Interview

Download The Mp3 Here or if that doesn't work, use this... Mirror Mp3 Download

Interview Transcript

Evil Android - Tell us about who you were before you became DJ Vibes.

DJ Vibes - Who was I before I became DJ Vibes? Well... I was still DJ Vibes deep inside, but I was a DJ called "Navigator", then and I used to have me own pirate station and I used to work for me dad's building company for a few months. It was only a few months - if that. Haha. I didn't get the sack, but I didn't leave. It was sort of... 'an agreement' between... between everybody that I was crap! Preferably me, and erm - no - then I was "DJ Navigator" running me own pirate station, with a fella I know called Barry, a good friend of mine called Barry J. But he wasn't Barry J then though either, he was, um, "Mr Big Stuff", hahaha, and um, yeah he's doing alright now. And then um, the pirate station took off and as the old story goes... got a few bookings in youth clubs, and dodgy nightclubs around South End and Canvey Island and Basildon. Then for some reason - I was always into the Soul music, as you all know - Roy Ayers was me favourite artist, and the nickname for, um, the xylophone, which is what Roy Ayers plays very well indeed, that's what he got his name for - he's like the um, you know. Like Lionel Richie plays the piano, and, you know, James Galway plays the flute. Roy Ayers played the xylophone and the nickname for those was "the vibes" and it just... well, it was on the back of a lot of his records - "The vibes played by Roy Ayers" - you know, and I was called "Sir Vibes" at first, because it was a bit of a mix-up between "Survives", you know, which you do, which we survive, and "Sir Vibes", I don't know... and then it just got dropped 'cos the "Sir" was a bit suspect! Like Barry dropped "Mr", so it wasn't "Mr Big Stuff" any more, it was just "Big Stuff". Then, I think "Big Stuff" was bad on it's own, not to mention with the "Mr". Yeah, so then it just went to "Vibes", and that was how that little chapter unfolded. "DJ Vibes" just was the progression from Vi- and now it's "Vibesy", hehehe.



Evil Android - For the benefit of new ravers and new people to the scene, could you give a brief history of your activities in the scene, from that point on?

'Vibesy' - Well, I'd say that, well the Hardcore, see, I was DJing, just it wasn't really Hardcore in - this was about 1991-2, I'd say - and then Hardcore sort of branched out. I was playing sorta Dancey music which was a bit of soulful Dance music, a bit of Reggae dance music, a bit of all sorts, but then the Rave sort of got fashionable, you know, and I sort of, luckily liked it and the radio station was still going, and it was the music people wanted to hear. So it was obviously what I sort of went along with. And then, the Hardcore scene evolved a little bit, and I evolved with it. And then the Hardcore scene evolved into Jungle, but I - I always played Jungle, at first, along with the melodic 'pianoey' stuff... and then when you had to make a choice, which was either Jungle or the Hardcore melodicy pianoey stuff, I went the pianoey way, because... being, um... the way I look more so, being white and being the friends I had around me were more particularly into the musical stuff as well. So um, I played the Jungle a bit here and there, but it really needed to be split. So I did go down the Hardcore road, and I'm very glad of it. And loved it. And loved every minute and it - that was about '93-4. Then I had a few tracks put out around '93. "Music's So Wonderful", the first one, and "Sing It Loud". "Music's So Wonderful" is a little bit on the Jungley side, the breakbeaty Drum n Bassy side, but the "Sing It Loud" was completely opposite and much more girlified, happified, jumpy-in-the-airified. But then there were the tracks after that - mainly went down the happy road, because of... you know, as I said, the way I looked and the people I was hanging around with and the dos I was going to with people. So, I just got sorta 'pushed' that way.



Evil Android - So where has the Hardcore scene taken you, since then?

DJ Vibes - Well it took me everywhere. It's took me round the world. It's took me... a lot of laughs. It's took me to a lot of clubs, a lot of places in England I'd never have been to. You couldn't name a town in England I haven't been to, really, without not DJing in. Met loads of great people, had loads of great times. Made a bundle more tunes, you know, 'cos I love doing that. Then carried on doing that for years and years, 'til about.. '99-2000. Then I sort of - didn't get sick of it, not got sick of it at all - but music started changing, getting a little bit more technofied, a little bit more Trancey, a little bit more bouncy, faster... and I didn't really move with it, due to my own choice, and I still played the Oldskool. Kept on playing the '95-94, '96, you know, around those times. Hooked up with me mate Live Lee, about '95, he's stook, stuck, stuck, stook, and sticked by me. And um, we had a great old time, and we've been playing ever since. We've been doing, well, I'd say a couple of dos per weekend since then. Sometimes doing one do, sometimes doing four or five dos, you know, but having a great time - as you can imagine!



Evil Android - Have you got any plans to make new Hardcore?

DJ Vibes - Well... new Hardcore, I've... I've, what's the date now? We're in, now we are in May of 2005. And since November / December of 2004... Well let's say the start of the year, really. I've put together 4 new Hardcore tracks, which I'm quite pleased with, with a fella called Hattrixx - you may well know him - who's been producing for 5 or 7 years to a high standard, but recently has come to a very high standard. Not just because he's been doing it with me, but.. Yeah, I've got back into - but I like the music, but I can't just play Oldskool forever because I'll just turn into an old fool, just keep playing the old stuff. You gotta move onwards and upwards. You know, I am a good DJ, and I've got a great MC with me, LiveLee. And the new stuff, we're not just playing the new stuff because we wanna... 'cos we think it's what's moving forwards, we do like some of it, we won't play all of it. We won't just play it for the sake of it. And yes, we have made a few new ones. And funny enough, it was only yesterday that um, made a brand new track with LiveLee... and Hattrixx, and LiveLee MCing, and it's just... I can't believe how fresh and new it is. I'm sure you might be- even have a clip of it, over the Internet, if possible? If people are desperate for it, I think we could arrange that, could we? And see what people think? But I'm very impressed with it. We're half way through it. And um... the three of us - Hattrixx, LiveLee, and myself have done really well to get it out. I'm sure if people wanna hear the new stuff, they can click on to the website and get it. Which I'd like them to do, and I'd love them to do and, like, I'd love the feedback, because I'm happy with it... and all my old tracks I'd think were up to a good standard, and I'm sure that these ones are too.



Evil Android - What kind of music are you writing now, and how would you describe it?

DJ Vibes - I'd definitely say - little bit different - still got the old style to it. Still got the old style to it. It's just Rave style, it's just bouncy, it's just "me" style. I wouldn't say it's any particular style, because I never go in to a studio really with a-with an idea, half the time. I know it sounds stupid. Sometimes go in with the odd sample, but not with a major idea. And normally, if you go in with an idea, it'll never work out that way, anyway. So just go in planning to do some bouncy, rockin', shockin', beautiful stuff... and hopefully that's what I've come out with. So four different - totally different tunes... LiveLee's one's WELL off the chart! So um, I just hope people could hear 'em and give an honest opinion. 'Cos obviously they're not gonna be number one chart-toppers straight away. I'm not gonna say they are. But they're definitely, from what I've heard, quite up there in the quality ratings. But that's me, I'm gonna say that, aren't I? But, you know, good luck to anyone who makes music... tries to make music, 'cos it is NOT easy. It is not f**kin' easy, no matter what anyone says. You can't just go in and do it. And if you can, you've got a great talent. And people who think they can just go in and do it every other day... Every- All these big DJs, Dougal, Breeze, Styles, they don't just go in and do it every other day, I'm sure. They work very hard, and for every ten hours they spend in the studio, probably only 4 of them are productive 'cos it's very, very difficult. And any DJ that's putting out a couple of tunes a month is doing very, very good work... and I respect to all of them. But I'm hopefully getting there, and pushing myself 'cos I want people to hear me DJ. I want people to hear my tunes. I want to see people dance. I wanna speak to people. I'm there, I'm there for the people. I'm the Ronnie O'Sullivan of DJs. Hehehe.



Evil Android - Who else's tracks do you like, and what other DJs do you rate at the moment?

DJ Vibes - Well, I like the happier side of things. I don't like the harder, darker side. I like the Trancey, bouncy stuff. I like the stuff that flows, that really gets people up on the floor. All I would seem to remember - and I know I'm going back to the Oldskool again - is looking across the dancefloor at The Sanctuary, and just seeing a sea of people from front to back, bouncing up and down, and putting their hands in the air to a nice pianoey, beautiful breakdown. I've always been a bit of an old sucker for, you know, girly stuff, and people just... really just, going wild without having any inhibitions and worrying what they look like, and worrying what people think of 'em. I s'pose that's what took me down the road of the happy, rather than the Jungle. Just remembered playing a bouncy tune, a right nice bouncy... you know the sorta style I mean... nice bouncer where people just go for it, and that's me really. Just gotta go for it. If you don't go for it, no one will go for it for ya. And if you just sit back - like I've realised - maybe people will sort of dance on top of ya. But yes, up for the happy stuff... predominantly. But I'm not gonna name DJs, I'm not gonna name particular tunes. Just... I'm into QUALITY DJs, playing QUALITY tunes, no matter who they are, and where they got 'em from. Simple as.



Evil Android - A lot of people at the moment seem to have a very cynical view of the DJs at the forefront of the scene, and believe that the more underground labels with their up and coming producers aren't getting a look in. What do you think of that, and how do you think it compares to how things were in the past?

DJ Vibes - Well I think it's always been like that, to a certain degree. But um, there's only one way to get through, and everybody has to start somewhere. And it has to be with starting with a little bit of quality, and just basically sending them everywhere, putting yourself everywhere about. Um... it's okay for me to say that, with a minor head-start on people, but just like anything, when I started DJing, you have to send your tapes. You have to send them everywhere. And when you don't get a reply, send them again. And eventually, the cream WILL rise to the top, the quality will get noticed. There's only a certain amount of room in every game. Whether it be football, whether it be business, banking, you know. If you're well known already, if you get head-hunted... it's very difficult sometimes to come up through the ranks. But if you are dedicated, DO really fancy it, and know deep down in your heart that you've got some quality, it WILL be realised, and it WILL be noticed. That's a fact. But you can't just sit in your room. You can't just sit on the post box. You have to put things IN the post box, and you do have to make the odd phone call. And yes, sometimes it does take a lot of time, and a lot of knock-backs, and yes it can even cost money. But... sacrifices do have to be made. You can't just fall out of the sky into a... into a top position.



Evil Android - How do you feel about the new wave of CDs - the fact that they're selling so much better than they have over the past 5 years - and the fact that some people seem to be ditching vinyl?

DJ Vibes - Well I've always been dead against ditching vinyl, because... you know, I've always said this. I rarely play CDs, but I do lately, here and there, if it's a tune that's good enough that needs to be played that- I can't have it on vinyl. But every DJ can say they love the CDs, and only- But you know, being a DJ yourself, and any other DJs out there... there's nothing like pulling back a record and starting it from- Then scratching it back, and getting it, you know... And pressing the CD button just doesn't seem to have the same... the same?... You know, the same lift. To pick up that needle, put it on that record. Get your record out, give it a clean. Get it on... You know that is the original DJ way. We all know that. But... but if DJs were a hundred years ago, they wouldn't have been playing records. They'd have been, you know, playing crappy old 78s on their gramophones. So everything moves onwards and upwards, you know. There's all the new... playing... 15 tracks off of one piece- A hundred tracks off one piece of vinyl, you know. There's all different ways of DJing, but... I'm still WELL into the vid- the di- *tut*- 'the DVD'- well into the vinyl, and CDs is a great progression. But I don't think I'll ever play a set without there being 3 or 5 MINIMUM records in it. Just because.. I still love playing me new sets, but with a few oldies chucked in. You know, you can't forget every- your roots totally, and just play because other people are playing it. I'm well up for the compilations doing well, but yes it has killed the sales of vinyl and it seems to, yes it has killed the DJ... I see DJs that I've never even heard of before, which is no disrespect, which is great, with a pack of CDs and 2 CD mixers. They're walking into a rave, putting them on. And I don't think that's the way to start DJing, or that's the way to progress yourself, or- to start JUST CDing... I dunno. But then again, look at me! I'm... 'Old Granddad', so... haha, hahaha, but yeah, so I'm just living from the past, as such. But sometimes- that's where the DJing started for me, so that's where it will always be, deep down.



Evil Android - Who are you friendly with on the circuit?

DJ Vibes - I'm friendly with everybody, deep down. I couldn't say that I go around knocking for people to have tea with them every night, certain people. But I'm friendly with everybody. I, personally, have got not one bad word to say about anyone and any- that's a fact, and no one could- I can be quoted well and truly on that. I've never had aggravation with anybody, but yes, I'm well friendly because.. that's just me. You know, I've got a smile and a drink for anyone, and it's never false. There's a fiver loan for anyone, from me... if they really want it. Nah, but I'm friendly with everyone, mate. If I was bound to name everyone, I just... I couldn't. But yes, I'm friendly with everyone. Simple as that. I'm sorry the question's so shortly answered, but that's the only way I can.



Evil Android - Tell us about the old Kiss FM days.

DJ Vibes - The old Kiss FM days? Whasashzzzooom. They were great days! Radio is my sort of, I think it's gonna be for me for the future. Definitely for the future, when I get rid of this sore throat. But no, radio is for the future. But they were great times. Course it was great to play records live, where you didn't have any... there was no, um, rules there. Except you didn't play swearing, or you didn't swear yourself - have any records that had swearing or bad language in, whatsoever, or- But we could play what we wanted, as long as we had a laugh. The phones were ringing all the time, people loved it and that was just in London. Imagine a, um, nation-wide Hardcore show. Imagine that, what that would be like. You couldn't even get through to Kiss at the time, it was brilliant. And we was getting so much respect. When it was my birthday, I had me, um - what was it? - think it was twenty-six at the time... or twenty-fifth?... Something like that. I, um, got - and this is a fact - it was OVER 200 cards for my birthday. And all of the cards, it was a sort of competition we had, all of the cards, they were cards that had to be made or written from people themselves- not bought from a shop. Over 200 hand-made cards, and that just... forever, to this day... If I never DJ'd again, now, them sort of things stick with me, but I remember 'em- A LOT of the names of the people, 'cos the effort they went to. Just things like that, you know, really makes it special. And I just hope that any other up and coming DJs... WAKE UP LIVELEE! hehehe... And I hope any other up and coming DJs have had half, or even quarter the great times I've had with the people that I've mingled with and messed about with. I'd be very happy for 'em, because, you know, something you can't buy. And it's never been about money, it's never been about... being someone, and being up there. Everyone knows that if I go into a rave, I'm in the rave for most of the night. And they know that I'm there having a laugh with the people. Of course you have to get your petrol and pizza money, course you do. But I've never been one of these people who's out there for that. And everyone knows that I'm... the most approachable... having a laugh bod on the circuit, on the scene, and basically in life in general.



Evil Android - What are your interests outside of Hardcore?

DJ Vibes - Interests outside of Hardcore? Hardcore porn, hardcore football, hardcore snooker. No. Um, yes. Yeah, I s'pose anything I do, I do it Hardcorely... if there's such a word? Playing a bit of snooker with old LiveLee. Looking for a car, I've been looking for a car for seven months, haha, if not more! Numerous things! Yes.



Evil Android - Have you any plans to become a promoter?

DJ Vibes - No, never have done. Never... well no, I promoted before I DJ'd, actually. Down in Mr B's in South End. Old Error used to go down there, DJ Error. He's a good friend of mine. Used to be packed out, used to be a thousand people in there, every Friday night. And then the week before Christmas, we had the Christmas Eve, and the New Year's Eve, they sacked us... so that they could have it for themselves. And then the 2nd one in January, there was no one in there, so they lost out. Yeah, we done a bit of promoting down at Slammer's in Gravesend about 10-12 years ago, now. But promoting from now onwards - very much doubt it. If I won the lottery, then I would! I'd put on a do, a massive, supersonic do. And I'd just charge people 2 quid to get in, what it would cost me to make me money back, just to give something back to them. I would just do a do with the biggest line-up, the biggest fair rides, the biggest freebies and giveaways, as long as I didn't lose any money, so that I could give something back to the bods. No, in fact, I'd charge a quid, go on! Haha. LiveLee's just dropped his phone at this point, he's THAT bored, hahahaha!



Evil Android - Are you going to cut your hair, or are you the Southern equivalent of Scott Brown?

DJ Vibes- Scotty Brown? I think, well it could be arranged, it's not too long at the minute. But I think just... maybe for the new year, for the summer. No? LiveLee's shaking his head. Yeah, maybe for the summer, yeah a new look, a new me, a new everything. But we shall see. I think I need to, I think you're right, actually. But if I lose me hair, it's like old Samson, I might lose me DJing strength. But then again, it might be better off!



Evil Android - Are you more into the illegal rave, or shiny superclub?

DJ Vibes - Well as it happens, I'm playing at an illegal rave tomorrow night in Exeter. We're not getting paid for it. We're playing in Plymouth tomorrow night, haha, and then on the way back- Well we're playing Exeter first, then we're going to Plymouth. And the Exeter people are having an after's do in a field... and we're, um, playing there for free, so... we're playing there at 8 in the morning. Don't have to do it, we're just coming back through, and we're gonna have a right old laugh. BUT, there's different times and places and different faces for everything. On a Saturday night if you were going out and you weren't DJing, or you were going out to your cousin's birthday, or ya girlfriend's something like that, you'd probably want the superclub, wouldn't ya? And then the night before that, or the night after that, you'd want the illegal rave. Depends what shoes you were wearing really, dunnit? Hahaha.



Evil Android - Which of the tunes that you've had a hand in making are you most proud of, and which of them have gone down the best?

DJ Vibes - I'm quite lucky, actually. Quite a few of my tunes done well, in a different way. They always had some different bits and pieces to 'em, like the "Rave Is A Mystery", the Madonna sample one, at the start. That was very simple, took 3 or 4 hours to make. And that always - even to this day - kicks in and does the business. But as I said earlier, with the new tunes I done, one of the new 4 ones is a remix of that... with Hattrixx, and that's really, really... same sort of thing... Exactly the same, but different. It's, um, banging, and it's sort of old style, with a little new bit, I- People still, no matter what you say, love the banging old style, they do love a banger. Haha, not talking about my car, here. I will have one! I WILL have one! I'm gonna get one this week, I tell ya, hah. The "Music's So Wonderful" always done well, but that was then. "No More Tears" always done well, but they was all had banging elements to 'em. Hahaha, yeah, a few banging elephants- No, that was my mixing, hahaha. Look no, all the tunes I've done have got- I think think they've got great bits in them, here and there. I don't think there was a really super-poor one out of 'em. And I know that sounds givin' it some, but I don't think there was a real bad one. The majority of my old tunes are with Wishdokta, so um...  He was the king of all kings on the producing scene, so, he helped me out, obviously. I wouldn't have had nothing without him. He gave me a chance with, um, Remo. They just took me down to their studio one night, and just done "Sing It Loud" with me, and then "Music's So Wonderful" the next week. First night they took me down to the studio, spent all night there, with a fella named Andy, actually. He done production on some of the Star Wars music. The mixing desk in this place was as big as a double bed! Spent all night doing the "Sing It Loud" - I'd say about 7 to 8 hours of their time, no reason. I dunno why he done it for me, but I knew Remo... he took me down there, and once the tune was done, all finished, completely done to the end... someone asked me to pull a plug out... and I don't know how- I just knew it my brain it was the wrong one, pulled the plug out, and it pulled the Akai sampler out! And I dunno why or how it worked at the time, it wasn't saved. It wasn't saved, and the whole tune just WENT. And they didn't go mad at me, they didn't go crazy. I went down the next day and done "Sing It Loud" again, a different version... and that was THE "Sing It Loud". They had me back, and I was looking at this plug, left, right. My hand was moving, my brain was saying "Don't", and I done it! If it weren't for that, I might have been- The first "Sing It Loud" might have been not up to much. And then Grant took me to his house the next day, after that, and we done the "Music's So Wonderful" in 3-4 hours, Wishdokta. And if it weren't for him.... there you go.



Evil Android - Do you have any tips for new producers?

DJ Vibes - Tips I've got for new producers... well, not being a major league producer myself, Hattrixx does the majority of the work, I just shout at him and tell him yes and no, and turn it up, and turn it down, and move it around a bit. But, it's very, very difficult. You have to have some, really have to have something extra- talent chucked in, I don't know what, where, or where it'll come from. But you have to be patient. Definitely be patient. And try NOT to copy people too much. Just try and go in sometimes, without even saying "Right I wanna do something like this". Just go in and really try something different. Try something strange. I've tried a few strange things in tunes, and they haven't worked. But I've tried a few strange things and they surely have worked, really have worked well.



Evil Android - How do you feel about non-Hardcore music?

DJ Vibes - Non-Hardcore music? I don't really listen to a great deal of non-Hardcore music at the moment, lately. I do like soulful Garage, some nice, melodic, vocally stuff. Michael Watford, Kim English, numerous, numerous stuff. That is, that's really is about it. I rarely to music other than Hardcore.



Evil Android - Where do you see Hardcore in the future? Do you think it's got a life?

DJ Vibes - Well it's definitely got a life now. Everyone said it was dieing out, and then- Everyone says everything dies out, and it comes back. But Hardcore has got a life, 'cos it keeps evolving to different areas. There's always been numerous different styles of Hardcore, such as Techno, the Gabber, the Breakbeat, the Oldskool... It's always changing and forming. I do think that it's got a massive life- Definitely got another 15-20 in it, for sure.



Evil Android - What are you doing with your new tunes?

DJ Vibes -  Well I'm gonna keep 'em on the Asylum, and the Ravers Choice. And then, um, me and Hattrixx gonna start a new one. A new one, probably for some real new stuff. We're gonna do some experimental stuff, some crazy stuff with some live singing. Yeah, there's- It's very early days yet, only 4 tunes into it, with LiveLee's 5 tunes into it. So there's plenty more to come, plenty of time to be thinking about labels. Just let people hear 'em first, before we know what paper work's gonna be on 'em.



Evil Android - Are there any up and coming producers that you really rate at the moment?

DJ Vibes - To be honest, what I've been given recently has been - at raves and been sent to - has been pretty poor. Which, I know sounds bad, but that makes me feel glad that my stuff is pretty good. But I haven't really been sent anything from anyone up and coming at the moment that I would rate, and I know that sounds horrible. But I've been sent a lot of stuff from people I know that I do rate, highly. But... Yeah, but they're up and coming as well, but no, they're not up and coming to me, 'cos I know 'em, but up and coming in the scene. There is a few good bits about, but I'd say at the moment there's more bad than good. So, everyone else out there - Let's have some, go for it!



Evil Android - Thank you, DJ Vibes. Is there anything else you'd like to share with us?

DJ Vibes - And this is where I say "Thank you" to everyone, look after yourselves. If you see me in a rave, come and say "Hello". No, don't smack me in the chin - do that to LiveLee......