House music never felt so good…
2011 has been another flying year for the So Called Scumbags aka James Edwards and David Minns with the launch of their label Grin Recordings. With the first releases ‘Feel So Good’ (feat. Rebecca Scales) and their ‘Punch / Way Of Life EP’ picking up support from the likes of Fatboy Slim, Faithless, Groove Armada and Mark Knight to name but a few, the dynamic London duo continue to catch the attentions of those in the know. Just like us! This dynamic duo are here to stay.
Boys, welcome on board. So, how did you first two meet?
James: “David was running a club night called Old Skool New Skool at Inigo in Clapham and I was his competition running Thursdays at the White House. I came into Inigo in 2005 aged 19 to run my own event when David was the promotions manager and we hit it off from the start. David had been playing some of my early productions so we decided to go into the studio together and we just clicked creatively.”
What were your early musical tastes?
James: “I was brought up on Fleetwod Mac. When I was a kid my mum used to make me a drum kit out of over turned boxes, snooker cues and pan lids. When I was old enough to buy my own CD’s in the 90’s, it was acts like Underworld and The Prodigy that first introduced me to dance music.”
David: “My father John Minns was a leading UK distributor of sound and light and my step father was a DJ, so I had many musical influences. From an early age I began DJing aged 13 in 1988 and some of my early influences include music from D-influence (no pun intended), Soul II Soul, Alison Williams, Chad Jackson, Public Enemy, Run DMC, De La Soul and Bassomatic. Over the subsequent early years of rave music I still find myself influenced by timeless classics created by artists such as The Beloved, SL2, 808 State, Acen, Adamski, Orbital, Njoi, Prodigy and Massive Attack.”
What famous early clubs were you getting messy in?
James: “My first experience of clublife was in Ibiza. Pacha was my club of choice simply for the music that was played there by the likes of Erick Morillo and Roger Sanchez. Back home in London, clubs like The Cross, Ministry Of Sound and Fabric always had the best soundsystems.”
David: “It all started for me in barns and warehouses around East Anglia and events such as Fantazia (Castle Donnington), Eclipse (Thetford Aircraft Hanger) Dance 91 (Norwich) and Eclipse at the Cambridge Corn Exchange where we were regulars. I moved to London aged 18 in 1993 and SW1 (now Pacha London) was my very first experience of London Clubbing. It soon became a weekly outing every Friday to ‘Rude’.”
First big break in clubland?
“When we got back from our first trip to Ibiza together we managed to blag a set in the main room at Ministry Of Sound with The Gallery. We warmed up for Darren Emerson and that was the start of the So Called Scumbags. From then on we warmed up for the Scratch Perverts at Fabric and played Bora Bora the following year.”
What’s the story behind the name?
“We were brainstorming names and Scumbags just came up. At the time there was a lot of negative press on young people, the media was trying to label anyone under the age of 20 as a thug. So Called Scumbags was a message back to them saying that just because you wear a hoodie doesn’t necessarily mean you’re the Scumbag inside the hoodie.”
What is your current top 10?
So Called Scumbags – Bambu Jam
Moby – Go (Marco Lys Remix)
Mathias – The Drummer
Sneaky Sound System – Big (Good Will and Black Angus)
Jake Chec & Sylver Ft Lizzie Curious – Chase The Night (So Called Scumbags Remix)
So Called Scumbags – Punch (Tim Cullen Remix)
Moby – Lie Down In Darkness (Arno Cost)
eFas – What Is It Good For (Tim Cullen Remix)
Kaiserdisco – Singa
Kitchens & Bedrooms EP (Richy Ahmed vs Volante)
So we crash back to yours after the club, what 10 Back To Mine tunes do you play us to chill – or carry on the party?
Djammin – Give You
Masters at Work – Can’t Get No Sleep
Rhythm on the Loose – Break of Dawn
Ann Consuelo – See The Day
Kathy Brown – Turn Me Out (original)
Frankie Knuckles – Your Love
Last Rhythm – Last Rhythm
Swing52 – Colour Of My Skin
The Beloved – Sunrising
Cartouche – Feel The Groove
What is each other’s most annoying habit?
James: “Dave is always 3 hours late.”
Dave: “James is always in a rush.”
When did you first venture to Ibiza – and what has been the messiest tale from the white isle?
James: “My first trip to Ibiza was as a 14 year old…but that was a family holiday so I wasn’t very messy. At 17 I went out for the Radio 1 weekend which started at Mambo for sunset with Pete Tong. Then we went on to Amnesia for Sasha followed by Swedish House Mafia followed by Eddie Halliwell…a quick respite on Bora Bora Beach to watch the sunrise and then off to Space at 8am for Groove Armada on the terrace…OH YES!”
Dave: “First time I went to Ibiza was on an invite from a very good friend from New Zealand ‘Ben Fulford-Talbot’. We met in London at Inigo and we began putting on some parties. His skills we’re noticed by Ministry and he soon began working for the London club controlling the lighting in the main room. Then six months later he was in Ibiza working for Made Up and invited me over to stay for the closing parties. My flight home left early hours of Monday morning and this was the best part of We Love closing at Space. My friend Ben kept tugging on my shirt saying ‘Dave you have to get your flight’. The more he did it, the more I thought how much I don’t want to go. Then, unbeknown to me, our friends Martin and Rik from Pioneer had bumped into Ben behind me. Ben said to Martin, just give Dave a tug on the shirt, which turned out to be a breaking point as I span round and screamed in his face ‘I KNOW!!’ followed by shock and a sheepish apology explaining this was my first time in Ibiza and Space and I really didn’t want to go. Martin, Rik and Ben laughed, I gave them a quick hug and ended up getting the flight.”
It’s your birthday, which 3 DJs do you ask to play?
James: “Erick Morillo, David Penn and Kaiserdisco.”
David: “Barry Ashworth, Greg Wilson and Chad Jackson.”
Anthem of the summer?
“I wouldn’t call it an anthem as such but Antranig – ‘Are You Ready’ on Subliminal has been a record we have played a lot. It has such a cool groove. ‘Punch’ has also been breaking boundaries for us this year.”
What has been your proudest career date to date?
“Playing on the Space Terrace this year for the ‘Be @ Space’ opening party with Ibizan Heat. Other acts on the terrace included Fedde Le Grand, Wally Lopez & Sunnery James & Ryan Marciano. It was epic!”.
What has 2012 in store for us studio wise?
“The re-launch of our Label Grin Recordings has been awesome this year with ‘Punch’ going on the Subliminal Invasion Comp mixed by Erick Morillo and ‘Bambu Jam’ featuring on Capital Fm as Riley & Durrant’s Weekend Player. We will be doing a lot more releases through Grin alongside collaborations with Jonathon Ulysses, Jason Phats, Lizzie Curious, Jason Chance and Tim Cullen.”
Have we seen the last of vinyl?
James: “NEVER! Vinyl is still the essential format for house parties and afterparties but in the clubs the CDJ’s just give you another dimension with the looping.”
David: “I’m still being booked to play at Raindance. Digitalising isn’t the same for me. Covers and Vinyl all the way.”
What is your vice?
“Entertaining.”
What did you want to be when you grew up?
James: “A DJ.”
David: “An actor then a DJ”
Who is the coolest person on your mobile phones?
James: “Stimpy.”
David: “Maxi Jazz.”
Who is your all time hero?
James: “DJ wise Erick Morillo has always been my biggest influence.
David: “Chad Jackson – World DMC Champion and continues on the circuit. All round, all time legend!”
Not many people know this, but So Called Scumbags are really good at…
“Hosting Afterparties.”
What record would you never sell?
James: “Coco & Villa – La Noche.”
David: “Sasha and Marie – ‘Be As One’ – there are so many, I chose this one as I once lied about it being in my possession to a record buyer who had come to my house. I had actually hid it before without even realising he’d ask for it so you could say this is one of the tunes I would definitely never sell.”