SHONKY – Le Velour Remixes (English Interview)
SHONKY « LE VELOUR »
LARRY HEARD, DELANO SMITH & THE MARTINEZ BROTHERS REMIXES
Early feedback and support from Reboot, Steve Bug, Jimpster, Raresh, Deetron, Soul Clap, Subb-An, Huxley, Damian Lazarus, Tania Vulcano, Ryan Crosson, Ellen Allien, Dj Deep, Dyed Soundorom, Matthew Styles, Kate Simko, D’julz, Trus’me… Now on Beatport
While feeling very honored and excited to have three extremely talented artists feature on his new Real Tone Records release, Shonky the French Berlin-based producer who is also a part of Apollonia, has asked Larry Heard, Delano Smith and The Martinez Brothers a couple of different questions each to give us more of an insight to them and their artistry.
Shonky: When you were in your 20s, while creating music for the first time, what kind of music did you first intend to create ? House (Acid House, Deep House…), that « new sound » or a was it a different sound?
Larry Heard: I started off writing all kinds of styles until I did the « mystery of love » prototype in around ’84 and so many people expressed that they liked it. Once I found out that DJ’s playing around town were open to the idea of playing music off of tape that was not released and that was appropriate for the dancefloor setting, then there was a reason to focus on the dance genres. I re-listened to disco and early electro records that I had, even doing re-works of some to understand more about how they were constructed. The gear, or lack of gear for most of us played a role in the « rawness » of the creations.
« The gear, or lack of gear for most of us played a role in the ‘rawness’ of the creations »
Larry Heard
Shonky: Mr Fingers or Larry Heard ? How should we interpret the difference between the Mr Fingers or Larry Heard ? Should we feel a different way when listening to the two ?
Larry Heard: Looking back, I guess the Mr. Fingers name and other various monikers were used to hide behind initially since I didn’t have a clue what I was doing and if the whole thing would turn out to be an embarrasment down the line. If the whole thing turned out to be a disaster, I could develop a case of amnesia if anyone asked about it. The varying names were also used to differentiate some of the more experimental or abstract stuff from the more straightforward things which the Mr. Fingers name was initially attached to. I just started using my own name with the Sceneries Not Songs – Vol. 1 release because the different monikers were getting a bit confusing to even myself after a while. I was following in the footsteps of James Brown and George Clinton with the different artist names for the same basic personnel performing.
« Us and the Real Tone guys have a similar background when it comes to music »
The Martinez Brothers
Shonky: I’m holding the vinyl right now in front of me and I’m so honored to have my name on the same vinyl as the legendary Larry Heard. I think I was about 5 years old when Larry released his first record ! What a career ! How about you guys, how old were you ?
The Martinez Brothers: When Larry Heard released his first record, we probably weren’t even an idea in our parents heads yet! But its definitely an honor to be on the same vinyl as himself as well as Delano and Shonky, who are great producers as well !
Shonky: Le Velour was my first release with Real Tone and now I’m working on a new project for Real Tone again. What’s the relation between you guys and Real Tone ? Is this remix you’ve produced the only project with real tone at the moment ? And how would you feel if I asked you to remix my next project as well, which will be ready in the next 6 months, would that be ok ?
TMB: Its funny because, us and the Real Tone guys have a similar background when it comes to music, we’ve known each other for a long time as we come from the same scene, which is more the traditional, soulful type house. So its great to see that we’ve all evolved in the same direction, and its great to be working with them after all this time. Besides this remix, we also have an EP coming out with Real Tone, which I think will be out after the summer, and if you want us to get down on another mix for you, we’d be more than happy bro!
« Belleville 3, Moody or Carl Craig paved the way for us all, made Detroit a respectable place…musically. »
Delano Smith
Shonky: Right now when speaking about Delano Smith, people are under the impression that you are a new rising DJ/Producer from Detroit that’s attracting a lot of hype, but in fact this is not right as you have been around for quite a long time. How do you feel about this ? Why are the public led to believe this ?
Delano Smith: True…I’ve been around djing in the Detroit area for a very long time. Before House and Techno even. It doesn’t bother me really that people don’t recognize that – it’s up to me to see that they do, by having good DJ sets, good taste in music and producing decent tracks. It’s all about hard work and the desire to be successful at what you choose to do in life. When people mention Detroit, the focus has always been on either the Belleville 3, Moody or Carl Craig. That’s ok..because they paved the way for us all, made Detroit a respectable place…musically.
Shonky: Sometimes in your DJ sets you play some vocal tracks. When will we be able to hear a vocal track produced by Delano Smith ? Or better yet, a track produced featuring vocals by Delano Smith ?
Delano Smith: Well, it really depends on where I am in the world is when I play soulful/vocal tracks. In some markets, I dont play any vocal tracks. I actually did a vocal track on my album « An Odyssey » entitled « I wonder » in which i did the vocals on. I like to stick with what works for me though, should I be given the opportunity to produce a Vocal track with someone else, I would surely consider it
Upcoming on Real Tone Records music from Paolo Rocco, POINT G, Franck Roger, Mandel Turner, The Martinez Brothers, Patrick Topping…
Artist: Shonky
Title: Le Velour
Remixer: Larry Heard, Delano Smith, The Martinez Brothers
Cat# RTR058
1 Le Velour (Larry Heard aka Mr.Fingers Underground Dub Remix)
2 Le Velour (Larry Heard aka Mr.Fingers Club Dub Remix)
3 Le Velour (The Martinez Brothers Cuttin’ Headz Remix)
4 Le Velour (Delano Smith Remix)
Format: 12″ Single + Digital
Release Date: 25.06.2012