MURK have an iconic and legendary sound that was an integral part of the nightlife scene in New York City in the 90s and still influences the scene today. Brought once again to the forefront of the scene in 2011 by their explosive Ibiza anthem ‘Amame’ under their Intruder guise, MURK are responsible for classic house tracks such as The Fog’s ‘Been a Long Time’, Funky Green Dogs ‘Reach for Me’ and ‘Fired Up!’ and Liberty City’s ‘If You Really Love Someone’. Among the first pioneering house artists to come out of Miami, they have, over the last 20 years, cemented their legacy as producers and DJs of inimitable class and quality. The boys are back in town!
Ralph, Oscar welcome to the DMCWORLD. As kids growing up, your first love was the military and you used to spend your time playing soldiers with your school friends – Ralph you even went to Military School for a time. Can you remember the time when music started to take over your lives, was it a particular artist or album or purely an era of music that gave you goosebumps?
RF: “For me, music has always played a role in my life. Since my youth I would record the radio so I could play back songs I liked. Later on I played in bands with friends, DJ’d with friends and eventually in clubs and finally with my parnter Oscar when we came up with Murk Records – so pretty much the entire life span until now.”
OG: “I took piano lessons and went through a few drum sets before I started DJing at the age of 12. Soon I was doing big school dances and house parties. I got into drum machines and trying to piece together music around 15. It wasn’t longafter that when Ralph and I began experimenting with beats and started up the Murk label. It’s tough to remember a time when music hadn’t taken overmy life. The music of the 80s was definitely a big inspiration. House and Techno were born!”
What would you admit are each other’s best qualities in the studio?
RF: “Everybody always wants to hear specifics – from what equipment do you use to who does what, who is better at what and so forth. But to be honest, any time we work together it’s different. Sometimes I have a bunch of grooves or song ideas I’ll take to Oscar and vice versa. Before, we used to work with different outboard gear, now it’s more with desktops and software but always trying new methods.”
Which DJs from an early age inspired you the most?
OG: “Junior Vazquez, David Morales, Timmy Regisford, Tony Humphries, Masters at Work, Danny Tenaglia, Francois K, Ciro LLerena and David Padilla.”
What did you think when you first heard early house records like Marshall Jefferson ‘Move Your Body’ for the first time?
RF: “‘Move Your Body’ is like the one song people first think of when they think of House music, at least for the old schoolers. Of course it was a classic from day one.”
OG: “Everything Marshall Jefferson did was classic. I always remember hearing – Adonis ‘No Way Back’ for the first time at the record store. I remember wishing there were more records that sounded like that.”
You admit that one of the most important reasons your partnership has lasted the test of time is that you are painfully honest with each other in the studio. Has this always been the case, has either of you ever got your own way and the resulting piece of music been brilliant? A case of I told you so!
RF:”Nah I really don’t remember any told you so scenarios. It’s usually a smooth process colaborating.”
OG: “Well there was a song titled ‘Alright’ that I wasn’t really feeling when we finished mixing it. Ralph got give me the ole “I told you so!” when it topped the chart. We still argue about that song!”
You are back on British shores in February playing for Defected at The Ministry of Sound, what artists/tracks have stood out for you from this seminal label over the years?
OG: “We are definitely looking forward to getting in the box at Ministry. That sound system is always a fun ride. We don’t get the opportunity to get overto the UK that often so should be dope.”
RF: “Inner City!”
WMC week is looming in Miami, what is the current state of clubland like in your home city at the moment? There were some huge people rocking the city on New Years Eve including Deadmau5, Afrojack and The Swedes…
OG: “I love playing in my hometown but honestly don’t get to go out much as I am usually somewhere else DJing. I get the feeling things have gone a bit more mainstream of late. Big VIP bottle type stuff seems to be prevalent but we definitely still have a thriving music scene and some music-focused venues.”
RF: “I dont really know, I don’t go out that much anymore, only when Oscar or myself or both of us are playing. I think it’s the same it’s been for some years now, a bunch of clubs on the beach trying to outdo themselves as usual.”
What has been the proudest moment of your career to date?
RF: “Can’t say there’s a specific most proud moment. There’s been ups and downs over the past twenty years. You have times when you’re more active and a few years when you don’t do much. Then all the sudden you feel inspired and come out with something. The proud moments I would say are those when people have a positive reaction to your music and it’s getting played everywhere I guess, we’ve had a few of those here and there.”
OG: “I feel like I’m still so engaged in this world that I haven’t really done the thing where you look back and rate stuff like that or really take it in and appreciate it. We played a 6 hour set in a warehouse club in Baltimore last weekend. Ultra Nate opened up and the Basement boys were hanging out. There was a dude there who flew over from London to dance all night to our beats. It’s all good.”
What is your current top 10 you are spinning?
1. Intruder feat. Jei “Amame” (RadioSlave Mix) Defected
2. Oscar G “Agua Bendita” Nervous
3. Lazaro Casanova feat. Amy Douglas “Delorian’s Groove” (Ralph Falcon Mix) Nervous
4. Nicole Vs MK “Feline Took My Love” (Hector Romero And FK Anyway ReRub)
5. The Bongo Man “Crab Beats” (Original Mix) Shiva
6. Discodromo “Build a House” (Prins Thomas Dub)Internasjonal
7. Saso Recyd “I’ll Hit That” (original mix) RAW Thentic
8. Ian Pooley & Phil Fuldner “Zoana” (Ian Pooley mix) Stereo Cool
9. Dirty Channels “Give it to Me” Hot Waves
10. Noir & Haze “Around” (Murk Warehouse mix) Defected
What was your best gig of 2011?
OG: “I do a pool party with Nervous Records at the Shelborne Hotel for WMC that we call “Made in Miami”. It is on the first day of WMC and I showcase Miami DJs and DJ friends. It goes from noon till dark so it’s a really fun journey and having all my friends there makes it that much better. I also enjoy playing in my favorite room Pacha, New York where I am a monthly resident.”
So we head back to Murk mansions after the club, what are the 10 Back To Mine tunes you spin us to carry on the groove?
1. Massive Attack “Unfinished Sympathy”
2. Los Papines “Las Calles de La Habana”
3. Joy Division “Love Will Tear Us Apart”
4. Yaz “Don’t Go”
5. Kraftwerk “The Robots”
6. Ten City “That’s The Way Love Is”
7. Mantronix “Fresh is the Word”
8. D.F.C. “Sueno Latino”
9. Celia Cruz “Quimbara”
10. Alisha “All Night Passion”
What one great record of any genre would you have love to have made?
RF: “Paid In Full’ Eric B and Rakim”
OG: “‘Thriller’ Michael Jackson
What is the best DJ set Murk have ever played?
RF: “I’m just gonna say y2k in Australia just because everyone thought we were gonna get stuck over there for the rest of our lives because of y2k but we didnt, we made it back just fine and was fun as hell.”
OG: “It is forthcoming…”
Not many people know this, but the Murk boys are really good at…
OG: “Carrying speakers and cables.”
RF: “We’re pretty good comedians always coming up with jokes and laughing.”
What is the finest record you have ever played to a dancefloor?
RF: “Finest record? Man out of the thousands of records you play over a lifetime, that’s a tough one to answer. There’s ‘Where Love Lives’ by Alison Limerick, that’s a pretty timeless record.”
OG: “I’d probably change this answer every 5 minutes…but for these 5 minutes I’m going with ‘French Kiss’ by Lil Louis.”
Of all the remixes that you have done, which is your favourite?
OG: “Tito Valdez ‘Tumbe’.”
RF:”Maybe Karen Polack ‘You Can’t Touch Me’.”
What festival are you most looking forward to playing in 2012?
“WMC”
What are the big 20 year anniversary plans for Murk going to feature?
“We are setting up events all over the place this year as well as having a couple of celebrations during WMC. For the most part we will just try and focus on new music for the label.”
And finally. When you hang up your headphones for the last time, how would you two superstars like to be remembered in the world of music…
RF: “Well the good thing about DJing and producing is you could pretty much do it until you die of old age so hopefully we won’t hang them up until the ears die…then I guess it’s game over.. but until then…”
Defected In The House – Saturday 11th February 2012
Ministry of Sound, 103 Gaunt St., London
Line-up
Box: Defected In The House
MURK (aka Oscar G & Ralph Falcon) / MK / Taras Van De Voorde
103: Copyright Recordings presents
Copyright / KORT / DJ Rocco / Shovell on Percussion
http://www.ministryofsound.com/club/listings/465/defected-in-the-house/
Embeddable live set from MURK’s Oscar G
http://soundcloud.com/defected-press/oscar-g-live-at-tropicasa-16th
House Masters compilation link
http://itunes.apple.com/gb/preorder/defected-presents-house-masters/id497277037
