We check in with Timmy Vegas who along with Bad Lay-Dee has smashed up our dancefloor’s with ‘Another Dimension’ – never heard Pete Tong so excited about a tune in a long time!
Timmy, a Birmingham dude, I used to run clubs in Birmingham and have spent many a long night getting, hmm, a little messy – what has been your best clubs in your home city you’ve partied at over the years?
“The best club in Birmingham and has been for the last few years is “IF ” at Bushwhackers. I’ve DJ’d there since the opening night and its just a great party. I remember the Porsche Club and Greens from the early days, they were Blues parties because nobody else would open their clubs to us, it was a time when dance music was a naughty word, oh and how could I forget the Kipper club at The Hummingbird!”
Quite a colourful career. You used to play keyboards and guitar for Led Zeppelin legend Robert Plant, had a smash for Defected that hit the Top 10 with your ‘Strings of Life’ tune and have now teamed up with fellow Birmingham girl Bad Lay-Dee. What are your produest musical career moments…?
“I think playing Glastonbury with Robert Plant was a good one.”
A poker player I hear? Tell us the dodgiest place you’ve played a hand and the most you’ve ever won? Ever played against Quest/Diffusion/G-Star’s Gerald Bailey?
“I came 2nd in a 270 strong competition, I won a few quid that night. I have played with Gez Bailey a few times at a private game in Birmingham, he’s got some serious poker skills!”
So ‘Another Dimension’ – talk us through the track, are you bringing old skool back?
“Well only because of the sound being so fat! It’s a typical mash up thing I am known for in my re-edits, i just love throwing random things together and see if they work.”
You get home late at night, what do you throw on your sound system to chill?
“Probably some John Coltrane or Joni Mitchel.”
What is the best album in your collection?
“Hard to answer that, I love afro blue impressions /coltrane, court and spark or the hissing of summer lawns / Joni Mitchel, whats going on /Marvin Gaye.”
So the scene in America, the labels, they have given you some great breaks…
“Yes, Soundmen On Wax, Henry Street Records and Kenlou Records all put my records out which is great because I am a bg fan of all those labels.”
Birmingham FC – shit yeah?
“Hahaha you go and tell the ZULU WARRIORS that!”
Who would you most like to make a track with?
“The Swingle Singers.”
What is it like working with Bad Lay-Dee? Must be quite an experience…a lot of laughs and lots of noise.
“Well it’s over so fast ‘cos we both seem to know what we are doing and what we want, but it’s fun for sure.”
And Mr Andy Ward, well me and him go way back, you are half of Soul Central with him…how did that hook up?
“It was bound to happen sooner or later that our paths would cross eventually in ‘Brum. ‘Strings Of Life’ was the first track we did together on a white label back in 2000.”
Your discography is astounding. Pick out a few tunes you are most proud of…
“I like ‘Song For Sharma’ on Kenlou – thats my vocal / guitar debut (lol). ‘The House Of Ill Repute’ under the MOVEMENTZ monika, ‘Call My Name on Knee Deep…”
What are your current big tunes?
“I really like Oliver Huntemann, Adios, Dubfire and ‘Reach Out featuring Rowetta by Sweet Mercy.
Who is the best DJ in the world?
“Alan Partridge.”
A lot of the music stars I interview when I ask them what their music influences quote the same names. You seemed to have grown up listening to a really WIDE variation of sounds, Mozart, Miles Davis, Bach, The Beatles, James Brown. Where did this musical love of every genre come from? Parents, the radio, friends…?
“I would say yes to all the above mentioned. I am always looking for the perfect beat and bugging people for new music, be it new or old. I’m getting more and more into Bach these days, he’s just so fresh and I have never heard harmony like this anywhere in my life, and its hundreds of years old.”
Tell us the five musicians dead or alive, you’d like to invite to dinner?
“OK, I have to feed five for a fiver… Karen Carpenter, Lina Zafaroni, Amy Winehouse, Cheryl Cole and and Jacko, I’m sure they are not big eaters!”
What was it like working on ‘Stronger on My Own’ with Kathy Brown, quite a voice there, Barbara Tucker must have been fun too…
“Yes they are both really nice to work with and very professional at the same time, no messing about, just straight down to biznizz!”
Cheryl Cole or Britney?
“Cheryl Cole.”
What has 2009 got in store for us from you?
“I’m gonna be dropping more music on you, I’m getting an arsenal together as we speak…”
