Jnr J interview

Jnr J interview

24 January, 2008 | 3.01PM

• Written by: jamiegardiner1
• Filed under: Music News : devore, jnr j, mark storie

Jnr J is one of London’s worst kept secrets - the man behind one of the nastiest Electro nights in the capital - Jnr’s Jamm - as guests such as Martjn Ten Velden, Mike Monday and Sebastian Leger will testify - and full time party animal whose ‘ghetto tech’ sound will have the fillings out your teeth!

With a series of tight solo productions and remixes under his belt - and having recently kick-started label Devore (that’s French for devour) alongside Kriss Darang - Jnr J is a name you will have ringing in your ears in 2008.

Q. How did you first get involved in the dance music scene?

A. Well unfortunately I was one of those people who hated early dance music…I thought is was the devils music and all the people who liked it were tripped out drug monkeys…How wrong was I? hahaha.

This carried on until 1997 but then I started to take notice of and get into House and Garage. I thought it was brilliant and I asked my (12 year old at the time) brother to teach me how to mix, which he did. After my 1st lesson I ran out to Red Records in Brixton and bought my 1st vinyl: a track by Mc DT…I forget the name. It wasn’t till I got back home that I remembered I needed two pieces of vinyl to mix so I had to run out to the store again.

After a few months of practice I joined a group called The Untouchablez and carried on with the Garage movement until it all got too rudeboy for my liking…plus MC’s would never shut the f**k up so I moved to the more housier side of things and haven’t looked back since.

Q. Tell the people a little about Jnrs Jamm.

A. I suppose it all started a bit selfishly really hahaha…You know how sometimes you can go out clubbing and find that the music is not consistent all night or the crowd isn’t right or any of the other things that can spoil a night. I wanted to have a party that I could enjoy all night on all the right levels. I reckoned that if I enjoyed it others would too.
I was already working with the guys behind the Throb parties who throw a similar party to the dream (check out old Martin Luther here) I had so we put our heads together and came up with Jnrs Jamm.

It’s a party that’s focussed on the music and the vibe, we ask our crowd to leave any wankyness at home that way all your left with is a great party hahaha…It seem to have worked so far.

Q. Your tracks and remixes have a very distinctive sound, what production tools are used get that Jnr J sound - do you use hardware or is it Logic and VST’s all the way?

A. As much as I try to be a techno geek…I still have a long way to go I’m afraid. I’m quite a newbie so at the moment I’m just using Logic and a couple of VSTs mainly Rob Papen’s Predator and Blue and Native Instrument’s Massive.
As for a sound I just try and make stuff that gets me going. I always ask myself if I would buy one of my own tracks if I came across them record shopping, If the answer is yes then it’s all good but I’m still very new to producing and have a fair old journey ahead of me.

Q. I hear you have a track nearing release with Mark Storie (Ninja Cowboys) nearing release - what can you tell us about that?

A. Wow how did you hear about that? You’ve got your ear to the ground for sure. It’s a collaboration between Kid Dub, Mark Storie and myself called Eyes Of Your Brother…the track is completed now and it’s a bit of a killer Electro track with some lovely melodic elements. I’m currently in talks with a Label about signing but that’s all I’ll say for now.

Q. What piece of studio kit can you not live without?

A. Now I know I’m supposed to say something really cool like my Korg Fx pad 007 Grrrrr 2009 Model. But my kit is a lot sadder than that I’m afraid.
I work on a Macbook which is great for producing when I’m abroad but I get really upset when I forget my Mighty Mouse…it’s a wireless mouse that makes producing so much easier than using the touch pad…it’s sad but I really do love it.

Q. Jnrs Jamm always manages to get some wicked guest DJ’s - if you could have one “dream guest” - who would it be and why?

A. If I could afford it I’d have to go for Jeff (The Techno Overlord) Mills. He was playing at a Lost party at Se One and Kriss Darang took me in to his Dj Box. The security wasn’t having none of this but Kriss said something to the guy and It was all cool. (I think Kriss told him I was available or something…I’m not sure but I was getting funny looks from him after that).

Anyway I watched Jeff Mills Dj and I have never seen or heard anything like it. The guy is amazing, I watched him mix four tracks simultaneously effortlessly and he just kept on doing it over and over…he was all over that Dj booth in a way I heard never seen and the sounds were amazing. I was dancing my arse off to his music but I didn’t wanna dance too hard because of the strange looks from the security guy.

Q. What can we expect to hear from Devore (Kriss Darang & Jnr J’s record label) in 2008?

A. We’ve got some exciting new producers spanning from across the globe that were going to unleash upon you all. Lots of great stuff from right across the genre board as well as some original tracks and remixes from me, Kriss and Harj. With all the success and hype we’ve had so far 2008 is definitely gonna be a good year for us. PS…look out for our Ministry parties too this year.

Q. What’s been your top tune of 2007 - one that gets the crowd going nuts no matter what?

A. It has to be a remix of Daft Punk’s Around The World that a mate of mine done…It’s like those “In case of emergency glass” boxes you see on trains. It never fails to bring a dancefloor to it’s knees. I don’t know if it will ever come out but it the rudest remix I’ve ever heard.

Q. For those of us not yet familiar with your sound, how would you describe your style?

A. Well my perfect sets are the ones where I’m not playing to a purist crowd and I get to cross genres. But what ever it is I’m playing its always going to be fresh, dirty, underground, energetic, mostly LARGE!!!,
It has to have a splice of funk to it and makes you want to dance like your alone in your room and no one is watching you.

Q. If you had to be an animal for a day what one would it be and why?

A. At the moment I’m in Australia and I wouldn’t mind being a Spider so I could eat these bloody Aussie flies. They are here in force this year and it’s driving this poor little London city boy crazy. The worst is when I’m talking with an Old hardcore Aussie bloke and he doesn’t even shoo them off his face when he’s talking me…gross!
I’m such a soft city boy.

Q. Which one record do you wish you had produced?

A. Reckon that would be Daft Punk- One More Time…I love that track so much…I wish that I had produced the video as well…

Q. What did you do for New Years Eve this year?

A. This year I played a really great underground club in Melbourne called Tramp…most people don’t know its there and it’s mostly filled by invite only. I know I had a fantastic time there but I cant remember most of it…That’s how I know it was good!

Q. What single factor has got you where you are today?

A. I’ve still got a hell of a long way to go but one thing that has helped me out is this. I wake up in a bit of a bad mood some mornings so I find this the perfect time to called people and find out why things haven’t gone to plan. Admittedly it can get me into trouble and I may have to smooth over a few people after but the task always gets done hahaha. Proper moody in the mornings hahaha.

On a serious note...I reckon sticking to my guns musically has helped me out a lot, I only ever play tracks that I love, that way I truly enjoy what I do.

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