When did you get into Drum & Bass?
"As far back as i can remember.
How did you get picked up by Formation?
I was down music house one day cuttin wales and DJ SS was there. He asked me
if he could cut it and said he may be interested in releasing it, we
exchanged phone numbers and it took off from there. Nearly every thing i
have done since then he has taken.
Have you been overseas and seen Drum & Bass being accepted?
I have just come back from Stockholm in Sweden and they have a nice little
scene out there. It isn't that big yet, but those who are involved seem
really dedicated. I am going to Germany and Finland in the next couple of
months and America later on in the year.
What's your influence when producing, what other music do you listen to?
I like all sorts of music incuding R&B, Hip Hop and Jazz. I like to chill
out to Jazz & Bass, i think it's a wicked album (hopefully i will have a
track on Jazz & Bass 3) i also think Portishead make some good trax. I am
influenced by people like Optical and Die.
What's currently playing in your car or walkman?
Jazz & Bass Sessions 2 and Portishead.
What were you doing before you got into production?
Working on a building site digging holes, getting wet and feeling cold, i
have only just given the job up.
What's your plans, what else do you want to do?
Travel around the world playing beats, work with other artists, and i am
just about to start working on an album. I have also just set my own label
up called Grid and i hope for that to do well, featuring artist Zen, Pleasure,
Rayner and myself.
Peace to Mrs Individual (Amie), Zen, TT Ace, Goodwill, Sonic & Accidental
Heroes, APB, DJ SS, Eidris and all @ Formation, Rayner, Syrus, Chillum
and all the Ruud Awakening 104.3 team, K.W, Dylan @ Alphamagic, Pleasure,
Blind, Paul Rodriguez, Nicky2Smooth, Omni and all the Tandy team, and
every one else."
Twisted Individual is on Ruud Awakening 104.3 in London every Friday at 10pm-12am
How did you get into DJ'ing?
"I was 15 and my mate (T.Logik/Erotic 101.3fm) had a
pair of Soundlab 1600's and i used to mess around on
them, then he bought a pair of Soundlab DLP 3's and i
learnt how to mix myself on those. When i was 17 i got
my first set of decks, which were Technics 1210's.
By the time i was 18 i was ready for pirate, so me and
T.Logik went on Erotic 101.3fm together with the alias
"DA VINYL DEMONS" playing garage, and was on 12-3am
every saturday night.
Were you into Drum & Bass / Jungle before this?
Yeah i loved my jungle and i still do. Jungle is the music that got me
deejaying!
What made you switch to Garage?
In 1997, Jungle was dying all the pirates started
playing garage, Kool fm
was never on. I would go Blackmarket Records and walk
out buying nothing as i did not like the new Drum And
Bass sound. Every club, bar or pub i went to was
playing garage and it slowly grew on me. I think the
first tunes i bought were Double 99 - RIP GROOVE,
Rosie Gaines - CLOSER THAN CLOSE, etc.
You're now on RawMission, how did you manage to get on?
I was playing at Champagne Rain @ The Dome (FEB 11th
2000) with my krew, MC Sloth and Sly MC (AKA "DA
EXECUTIVES") and the management of RAW was there and
after our set asked us to go on RAW, SLY MC used to be
on RAW back in the day, but decided to leave for
personal reasons. We did a one off Tuesday 12-2am, and
then was given our current slot of 10pm-12am, every
sunday night. The station is now called RawMission 90.0 FM,
as we merged with Mission Fm around the 16th of April
and now are twice as big as we were.
You also play at lots of clubs, when was your first ever booking?
The first club i played at was an under 18's event
at the Pleasure Rooms (Tottenham) called Detention in
1997. and played at another two after that. I was very
nervous playing as i came on the decks after Nicky
Blackmarket, so you can imagine what i was up against.
What's the best club you've played at?
Champagne Rain @ The Dome was probably the best as
the crowd were having it, and it got pretty ram. Also
it was my 20th birthday so it was more than just a
set.
What about the worst?
Oxygen Bar (Leicester Square) i have never been to a
club so small in my life, it could take about 100
capacity.
What's the maddest thing that's happened in a club?
I was playing at Parkers wine bar in Finsbury Park on
the 6th August 1999, and was playing a heavy set and
the crowd were going crazy and then there was a bang
and the monitor speaker blew, the dj box was full of
smoke. I had to finish my set with no monitor speaker,
which ended up pretty sloppy.
Will you be DJ'ing overseas?
You might catch me out in Ayia Napa this summer, but
not 100% yet!
You used to go to Barnet College in North
London, did you meet any other dj's/mc's or any other people in the
scene at that college?
I met MC GANJA at Barnet College, he is the man
behind FLARE 89.6fm and also CASH MC
who is on TIME 104.6fm
Is your new website up and running yet?
Na, my website is still in the pipeline at the
moment as i have not had time to do it yet.
Who's your favourite DJ's / producers?
I have a few to name, which are Groove Chronicals,
Zed Bias, Wookie and K Warren.
What's playing in your car or walkman at the moment?
The Battle - Wookie - Manchu recordings
Are you going to be in the studio, producing tracks?
Myself, MC SLOTH and SLY MC will be going to a studio
very soon to get some tracks done, and get some
dubplates pressed."
you can catch DJ Diesel D, MC Sloth and Sly MC (AKA Da Executives)
every Sunday night 10pm-12am on RawMission 90 FM. also look out for
JLT Promotions in the summer and the forthcoming RawMission events.
contact / bookings / mailing lists: 07956 104 417 email: djdieseld@yahoo.com
How did you get into DJing / remixing?
"I got into the dj remixing from my school days - from the age of 12 i used
to be constantly into my music, my mum and dad are musically minded so i
grew up with music in my home 24/7. I had no interest in studying and would
concentrate on making mix tapes for my friends. Most of my friends were
black and this is where my influence came from as we were constantly into
the black music scene of that time. After experimenting with a few Indian
tunes (which at that time i had no interest in) i noticed that 'hey Indian
music doesn't sound so bad when it has a heavy bassline behind it!' And
it all carried on from there, i took my mixes to a label called Oriental
Star Agencies (OSA) who immediately took to it. I later on became the
in-house producer for OSA for a few years where eventually Sony Music
noticed my potential, for whom i produced Bollywood Flashback and Rising
From The East. This gave me the stepping stone to setting up my own
recording studio and record label (ISHQ RECORDS) where i produce music full
time and am promoting new artists.
What do you think of the Asian scene in the UK?
The music scene in the UK is getting better - new artists/producers are
coming along and there are some good songs coming out. It's not been
consistent, it's had its good times and bad times but i suppose that's with
any kind of music. But in respect our music is making noise for Asians and
that is what's important.
...and what about worldwide?
The worldwide scene is getting more interesting. I listen to a lot of
music and receive loads of demos from around the world. I have a team of
staff who put forward anything that is different or worth listening to. It's
a thriving musical world, and there is so much talent all around this
universe. Asian music reaches everywhere and it's not just Asians that
listen to it. I personally feel that musically we as Asians are gonna make
an impact on the mainstream music scene... it's only a matter of time. I
still am living proof that Asian music can enter the billboard charts 'Dil
Cheez' at No.12 in the UK Charts. As more new and productive artists will
come out this year and make noise for us as a nation. It's not gonna be a
phase any more - we are standing our ground and are here to stay - it's cool
to be Asian right now! This is the sole reason why i have set up my
record label Ishq Records to search for such talent - it's out there, but
they just need a chance.
What's playing in your car at the moment?
Q-Tip's album and the track is 'Breathe N Stop'.
What are you working on now?
At the moment i am heavily involved in the promotion of my new album
Bollywood Flashback II (BFII), we just released a single off the album
called 'Noorie' - it's doing really well here in the UK, non stop play on
radios and was also sold out in the shops on the first day of release! I
just returned from India a few days ago where the video shoot was taking
place for 'Noorie' - the video should be ready by 1st week of March. So for
the next two months my timetable is just totally taken over by BFII right
now. Once this is all over, i have signed on a few artists and that will be
my project for the next 6 months.
Future plans?
My future plans are to promote the artists i have signed and continue to
make good music. Like i said before, we are gonna make noise this year,
just watch this space!
Who would you like to work with?
I would love to work with Lata Mangeshkar - it would be a dream come
true!
Where were you on New Year's Eve? what did you do?
New Years Eve, i told everyone i was out of the country so i would not
get disturbed, switched off my mobile phone and stayed at home with my
family.
And lastly...
Anybody who feels they have potential, can sing/rap/produce or remix - send
your demo to Ishq Records, you can get all details from www.ishqrecords.com
We are also compiling a DJ Mailing List so, if you are a dj please email us
all your contact details. Also DJ's please note that i have produced a cd
called 'Sagloops' it's a dj tool with Bhangra loops available on cd and vinyl,
it's a tool no dj should be without! check out the website for more
details and also how to join the fan club.
And as always play it loud 'n' proud and keep up the support!"
mr Montana (December 1999)
Laff-A-Lot Records
The Big FM
Your favourite DJ's / producers?
"My favourite producers would have to be Prince Paul (he's so original
and yet many people don't even credit him for his work), Primo (nuff
said - a consistent and original producer - arguably the best), Marly
Marl (another originator - one of the greatest), Dr Dre (he's made so
many careers with his mixture of clever beat jackin and instrumental
arrangements), RZA (made beats that forced you to hit rewind as soon
as you heard em - i take massive inspiration from the way he refused
to conform and could make ya head nod from loopin a tiny sample from a
film or hookin up a bassline with a broken loop that'd make you laff
it was so sick). I could go on for hours but they're the first few
that come to mind.
The maddest thing that happened at a club?
I got searched at the door and pounced on by EVERY member of security
for a can of deodorant in my bag. They thought it was a gun or
sometin' but i got rushed down the stairs, i thought i was gonna get
slammed, serves me right for goin to these kind of clubs.
All time favourite tune?
That's a real hard one, so many, it'd be a toss up between "Rapper's
Delight" and "Nuttin But A G Thing". Both monumental tracks that i
can play over and over again and never tire of.
What's playing in your car / walkman at the moment?
At the moment i'm rockin the Mos Def album in my walkman and in my
jeep i'm droppin all types of stuff, Dr Dre's new album, some U God
and Ghostface tracks, a lot of Cash Money and down south stuff, also
the new Nas joints produced by Primo.
How did you get into DJing / Hip Hop?
I got into hip hop/DJing thru my parents i think. Ever since i was
little they'd always be playin records in the house like James Brown,
Temptations, Aretha Franklin and all the Tamla stuff so i suppose i
just grew up listenin to those beats. I was encouraged to record stuff
and create tapes with basic equipment since i was 7, today i do
exactly the same thing, only with mixing boards and more expensive
equipment.
What do you think of the Hip Hop scene in UK?
It's shyite. No ONLY KIDDIN! The hip hop scene in the UK is stronger
now than it has been in several years, but the major problem remains.
There's some amazin tracks out there but not everyone gets a chance to
hear them. Only Westwood can really push quality UK hip hop to the
masses and, to his credit, he is attempting to do so. Yet the UK acts
still only get the final half hour at 1:30 in the morning and NO
quality UK hip hop gets daytime airplay on any main radio station,
unless it's got that R&B feel. Perhaps if Westwood left out some of
that appallingly shyite RAP MUSIC (like Ruff Riders, DMX and that
whole 'bandwagon' jumpin scene) from his Friday slot, they'd maybe be
a bit more time for the UK hip hop to shine.
Future plans? production, etc?
Right now I'm planning a worldwide web-based pirate station that will
cater for all musical tastes, from hip hop to hardcore and beyond.
Running live shows with full webcam facilities and online
competitions, i hope that this station will signify a new dawn in
underground radio. No longer will we have to worry about signal
quality etc, this form of pure, raw, gritty bedroom style pirate will
hopefully reach out to all those who want to hear THEIR favourite
underground music, without censors or broadcast restrictions.
I am also working on a lot of hip hop production on my own label,
LAFF-A-LOT RECORDS. I've completed two double albums and am now trying
to shop some major deal, with about another 4 albums in the pipeline.
I don't want to sound arrogant in anyway but this stuff I've just
done is breathtakin'. You've all got to hear it. Come check it out
when I get the station up and runnin.
Where you gonna be at on New Years Eve?
At the moment, the only place I want to be on New Years Eve is in the
studio. I know it sounds romantic, but to me it sums up how i feel
about this whole Millennium bizznizz. I'm not payin those prices!
Anything else you wanna say to the solidPulse.net visitors?
First of all you've made the right choice, secondly if there's any
rappers / producers / DJs who are making class A product in the UK but
no one's listening OR you think you've got some dope ideas, whether it
be lyrics or beats, and want to be down with LAFF-A-LOT RECORDS then
send a quick demo tape of any quality to:
EAST WEST COTTAGE, HEADON, RETFORD, NOTTS, DN22 ORD.
Tel: 0860 939 429
All tapes will be replied to asap but be sure to include some contact
details. Together we'll push not only UK hip hop, but HIP HOP herself
forward. Alrite. Sease 2000."
Mr Montana is on The Big FM 107.7 in Sheffield, each n every Sunday at
12pm-4pm.
dj Miley (December 1999)
One Night Stand @ Gass Club
Klass FM
Who's your favourite DJ's and producers?
"Norris Da Boss, and my favourite producers Groove Chronicles, Zed Bias
and Distant Soundz.
Best gig you've played at?
Hard to say there's been so many! But i've had some top nights
@ The Gass (London), Bagleys, and a top night was New Years Eve 2
years ago @ Hollywoods in Ipswich.
Worst gig?
Cellar Bar in Romford, what a dive!
The maddest thing happened at a gig?
When i was booked to play in the Garage room @ Hollywoods one
New Years Eve, and the decks went down in the Main House arena, so
they wired my set in to the main arena, and i didn't even realise i
was playing to all three rooms!
Ever played abroad?
Tenerife this year. More Housey with lots of lager lads! Next year
i'm out in Aiyanapa.
All time favourite tune?
Hard to say, but possibly Shades Of Rhythm, Sound Of Eden, or Kariya
baby let me love u for tonight!
What's playing in your car at the moment?
I like to obviously check what's happening pirate wise, but i quite
like to listen to a bit of R&B/Slowjams / Hip Hop when driving about.
How did you get into DJing?
I saw a DMC mixing championship on telly when i was about 14, and
got some decks for christmas, also my old man was involved in club
promotions back then and the dj's who worked for him used to give me
all the latest Acid House / Chicago House tracks.
Were you into Drum & Bass / Jungle before?
Yeah i was into Drum & Bass for years! Running several Jungle
stations back then, and worked in a local Jungle record shop, also
did a track with my brother called X-Files which was pretty big back
in 95. It was about 95 i found myself buying more Garage than
Drum & Bass, then i decided it was time to switch completely, even
though everyone thought i'd gone mad! Now most those piss takers have
all jumped on the Garage bandwagon now, but some of my old crew -
Frenzic, is still running Jungle magazine Atmosphere and Sinister
ID's now on Kool FM, big up them boys for stickin to their guns!
Future plans? / production?
Current release Distant Soundz, Memories VIP, Ready2Rumbal out
now. Hope to push Distant Soundz into the millennium and
beyond! Also continue battle with DTI to keep Klass 91.6 FM on the
air! And hope to be promoting some more Garage events in Essex.
Where you gonna be at on New Years Eve?
Too many Tenants Supers! I could be anywhere!"
you can catch DJ Miley on Klass 91.6 in Essex - Saturday morning Bad Boy
Breakfast 9am-12pm, and at The Gass Club - One Night Stand.
DJ Miley / Distant Soundz Records: 07050 119 539
