Unkle Wiki

The Guardian 11 November 1994

The Guardian
LanguageEnglish


Transcript

Date and place of birth 22.2.74. Oxford.

How did you get into DJ-ing? Underground Movement parties at various places around Oxford between 1989-91. Mo Wax Please at The Venue, Oxford, in 1991.

Who/what was the inspiration? Hip hop, electro, jazz, early techno from labels like Warp and places like Detroit (ie Rhythm Is Rhythm), hearing Giles Peterson, Spraycan and Subway Art books, Bristol (Massive Attack, 3 Stripe, Smith And Mighty). The idea of Head Music came from hearing DJ Shadow, Nightmares On Wax, Major Force Records and abstract jazz such as Sun Ra.

What other jobs have you done? Editor of Straight No Chaser magazine and worked in Bluebird Records.

How much money do you command for a two-hour set in the UK? A bag of weed and a strong pina colada!

Which are your favourite clubs? That's How It Is, Oldskool Fridge Sessions (London), Sound Factory (New York), Thekla and Blue Mountain (Bristol), Sub Club (Glasgow).

Who are your favourite DJs? These are more events where a DJ has blown me away: Giles Peterson (a general influence), Justin Winks (Underground Movement), Will Bankhead, Massive Attack (one of the best nights out), Kudo (but he's married now!).

What are your current favourite records? DJ Shadow: What Does Your Soul Look Like Now, Metalheads: Inner City Life (Roni Size & 4 Hero mixes), Unkle: Time Has Come, Money Mark: Various, Massive Attack: Karma Coma (Unkle Mixes).

What record would you most like to remix? Spinal Tap: Stone Henge.

What is the most embarrassing thing to happen to you while DJ-ing? Most of my DJ-ing is semi-embarrassing!

What is the strangest place you've played in? A bus shelter in Berlin, the Clock Room in the Astoria at the Beastie Boys jam, and most clubs in Japan (they're all strange).

How do you relax? A bag of weed or eating in restaurants.

Where do you buy your records? Fat Cat, Honest Jon's, Sound Source, Mr Bongo and my special selection of private dealers.

Where do you see yourself going musically? Across the board. With my Mo Wax label, I would love to have one or two acts spanning all the music that I like (techno, jazz, abstract hip hop, avant garde jungle, retro and sophisticated lyrical hip hop).

Headz: A Soundtrack Of Experimental Beathead Jams, a collection of James Lavelle's favourite abstract moments in music is out next week on Mo Wax.

Scans

External Links

Scan on Newspapers.com (subscription required)

References

Discuss this page