Details

Published: 15 August 2004

Ken Ishii is seen as the most successful Japanese DJ who has toured the World over and played at almost every large festival or event over the years of his career. Now after his last successful visit to Hong Kong, the man returns to bring us a set 'full of funkness and real techno'.

HKClubbing: After doing recordings for such things as TV commercials and a Play Station2 game, is their anywhere else where you would like to have your music featured?
Ken Ishii: I’m open with where my music is used in. I contributed an exclusive track for an established makeup artist Rumiko and her cosmetic brand RMK early in this year as well. Films are always my interest, especially experimental or cult ones. Recently I’m interested in doing some music for art installations and exhibitions.

HKClubbing: Can you comment on what we should expect from your new album planned for release this summer?
Ken Ishii: From the last few years’ tour experience I found out what I wanted to see / hear more from techno scene all over because it was a bit too same everywhere. So, what I wanted to do with this new album is to go back to my roots in techno, which is early Detroit stuff, and put its original good elements to the current techno dancefloors. This means it will be a dance album with more melodies, harmonies and funkiness. I’m currently starting a video production for the album with a CG artist Kazuma Morino, who did VJing on my last HK gig.

HKClubbing: Japan’s dance music scene is very individual and independent from the rest of Asia, why do you think this is?
Ken Ishii: Maybe because there are more music listeners who buy records, not like just party goers. Those music people have their own individual tastes and they want to hear their type of music each in clubs. We also have a better situation to buy records and CDs too.

HKClubbing: What are your thoughts about music on the World Wide Web?
Ken Ishii: As one music listener I think it’s interesting to have a possibility of finding what you want on internet as I’m basically a technology friendly person. As a recording artist internet can be fatal, of course. But nobody can stop the progression of technology, right?

HKClubbing: As the UK Festivals and Ibiza is just about to start what plans to do have around that time?
Ken Ishii: I don’t have plans to do those at the moment. Instead, I will do lots of big European events in the summer, like Holland, Belgium, Love Parade, Finland and France etc. I will also play in Thailand, Malaysia, Viet Nam, Philippines and Brazil later.

HKClubbing: Can we expect much of the same style of music like the last time you were in Hong Kong?
Ken Ishii: Although I don’t really remember what I played last time, it will be full of funkness and real techno!

HKClubbing: On your stop over to Hong Kong is there anything you look forward to seeing or doing in “Asia’s World City”.
Ken Ishii: HK is my favorite city. I know where to go. This time I heard there would be big fireworks in the harbour, which sounds nice to me…

Ken Ishii is releasing a new single this Summer and then the new album in Autumn. All these releases are on his new record label called “70 Drums", www.kenishii.com.

Details

Published: 15 August 2004

Q: At what age did you first develop an interest in music?
A: My passion for music has always been inherent! I started formally taking piano lessons when I was about 10 years old and sang for fun from a very young age!

Q: Was the choice to pursue a career in music one that you always knew you'd make, or did you slowly become more and more involved in the music industry?
A: I always dreamed about pursuing a career in music through high school but it always seemed like an impossible dream. Opportunities arose in college for me to pursue singing in Asia, but those chances fell through. However, I was filled with the desire to pursue singing actively!

Q: Which current artists do you find inspiring?
A: I love Madonna, Britney Spears, Jennifer Lopez, Utada Hikaru, Eminem, Guns N Roses, and Nirvana!

Q: What's you're all time favorite song? What does it remind you of?
A: My favorite song is "Last Chance" by Allure. I'm not into sappy love songs at all, but this one is just so well written that I can't help but love it! I'm not sure if it reminds me of anything at all!

Q: Do you think fans should have access to music downloads for free?
A: I am open to letting fans hear my music for free! My goal with my music is not to make money, I want to be heard and I want to be able to touch people. The only thing that would hurt is if I started losing money! As long as I can pay the bills, I don't mind that the music is free at all.

Q: What would your ideal concert performance space be? (Rose Bowl? Universal Amphitheatre? The Tonight Show? SNL?)
A: My ideal concert would be at the MTV Music Awards!

Q: Do you feel further censoring of music is necessary, or would it lead to a further collapse of artistic freedom and individualism?
A: I completely do not believe in music censorship and believe completely in artistic freedom and the freedom of speech.

Q: If you could, what would you like to master as your instrument? (Vocals? Keyboards? Piano? Recording? Mixing?)
A: I would definite love to master my vocals to the level of Mariah Carey's (who I believe is one of the greatest female vocalists of our generation) and the electric guitar just because it looks cool to play hehe!

Q: Given the opportunity to cover two songs from other artists on your next album, which songs would you choose? Is there any song by another artist that you wish you had written?
A: I would love to cover "Last Chance" by Allure or "Blow My Whistle" by Utada Hikaru. I would love to take the credit for writing "Gone" by Nsync!

Q: What's your favorite radio station? Who's your favorite DJ?
A: I don't have a favorite radio station I listen to them all when I am driving! I also don't have a favorite DJ, but I met DJ Hideo from the Beat Junkies at Power 106 recently and he was very talented and also very nice guy!

Q: When coming up with songs, do you come up with the music first, or the lyrics?
A: For me, the lyrics are always the last step to be completed on a song.

Q: Where do you like to hang out?
A: I am a homebody these days and like to just hang out with my friends at their homes. However, I love to visit New York and party there, and I occasionally go clubbing in LA in Korea Town.

Q: Fill in the blank: If I weren't making music, I'd be ___________.
A: Empty! Music is my life.

Q: For TuningIn viewers who haven't checked out your music yet, what song would you recommend them to listen to first?
A: I would definitely recommend "Dont Say Goodbye."

Q: What's your favorite section on TuningIn.com?
A: I love reading about the new Asian American artists! It is great to see Asian Americans making so much progress in entertainment!

Q: Best advice for young, aspiring artists?
A: The road is long and hard, but as long as you are focused and hardworking, and as long as you never give up, you will eventually reach your goals! Anything is possible

Biography of Kaila Yu

Kaila Yu crosses musical borders by blending her Asian inspired music with modern pop and R&B sounds. Yu's sweet yet soulful voice along with her songwriting skills make a lethal combination that audiences can easily relate to. She states "I want to break the mold as an Asian artist and I have no desire to be another mass marketed pop act with no identity of her own."

Yu was born in Taipei, Taiwan but moved to California when she was three. She got into music at a young age; she began taking piano classes at the age of 10, enrolled in jazz and ballet classes and toured with a Chinese folk dance group. She always enjoyed singing but put her dream on hold to attend college as an economics major at UCLA.

She pursued acting and modeling while attending college and enrolled in singing classes and joined the choir at school. In her spare time she worked on writing music. She auditioned for and won the lead in a musical called "No Turning Back," which told the story about a young girl who wanted to pursue a singing career despite her parents' objections. The director of the play encouraged Yu to pursue music and set her up with a gig to perform at Club Soho, located in Los Angeles. Performing on stage ignited Yu's passion to perform and she began actively pursuing her music career.

In March 2003, Yu released her first single with two songs written by Yu and produced by Bruno Talledo. She is currently touring and working on her album which will be completed August 2002. You can currently find her in print on the cover of Image Weekly Magazine and featured in Yolk magazine. For television, she is currently filming a Chinese drama for China, in Beijing, filmed by the renowned up and coming film director Ding He.

For more information, please visit her website at www.KailaPop.com

Details

Published: 15 August 2004

The last time Safri Duo visited Hong Kong was in 1999, but at a different musical spectrum as to what their performances are like today. From Classical to pop/dance percussion, the two Danish performers return once again, to all areas of Asia, spreading their unique live sound.

Before the interview I mentioned their name to a group of people I knew from various different backgrounds, the majority did not recognize their name but when I played some of their music all of them had heard it at some club or bar over the last couple of years. The track was ‘Play a Live’, and shot to worldwide recognition in clubs, bars and radio stations. Uffe, one half of the group told me that it really shot to fame during and after one of the Berlin Love Parades, an free street parade happening one a year in Germany. ‘The track was handed out to all the DJs there, who had come from all over Europe, then returned to where they had come from with the track.”

Early this year you would have been able to catch Safri Duo performing live on MTV Asia Awards with the well known classical pop girl group, Bond. Morten said that MTV Asia had not really seen them perform live before, so combined the live act with Bond. After watching the act it showed that their truly deliver a powerful independent stage performance. As Uffe said commented “concerts are their biggest moments”.

The Duo performed in Queens when they stopped by in Hong Kong with Keyboard and Guitar support. After what they had said in the interview, where they interact with the audience was made clear through old and new tunes, including the final song where Morten sung.

Their latest Album, Episode 2 is available at all good record stores. For further information about Uffe and Morten (Safri Duo) please visit the website www.safriduo.com

Details

Published: 15 August 2004

Danielle interviews Damien Stone...
Damien is a well known New Zealand DJ based in Auckland. He is 26 and has been DJ’ing for nearly four years. Originally from New Zealand’s capital Wellington, Damien doesn’t stick to one particular genre. He thinks that you have to be musically different to be noticed. He is a part of W.S.N.C which is a project designed to give New Zealanders a variety of good music to dance and listen to.

W.S.N.C was founded six months ago by Mark Emerson and Damien Stone. The name stands for anything the crowd wants it to stand for. The name represents the freedom of choice, and this extends to their mixes.

Damien has an impressive musical resume. He is a resident at ‘Mix’ which is New Zealand's leading progressive and breaks club. He also plays a nationwide radio show through the Sky Network Channel 107 and he plays the Superbrands. His most recent superbrand gig was the 2002 Godskitchen in Auckland. Godskitchen featured Judge Jules, Armin Van Buuren, John 00 Fleming and other notable New Zealand DJs. Damien and the W.S.N.C crew also organise room support at these major events, with the next event being Sasha in December.

Check out the interview with Damien and find out what the scene is like down south.

Danielle: So, you have a world tour coming up, tell us a bit about it

Damien: Still in the planning phases, but looking to go to the US, Canada, Thailand, Singapore, and maybe do Aussie on the way back. Will be a couple of us going over, but still trying to plan it. Hopefully we can work it all out.

Danielle: What made you get into dance music?

Damien: Always been into music, and I tried to learn the guitar…and sucked arse at it. Good friends of mine have been DJ’ing for years, so it was a kinda natural progression ‘cos I was hanging out with them

Danielle: What range of music do you listen to?

Damien: Yeah, I listen to a really wide range of stuff, from metal to hip hop, classical to downbeat, dub to electronic.

Danielle: You’re part of WSNC, how did that come about?

Damien: Mark Emerson and I started hanging out every Wednesday, drinking beers and playing tunes. Got some other guys along to play tunes as well, and it kinda went from there…..that was six months ago..

Danielle: What is your opinion about genres in the dance scene?

Damien: Yeah…I think its rude if people just stick to one genre…I don’t think calling yaself a lover of dance music is appropriate if u cant enjoy other forms of dance music outside of your safety zone in the same two clubs every week. Dance music is dance music, so go and listen to Dub, D&B, house, trance, electro, breaks - I just wish that a lot more people would get outside their square box.

Danielle: Your sounds range from breaks to chunky beats. Do you have a preferred base sound that you like to stick to?

Damien: I guess I keep it “house” based, but even then sometimes I throw something in that doesn’t subscribe to the normal house ideals. However, it depends where and when I am playing as well. If I was booked to play house music, I wouldn’t stray too far away from house….like dropping in some Pascal Feos or anything!

Danielle: Do you have a signature style that sets you apart from other DJs?

Damien: I think every DJ that has done well has their own style, and ain’t a carbon copy of someone else. I would like to think that I have my own style, and one that I am still developing. I play quite differently now to how I did six months ago…I think if you stick to one way of playing or one genre of music, you really are limiting yourself musically.

Danielle: You have used MC Profound (DnB MC) and you don’t stick to one genre, why don’t you stick to one style?

Damien: Keep it interesting really, there is a lot of good music out there - in all sorts of genres. So why not listen to them….personally I get bored snotless by just listening to a DJ play one disco house tune after another. Bored to tears. So that’s why I pop some variation in there…In one hour you’d hear me play tech house, electro, breaks, deep house, a tribal number, maybe a progressive tune in there as well…
Having MC Profound doing some gigs with me has been fun, we got a lot of positive feedback from our sets together, and again, it’s something different….

Danielle: Apart from Steve Lawler and Lee Combs, who are some other International DJs that have gained your respect?

Damien: Lee Burridge, Craig Richards, Pascal Feos, Lucien Foort.

Danielle: Are there any NZ DJs that are equally as respected?

Damien: Respected by me? Yeah for sure…Ryan Salt from Wellington, he would be my favourite NZ DJ….Manuel Bundy is the man too….that guy is incredible.

Danielle: Where in the world would you like to have a residency?

Damien: Somewhere that’s only a short taxi ride home…..hahahaha. I enjoy playing when I know people around me, ‘cos it is a party after all!

Danielle: Do you see yourself staying in NZ or are you going to travel and take your music with you?

Damien: I am staying in New Zealand for the foreseeable future. I work during the day as an Account Director for a leading design agency, and have a really good career going with them. Plus I guest lecture at A.C.E, so I have built up some good things in Auckland since moving here. Saying that, I do want to see the world, so u never know.

Danielle: Where did you move from Damien?

Damien: Wellington, two years ago

Danielle: You’ve been DJ’ing for four years now, has the scene changed at all since you started?

Damien: Totally. So much has changed since I started DJ’ing, even just this year in Auckland I have witnessed a lot of change. Where its going to go is hard to say, Lots of people are looking into their crystal balls trying to pick what it’s going to do. Talk around the town is that it’s the biggest time of change in eight years.
I can see the whole “Dance Nation” ideals going, and it becoming a little bit more underground again. I think the commercialism on the scene will always be there, but I don’t think there will ever be as many people going out as there used to be.

Danielle: W.S.N.C is a success, how did you make it so?

Damien: HAHA…..how do you measure success? It’s still early days with us, and we have put in a lot of hard work so far, but there is still a heck of a lot more hard work to do yet. I think one of the most obvious things is the enthusiasm that the W.S.N.C DJs have for what we are doing. The guys love playing tunes, and they love being behind the decks at a gig…and that shows in the entertainment. Everything else is a secret. Hahahah.

Danielle: Apart from playing competition squash Damien, what do you do when you’re not DJ’ing?

Damien: Running the W.S.N.C with Mark Emerson takes up a lot of time at the moment, we are planning 4-5 months ahead at the moment. I read everyday. Listen to a lot of music. Radio show on UPFM on Tuesday nights. I love to cook, especially for other people. Otherwise, I take time out to chill. Or head away up north or to the Coromandel - when I can.

Danielle: Any advice to up & coming DJs?

Damien: Get your own style and do it differently to what you hear everyone else is playing. I often don’t get records that one of the other guys in W.S.N.C has got ‘cos I want to be different.
Why copy what someone else is doing? They have been doing it longer, and will be better at it.
Check out other DJs in other genres than the one you want to play ‘cos you can pick up some mean tips from them.

Liver Cleansing. Straight up…you will need to…

 

Details

Published: 15 August 2004

Playing a mixture of progressive and hi octane house, Mark has played at some of Auckland's biggest parties, from Slinky to Godskitchen and Chemistry, as well as many smaller gigs around the city. On top of the regular big gig circuit he is a weekly resident at Auckland's top progressive nightclub, Mix. Mark is also a regular around the country in such places as Queenstown and Hamilton. One of founding members of W.S.N.C he is also a host of a popular radio show, "WSNC Away Game", every week on UPFM.  

 Upcoming events for Mark include, playing support for top internationals such as Mark Dynamix, Kasey Taylor and Anthony Pappa with other appearances at Sasha and Welcome 2003. A nationwide tour is also on the cards for early 2003.
 
 DANIELLE: You’ve played at Slinky, Biggie Party, Chemistry to name a few, which has been your most successful party?
 MARK: Would have to be in the WSNC room at Godskitchen, great vibe with wicked atmosphere.
 
 DANIELLE: What was your first ever gig as a DJ?
 MARK: probably at a friends party or something, I cant actually remember!
 
 DANIELLE: And how did it turn out?
 MARK: see above, (probably a disaster!!!)
 
 DANIELLE: You used to be a ‘VJ’, what were some of the funky visuals you used to do?
 MARK: Was fully into cutting up old video, especially time lapse and black and whites
 
 DANIELLE: How long have you been DJ’ing?
 MARK: coming up to 2 years soon
 
 DANIELLE: Do you find it hard finding good music to mix?
 MARK: nope, always great new tunes coming through
 
 DANIELLE: Where do you buy your records?
 MARK: Play, criminal, central, dmc plus the internet
 
 DANIELLE: What’s your current playlist?
 MARK: features a mixture of stuff, eg: Junior Jack, Robbie Riviera, Who da Funk through to more proggy stuff eg Steve Mac, King Unique, Mike Monday
 
 DANIELLE: What other types of music do you listen to?
 MARK: just about anything really
 
 DANIELLE: Would you factor these types into your mixes?
 MARK: not really
 
 DANIELLE: One of your future goals is to DJ around NZ a bit more, have you thought about branching out overseas past Australia?
 MARK: Would love too, hopefully off to Asia and the US next year
 
 DANIELLE: Another goal is to get into production, would this be a solo act or would you bring others on board?
 MARK: Fully keen to work with others, DJ’ing has given me some great ideas for new tunes, especially with what works on a dance floor and what doesn’t
 
 DANIELLE: And who are some DJ/Producer(s) you have respect for?
 MARK: see above, plus a lot more, especially the guys pushing the big Hi Octane House sound

Details

Published: 15 August 2004

HKClubbing.com: How would you describe what a ‘Beatboxer’ is?

Killa Kela: BEATBOXING HAS TRADITIONALLY ALWAYS BEEN A PART OF HIP-HOP – WHERE PEOPLE WOULD MAKE A BEAT WITH THEIR MOUTHS, FOR PEOPLE TO RAP OVER - USUALLY ON THE STREET OR SOMEWHERE - BUT WHAT I'M ABOUT IS BRINGING THE ART FORWARD INTO 2002 - I PREFER TO CALL MYSELF A MULTI-VOCALIST, RATHER THAN A BEATBOXER - THE TERM BEATBOXER IS TOO RESTRICTIVE - MULTIPLE VOCAL SOUNDS: SNARES, KICK DRUMS, HIGH HATS, SINGING, SCRATCHING, BASSLINES, TRUMPETS, GUITARS, KEYS ETC ETC - ALL WITH THE MOUTH - CREATING REAL MUSICAL RHYTHMS THAT GO WAY BEYOND JUST HIP-HOP.

HKClubbing.com: What have you heard about the music scene in Hong Kong?

Killa Kela: TO BE REAL HONEST I HAVEN'T HEARD A LOT - WHEN YOU SAY HONG KONG TO ME I THINK NOODLES AND MAD BUILDINGS - WHICH IS WHY I'M REAL EXCITED BOUT COMING OUT THERE COS I KNOW THERE'S A LOT MORE TO IT AND I'M ALL ABOUT FINDING OUT...

HKClubbing.com: How important do you think the internet is to promoter your music?

Killa Kela: I'VE ALWAYS SEEN THE INTERNET AS MASSIVELY IMPORTANT TO WHAT I DO - COS SEEING WHAT I DO IS SO IMPORTANT - PEOPLE NEED TO BE ABLE TO SEE HOW THE SOUNDS AND MUSIC THAT I MAKE ARE BEING MADE. AND SPLINTER, WHO MADE AND RUN WWW.KILLAKELA.COM REALLY APPRECIATE THAT AND HAVE CREATED ONE MONSTER OF A SITE - GOT A REAL LIVELY FORUM ON THERE TOO, SO I KNOW WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING AND THINKING ABOUT WHAT I DO.

HKClubbing.com: What's on your album that was released this year?

Killa Kela: IT'S BASICALLY TEN WAYS TO USE YOUR MOUTH - SOME STUFF ON THERE THAT'S JUST ME, DOING ALL THE INSTRUMENTATION ETC + A LOT OF COLLABORATIONS WITH ME ALONGSIDE OTHER INSTRUMENTS AND MCs ETC. ALL SORTS OF DIFFERENT TYPES OF MUSIC ARE HIT ON IT - FROM HIP-HOP, DRUM N'BASS, GARAGE, DOWNTEMPO STUFF, EVERYTHING REALLY...BUT REALLY WANTED TO MAKE AN ALBUM THAT STOOD UP MUSICALLY BY ITSLEF, THAT WASN'T DEPENDENT ON THE FACT MOST OF IT WAS MADE FROM MY MOUTH...SO IT'S NOT JUST ME MAKING FUNNY NOISES WITH MY MOUTH...WELL I GUESS IT IS...BUT LETS JUST HOPE PEOPLE ARE INTO IT

HKClubbing.com: What do you think the response will be from the Hong Kong crowd and what can we expect from you on the night?

Killa Kela: I KNOW THEY'RE GOING TO BE INTO IT AND I'M MAD EXCITED ABOUT GETTING OUT THERE AND DOING IT...PLAYING TO BRAND NEW AUDIENCES THAT PROBABLY HAVEN'T SEEN MUCH LIKE IT BEFORE IS WHAT IT'S ALL ABOUT...A LOAD OF ROUTINES FROM ME, ALONGSIDE MC TRIP AND DJ SKELETRIK, OUR SHOW IS ALL
ABOUT COMBINING THE SPECTACLE OF A REAL LIVE PERFORMANCE ALONG WITH HAVING ONE, BIG PARTY TIL THE EARLY HOURS - WE'LL HAVE PEOPLE STANDING AMAZED ONE SECOND AND THEN GETTING DOWN ON THE DANCEFLOOR THE NEXT...WE'RE GOING TO SMASH IT...HOLD TIGHT HONG KONG WE'RE COMING...

Details

Published: 15 August 2004

I was able to get to have a chat with Teij Verwest (DJ Tiesto), the World Number 1 DJ voted by DJ Magazine readers, just before his first ever performance in Hong Kong. As many of you know his last visit at the same time last year was cancelled due to a weather change for the worst. He spent the time shopping and saved the tunes for December 2002. The first thing I said was ‘At Last’ and he agreed, he looked happy and excited to be back and finally have the opportunity to spin in HK.

I asked him about his new remix of the Madonna track ‘Die Another Day’. He told me that unfortunately the song, for which he got the vocal samples in October, won’t be released, mainly due to the fact that it’s Madonna’s voice. But he may release the samples he made under a new track.

I then started talking about fans worldwide and noticed, especially online the popularity for his music in Canada. He then told me that at his performances there, there are at least 3 to 4 people standing next to the decks writing down each track he plays for their personal record. This truly is dedication to a DJ and the power that they have on a stage. I said I would have a go, for sure I knew all the tracks just get stuck on their names.

I then went through some quick questions after our general chat before he went on stage:

HKClubbing.com: ‘What do you think were some of the biggest event highlights of yours for 2002?’

DJ Tiesto:  ‘I joined Moby for his 2002 American Tour and played to over 7,000 people in Ibiza in Spain’.

HKClubbing.com: ‘ ‘Where will you be performing for New Years Eve 2002?’

DJ Tiesto: ‘I will be performing at Times Square in New York for the first time’.

HKClubbing.com: ‘Over the years you have played, have you seen any progression or change in your style or genres?’

DJ Tiesto: ‘I have played all kinds of music throughout the years from Trance, to Progressive and even some Techno’.

HKClubbing.com: ‘After your Album release in 2001 and your Search For Sunrise release in 2002, what do you plan to do next?’

DJ Tiesto: ‘I hope to release another mix CD sometime in February or March 2003’.

It was now 3am and it was time for him to take over the decks from Rocky and Diesel of X Press 2, so I took some photos and let the master go to work.

 

Details

Published: 15 August 2004

Nag Nag Nag’s Jonny Slut: Poxy Style Mags Can Piss Off

“Maybe we should introduce a waistline gage because all those guys have beer guts. Anyone with a waistline over 32 inches can f*ck off.”

Laughing as he outlines one possible strategy for discouraging British music journalists, Jonny Slut can afford to be amused about the hype surrounding his club Nag Nag Nag. Locking out more and more people every Wednesday night, the tiny Soho weekly is both London’s most hyped and genuinely best new clubs in years, drawing gays, straights, transsexuals and downright weirdoes in a mix not seen since the pre-acid house club days of the 80s. Which is no surprise, given that Jonny virtually invented the original Goth image through his role as Specimen’s keyboardist and more importantly, the club’s musical mix of punk, rock and electroclash.

Spun by Jonny, his Atomizer colleague Fil Oakey and star DJ JoJo De Freq (a 24 year old bleached blonde Canadian girl, soon to spin at Dior’s Paris fashion party) the musical mix has catapulted Nag Nag Nag into the growing void, created by the decline of mainstream clubland.
“Jodie, Fil and I first talked about setting up the club last New Year’s Eve. We really wanted to do something because we were hearing all this great electro music and there was nowhere that was playing it,” Jonny told Skrufff’s Jonty Adderley.

“We were hearing all this great electro music and there was nowhere that was playing it. We weren’t going out clubbing anywhere regularly and we were thinking ‘My God, we’ve got to start something, no-one else is doing it.’

Skrufff (Jonty Adderley): How much did you expect Nag to take off like it has?

Jonny Slut: “I’m surprised that everyone seems interested, but I’m not surprised it’s doing well, I can see why it is. And obviously that’s great for me. We were aware stuff was happening in New York and in Berlin so we were passionate about getting something started here in London. And we kind of expected it to be successful because we felt so passionately about it ourselves.”

Skrufff: What were the key elements you envisaged for the club?

Jonny Slut: “The music was the key thing. As well as the electro, I’ve always been a fan of late punk, early new wave, art-school punk like Cabaret Voltaire, Delta Five, Gang of Four and Wire, that kind of stuff. That’s been the music I’ve always returned to so I also wanted to start a club where I could play that sort of music alongside the new electro. I could see a lineage between the two styles, the new electro music is more thoughtful and arty.”

Skrufff: When did you first come across electro?

Jonny Slut: “The first time was when I heard (Fischerspooner’) Emerge 18 months ago when Pete Tong played it. He played it alongside Adult’s Hand to Phone track and I was completely blown away. I always listen to Pete Tong on Friday nights and it was one of those moments I had to write down the track’s name after hearing it. It sounded like nothing else around; I couldn’t believe it. Maybe the reason I liked it, on reflection, was because it sounded a bit retro, but at the time I just thought it sounded fantastic. I’d been making electronic music for years and it seemed like the track was in a vacuum. I had this conversation with Adamski, this time last year; we were thinking ‘Is it just us who feel like this?’ You couldn’t buy the records, certainly not here in London. I couldn’t get hold of the track for ages.”

Skrufff: Is it right that for the first few nights of Nag, virtually no-one came?

Jonny Slut: “We were getting thirty or so people a night for the first few months. Actually, maybe fifty or sixty.”

Skrufff: Was your 80s club the Batcave an influence at all, given that it also used to be on Wednesdays in tiny Soho clubs?

Jonny Slut: “Yeah, I think all the best clubs have been on Wednesdays or midweek anyway, I’m thinking about clubs like Taboo, Kinky Gerlinki and Smashing for example. A lot of the older regulars have said Nag’s vibe reminds them of the Batcave, having that kind of miss-mash of genres and anything goes-ness. It’s also always got a friendly crowd, it’s not one of those places where everybody’s standing around posing. I don’t want somewhere icey or snotty, I think of us as the good guys.”

Skrufff: Your very pretty ticket girl also fronts the Nag Nag Nag website, who is she?

Jonny Slut: “That’s Suvi. She’s just the girl with the best haircut in London and she just happened to turn up on the very first night. I’d never met her before and I fell in love with her hair.”

Skrufff: NME are frothing about the club (Johnny- “Most journalists are dullards, aren’t they?”), do you have any concerns that it’s going to swamped by NME readers?

Jonny Slut: “Well, who reads the NME these days, anyway?”

Skrufff: Other music journalists…

Jonny Slut: “Yeah, but they’ll come down for one week just to say they’ve been, Maybe we should introduce a waistline gage because all those guys have beer guts. Anyone with a waistline over 32 inches can f*ck off (chuckling).”

Skrufff: Would you introduce a door policy/ dress code like Trash?

Jonny Slut: “No, I think that would immediately change the club’s vibe. I wouldn’t want to do that unless it goes really ballistic, then I’ll change my mind altogether. I’d rather have people there that want to be and I think everyone knows they need to get down early these days.”

Skrufff: Is the plan for you to extend the club abroad, for example, to Ibiza?

Jonny Slut: “If someone asks me, then yeah. We’d also definitely like to take it to New York to do something and we’re also considering doing a compilation fairly soon. But yeah, if anyone wants us, give us a call.”

Skrufff: Is electroclash a word you use?

Jonny Slut: “Erm, I guess that term is beginning to get negative connotations and it would be limiting to use it. It’s now a term of derision isn’t it, I’ve already seen a few cabaret acts making sarcastic comments about it, all that (mimicking drag queens’ We’re going to start our own electroclash club’. It’s become a bit like the word ‘Goth’, it’s a term that’s lost any cool.”

Skrufff: Nag Nag Nag on New Year’s Day was jam packed full as usual, whereas on New Year’s Eve Electric Stew’s event was half empty, even though you guys were listed for the second room, why is your club so full, and Sahara Nights always empty?

Jonny Slut: “Because we only charge £4 admission, that might be one factor, if not the main one. Saturday night clubs are also completely different from weekday ones and as I mentioned before I’ve always preferred the weekday vibe.”

Skrufff: looking at the Specimen website (Jonny- ‘Oh God, are you gonna’ go all Kathy Bates-when will you write another song like Kiss Kiss Bang Bang’) it’s notable how quickly the Batcave club and scene exploded then imploded…

Jonny Slut: “Oh God, yeah, I got involved with Specimen in 1982 and it was all over by mid 1985, the band had split and the club had finished, which is certainly a really short space of time. But then again I was only 19 and it still seems like a really big part of my life, even though it was only two and a half years. But they were my formative years.”

Skrufff: Are you already thinking about how to maintain Nag Nag Nag into the future?

Jonny Slut: “I don’t know, I’ve been involved with another club called Marvellous for the last six years and I can’t believe that that club has lasted that long. It’s hard to tell, I don’t know but I could see it lasting at least two more years, who knows? Trash have just celebrated their sixth birthday too.”

Skrufff: The media always namedrops the celebrities at your club, such as Boy George, Bjork, Kim Wilde etc, have you had any unusually cheesy celebs down yet, such as any pop idols or soap stars?

Jonny Slut: “We’ve had Janine from Eastenders but she’s not cheesy, she’s a role model. She’s the character with the coke habit.”

Skrufff: With the celebs who come along (Boy George, Neil Tennant and Mark Moore are all regulars), is it a matter that you’ve got no (Jonny- ‘shame’)… idea, who’s turning up?

Jonny Slut: “I don’t know why they turn up. I think we also got a mention in OK magazine the other week so we’re soon going to be full of bored housewives, hopefully. The world will surely fall apart when idle housewives take up art.”

Skrufff: Have you had any football players down yet?

Jonny Slut: “Not yet. I don’t actually watch football but I do like some of them. Not the likes of David Beckham, he’s a bit too obvious. I’m more of a Roy Keane man, myself.”

Skrufff: Do you have a stylist or do you look after your image yourself?

Jonny Slut: “God, no, I wouldn’t let anyone else look after my image. I do it all myself.”

http://www.nagnagnag.info

Interview By: Skrufff

subscribe to skrufff music newsletter at www.skrufff.com