Hi Rich, thanks to talking to us. So your home town was originally Carlisle where after first getting on a pair of decks at a mate’s birthday party back in 1990 – what sort of records would you be playing back then?
“Hi Dan, are you well? Yeah my neighbour used to get the decks out every time his parents left town, and he’d fill the house with people and it would just be a messy night as you can imagine. I didn’t own any 12’s then so I’d just mess about with what was readily available ie his tunes which was just house of the time, weirdly I’ve just remembered one of them as “Rofo’s Theme”…ha ha thats strange how that just came back to me – I’m obviously in the zone here…”
You started your own night’s in the city plus had numerous residencies – what was Carlisle, England’s most Northern city’s clublife like back then?
“Because of the geographical location of Carlisle, most serious clubbers used to travel every weekend to the likes of The Zone Blackpool, The Hacienda Manchester, Tall Tree’s in Yarm, to name a few – it got quite comical as every Saturday there would be the mad procession of literally hundreds of Carlislians all going to the same town / venue – “Carlisle on clubbing tour vibe”, so if you made it there you were surrounded by the loonies you were trying to leave behind. Generally clubs in Carlisle were more pissed up / pulling / fighting venues. A mate of mine Patrick Irwin used to run Rhythm Xpress [Carlisle’s then specialist record shop for House / Techno] and he ran a series of good nights (Perfect / Fresh ‘n’ Funky) and would bring guests like Allister Whitehead, Graeme Park etc. – these boys were the bee’s knees for the city, that was sound that Carlisle was all about…”
You moved to Manchester and played at numerous bars and clubs, what were those days like, what were your favourite clubs?
“Manchester was amazing for me, a new city, one where everybody didn’t know everybody and their business so it was a real eye opener for me. I was 22 and assumed everywhere was the same as Carlisle – which of course it isn’t, this was the big city and I loved it. Fresh new people, exciting nightlife and the whole atmosphere of the place… but when I was there it was all about fancy bars, the clubbing scene didn’t have much on, the Hac had closed, there was a lot of gang stuff going on and it seemed it was just swanky bars with DJ’s everywhere – that pretty much was the scene, saying that Club V or Venus [can’t remember what it was called around 1999] on Deansgate was boss, I got to play a few times there and it was a glitzy glam crowd and real funky vocal music which nail on the head for me – wicked night everytime. One night in particular was pretty funny, my mate was down from Carlisle supporting me playing, he necked a couple too many of things he shouldn’t have and vomited on a certain global superstar footballer whose name rhymes with Mavid Gleckham!!!!!!!!!”
What are your current top 10 tunes you are playing?
My tastes vary right across the board so here is a cross section of stuff I’m into at the moment…
Mastiksoul – Bofe De Elite [4Kenzo Recordings]
Marilyn Manson V’s Sebastien Leger – Beautiful People [Pryda Friends]
Richard Murray – Cannibal [Gung Ho]
Daley Padley + Fribbs – Open Minds [Daleys 4am dub] [Phonetic]
Mark Knight / Funkagenda – Good Times [Toolroom]
Martijn ten Velden – Together [Dubai dub mix] [Phonetic]
Richard Murray V’s The Bangles – Walk Like an Egyptian [White]
Arveene + Misk – Blow your Whistle [Gung Ho]
Axwell, Ingrosso, Angello & Laidback Luke – Leave The World Behind [Axtone]
Bubba T + T bone – Pushcomestoshove [Magavok and Lievense] [Gung Ho]
So the next move, the Big Smoke, London and making your debut at The Ministry of Sound – the place has come in for a load of stick over the years – what did you make of it when you first played there?
“I thought it was amazing, I’d sent my new mix CD to Gareth Cooke who was the then promoter of ‘Rulin’, and to my surprise when I called him, he’d loved the cd and booked me – that night [Sat March 10th 2001] was my then best night night of my life… I played the first two hours in the bar and it was crazy [I was shaking for the first half hour with nerves when trying to cue my records, so kept dropping the needle two or three grooves in] ha ha Its funny looking back as you have all around the booth watching your every move and my hands were visibly shaking like a pig on a rollerblades.”
How would you describe your DJ style that I have partied to at numerous of your ‘Housexy’ parties.
“Erm, my tastes are broad musically so I try to get into the venue at least an hour before my set to watch n’ listen to what’s going on – see what people are reacting to, so I have a rough idea or where I want to start my set – then its a case of play a cd, and see how its going down, evaluate the floor and react with the next tune – try to collectively get everybody on the level together then the atmosphere goes off.”
You have toured as a Ministry of Sound resident all over the shop as well as your own gigs – what clubs and cities are your favourites.
“I must admit I have a soft spot for Bahrain, I opened the ‘Housexy’ brand over there back in October 2006, and we’ve had a monthly party ever since. Every time I’m back over there I always stay a few extra days and hang out with the guys – great great bunch and always a pleasure to be in that part of the world. Another fave was Moscow, but I don’t remember much after my set due to the Vodka, but luckily I’m back over there to play Pacha for MOS in May, so I’ll get the chance for another look. To be honest every city, club is a buzz – it’s the greatest thing in the world to be doing, so although a lot of friends and colleagues outside of the industry can’t get their head round how I can do all the travelling and gig trips on a couple of hours sleep, I wouldnt have it any other way – bring it on – bring more on.”
‘King whos Of A Little Kingdom’ the ninth release of artist and compilation albums through Gung Ho! – and what a tracklisting – a who’s who of the Gung Ho! stable. New boys such as The Yank plus the likes of Zoo Brazil and The Japanese Popstars (who famously were voted Best Breakthrough Producers by DJ Magazine). A great label to be part of, who are your personal favourites on the roster?
“Hats off to the Japstars, I’m a big fan – they have done so much in the last year it’s crazy almost unbelievable, but that’s the nature of this game. Burn The Negative (label mates) are this years’ Japstars if you ask me, they are an incredible talent and they’re ready to blow – I think they are just poised now just a small snowball rolling down a big ole mountain, and they’re just gonna grow and start smashing things out of their way. It was a real honour to get the chance to mess about with Wonder Why. Their new single remixed by me on KINGS] a real joy to work on and they’re pleased with the result which pleased me. To be honest Matt [label boss of Gung Ho!] has built up an incredible rosta of talent from the superstar that is Zoo Brazil, through to new up and coming stars of the future such as Tom Eq… Exciting times for the label.”
You have released some amazing tunes with Paul Deighton – what is the track you are most proudest of?
“This is a simple one for me, I’m relatively new to producing so generally it’s the latest project every time. The aim is to keep climbing the production ladder and keep improving so fingers crossed I’ll endeavour to do that, some cool landmarks for me were remixing Zoo Brazil’s ‘Technik,’ the feedback from that was immense, remixing BTN (as above) signing ‘Don’t Go’ (collab with Paul Deighton) to Cr2 recently – a remake of Awesome 3’s 1992 classic and due for release in July 09, to my latest project that I’ve literally just finished which is Richard Murray vs The Bangles ‘Walk Like An Egyptian’ which has been going off big time… look out for this soon…”
Who would you most in the music world like to remix?
“Tricky one, being brutally honest I think somebody like Mark Knight or Steve Angello who are top of the game in my genre so to speak – for me, I’m still profile building and getting that kind of opportunity to get my work on the table with names as such could only be a good thing.”
Craziest ever Ibiza party?
“For me the whole of last Summer was a crazy Ibiza party, I played about 20-30 parties all in including pre-parties, pool parties and our ‘Housexy’ residency at Eden. Pair that up with being joined on various trips by lots of good mates, my birthday out there, blagging bits and bobs to get to where I shouldn’t have been, lots of sun, Corona, Salitos, Vodka, hot women, not knowing what day it was, great people and amazing music – roll on the summer and I’ll be happy if I see 20% of last Summer’s shenanighans…”
Best Housexy compilation you’ve brought out?
“I think the last album ‘Housexy Winter’ is the one. I really love the series and its a joy to do, but due to all the politics its not just a case of picking your fave 26 /27 tracks. I’d have to be tactical at times and I think ‘Housexy Winter’ was nearest the bulls eye for me out of the seven I’ve done so far.”
Favourite/most respected DJs you have partied to?
“Im a massive fan of the Swedish House Mafia and our very own UK House Mafia – these boys are where it’s at for me.”
And finally, does it ever stop raining in Carlisle?
“The 5 day forecast says Wednesday evening will be dry – get the barbeque out quick…”
