Post subject: Jay Stewart AKA Re:Funk: Exclusive interview with SOCIAL!
SOCIAL came to life in March 2007 and has since hosted events that bring the best of breaks & beats to sleazy Soho and the trendy crevices of Camden town showcasing some of today's best talent in the Dance music scene to our party loving crowds. In just the first year our guests have included The Utah Saints, ALI B, Beat Assassins, Groove Diggerz, Diverted, Sick Rick, Kid Blue, Mr No Hands, Refunk and the Western All-stars. After the success of the first two SOCIAL vs. Chix in da Mix collaborations at the Lockside lounge we have decided to do it all again for the last time for Summer 2008.
On Saturday 20th September 2008 we’ve hooked up another tasty line up of girls and boys DJing back to back all day and night including Chris Carter, Janette Slack, M I loki, Odissi, and the Social and Chix in da Mix pionners Mini Da minx, Richie Balboa and McQueen. Another gem to add to the line up is Re:funk Aka Jay Stewart who burst onto the scene when ‘It’s Groovy’ was featured on a Plump Djs mix album and well known for his meaty musical productions on top labels Breakin’ even, Menu and Re:Connect to mention but a few releases ‘I’m Crazy You're Crazy’, ‘Not My Thing’, ‘Mr Mole’ all of which have been known to break some 'sweat' on the dancefloor.
We managed to pin Jay down and he kindly shared a few words with us about his productions, the Groove Diggerz exciting new live project and how much he loves social!
1. You did a jazz degree at the Leeds College of Music. What was the main turning point when it made you realise you wanted to be involved in the breaks scene instead of Jazz?
I am originally a drummer. I got into producing a lot later, and the reason I got into Breakbeat is because I think it’s drummers dance music but in terms of playing live I did a jazz degree so I’ve got a jazz background on the kit, I played a lot of funk, a lot of drum n bass and that kind of challenged my ability on the drums because it’s the most difficult to play so I was always into that style, The other reason was Technique, the first night I walked in there the music was absolutely phenomenal, it is run by good friends of mine now Alex McQueen and Kid Blue, McQueen just had a particular style of breaks that I just really loved, I told him I started making tracks and did a booty of ‘Ice Ice Baby’ which no one in the breaks world really liked, I sent it to everyone and they just said ‘ah its not gonna work’ and Alex took it on board and played it at Technique and it went down an absolute storm so for me going to Technique was all about seeing Alex play really, you didn’t really know what to expect from him when you went down because he did play the normal like techno, deep house but the breaks was so rolling and groovy it was the kind of stuff I was into at the time and it just so happens that I’ve now moved down and I live with him and he’s making some really good tracks himself, releasing on Edit records as well now so it’s good to see him doing well for himself and maybe further down the line we might even do some tunes together, who knows.
2. What inspired you to make tunes?
I've been playing drums for quite a few years and I've always been into music especially funk and playing in bands, but the big inspiration for me was when I first heard ‘Eargasm’ by the Plumps, because I wasn’t really into dance music at all and when I heard I thought ‘what the fuck is that?!’ Then I thought ‘right I’m gonna have a go at making some of that’. My dad’s a pop producer so he got me a copy of Logic, showed me how to use it and I went from there.
3. What's your favourite tune you have made and why?
My favourite tune I would say is one of the new ones which isn't out yet called 'The Jay Stewart Shuffle'. I'm looking forward to this one coming out because it’s probably a little bit more back to my roots, its funky, got some old skool sounds, a couple of Prince samples, it's just a little groover really, so I'll have to wait and see how successful it is. My favourite in terms of crowd reaction is my remix of the Rico Tubbs’ 'Gangstas'.
4. What's your favourite tune and why?
Nick Thayer - Prunes and Custard.
5. You've recently started a breaks night called Madcow in Shrewsbury, How did this come about?
I met a friend from Shrewsbury who said there quite a vibrant scene going on there and he plays breaks and thought there might be room for a breaks night, so we decided to put on Madcow. It’s called Madcow because of the Plumps track and I wanted to get that across that it’s a breaks only night. Its also quite fitting being in Shropshire, BSE, you know, loads of mad cows everywhere, so it kinda worked. So yeah the night is still going and it’s going strong.
6. You produce and DJ under the name of Re:funk and Jay Stewart, what else are you doing in a creative capacity?
Apart from starting Madcow, my night and also moving to London from Leeds will make a difference. I think it’s gonna be brilliant. My career will explode into musical genius now that I am in London, taking in all the culture and sounds. Also gives me chance to focus on my live projects such as the Groove Diggerz Sound system and my live drum project with Jake Wheeler.
7. Can you tell us more about the Groove Diggerz Project?!
It’s a new live project from the Groove Diggerz, called Groove Diggerz Sound System, Rob’s been working very hard in the studio at the moment, he’s moved a little bit away from breaks, he’s still producing and playing breaks but he’s going a little bit techno, there’s a few more album based tracks, I don’t like to use the word commercial but a little more, broadening his range really. He’s done a remix of a Leveller’s track, his brother Matt is the bass player in the Levellers, he’s been working with Linda Laton in the studio, he’s done a remix of ‘Just be good to you’ and he’s started doing a bit of a drum n bass track. We’re not really sure what direction we’re gonna go in yet until the actually live rehearsals start. Rob’s gonna be like doing the laptop stuff, Linda Laton will be on vocals and his brother Matt will do some bass for us and I’ll be on drums. Rehearsals are gonna start taking place over the next few weeks, a lot of material has been done in the studio; it’s just getting the band together now really. I think it’s gonna be very exciting.
8. What are your fondest musical memories?
It has to be when I went to Technique up in Leeds and heard my ‘Ice Ice Baby’ bootleg. It was pretty impressive over the sound system. Also one of my other fondest memories is being in a percussion ensemble, there was about 15 drummers in a massive square in Barcelona and basically it had steps coming all the way down into the middle of the square and there was 4 corners where we all stood, and then we all started playing and walking down the steps and randomly forming the band on the stage, that was pretty impressive and there was a lot of people there and it was sunny. It was good, had a good vibe.
9. You say fuck off to minimal. Why do you say this? Play nice!
When I was living in Leeds when I first got into breaks, was by far the most exciting form of music in the city at the time, and then all of a sudden out of nowhere breaks just vanished and the whole city became flooded with minimal which as the titles says there’s nothing really going on in there that gets me excited. Because of my funk background I like groovy things that make you wanna dance, for me minimal is just far too deep and empty to get people excited, its just for posers that wanna take ket.
10. You once described yourself as brother to the Plumps and son of Chris Carter. What did your mum say about this?
Whenever I play my mum a tune she says ‘ooh yeah that’s quite nice’ and my step dad normally says ‘what the hell is that?’ so to be honest I don’t think she really knows what goes on. I remember when the first vinyl arrived at my house with my name on it and she just sort of shoved it in a cupboard and I was like ‘can we get it on the wall please?’ She still didn’t understand so yeah nothing much.
11. You’ve played at a Social night before, how would you describe it to someone who has never been?
I played at one of their first parties at the original venue, Jrink in Soho. It’s a good party for people who love their music; they’re a talented group of DJs and a good bunch of people, a good bunch of friends, everyone just having a really good time.
12. Social vs. Chix in da music is a unique line up of 8 boys vs. 8 girls. Whose your favourite female DJ and why?
Favourite female DJ would have to be Janette Slack. I met her a few years ago at Glade because I did a remix for her, I just think she’s a great girl, even though she doesn’t really play the particular style of music I like but whenever I see her play she just absolutely destroys the dance floor and she’s just a really nice genuine person, a real great girl.
13. You have released on Breakin’ Even, Menu and Re: Connect, which other label would you love to release on?
Fingerlickin’
14. Where do you see yourself in 5 years time?
In 5 years I will be on a running a cocktail bar somewhere hot with great tunes and great food. On the beach baby, defo. Fuck this country off. Gordon is ruining it. Nice one.
15. What 3 things would you take to a desert island?
Am I there on my own? My Mac Book pro, with the 3 hour battery life I’ve got, so it will only last for 3 hours! A knife, you never know when you might need a knife for hunting and things and building stuff and…… a Singapore chow mein sweet and sour sauce and chips.
16. What’s coming up for Jay Stewart right now?
Well in the pipe line I’ve got a remix for the Groove Diggerz of ‘Time Control part 2’ coming out in the next 4 weeks, part 1 has already come out with a Retchords remix and a Jhz remix and obviously the original by Groove Diggerz then part 2 is gonna be a Drummatic Twins remix, a Kickflip remix and myself. In September I’ve also got a remix of ‘Jack Hammer’ by Funkasaurus coming out after that in around October time I’ve got the ‘Jay Stewart Shuffle’ coming out on Breakin’ Even with a Mr No Hands Remix which I must say is, for me, his best work, its phenomenal it’s a really really solid track, and also a Pimp Soul remix. In December I’ve got a Refunk release on Re:Connect it’s actually a remix of a Leuce Rhythms track called ‘Get the Funk’, Loose Rhythms are good friends of mine from Leeds and are also residents of Mad Cow, also High Eight has done a remix and will release them as a 3 part digital pack. After that possibly December or January I’ve got a 3 track single coming out on Re:connect, one of them is called ‘Game Over’ with MC Chickaboo doing some vocals which is very exciting. Also in January I’ve got the release that I’m most excited about, I had to bed Jay Cunning to let me remix ‘Gangstas’ on Menu, I managed to blag him to get the parts and yeah came back with a real stonker, he’s been rinsing that and Terry Hooligan and it’s going down really well so they’re decided to release it, should be one of the big ones for me. Gigs wise I’ve got on the 5th of September at 333 a ‘We have fun’ night with Diverted which really looking forward to as I haven’t played with them before and I’m a really big fan of theirs and also the big one of the 20th September at the Lockside Lounge Social vs. Chix in da Mix, girls vs. boys. Chris Carter is a sound guy and I really like his style, really looking forward to going back to back with Mini da Minx.
Catch Jay Stewart 20th September, Camden Lockside lounge with Social and Chix in da mix.
See you at the bar,
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