out with the UKs Ashley Beedle to celebrate Southport Weekender 8 – 33 wondrous tracks…what are your memories from this just insane weekend of pure dance music and what are your thoughts behind the album?
“Each time I have done Southport, it is like the first time. An amazing music loving crowd who let you be who you really are and appreciate every minute of it. Doing the CD was an honor and I hope that the public enjoy it as much as I did making it. Plus, Ashley is one of my favorite people in the world. So to share it with him is an honor in itself…and we plan to tour together a bit…. people think we are brothers anyway…ha ha ha ha”
Southport Weekender Volume 8 Mixed by King Britt & Ashley Beedle will be released on February 23rd 2009 on suSU.
www.southportweekender.co.uk
