FHMDC Exclusive Interview: Jay-J
Jay-J | Composer, Producer, DJ
Undoubtedly a legend in house music, his career spans with over 150 releases, he’s won a Grammy® nomination, had his own Coke® bottle for the 2008 Beijing Olympics, DJ’d the 2006 MTV® AVMAs and launched two comp series for Defected.
As a producer, you’ll see his name on the biggest releases from Ultra, Moulton Studios, OM, Naked Music and Defected. He’s remixed artists from Jill Scott to Joss Stone and has collaborated with producers from Kaskade to Miguel Migs. On his new label, Shifted Music, you’ll find releases by Jay-J as well as some of the best talent he’s discovered while sharing his passion for House Music around the globe.
FunkyHouseMusic.com had the pleasure to to connect with the one and only master of quality, vocal funky house to discuss a variety of past, present, and future topics revolving around the Funky House genre. We hope you enjoy this dialogue.
FHMDC: Please describe how it all began – your love for music, instruments, and performance. What was it about house music that originally drew you to it? If it’s possible, provide the readers of FunkyHouseMusic.com who aren’t as familiar with your history with a short synopsis of how you became the multi-talented and prolific artist you represent today.
Jay-J: Growing up I played a few instruments. The first one I picked up was the saxophone, then later the guitar. I stuck with the guitar for several years. I really don’t know what drew me to music; it’s just something I was interested in. I played guitar through high school and messed around with a few bands but I also started DJ-ing in high school. I was DJ-ing at our school’s radio station, which played rock and heavy metal. From there I got a job DJ-ing at a roller skating rink.
At the rink I started working the Saturday afternoon shift and over time moved into working evenings and nights and for those shifts the music could be at times a bit more cutting edge so I started playing some dance music that was made for the clubs. At that time the main music library was 45′s but there was a small stack of 12″s that the nighttime guys would play from for the more underground sound.
From there it just grew to playing parties and events and eventually playing in a little dive bar in SF during my college years and soon, in 1991, landed a spot opening at a real club. A few years later I started to get back into music production. I was doing a bunch of recording and song writing in my guitar days and after a few years focusing on the dj thing I headed back into the studio and released my first house music record in 1994. From there it has been a continual journey to become a better producer and more proficient in the studio and being a student of my craft as much as a professional.
FHMDC: San Francisco and sophisticated funky house seem to go together like peanut butter and jelly. Names that emerged from that scene include the likes of Mark Farina, Miguel Migs, Dubtribe Sound System, and many more. What was and still is so special about that environment that seemed to be a breeding ground for dance music magic?
Jay-J: I think the environment, climate, diversity, openness, and surroundings all contribute. This also is a testament to the DJs who came before us. The who’s who of San Francisco house grew up listening to these DJ’s in the clubs. We all learned to love this music listening to the likes of Jeno, Pete Avila, Aaron O, Doc Martin and others who championed the early incarnations of the funky SF sound. We then carried the torch. But ultimately it was a group of likeminded creative people who seemed to enjoy a similar style and or sound and who simply set out to make music they were proud of.
FHMDC: The Jay-J resume is an endless array of jaw-dropping accomplishments that most producers will never be lucky enough to garner. From our research, you’ve performed at the world’s premier club venues such as Pacha – Ibiza and Ministry of Sound, visited destinations such as Dubai, New Zealand, and Brasil, and even rocked the MTV Video Music Awards in Australia. Amazing as that list of accomplishments is, what was it like to work for the Coca Cola WE8 project for the Beijing 2008 Olympics?
Jay-J: That was a fun project for sure. In the early stages of involvement I was given some drawings and 3D renderings of the bottle and the story behind it and of course a theme to write a song around. Happiness is the theme I was given and I felt that was perfect for the style of music I love to make which is very uplifting. I really had a great time collaborating with Lucy Woodward an amazing songwriter and even better singer and we had fun putting the project together.
It was interesting in that we were asked to document the process so we were taking pictures and saving the scraps of paper used to write the song and what not. It wasn’t until after the song was completed when I actually saw the bottle and the presentation booklet and CD and the packaging that I really saw how cool this project was. Then I heard from Berger, my manager, that in the Athlete’s Village there were listening stations built around 6 foot tall renditions of each bottle featuring the music we all created. Overall it was a greet project.
FHMDC: The names Jay-J and Latrice Barnett are music bliss for the veteran dance music fan with an appreciation for finely served vocal house. Please describe to us how this partnership of performance began.
Jay-J: My first studio, Moulton Street Studios, located on Moulton Street in SF had some problems with the city and landlord so we had to move and Chris Lum and I decided to take over a very large space to build new studios and once everything was up and running, after a long 6 month renovation and building process, I was at a point in my production that I wanted to work with a better quality of singer and I approached one of the best musicians I knew who was a bass player named Andrew Higgins.
I asked him whom he would want to sing on his album, someone he thought was talented and easy to work with, he mentioned Latrice so I contacted her and set a meeting. She was familiar with house music and as I was describing my style to her she replied “like Mark Farina style house”. I knew then she understood what I was talking about. Then we set up a time to record. The result of that first session was “Without Love” written by Chris Lum and me. She blew us away and I then set out to work with her more and more. We toured the world together and became really good friends having the time of our life creating music.
FHMDC:We recall a few WMCs ago Latrice and yourself throwing down together at the Defected event at Nikki Beach. The moment we heard “Keep On Risin’” live – we knew the production would have to return to the public re-interpreted through remix. The energy the track creates every time it is played is undeniable. 10 years later, and it has finally happened. What was it about 2010 and the current state of the dance music scene that motivated you to choose this time period to bring the classic back?
Jay-J: Actually it was started by a guy who did a re-edit/remix of the track and sent it to me on MySpace. I then thought it would be a good idea to update the song and see what happens so I enlisted a few friends Stacy Burket and Random Soul to help me create the updated versions. They all remembered the track and were more than willing to work on it with me. I am really happy with the result. I really enjoyed using my version as a more dance floor filling prime time remix, although it took me a while to get there. I had played around with several ideas over the course of a couple months revisiting the project and constantly changing things until I finally got it to the point I wanted.
2010 Jay-J’s Shifted Up Mix:
The Classic Original Version:
FHMDC: What is your collective opinion on the current state of the electronic dance music, its associated scene, and fans? Now that we are past the days of vinyl and CDs, has the digitalization age impacted how you view people digest and enjoy EDM?
Jay-J: This is an interesting point in time for electronic music. Never has there been more access to underground music and range of people who seek it out is ever increasing and broadening the listener base. Additionally, there has never been so much of this music around. There are so many labels and releases that at times the volume seems unbearable to those of us in the industry, but for the consumer the range is incredible.
The fan base is growing but the economics of the industry seems to be in a decline with music sales being in the low hundreds and gigs for soulful music being few and far between for many of us. People have also gotten used to getting the music for free and less likely to spend whatever money they have in this economy, either for the music itself or for the clubs where this music is prominent.
There are many DJ’s and producers who used to be able to make a decent living in this niche industry and now find it hard to survive. I can’t tell the future but I it seems that soon the music will be relegated to hobby status for many of us as we ponder what’s next in our careers. Fortunately, for those who enjoy the music there are plenty of new producers who are not yet disillusioned with the state of the industry replacing the seasoned veterans.
FHMDC: Can you give our readers some insight on the major hardware and software components of your studio?
Jay-J: My main production tool is Pro Tools software and hardware with many high end plug ins like Sonnox, McDSP, Massey and others. I work out of Flux studios in NY for mixing and recording and the high-end outboard gear available to me is pretty incredible from vintage, classic pultec Eq’s and compressors to mastering grade components.
Working in an acoustically sound room with great Focal monitors helps me reach the sound quality I expect to support my creative vision. Even though I get an incredible amount of work done at my home studio with a modest set up (Digi 003 rack, M Audio DMS2 speakers, Axiom Pro 49 controller) and some headphones (Sennheiser HD600). So the technology has gotten to the point where really good quality record can be made with small and relatively inexpensive set ups. I also use a Studio Electronics SE1X for a lot of sounds, mainly basses and leads as it’s a monophonic analog synth based on a moog and boy does it sound fat!
FHMDC: Considering your musical career, we assume you have had very “interesting” experiences along the way. Would you be willing to share an unforgettable story that you fondly recall?
Jay-J: I do remember that first session with Latrice and after recording the main parts of the song we had her do some ad lib takes. I just kept having her do more and more, not because we didn’t have enough but simply because I was in love with her voice and wanted to keep hearing her. Finally I had to stop and admit to her that we kept going just cause I was enjoying listening to her sing.
I have had many firsts along the way with my DJ gigs as well. Playing legendary venues like Ministry of Sound (London), Pacha (Ibiza), Zouk (Singapore), Southport Weekender (UK) have all been amazing and quite daunting those first times.
I also spent a lot of time working with a full band and recreating many of my records in a live setting with Latrice and some other incredible musicians and toured with them as well. In fact on the Keep On Rising 2010 package there is a Live mix that we recorded with a new arrangement using all live players. Touring with the band and recording with them was a great experience.
Hearing my music played by other DJs in clubs is also a very positive and uplifting experience, but being on the dance floor at the WMC for the Magic sessions and having both Louie Vega and Tony Humphries play my Jill Scott remix to thousands of house music lovers and watching the place erupt was an experience that will last a lifetime.
FHMDC: If you could only name one artist (musical or non-musical) who “inspired” you in 2009, who would that be?
Jay-J: There are a few for sure but the first two that come to mind are Jimpster (would love to work with him someday) and Dennis Ferrer. I think both of these guys have proven to be incredibly talented but also visionary in creating styles that others inspire to emulate and that’s a hard thing to do.
FHMDC: We noticed on iTunes that you offer a very rich Podcast series entitled Jay-J’s “Live From…” documenting your DJ sets while on tour. This is a gold mine of DJ mix sets, and we highly recommend the readers of this interview to check it out. With that said, your love for DJ-ing seems to be as strong as ever. What is your opinion on performance today as compared to earlier in your career? Do you find it equally satisfying? Has technology impacted your performance style? Do you find yourself wondering if dubstep is the next chapter for Jay-J? (We hope you take that last one amusingly)
Jay-J: I really enjoy capturing my live sets and I think the Live From concept is great way to present these mixes. I have the honor of visiting these great cities and great clubs all over the world and get to document these nights and present them to others who enjoy the same style of music I love. I still love DJ-ing and having a packed gig with a great sound system is the highlight of my career each and every time it occurs.
The technological advance have made the traveling much easier with CD’s and digital promos. I have yet to switch to a software based DJ solution but I feel it’s coming soon. I am preparing for tractor and now as I get promos and what not I make sure they are labeled properly and categorized and in my library then I burn a CD for my current gig but when I make the switch to Tracktor, if I do, I will at least have a solid group of recent tracks available.
FHMDC: When it comes to producing house music, do you have any recommendations on which we should be checking out in 2010?
Jay-J: The Australian guys Random Soul (Yogi and Husky) are making some great music and we have been working together for a couple years now. They recently started a label and are releasing some great work.
FHMDC: What’s in store for the future? Any details you can share about upcoming releases, tours, partnerships, artist/mix CD releases, and/or videos…
Jay-J: I am currently working on an all-electronic album. My last album “Love Alive” is filled with songs and vocals and live instruments and has a very warm and soulful sound. This new project is all about a more groove based production style with me doing all the music and many of the tracks have a more techie direction.
I am also about to release a Love Alive Remix Album with many of the remixes taken from the songs off “Love Alive” and the Remixers for that project are a stellar line up of great producers including DJ Meme, Ethan White (Tortured Soul), Random Soul guys, Soulmagic, Jon Cutler, Giom, Chuck Love, Harley & Muscle, Joshua Heath, Pete Moss, Jevne, Christian Alvarez, Emil Lane (up and coming producer with incredible style) and more…
We are also in the initial planning stages of a ReSouled Vol 3, Potentially mixed by Mark Farina so that will be exciting.
FHMDC: 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 Jay-J, please visit www.shiftedmusic.com
Interview by: Suneel
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