Hi Blakey, as a previous UK Champion and the UK Final happening this week, can you remember how it feels to prepare for the big event? What tips can you give any DJs competing in this Thursday’s competitions?
Well I won the UK Final on my third attempt, and for the first two I was nervous as hell. When I first started, the hours I put in were insane! 9 hours a day without even thinking about it, because I loved doing it and I loved everything about the competition. By the time I won in 2004, I had studied the competition for so long that I figured out what I needed to do to win. What kind of records to use, what kind of tricks to do, and how to set myself apart from the other competitors. Most competitors these days are very similar, so my advice would be to try and stand out, and I don’t just mean technically. I mean your whole style and demeanour, and also in your selection of music.
We know you have been working on the music for ‘DJ Hero’ now for a while, can you explain the whole project and how did that all come around?
I got involved through Tony Vegas of the Scratch Perverts actually, and basically it is the sequel to the biggest selling music game ever, Guitar Hero. It is going to be huge and luckily for me I am involved with it heavily, as a creative consultant and also as a scratch DJ. Most of the scratches you’ll hear in the game were done by me. It’s the coolest job on the planet!
What do you think ‘DJ Hero’ will do for DJing and the next generation of kids wanting to get into the scene?
Well, Guitar Hero got a lot of people into learning real guitars, and I think this will do the same for DJing. It cannot be a bad thing, re creating a fun version of scratching and DJing for ANYBODY to enjoy. The tracklist we have for the game means that anybody will love to play or listen to it.
A London boy, tell us about early music life for yourself…what were the tunes you grew up listening to as a teenager?
I was a huge Michael Jackson fan. Music was the only thing I was interested in for a long time when I was a kid. I remember when I was 7 years old, whenever I had a substitute teacher in I would ask them if they liked MJ. When they said yes, I would make them a cassette that night of all my favourite MJ tracks. Mixtapes basically! Then from the age of about 11 I was massively into UK Garage. That was got me into DJing and buying turntables, and eventually scratching. It was all about pirate radio back then and I used to listen to it religiously. I even set up a station in my room with some friends called Danger FM *cringes*!
The biggest turning point in my career was when I bought a DMC Video when I was 14. That video is the reason I am doing what I am today, and doing this interview! It was called Turntablist’s Trick &Technics, and it completely changed my life. I spent every single day practising to be as good as the DJs on that video, and then I won the DMC’s in 2004 when I was 19. Joy!
You have played some big gigs, supporting the likes of Jurassic 5 and Nas and also Jay Z at the Prince’s Trust Urban Musical Festival. Did you meet the big fella, were there any other big artists on that you met and partied with?
Yeah those gigs were real big. The only one I didn’t meet was Jay-Z actually. He’s a tightly guarded man.
I remember at the Nas gig, I was standing right next to the stage door after my support set, and Nas comes over about to go on stage, and while standing behind the stage door he says into the mic “Yo Bristol”. I’ve never heard such a roar before in my life!
Who do you think is the best turntablist of all time?
Craze.
Why is the DMC Competition so important to us all?
It’s DJing at its most creative.
What one set that you have witnessed, has simply blown you away?
That would be Kentaro at the DMC World Final in 2002. I was standing on the stage to his right during that set, and everyone around me couldn’t believe what they had just seen. It was the tightest most flowing routine we’d ever witnessed.
What is the best club you have ever played at?
Fabric. Best sound system, crowd, vibe and staff I’ve seen.
What do you think of my dad standing on his head on stage in front of thousands of bemused kids?
Your Dad is a legend for doing that.
Best album ever made?
Michael Jackson – Thriller or DJ Shadow – Endtroducing
Who do you think are the main contenders this Thursday?
I didn’t make it to any of the heats unfortunately so I really can’t say! But I think it will be close. There are a few newcomers too and one of them could pull something special out the bag and take it.
How do you think the art of turntablism has changed since you began all those years ago?
The technology side of it has moved forward a lot, and people are incorporating that into what they do now, so it isn’t purely about 2 decks and a mixer which I think is a good thing. Moving things forward creatively can’t be bad, and it will open new doors and keep things fresh musically.
How did winning the Final back in 2004 change things for you?
It opened every door that has been opened in my career. It was instrumental. Although that doesn’t happen with every champion. Some people don’t know how to use their title to its full potential unfortunately. Luckily I did 🙂
