Martin Solveig
HOUSE PARTY BACARDI B-BAR The Honeycomb, Edinburgh, Sat 28 May
Robert Owens might well be the voice of house music, putting his vocals to seminal tracks like 1988's ‘Tears’, but he’s so much more besides. Having collaborated with everyone from Mr C to Layo & Bushwacka! and Photek over the last 20 years, it was in his partnership with Larry Heard as the legendary Fingers Inc that he was instrumental in the nurture of this most widely embraced strand of music.
‘We never took it seriously,’ Owens drawls in a lazy Chicago accent. ‘We were recording and making things on the cheap. We just did it for the love of it, the excitement of creating.’ It was this democratisation of the music that he believes hooked the world on house music. ‘When people came to get interested, it was the idea that people could create something with so little money but so much emotion and feeling. They were
Doc Scott
DRUM 8. BASS LIVEVEVIL The Glasgow School of Art, Glasgow, Fri 3 Jun
saying, “Hey, maybe I can do that. I don’t have to go the industry route.”’
Knocking out parties since the mid-80$, Owens takes the unique approach of singing live mid-set, serenading the dancefloor from the booth. ‘Each aspect is uniquely different,’ he says of his multifaceted role as songwriter, producer, DJ and vocalist. ‘Just like you can’t compare one situation with the next and you can’t compare one crowd with the next, each is specific to the energy in the moment.’
In this premier Bacardi B-Bar party Owens is flanked by the mighty Martin Solveig, Gareth Sommerville and percussionist Shovell, with backroom support from remixer extraordinaire Yam Who?, Firecracker Records, Mr Todd and Fudge Fingas. And with all this talent condensed into one night, Owens is still looking for only one thing from the crowd. ‘If I see people smiling and happy then I feel I’ve achieved my objective. If they feel it then I feel it.’ (Mark Edmundson)
It is five years since the audio VISLlal D88 monster that is LiveVEVil first holed up in the 13th Note. In that time the night has welcomed some of the scene's foremost underground players to perform alongside their internationally recognised reSidents. Now camped out at Glasgow School of Art. they are bringing in the big guns for their birthday bash.
After 15 years in the game. 'King of Rollers' and 0&8 pioneer Doc Scott can be considered one of the scene's most glittering luminaries. Forging a bond Wllh Goldie in D&B's nascence. he released on Metalheadz and Good Looking before setting up his 31 Records label in 9:3.
‘I like to try and encompass as many good D88 styles as I can: that's why I enjoy playing longer sets.’ he says of his legendary smooth. rolling sets. ‘Three hours really allows me to cover all the bases. so to speak. When I'm abroad it's the norm. but to do that in the UK is very unusual.‘
He also claims that Scotland offers an enthuSiasm for a night that can't be guaranteed elsewhere in the UK. 'People in Scotland. they come out to have a good time. and that’s all yOu can ask for. whereas in London sometimes it can be a bit harder because there are so many 08.8 events on; people down there are spOilt. basically. It's a bit speCial for me and for the crowd as well — it's always going to be enjoyable'
80 live on LVE. and keep on rolling. (Mark Edmundson)
Name James dela Cruz
Who? One of the two wizardly turntable donors in loony, Aussie outfit the Avalanches. dela Cruz has rocked parties the world over, touring with the likes of N'E'R'D. J5 and the Streets. How did this all come about?
James dela Cruz: ‘l was already a recognised DJ around town and around Australia before the Avalanches. My older brothers were collecting records and DJing in the 805 and I just started DJing by default really. for a little extra cash. So Dexter was in the next suburb up and me and my brother and he and his brother started to do parties.’
What’s your sound?
Cruz: ‘Eclectic. I guess. It‘s not “mish-mash”, whatever that means. l just like to play my faVOurite tracks from different styles across the board that kinda have that common thread of quality.‘
What can we expect on the night?
Cruz: ‘Just a really honest vibe. a nice party vibe: not too deep or dark. it has its place but I'm not into that. I like to build it up really slowly, a lot of tricks and scratches. juggles. that kind of break the shit down like live remixing with two records. A good cohesive mix.‘
And what would do It for you?
Cruz: ‘If people are kinda open to it — new sounds or things played and programmed differently, I guess. You can usually tell in the first half an hour whether you should adjust or keep going. doing what you're doing.‘
What’s next?
Cruz: ‘l’d like to tour a bit more this year. I'm currently writing my own material at the moment. basically just building a catalogue of music. We'll see what that brings.’ (Mark Edmundson)
I James dela Cruz guests at Spin Off, Cabaret Voltaire. Wed 7 Jun.
.76 Mtiy 2" .J..'l LR‘L‘E‘. THE LIST 35