Interview with: DJ Phantasy  Interview By: Epidemik Crew

 

How did you get the name Phantasy?

The name came about from a party I worked for in the 80's. The rave was called Phantasy & because I was working for them & all the promoters got arrested for running illegal parties, I decided to call myself DJ Phantasy. I spoke with the guys that ran the party & they had no problem except they wanted me to put DJ before the name. DJ Phantasy was born. I was already playing out @ that time but I never had a name & it was quiet weird when someone would ask me what my name was. I just told them my name

How did you first start DJing, and did you know you would one day be making a living out of it?

I started because I had a real love for music & I'm the kind of person that when I get into something I usually go the whole nine yards. Otherwise, what's the point? When I first started it was strictly for the love of it & I didn't realise that I would end up making a living out of it. But I did want to make a living out of it so I just got my head down & got on with it.

How did you cope with the rave scene splitting in to jungle and hardcore? Did you do cross-over sets, or keep true to one style?

I'm glad you have asked this. A lot of people think that I played hardcore when the music split but that's bollox. Let me tell you a fact that anyone who was around can verify. I alongside Mickey Finn & top buzz started playing this whole drum n bass sound. When everyone was out there playing their 4 to the floor, we were playing jungle techno. I made tracks in 1990 that were of a drum n bass style & they were like the style I was playing. In 1991, hippodrome was made, which was a drum n bass track. So tell me please, how can man come & claim they started Jungle in 1994. That's bollox. I just wish people would search out the history of this scene as it does go back a lot further than the explosion of jungle. I didn't have to cope with the split because I felt & still feel that I played a very important part of helping it grow. I don't want a pat on the back for that but it would be nice if people recognised.

What are the best events you've played at?

This question is so boring. Every interview I do they ask it. Every rave/party I play at whether there's 10,000 people of 100 people are great. At the end of the day I am here to entertain people & it doesn't matter where it is as long as there's people there to listen to the music. That's what it's all about. The people & the music.

What's your favourite place to play and why?

My favourite clubs are Camden palace & fabric. They are just wicked. If you have been to those venues you will know what I'm talking about.

What's your all-time favourite track?

My favourite all time track is Gwen McRae, givin' all my love. I have lots of favourite tunes but to many to list. I also really like the Smurf by Tyronne Brunson. Bad tune for the time it was made.

When did you get in to producing?

I started making tunes in 1989. The first track I made was called 'Jepron'. This track was later remixed by Carl Cox & was a big tune for the time. Again it was a breakbeat influenced track although it was a drum machine rather than a breakbeat but still all the same it had the elements there. The break has always been a part of my life & always will be.

What was the first track you made and what equipment was it made on?

Shit, I can't remember what I used. I think it was even before Atari had their software sorted. I'm not sure. I know there was a keyboard & all the sound were from a drum machine & a keyboard. No sampler was used at all.

Which of your own tracks are you the most proud of?

All of them. Even the shit one's. Why? Because I have learned from them all. Everytime i go in the studio I just vibe. If people like it then great but if they don't then kool. The day i start making music that I'm not comfortable with is the day i will have to hang up my boots. When all the crappy hard sounding drum n bass was around, the industrial sound, i never made it 'cause i couldn't vibe from it. So I just carried on doing what i was doing in the knowledge that the music would come around again as it always does. When you are young you don't realise that but when you get a bit older you clock that. For eg. Most of the tracks that are in the charts are covers of tracks that were out years ago but the kids wouldn't know that as they are too young. But they will find out.

Have you ever felt like leaving the sound of dnb / jungle and experimenting with other genres of music?

I have never ever considered leaving drum n bass. I love it to much & it's in my blood. I'm not one of those people that jump ship when the music is on its backside & then jump back on it when it's good like some people have. I as a producer have experimented with loads of different sounds & genre's of music. I have done some hip hop, house, breakbeat & loads of other kinds of stuff. Most of this has been when friends have wanted to get in the studio to do their thing & have asked me to help them produce their sound. As it was something different I helped them out but at the moment I'm so busy that I ain't got the time to do that at the moment.

What artists do you admire within the music world?

All of them. Why? Because every single person has a different outlook on how music should sound. That's why music is the only thing in the world that people can't live without. Even if you into folk music & you are 67 years old. You still like music. Not what we would like but its music. People think it's easy to make music & it is getting easier with technology but shit man, it's all about the vibe. I can make a hip hop tune but if the vibe ain't right then no one will play it. So anyone who's getting their music played, you have to big up cause they doing something right.
Except shit tunes like addicted to bass. What a pile of shit & I can't believe that got into the charts & represented drum n bass on a massive scale. That's not drum n bass & never will be. It's watered down shit. I hate that tune & I don't respect the people who made that cause they just sampled tunes from our scene & put them together with a fukin annoying vocal.....total shit. If anyone bought it I urge you to burn it. Please!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Tell us about your labels and artists? Do you see a bright future for them?

Easy records was started in 1995. The artists who have appeared on the label to date are, DJ hype, Alex Reese, Pascal, DJ Gemini, Stakka & Skynet, DJ Probe, Sonia (Shola Amma's mother),Hopa & Bones, MC Fats, Jack Smooth, DJ Lee, Ray Keith & Steve Gurley to name just a few. With loads of new projects in the pipeline, 2003 is going to be a big year for the label. We have releases coming from my partners in the studio, Mayhem & Gurley & also a 12" from Digital & also a remix from Total Science. MC CD has a track that's coming out very soon & I have projects on the go with MC IC3 & MC MC. The track we have done with MC MC is being tracked by J Majik for his label, infrared but I think for this first release with MC MC, we are going to release it as we have put a lot of work into the project. With plans to get in the studio with more artists the ball has just started rolling & I will try my hardest to keep it rolling.
Big tings to come from the label in 2003. Just keep locked to the website for more info.

You  event, devotion, is just over 2 years old - how do you feel its progressing in the rave scene, and where are you planning on taking it over the next 2 years? More b2b specials? More Sunday events?

Yea, we think we have built the night nice & slowly. We didn't go straight in for the big one. We did small clubs & then joined with promoters to cover their drum n bass rooms. Then we joined up with Pyromaniacs to host our 2nd birthday bash @ Bagleys Warehouse 7 it was an amazing night. A big big thank you to all those who attended & to those that missed out, you missed a great night. We are the first people to put that many artists in one venue in one night. Our next event is going to be held @ The Shepards Bush Empire on Friday 28th March 2003. This is a new venue for drum n bass & if you haven't been there before then you have got to make it to witness the start of something fresh for drum n bass. We have Grooverider, Andy C, Skibadee, Nicky Black Market, IC3 & Brockie booked & confirmed already. With more artists to be confirmed very soon, the night should be massive so check out the flyers that will be out before New Years Eve.

You've been in the dance music business since it started, what advice would you give any budding DJs or MCs?

My advice would be, Rome wasn't built in a day. Nobody's careers were built in a day. For example, Shy FX has been making the biggest tunes in drum n bass for years but it wasn't until last year that he started to play out a lot. Now you see him on every flyer going. So you just gotta hang in there & keep believing in yourself without being arrogant. I had a DJ approach me once asking me to help him get work but the way he asked me was like I owed it to him. When Filthy Dirty Rich approached me years ago about work, he just came to me with a tape, biography & something to show me what he was doing to help himself in the scene. Since that day, he became a resident for me & now we run parties together (Devotion & Pyromaniacs). So if you have the right attitude then you will get far.

What do you listen to when you are at home - be honest!

Nothing. I work everyday all day & night with music so when I relax I chill out with my family & watch TV. Other than that I go watch the best football team in the world............Chelsea.....oh gosh!!!!

What have you got in the pipeline?

I think I have answered this in my previous answers.

What do you see yourself doing in 20 years?

I see myself still playing & making music. My old skool sets will probably be back to '2009'...ha-ha... I honestly can't see myself doing anything else. It's like breathing. You need to do it to survive. It's in my blood.

Anything else?

Naa, think I've rambled on enough, don't you? Hahaha

I would like to say a big thank you to my family for all their help & support throughout the years & to all my friends who have kept me company on many a long night. I would also like to thank god for giving me this great gift & for helping me to keep striving to bring myself & the music forward.
Also, finally a big thanx to all the people who have ever danced to my sets or my tunes. Rispek!!!!!!!!!

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