Yo dude, welcome back to the DMC world. So kicking off, your love of Hip Hop is obviously known, what artists were on your walkman back in the day?
“Back in the day it was the 90’s for me, so Biggie, Jay-Z, Pun, DITC, Mobb Deep, Busta, A Tribe Called Quest, De La Soul and all of the WU…you know how it goes.”
How did listening to these tunes help your ability of the art of turntablism?
I suppose just how to feel music. It might of helped with knowing about bar structure and things, but really I think what helped my ability was practicing & watching videos.”
So a big, big album coming out on April 6th, ‘The A Loop Theory’ mixed with Asaviour, talk us through the album, what skills did you both bring to the table?
“Well we’re both musicians with different styles. And I think we just compliment each other’s shit well. Savvy listens to rock which I don’t really listen to. And Savvy’s doesn’t really hear my weird 60s Psychedelic records, but we bring different stuff to the table all the time. We’ve both got open mind’s as to what can be done and really we wanted to step into the studio with absolutely no limitations. You know, like we can do anything and make a record, the sky is the limit sort of vibe.”
Which turntablists out in the world past and present do you rate?
“I always rated J Rocc for how tight he was with his doubles. Yeah, listening to J Rocc cut up James Brown is a good thing. Q Bert obviously, but i think in terms of the nu skool era of turntablism, I think the French have it on lock. Netik and them man are on planet x with their shit, much respect to them guys.”
Why did you want to become a DJ in the first place? What age did you first DJ in a club and what did your parents think of you starting to play out, practicing for hours in your bedroom with homework on the table…
“I first wanted to become a DJ when I was at school about 14. I wanted to be down man, I wanted to be involved, I wanted to do something and I guess at first this was just my way in. Now I look at this as my actual life, its just what I do. We all gotta do something right? My parents were mad cool about it ‘cos I kept juggling the school thing with my gigs until my A-levels. I think my parents were a bit hippy like that, plus they could see I had talent and had already won a nationwide competition. I was already making money!”
How would you describe your DJing style?
“Awkward, original, interesting, eclectic, impressionable, colours everywhere!”
What has been your favourite club you’ve ever played at?
“They are pretty much all the same to me.”
How did it feel winning the DMC Final?
“Good. It gave me a lot of opportunities, I got love for DMC!”
How did you hook up with Asaviour in the first place? He’s worked with some big artists… Jehst, Yoda, Braintax, Athlete…
“Through touring with Jehst we hooked up, start checking out each other’s beats and the rest is history…”
You are from North London, what other DJs and what crews were you knocking about with?
“I used to look up to DJ MK who lived round the way, he was the only DJ doing the sort of thing I wanted to do, sometimes I used to go to his crib in Kilburn, get made lean and just jam, scratching for hours.”
Your ‘Live! From The Sofa’ album had some big up’s from the likes of Hip Hop Connection, DJ and Dazed & Confused… must have felt good. How long did that take to create and what were your influences behind it?
“It took about 6/7 months of dedication. The influences and essence behind it was the old skool. Just like how the ‘8 Bars Of Fire’ track and the possecut element, no one really has done that for a while. And I love the culture, so it was my hat off to the old skool. ‘Live! From The Sofa’ is like live from the Roxy or something, you know it just sounded right and felt old skool to me.”
What’s next from DJ IQ?
“Got a new solo album coming plus more production for artists like Ramson Badbones, Jokerstarr, Tranqill, Jehst plus my new mix ‘Pimp My Mix’ which is available now for free on download. Check the blog on myspace, facebook etc.
Cool Dan…”
