DMC Meet Gladys Pizarro, The Lady Behind Strictly Rhythm Records…
Hello Gladys, a warm welcome to DMC World. So to be honest, you are a legend behind the scenes in the music industry, co-founder of New York’s Strictly Rhythm house label and now back with a vengeance with your new label Launch Entertainment. What are your plans for the label, who should we be looking out for this year?
“Well right now I’m focusing on signing two artists, Kevin Bryant and Chris Shiva. They are my new artists on LAUNCH and I’m planning on having LAUNCH parties in New York and Miami real soon.”
The new Kevin Bryant tune ‘Who You Wanna Be’ – a massive hands in the air getting props from the likes of Louis Vega, Richard Earnshaw and Jihad Muhammad… cool tune huh?
“Well YES!!!!!. I figured Kevin’s new record would be perfect to start off my new label… so I signed the record. But because the record has a chill vibe… I needed to get in touch with producer/remixer Bob Sinclar to give it that club vibe I was looking for…”
So you are the lady responsible for launching a DJ career’s who is not doing too bad at the moment, Roger Sanchez. Must have been quite a proud time watching him grow and grow? What did you spot in him that made you realise he was potentially a superstar?
“I went to see him play one night and he impressed me so much that the next day I set up a STUDIO SESSION for him… What came out of that session was a record called ‘Love Dancin’. I gave the record to Tony Humphries one Saturday night and by the time I got to the office on Monday morning the phones were ringing like CRAZY… Mark had gotten so many calls from labels that wanted to license the record.”
Does Roger spin ever at Pacha New York?
“Well Eric Morillo is there most of the time, Roger usually does guest spots at Cielo. But it’s very cool to see these guys I used to work with move on… and become superstar DJs.
Okay, so back to Strictly Rhythm. What singles/artists/albums were you most proud of back then? Which tunes do you still play today?
“Oh my god there’s so many. ‘Deep Inside’ by Barbara Tucker, ‘Justify’ by M&S, ‘Free’ by Ultra Nate, ‘Witch Doctor’ by Armand Van Helden – what am I most proud of?. I can’t answer that, I need a catalogue!”
I have also interviewed Kevin for this week’s Magazine, he first got his welcome to the music world as a six month old baby being sang Gospel to by his mum and aunty – you on the other hand started nodding your head to the grooves in Spanish Harlem where the neighbourhood DJs would plug their equipment into a lamp post and party on basketball courts – what were those days like?
“They were great!!!! Absolutely, no responsibilities, except for attending High School… going to the clubs….”
Where there any kids dancing on courts you were partying with who have ever made it in the music industry?
“Well this was the ending of the disco era and the beginning of hip hop/house… so all the kids back then were beginning to start rapping on top of beats… a lot of those rappers were like Kurtis Blow, Kool Mo Dee, The Sugar Hill Gang etc. Those kids became famous. Louie Vega and Jellybean were begging to get noticed in the Latin freestyle genre… later to merge into the house music scene.”
Have you ever thrown a three pointer on the court?
“HELL YEAH….”
So your friend who spotted that you wanted a career in the music business and introduced you to Mark Finkelstein, not a bad friend huh? How did all that come about? From Spring Records to Strictly…
“He worked at SPRING RECORD’s where Mark worked at the time, he introduced me to Mark and from there the rest is history. I started at Receptionist to promote the club and radio markets, and then joined forces to launch Strictly Rhythm.
Did you EVER have any idea what monster you were creating?
“Believe it or not, I didnt, I couldn’t believe I had a job that would permit me to hang out in the clubs and socialize with some of the best DJ’s in New York. Mark definitely had the vision, I was just having a blast doing what I love to do.”
Back in those days you must have been roaming the New York streets dipping into some of the best club’s we have ever seen. Tony Humphries at Zanzibar, Morales at Red Zone and Louie Vega at Studio 54, what were the craziest nights you had out there and what do you think was…
a) The best DJ from back then
“Oh come on now, I’m starting a label here… I cant answer that… lol”
b) The best club
“For some reason I loved the RED ZONE… it was cool there.”
and
c) The craziest sight you ever saw in one of these clubs
“Some woman urinating on the dance floor. I guess when u gotta go u gotta go…”
What was the first record you ever bought?
“The Love You Save’ by The Jackson 5”
You have worked with the likes of Todd Terry, Kenny ‘Dope’, Erick Morillo, Armand Van Helden to name but a few. What do you think the four that I have mentioned bring to the table, what are THEIR fortes and skills that have made them such worldwide superstars?
“Well Todd Terry to me mastered that drum machine, I think it was the SP 1200. He is the master of sampling BEATS point blank!!!!. Kenny as well. But Kenny is the man when it comes to his drums, you can’t touch a better drum programmer – plus their ears and hearts were glued to the streets of New York at that time. Erick Morillo was and is determined, driven and generous… he wouldn’t take no for an answer… it’s something I admire about him today. And Van Helden is a true artist. He is truly, true to himself. And thats what makes them who they are today….”
Have you found it difficult as a woman in the music industry getting to the stage you have now reached? And what other women in the industry do you also respect?
“No not at all, I never had to deal with that bullshit. Mark took care of the business side and I dealt with the talent… he never interfered with my side of the business, and as for another woman that I admire, there are none!”
What is your favourite Strictly release ever?
“Damn!!! Where the hell is that catalogue…lol… there’s too many to list. Plus I dont want to hurt anyones feelings…”
What do you think is the best single and album ever made of all time?
“Don’t laugh, but what comes to mind to me right now is Mary J Blige ‘My Life’ – that album is slamming, and as for a single, Shapeshifter ‘Lola’s theme – I love that SONGGGG!!!!!!!!!”
Where did you go for five years, what have you been doing?
“I’ve been traveling. I was visiting Thailand, South America and Spain. Got into the clothing business. But I’m also interested
in film at the moment as well as the music.”
What are the best clubs, restaurants and bars in New York at the moment?
“As for the club scene, I still like Cielo, Nicolas Matar place – its cool and they have pretty funky sound system. As for restaurants there’s Jean George, Convivio – which is one of my favorites and Asiate at the Mandarin…”