Exclusive Interview: Steve Smooth
Born and raised on Chicago ‘s Southside, Steve Smooth first entered the dance music scene in 1991. Starting out at a record store and then a Chicago based independent record label, he became immersed in the house music culture. As a DJ, Steve worked to perfect his style of mixing, hitting the Chicago club circuit. This, along with guest appearances on several college radio stations helped to gain him recognition, eventually leading to a frequent guest spot on the Sunday mix show, “The Street Flava,” which aired on Chicago’s largest radio station B96 (96.3 FM).
Steve has since ventured into the studio, producing and remixing tracks for some of the hottest dance labels, including, International House Records and Moody Recordings. With his first mixes on “Everyday My Life” by legendary house diva, Dajae, and the remix of the vocal anthem, “Time” by Dajae, Steve quickly made his mark in the house and dance music community. As well, his work has received much deserved attention from Billboard Magazine.
His first original production “Beat Freaker” created a frenzy on dance-floors, worldwide. As a production force to be reckoned with, Steve’s skills in the studio have earned him a part on Bad Boy Bill’s production team, giving him credit on Bad Boy Bill’s dance-floor hits, “Everybody,” “Costa Del Sol” and “Happy.” Now, his latest singles, “Release” on International House Records, “Get Naked” on Motus & “Discoteca” on Moody (with his producing partner JJ Flores) have become bonafide hits and have been getting play by the world’s top DJs, as well as play on the most respected mix show, BBC Radio 1.
But that’s not all; in addition to producing, Steve is maintaining an impressive DJ schedule. Currently voted as one of ” America ‘s Favorite DJs”, according to BPM Magazine, he placed within the top 10 among house DJs. This past year alone he took his skills as a DJ and sound to over 100 shows in areas like the UK, Germany, Spain, Hong Kong, Canada, and North/South America.
Now that we have wet your tongue in this superstar’s history, take a few minutes to kick back, and enjoy a Q&A between the hooligans of the FHM trenches and one of house music’s production gems.
FHM: How long have you been involved in the dance music scene? How did
you discover the music? Were you a producer first, or a DJ first?
SS: I have been involved in the dance scene for about 10 years now. I first came across dance music hanging out with my cousin, who gave me my first mix tape to listen to. From that point on, I was just hooked. That’s when I knew I wanted to be a DJ. So I did start as a DJ first.
FHM: How did your working relationship with Bad Boy Bill first develop? Do the both of you plan to continue working together? Can you tease our readers with some of the future goals you have working with Bill?
SS: I have known Bill for a while now. I use to DJ at all the local clubs and he would sometimes do a guest spot. But it was more like a ‘Hi / Bye’ relationship. Then I started hanging out with Floopty, who was the president of Bill’s label. After always just being around, Bill asked if I wanted to help around the studio with production. Of course, my answer was ‘yes’.
FHM: You have been touring extensively (domestic & international) for quite some time now. How would you describe the experiences have been so far? Has there been a night out on the road that stands out from all the others? Individually, are you obtaining higher profile gigs, in comparison to years past?
SS: There are have definitely been some nights. Las Vegas always stands out. We played New Year’s Eve in Vegas & San Francisco on the same night. I wouldn’t know where to begin to explain that night. I have been touring with Bill for a few years now, but as of the last year or two, I have been doing a lot of my own gigs as well. As soon as my productions started getting released, higher profile gigs seemed to follow.
FHM: It seems you are foremost a producer, have you thought about incorporating any live production into your performances or do you see yourself continuing with traditional DJ sets only?
SS: As far as the stuff that has already been released, it will probably only be DJ based.
But JJ Flores & I are in the studio this summer working on some more electronic sounding music. A bit more advanced then our norm. So this new music does have the potential for a live concert performance.
FHM: What do you think of the burgeoning use of tools like Ableton Live for DJ performances?
SS: I am not too familiar with Ableton Live. But I have been playing a lot of CDs in my DJ sets. It allows me to play all the new unreleased tracks I get from other producers as well as my own.
FHM: What is your modus operandi to making a good house track?
SS: Really don’t have a particular method. Maybe party all night, call JJ Flores nice and early to make sure he gets up. Then just work all day, and knock out 2 or 3 different tracks.
FHM: Do you have any tracks in the pipeline that you would like to describe & plug for the readers? Word on the street is you are launching a new label. could you provide further insight?
SS: We are going be on a new label here in America that Bad Boy Bill is starting. JJ & I have an album coming out in two months on the new label. It will have all our past releases as well as some new tracks. “Time For Love” is the newest song on there. I have been playing it out for about one month now. I have been getting a great response.
FHM: Tell us about your production partnership with JJ Flores. How did you two meet, and why did you two begin working together? Do you feel the relationship in the studio elevates each of you to higher levels of creativity working together, rather than individually?
SS: I would always see JJ around Chicago, he always seen me, but we really didn’t know each other. Then when I started working with Bill was when I met JJ. We both are in the studio with Bill always. So we were like we are both working on music, why not just work together. I have been in the studio with many different people. But with JJ everything just seems to flow right. Our first two releases together were “Get Naked” & “Release”. We actually did both of these tracks in the same day.
FHM: Listening to the tracks you and JJ have put out in the last couple of years, you two have certainly created a distinct sound for yourselves, which makes your tracks instantaneously recognizable. When you enter the studio is this something that you aim for, or is this just a product of what you are feeling musically when you go in?? Do you ever see yourself venturing away from the sound you are known for – production wise?
SS: We really don’t aim for a particular sound. Just whatever happens, happens. We are producing a lot of different styles of music right now. But we like doing different styles. It keeps everything always fresh. So to answer that question we will never stop making that sound, but we will be making other sounds as well.
FHM: It has been awhile since your last release, and it seems that you have taken up an extremely busy touring schedule of late? Is it possible for you to produce the quality of tracks you are known for on the road, or is there a break in the future for you as far as touring goes, to jump back in the studio? If you are going back into the studio, can we expect the same flourish of tracks coming from you that we saw in 2003/2004?
SS: The touring schedule has been pretty hectic for about five years now. So that will never affect anything. We produced our first tracks under that schedule. We usually work a lot in the winter on music. So we do have a bunch of new tracks coming this summer. First the album, then we have a couple other brand new singles to follow.
FHM: We have noticed your tracks being signed to Pool E music labels, and names such as Antoine Claraman appearing on International House Records. Do you think the public will ever see a collaboration in the studio between you & JJ, along with European talents such as Claraman, Steve Angello, or Sebastian Ingrosso?
SS: I think that would be great for all of us to team up on a record. If anything it would be a lot of fun. But as of now we have just been sending masters back and forth to get remixed by each other.
FHM: Of the tracks that you have had production credits on, which have you seen has the most success on the dance floor, and why do you think that is?
SS: “Get Naked” by far has been the biggest success on the dance floor. This record just seemed to translate well on the dance floor better then all our other music. I have even had high profile trance DJs ask me for this record to play & it’s a HOUSE record!
FHM: With global music piracy ever increasing, do you see a promising future for digital music delivery through sites like Beatport, or do you think it will only contribute to lower global sales within the industry?
SS: I think digital downloads help get music into people’s hands legally, or illegally. To artists like ’50 Cent’, illegal digital downloads probably hurt him. To anybody in the dance music scene, I feel it’s more exposure, which will help sell more records in the long run.
FHM: The state of the dance music ‘scene’, as a whole in the US, has been a hot bed topic in the past few years; what is your perception of it, and where do you see it going in the future?? How does it compare to other parts of the world?? Specifically, where do you see house music in a few years?? Will it ever be the world leader that the trance sound has been?
SS: As of now, it seems like it will stay in the clubs for a while, unless MTV gets behind it. In all other countries, they play electronic music on MTV. Because of that exposure, that is why all summer long in places like Europe there are different events for 50,000 people focused on electronic music.
FHM: What does Steve Smooth do when he needs a break from production & music, and just needs to get “away” for a little while? Tell us about your other life interests.
SS: My life pretty much consists of producing music. But if I am not in the studio, I might be down the block at the bar.
Steve – Thank you for taking the time to accept our interview, and for supporting the Funkyhousemusic.com mission. We truly appreciate your effort, and wish you the best of luck with your future endeavors.
To learn more about Steve Smooth, please visit: www.stevesmooth.com
Related posts:
No comments yet.