You Got The Love came out on Positiva/EMI on 6th Feb 2006 and charted number 7 UK Singles Chart. Working backwards from that a story of the same record being released in 1997 and 1991 (with different attitude and vibe each time - but all produced by me). In between times i've managed to make the odd (!) other record , and some of them have even charted - but nothing to match YGTL in success - though headlining live at Brixton Academy (as Lectrolux my Hard Dance persona) was a bit of a coup and a total buzz...
If you want to know, as far as YGTL is concerned, i am most proud of my Now Voyager Mix (1997), the one that was the closing music for the final Sex & The City episode. As everyone likes to joke, I've made an entire career out of one record - but then Status Quo made an entire career out of one riff and i'd like to think that i've had better hairstyles than them (sometimes) and i've still got my septum (last time i checked...).
I spend the time in between regurgitating the same record every 7 or 8 years managing other artists, publishing other (talented) people's music, working their music into film, TV and commercials, and generally nurturing talent - all of which i really enjoy. I gave Sister Bliss (of Faithless) her first ever remix, signed Goldie to his first major deal, ran a label in the early/mid 90's with Dave Clarke releasing all his early material , nursed Rachel Auburn through the early stages of her career (later she became Candy Girls), had a gold record in Australia with Wayne G & Stewart Who's "Twisted" which I released thru my record co and published, and continue to work with such techno luminaries as Chris Liberator and D.A.V.E. The Drummer . If it moves me I'll do it. Corporate bullshit has always done my head in - indie is the way to preserve artistic integrity (says the man who signed his last record to EMI - ha!).
I've got quite active politically in the music industry of late, nobbling MP's and industry leaders, campaigning on behalf of the independent dance sector and DJ's, and generally trying to ensure that the new copyright act , which is still at the stage of being talked about, has some bearing to the reality of the (new) world at large. When I'm feeling grown up, I sit on various panels and committees at the various rights societies (PRS, MCPS), and bring issues to their attention with varying degrees of effectiveness :-)
On the creative side, I'm currently (July 2006) demo-ing a follow-up to YGTL which is starting to sound pretty good. It might be done by xmas (seriously - i make music verrrry verrry slowly!). And I've just done my first ever RnB mix (of the same song), which is the slowest track i've ever done, and was a right laugh to make. I don't think that Dre and Pharrell need be quaking in their boots just yet, mind...
In terms of taste I'm currently, somewhat to my surprise I'll admit, loving and living the Berlin/Shoreditch minimal techno thing, though I haven't made any tracks in that style...so far...
stop press!
have just taken delivery of the video for My Life by Nimrod, which is a side project of Micky Modelle's signed to Maelstrom (Armin Van Buuren, Tiesto etc). Animated and directed by Murray John with filmed footage by Dick Jewell it is quite sublime and I just had to display it here for a while
