Banner image of Murray Richardson with heading over it of his name and Interview & Exclusive Guest Mix

Murray Richardson Interview

 

There’s people in the business that you respect, there’s people that work hard and many that don’t and there’s some you’re lucky enough to call a mate. Murray Richardson and I go so far back neither of us probably remembers the details of his City Cafe event and the early days of Untitledmusic being plastered on the walls of Edinburgh’s legendary venue. Before the world got crazy and social media was king he and I used to talk on the phone - we talked music and plenty of shite - but his energy was infectious as it is today still.

 

In the 20 plus years that have passed since his career has steadily rolled on. Releases on labels such as Clive Henry and Rocky’s Low Pressings was followed by appearances on 20:20, Nordic Trax, Baker Street and the like - I even get a credit on his Spacejunk 12” (proud moment that one!).

 

His international DJ career took him from Edinburgh to the world and so who better than to kick off a new series of interviews than Murray - a career DJ/producer that’s been there, done that and seen it all.

 

Thanks for doing this Muzza! Where to begin?… let’s go back to those City Cafe days and what took you out of Edinburgh and into the world?

 

Yes mate, the good old days down the City Cafe. Twenty one years ago and it just feels like yesterday. I think i first came across Untitled in the Underground Solu'shn record shop in Cockburn Street in Edinburgh and thought it would be a good idea to try to hook up with you and see if we couldnt combine Untitled and Rebel Waltz in some way. Back then at the start of Rebel Waltz it was fortnightly Friday night in the City Cafe basement and i would spend those Friday afternoons putting up Rebel Waltz and Untitled posters on the basement walls and outside as well as other promotional stuff about the tables and flyering all the shops and different places about the city. We had some great nights down at The City Cafe with some brilliant label showcases and Djs that included Alex Greenhough and Paul Ingall from Toko, Nick Morley and Atjazz from Mantis, Tyler Stadius from Nordic Trax, Digs and Woosh from DIY, Stuart Patterson and Leo Elstob from Soulsonic, Ralph Lawson and Domenic Cappello from 20:20 Vision, Scott & Scooby from Forensic, Craig Smith from In Demand, Big Hair from Tak and Herbert among others and of course Marco Smith who became an integral part of The Waltz . At around the same time i had just won the Muzik Magazine Bedroom Bedlam competition so i managed to get a lot of press for the City Cafe parties from them as well as press from Dj Magazine which helped me a lot as the next thing i found myself Djing in some of the top clubs in the country and playing alongside some of the best Djs but it was really thanks to John Vick and working with him at his Finiflex Studios in Leith which enabled me to start releasing music which in turn helped me to start playing outside the UK and all over the world.

 

How is Rebel Waltz different these days to back then - how has it needed to evolve?

 

Its needed to evolve around where in the world ive found myself living over the last 18 years really. After living in Edinburgh for ten years and after doing the parties at the City Cafe i started to get itchy feet and after a short residency at Nottingham's Blueprint club i moved to Barcelona where i set up a Rebel Waltz residency firstly at the City Hall and then later at La Terrrazza on Poble Espanyol. It was at this point that my partner in crime Stuart Patterson came on board and we started doing Rebel Waltz together monthly playing back to back, tune for tune and we had some cracking nights at the City Hall along with some brilliant guest Djs like Clive Henry, Luke Mckeehan, Milton Jackson and Chris Harris, Dj Linus, Chris Duckenfield, Kenny Hawkes and Ben Davis among others. After that it was the Rebel Waltz residency at La Terrrazza and we had some great nights there too especially the night that was recorded for Dj Magazine and released as a CD cover mount. A Rebel Waltz residency in London followed that where we teamed up with the Sancho Panza crew for a monthly back to back session down in the basement of the East Village club. These were top nights also but unfortunatley they came to an end once i moved to Sao Paulo but there i was lucky enough to hook up with Brazil's chemical brothers Jota Wagner and Wander A and we started doing a Rebel Waltz versus Colors residency in this crazy downtown venue called Trackers and Stuart was able to come over a few times to join us and take Rebel Waltz out on the road across Brazil too. I had an amazing time doing Rebel Waltz while i lived in Edinburgh and in the five years i lived in Barcelona and the four years i lived in Brazil and now back in Europe for the last few years living on and off in Lisbon im continuing to keep the  Rebel Waltz name on the go. At the moment im in the process of setting up a Rebel Waltz residency in Budapest for next Summer which is exciting as its a great city and i love it there.

 

What’s been the highlights of your career so far?

 

Ive had many highlights over the last twenty three years since i played my first paid gig and so many good times and nights out, too many to list and loads that my memory fails me on now but ive been really lucky to have been able to travel the world and see so many places and meet and make so many good friends along the way and this for me has been the main highlight. Winning the Muzik Magazine competition is definetley a highlight and helped kick start everything for me as well as releasing my first ever vinyl along with John Vick as the H.O.W. Project which is also definetley a highlight. Releasing my first ever coloured vinyl for Low Pressings records is a highlight for me too as that is one of my favourite labels and i love coloured vinyl. Also releasing my "House Of ill Repute mix CD for Slip n Slide records was a big highlight. Gig wise some parties ive played that spring to mind which have been highlights for me are New Years Eve for the Millenium in Capetown, Djing in Vidigal favela in Rio De Janiero, playing the first Homelands Festival in Scotland then playing at The End in London later that night, the Exit festival in Serbia and the largest crowd ive ever played to, Djing in a cage in a mad club somewhere near the border of Kazakhstan which was one of the best gigs ever, doing a month long residency at Hospital Club in Khabarovsk in Eastern Russia, playing at Glasgow's Sub Club, Djing at the Ministry of Sound, playing at The Bomb in Nottingham, Djing at The Loop club in Tokyo, playing for Streetrave and Colours, my first tour of Australia with the Finger In A Matchbox crew, Djing with Derrick May at Florida 135, Djing in Chicago and Djing in New York are a few.

 

What are your greatest influences? DJ’s, people, labels…?

 

My greatest influences are Devo who have always been my favourite band with The Specials and The Clash also up there as the first groups who really got me into music. A lot of the Djs that i saw at the original Streetrave parties in Ayr that i went to when i was young were very influential especially Sasha, Yogi Haughton, Jon Mancini, Boney and Jay Weardon and there has been loads of other Djs that have influenced me too especially Andrew Weatherall, Justin Roberston and Stuart Patterson. John Vick from Finiflex Studios has always been a big influence and really helped me with my music. There have been so many labels that have influenced me but i would say that Coventry's groundbreaking 2 Tone label along with Sheffield's Warp records and Andrew Komis & Nick Fiorucci's Bigshot records from Canada are three of the most important for me as well as Manchester's Paper records and 20:20 Vision records from Leeds which i was lucky enough to have three EP's released on.

 

What's your favourite place to DJ?

 

Ive been some great places to Dj and i have a lot of favourite places ive played but i have to say that Brazil for me is probably my favourite as i love the Brazilians they have a great energy and its a great country too. Playing in Tokyo was amazing and i would love to get back there again to play and having just come back from Budapest again ive fallen in love with that city and im looking forward to playing there again next year.

 

What’s your usual preparation for a set? Picks tracks, sleep…?

 

Now that i dont use vinyl anymore to dj my preperation is really just selecting digital files and loading up USB sticks and making sure ive got back up USB sticks. Its great that i can have access to so much music to play and not have to lug all that heavy vinyl about anymore but you can also have too much choice so im always conscious of that when im sorting out tunes to play. There was a time i tried Djing with a Tracktor controller and a lap top but it was a complete disaster so i binned it instantly. I miss Djing with records however and miss the feel and sound of the vinyl but i adapted to the whole digital thing a while back and its all just so much easier with the sticks. I usually like to think i know what im going to play for at least the first couple of tracks but obviously it depends on the vibe on the the floor when you start your set. Alcohol also is an essential part of my preperation and set. :)

 

What are your top tip's for up and coming DJ’s?

 

Things are so different these days from when i first started out Djing and obviously the whole social media thing has changed everything and although i think social media is important to help to push yourself as a Dj, it also does my head in and i avoid most of them and just use Facebook really. I think its important to know your tunes and the music you are playing...try to do your own parties and start your own night...as a wise man once told me "Youve got to do it for yourself, nobody else will do it for you".

 

You’ve been quiet on the producing for a while - what’s the story there?

 

Yeah its been a while since ive had any of my own EP's out but ive never really been such a prolific producer and i can be quite lazy when it comes to producing, however ive been working on some remixes recently, one that came out two months ago is my remix of Swollen Heads - "Polythene Worlds" on Pat Scott's Acid Culture recordings and another just came out last week on Seattle's Tilted recordings which is my remix of Terry Jasinto's - "The B Side First". Also i was thrilled to be asked by Sheffield's Ozone records to remix their classic 1990 song by Track 1 called - "For This" which is one of my favourite old school tunes and that is due out for release next month.

 

How do you feel production has changed over the years (good or bad) - do you still get as much pleasure from it?

 

For me its changed a lot as i always worked out of Finiflex Studios in Edinburgh with John Vick which was always amazing as John has one of the best studios around however over the last years with all my moving about ive had to get used to working on my own without access to John's machines and all his production experience but the amount of new kit out there and especially portable kit has made it easy for me to work on music on my travels. Im just about to invest in some new kit so will be getting my head back down in the studio again soon. Ive always considered myself more a Dj than a producer but i still get great pleasure from writing a track from scratch and im still learning all the time. Ive always tried to stick to my own sound and stick to what i believe in and tried to keep on producing as much as possible as i know its even more important than ever these days to help me to continue to travel and Dj.

 

What labels are killing it for you right now - tracks your playing and loving?

 

There is so much music out there now and so many producers that i like its hard to keep on top of all the new music at times but apart from a lot of the older quality house labels ive always been into and still love like Lazy Days, Large, Freerange and Classic for example, i really like what the Detroit Swindle boys are doing with their Heist label as well as the Dirt Crew label out of Berlin and im loving Harri from the Sub Club's Manakinz project. I love the sound of Little Fritter from Australia and Austin Ato's sound and also what Jacques Renault is upto. Jay Shepheard has to be one of my favourite producers for sure. Other labels im also into right now are Fine records, Boutade Musique, Pretty Young Thing and Me Me Me.

 

Any DJ’s you’ve seen and think we should check out?

 

Yes a couple that spring instantly to mind are Peter Kiss aka Vittorio Waxman, one of Budapest's old school heads and a top quality Dj. Peter is well known on the Hungarian scene and has a great wealth of knowledge of music and is a fantastic selecter. Also Renato Lopes from Sao Paulo, one of the originators of the Sao Paulo scene and a brilliant Dj. We have a project together called Electrica Salsa which we toured all over Brazil playing back to back and although we havent jammed together for a while if you get a chance to check him Djing in Copenhagen where he lives now i would highly recommend it.

 

What’s on the cards for the next while - gigs to watch out for...?

 

Next up for me im back to London town to play alongside the Faith crew with Terry Farley, Stuart Patterson, Dave Jarvis, Dean Thatcher and also Sancho Panza's Jimmy K-Tel, Ronnie T and Simon Kurrage from Size Doesnt Matter which im well looking forward to as i always love a party in London. This is also a warm up for the "GOA IN 2020 Our Vision Of Paradise" tour which is happening in Goa in late January where ill be joining the sames crews again together for 2 weeks of parties at different venues right along the beaches of Patnem, Palolem and Agonda,,,which should be fun :) ... Then next April ill be heading to Budapest to base myself there for the Summer so look out for a new Rebel Waltz monthly residency and a special Rebel Waltz Euro 2020 party in June.

 

Where can people follow you?

 

 

Exclusive Guest Mix

More like this

Banner image of Murray Richardson with heading over it of his name and Interview & Exclusive Guest Mix
Banner image of Murray Richardson with heading over it of his name and Interview & Exclusive Guest Mix
Banner image of Murray Richardson with heading over it of his name and Interview & Exclusive Guest Mix
Banner image of Murray Richardson with heading over it of his name and Interview & Exclusive Guest Mix

Murray Richardson Interview

 

There’s people in the business that you respect, there’s people that work hard and many that don’t and there’s some you’re lucky enough to call a mate. Murray Richardson and I go so far back neither of us probably remembers the details of his City Cafe event and the early days of Untitledmusic being plastered on the walls of Edinburgh’s legendary venue. Before the world got crazy and social media was king he and I used to talk on the phone - we talked music and plenty of shite - but his energy was infectious as it is today still.

 

In the 20 plus years that have passed since his career has steadily rolled on. Releases on labels such as Clive Henry and Rocky’s Low Pressings was followed by appearances on 20:20, Nordic Trax, Baker Street and the like - I even get a credit on his Spacejunk 12” (proud moment that one!).

 

His international DJ career took him from Edinburgh to the world and so who better than to kick off a new series of interviews than Murray - a career DJ/producer that’s been there, done that and seen it all.

 

Thanks for doing this Muzza! Where to begin?… let’s go back to those City Cafe days and what took you out of Edinburgh and into the world?

 

Yes mate, the good old days down the City Cafe. Twenty one years ago and it just feels like yesterday. I think i first came across Untitled in the Underground Solu'shn record shop in Cockburn Street in Edinburgh and thought it would be a good idea to try to hook up with you and see if we couldnt combine Untitled and Rebel Waltz in some way. Back then at the start of Rebel Waltz it was fortnightly Friday night in the City Cafe basement and i would spend those Friday afternoons putting up Rebel Waltz and Untitled posters on the basement walls and outside as well as other promotional stuff about the tables and flyering all the shops and different places about the city. We had some great nights down at The City Cafe with some brilliant label showcases and Djs that included Alex Greenhough and Paul Ingall from Toko, Nick Morley and Atjazz from Mantis, Tyler Stadius from Nordic Trax, Digs and Woosh from DIY, Stuart Patterson and Leo Elstob from Soulsonic, Ralph Lawson and Domenic Cappello from 20:20 Vision, Scott & Scooby from Forensic, Craig Smith from In Demand, Big Hair from Tak and Herbert among others and of course Marco Smith who became an integral part of The Waltz . At around the same time i had just won the Muzik Magazine Bedroom Bedlam competition so i managed to get a lot of press for the City Cafe parties from them as well as press from Dj Magazine which helped me a lot as the next thing i found myself Djing in some of the top clubs in the country and playing alongside some of the best Djs but it was really thanks to John Vick and working with him at his Finiflex Studios in Leith which enabled me to start releasing music which in turn helped me to start playing outside the UK and all over the world.

 

How is Rebel Waltz different these days to back then - how has it needed to evolve?

 

Its needed to evolve around where in the world ive found myself living over the last 18 years really. After living in Edinburgh for ten years and after doing the parties at the City Cafe i started to get itchy feet and after a short residency at Nottingham's Blueprint club i moved to Barcelona where i set up a Rebel Waltz residency firstly at the City Hall and then later at La Terrrazza on Poble Espanyol. It was at this point that my partner in crime Stuart Patterson came on board and we started doing Rebel Waltz together monthly playing back to back, tune for tune and we had some cracking nights at the City Hall along with some brilliant guest Djs like Clive Henry, Luke Mckeehan, Milton Jackson and Chris Harris, Dj Linus, Chris Duckenfield, Kenny Hawkes and Ben Davis among others. After that it was the Rebel Waltz residency at La Terrrazza and we had some great nights there too especially the night that was recorded for Dj Magazine and released as a CD cover mount. A Rebel Waltz residency in London followed that where we teamed up with the Sancho Panza crew for a monthly back to back session down in the basement of the East Village club. These were top nights also but unfortunatley they came to an end once i moved to Sao Paulo but there i was lucky enough to hook up with Brazil's chemical brothers Jota Wagner and Wander A and we started doing a Rebel Waltz versus Colors residency in this crazy downtown venue called Trackers and Stuart was able to come over a few times to join us and take Rebel Waltz out on the road across Brazil too. I had an amazing time doing Rebel Waltz while i lived in Edinburgh and in the five years i lived in Barcelona and the four years i lived in Brazil and now back in Europe for the last few years living on and off in Lisbon im continuing to keep the  Rebel Waltz name on the go. At the moment im in the process of setting up a Rebel Waltz residency in Budapest for next Summer which is exciting as its a great city and i love it there.

 

What’s been the highlights of your career so far?

 

Ive had many highlights over the last twenty three years since i played my first paid gig and so many good times and nights out, too many to list and loads that my memory fails me on now but ive been really lucky to have been able to travel the world and see so many places and meet and make so many good friends along the way and this for me has been the main highlight. Winning the Muzik Magazine competition is definetley a highlight and helped kick start everything for me as well as releasing my first ever vinyl along with John Vick as the H.O.W. Project which is also definetley a highlight. Releasing my first ever coloured vinyl for Low Pressings records is a highlight for me too as that is one of my favourite labels and i love coloured vinyl. Also releasing my "House Of ill Repute mix CD for Slip n Slide records was a big highlight. Gig wise some parties ive played that spring to mind which have been highlights for me are New Years Eve for the Millenium in Capetown, Djing in Vidigal favela in Rio De Janiero, playing the first Homelands Festival in Scotland then playing at The End in London later that night, the Exit festival in Serbia and the largest crowd ive ever played to, Djing in a cage in a mad club somewhere near the border of Kazakhstan which was one of the best gigs ever, doing a month long residency at Hospital Club in Khabarovsk in Eastern Russia, playing at Glasgow's Sub Club, Djing at the Ministry of Sound, playing at The Bomb in Nottingham, Djing at The Loop club in Tokyo, playing for Streetrave and Colours, my first tour of Australia with the Finger In A Matchbox crew, Djing with Derrick May at Florida 135, Djing in Chicago and Djing in New York are a few.

 

What are your greatest influences? DJ’s, people, labels…?

 

My greatest influences are Devo who have always been my favourite band with The Specials and The Clash also up there as the first groups who really got me into music. A lot of the Djs that i saw at the original Streetrave parties in Ayr that i went to when i was young were very influential especially Sasha, Yogi Haughton, Jon Mancini, Boney and Jay Weardon and there has been loads of other Djs that have influenced me too especially Andrew Weatherall, Justin Roberston and Stuart Patterson. John Vick from Finiflex Studios has always been a big influence and really helped me with my music. There have been so many labels that have influenced me but i would say that Coventry's groundbreaking 2 Tone label along with Sheffield's Warp records and Andrew Komis & Nick Fiorucci's Bigshot records from Canada are three of the most important for me as well as Manchester's Paper records and 20:20 Vision records from Leeds which i was lucky enough to have three EP's released on.

 

What's your favourite place to DJ?

 

Ive been some great places to Dj and i have a lot of favourite places ive played but i have to say that Brazil for me is probably my favourite as i love the Brazilians they have a great energy and its a great country too. Playing in Tokyo was amazing and i would love to get back there again to play and having just come back from Budapest again ive fallen in love with that city and im looking forward to playing there again next year.

 

What’s your usual preparation for a set? Picks tracks, sleep…?

 

Now that i dont use vinyl anymore to dj my preperation is really just selecting digital files and loading up USB sticks and making sure ive got back up USB sticks. Its great that i can have access to so much music to play and not have to lug all that heavy vinyl about anymore but you can also have too much choice so im always conscious of that when im sorting out tunes to play. There was a time i tried Djing with a Tracktor controller and a lap top but it was a complete disaster so i binned it instantly. I miss Djing with records however and miss the feel and sound of the vinyl but i adapted to the whole digital thing a while back and its all just so much easier with the sticks. I usually like to think i know what im going to play for at least the first couple of tracks but obviously it depends on the vibe on the the floor when you start your set. Alcohol also is an essential part of my preperation and set. :)

 

What are your top tip's for up and coming DJ’s?

 

Things are so different these days from when i first started out Djing and obviously the whole social media thing has changed everything and although i think social media is important to help to push yourself as a Dj, it also does my head in and i avoid most of them and just use Facebook really. I think its important to know your tunes and the music you are playing...try to do your own parties and start your own night...as a wise man once told me "Youve got to do it for yourself, nobody else will do it for you".

 

You’ve been quiet on the producing for a while - what’s the story there?

 

Yeah its been a while since ive had any of my own EP's out but ive never really been such a prolific producer and i can be quite lazy when it comes to producing, however ive been working on some remixes recently, one that came out two months ago is my remix of Swollen Heads - "Polythene Worlds" on Pat Scott's Acid Culture recordings and another just came out last week on Seattle's Tilted recordings which is my remix of Terry Jasinto's - "The B Side First". Also i was thrilled to be asked by Sheffield's Ozone records to remix their classic 1990 song by Track 1 called - "For This" which is one of my favourite old school tunes and that is due out for release next month.

 

How do you feel production has changed over the years (good or bad) - do you still get as much pleasure from it?

 

For me its changed a lot as i always worked out of Finiflex Studios in Edinburgh with John Vick which was always amazing as John has one of the best studios around however over the last years with all my moving about ive had to get used to working on my own without access to John's machines and all his production experience but the amount of new kit out there and especially portable kit has made it easy for me to work on music on my travels. Im just about to invest in some new kit so will be getting my head back down in the studio again soon. Ive always considered myself more a Dj than a producer but i still get great pleasure from writing a track from scratch and im still learning all the time. Ive always tried to stick to my own sound and stick to what i believe in and tried to keep on producing as much as possible as i know its even more important than ever these days to help me to continue to travel and Dj.

 

What labels are killing it for you right now - tracks your playing and loving?

 

There is so much music out there now and so many producers that i like its hard to keep on top of all the new music at times but apart from a lot of the older quality house labels ive always been into and still love like Lazy Days, Large, Freerange and Classic for example, i really like what the Detroit Swindle boys are doing with their Heist label as well as the Dirt Crew label out of Berlin and im loving Harri from the Sub Club's Manakinz project. I love the sound of Little Fritter from Australia and Austin Ato's sound and also what Jacques Renault is upto. Jay Shepheard has to be one of my favourite producers for sure. Other labels im also into right now are Fine records, Boutade Musique, Pretty Young Thing and Me Me Me.

 

Any DJ’s you’ve seen and think we should check out?

 

Yes a couple that spring instantly to mind are Peter Kiss aka Vittorio Waxman, one of Budapest's old school heads and a top quality Dj. Peter is well known on the Hungarian scene and has a great wealth of knowledge of music and is a fantastic selecter. Also Renato Lopes from Sao Paulo, one of the originators of the Sao Paulo scene and a brilliant Dj. We have a project together called Electrica Salsa which we toured all over Brazil playing back to back and although we havent jammed together for a while if you get a chance to check him Djing in Copenhagen where he lives now i would highly recommend it.

 

What’s on the cards for the next while - gigs to watch out for...?

 

Next up for me im back to London town to play alongside the Faith crew with Terry Farley, Stuart Patterson, Dave Jarvis, Dean Thatcher and also Sancho Panza's Jimmy K-Tel, Ronnie T and Simon Kurrage from Size Doesnt Matter which im well looking forward to as i always love a party in London. This is also a warm up for the "GOA IN 2020 Our Vision Of Paradise" tour which is happening in Goa in late January where ill be joining the sames crews again together for 2 weeks of parties at different venues right along the beaches of Patnem, Palolem and Agonda,,,which should be fun :) ... Then next April ill be heading to Budapest to base myself there for the Summer so look out for a new Rebel Waltz monthly residency and a special Rebel Waltz Euro 2020 party in June.

 

Where can people follow you?

 

 

Exclusive Guest Mix

Banner image of Murray Richardson with heading over it of his name and Interview & Exclusive Guest Mix
Banner image of Murray Richardson with heading over it of his name and Interview & Exclusive Guest Mix

Murray Richardson Interview

 

There’s people in the business that you respect, there’s people that work hard and many that don’t and there’s some you’re lucky enough to call a mate. Murray Richardson and I go so far back neither of us probably remembers the details of his City Cafe event and the early days of Untitledmusic being plastered on the walls of Edinburgh’s legendary venue. Before the world got crazy and social media was king he and I used to talk on the phone - we talked music and plenty of shite - but his energy was infectious as it is today still.

 

In the 20 plus years that have passed since his career has steadily rolled on. Releases on labels such as Clive Henry and Rocky’s Low Pressings was followed by appearances on 20:20, Nordic Trax, Baker Street and the like - I even get a credit on his Spacejunk 12” (proud moment that one!).

 

His international DJ career took him from Edinburgh to the world and so who better than to kick off a new series of interviews than Murray - a career DJ/producer that’s been there, done that and seen it all.

 

Thanks for doing this Muzza! Where to begin?… let’s go back to those City Cafe days and what took you out of Edinburgh and into the world?

 

Yes mate, the good old days down the City Cafe. Twenty one years ago and it just feels like yesterday. I think i first came across Untitled in the Underground Solu'shn record shop in Cockburn Street in Edinburgh and thought it would be a good idea to try to hook up with you and see if we couldnt combine Untitled and Rebel Waltz in some way. Back then at the start of Rebel Waltz it was fortnightly Friday night in the City Cafe basement and i would spend those Friday afternoons putting up Rebel Waltz and Untitled posters on the basement walls and outside as well as other promotional stuff about the tables and flyering all the shops and different places about the city. We had some great nights down at The City Cafe with some brilliant label showcases and Djs that included Alex Greenhough and Paul Ingall from Toko, Nick Morley and Atjazz from Mantis, Tyler Stadius from Nordic Trax, Digs and Woosh from DIY, Stuart Patterson and Leo Elstob from Soulsonic, Ralph Lawson and Domenic Cappello from 20:20 Vision, Scott & Scooby from Forensic, Craig Smith from In Demand, Big Hair from Tak and Herbert among others and of course Marco Smith who became an integral part of The Waltz . At around the same time i had just won the Muzik Magazine Bedroom Bedlam competition so i managed to get a lot of press for the City Cafe parties from them as well as press from Dj Magazine which helped me a lot as the next thing i found myself Djing in some of the top clubs in the country and playing alongside some of the best Djs but it was really thanks to John Vick and working with him at his Finiflex Studios in Leith which enabled me to start releasing music which in turn helped me to start playing outside the UK and all over the world.

 

How is Rebel Waltz different these days to back then - how has it needed to evolve?

 

Its needed to evolve around where in the world ive found myself living over the last 18 years really. After living in Edinburgh for ten years and after doing the parties at the City Cafe i started to get itchy feet and after a short residency at Nottingham's Blueprint club i moved to Barcelona where i set up a Rebel Waltz residency firstly at the City Hall and then later at La Terrrazza on Poble Espanyol. It was at this point that my partner in crime Stuart Patterson came on board and we started doing Rebel Waltz together monthly playing back to back, tune for tune and we had some cracking nights at the City Hall along with some brilliant guest Djs like Clive Henry, Luke Mckeehan, Milton Jackson and Chris Harris, Dj Linus, Chris Duckenfield, Kenny Hawkes and Ben Davis among others. After that it was the Rebel Waltz residency at La Terrrazza and we had some great nights there too especially the night that was recorded for Dj Magazine and released as a CD cover mount. A Rebel Waltz residency in London followed that where we teamed up with the Sancho Panza crew for a monthly back to back session down in the basement of the East Village club. These were top nights also but unfortunatley they came to an end once i moved to Sao Paulo but there i was lucky enough to hook up with Brazil's chemical brothers Jota Wagner and Wander A and we started doing a Rebel Waltz versus Colors residency in this crazy downtown venue called Trackers and Stuart was able to come over a few times to join us and take Rebel Waltz out on the road across Brazil too. I had an amazing time doing Rebel Waltz while i lived in Edinburgh and in the five years i lived in Barcelona and the four years i lived in Brazil and now back in Europe for the last few years living on and off in Lisbon im continuing to keep the  Rebel Waltz name on the go. At the moment im in the process of setting up a Rebel Waltz residency in Budapest for next Summer which is exciting as its a great city and i love it there.

 

What’s been the highlights of your career so far?

 

Ive had many highlights over the last twenty three years since i played my first paid gig and so many good times and nights out, too many to list and loads that my memory fails me on now but ive been really lucky to have been able to travel the world and see so many places and meet and make so many good friends along the way and this for me has been the main highlight. Winning the Muzik Magazine competition is definetley a highlight and helped kick start everything for me as well as releasing my first ever vinyl along with John Vick as the H.O.W. Project which is also definetley a highlight. Releasing my first ever coloured vinyl for Low Pressings records is a highlight for me too as that is one of my favourite labels and i love coloured vinyl. Also releasing my "House Of ill Repute mix CD for Slip n Slide records was a big highlight. Gig wise some parties ive played that spring to mind which have been highlights for me are New Years Eve for the Millenium in Capetown, Djing in Vidigal favela in Rio De Janiero, playing the first Homelands Festival in Scotland then playing at The End in London later that night, the Exit festival in Serbia and the largest crowd ive ever played to, Djing in a cage in a mad club somewhere near the border of Kazakhstan which was one of the best gigs ever, doing a month long residency at Hospital Club in Khabarovsk in Eastern Russia, playing at Glasgow's Sub Club, Djing at the Ministry of Sound, playing at The Bomb in Nottingham, Djing at The Loop club in Tokyo, playing for Streetrave and Colours, my first tour of Australia with the Finger In A Matchbox crew, Djing with Derrick May at Florida 135, Djing in Chicago and Djing in New York are a few.

 

What are your greatest influences? DJ’s, people, labels…?

 

My greatest influences are Devo who have always been my favourite band with The Specials and The Clash also up there as the first groups who really got me into music. A lot of the Djs that i saw at the original Streetrave parties in Ayr that i went to when i was young were very influential especially Sasha, Yogi Haughton, Jon Mancini, Boney and Jay Weardon and there has been loads of other Djs that have influenced me too especially Andrew Weatherall, Justin Roberston and Stuart Patterson. John Vick from Finiflex Studios has always been a big influence and really helped me with my music. There have been so many labels that have influenced me but i would say that Coventry's groundbreaking 2 Tone label along with Sheffield's Warp records and Andrew Komis & Nick Fiorucci's Bigshot records from Canada are three of the most important for me as well as Manchester's Paper records and 20:20 Vision records from Leeds which i was lucky enough to have three EP's released on.

 

What's your favourite place to DJ?

 

Ive been some great places to Dj and i have a lot of favourite places ive played but i have to say that Brazil for me is probably my favourite as i love the Brazilians they have a great energy and its a great country too. Playing in Tokyo was amazing and i would love to get back there again to play and having just come back from Budapest again ive fallen in love with that city and im looking forward to playing there again next year.

 

What’s your usual preparation for a set? Picks tracks, sleep…?

 

Now that i dont use vinyl anymore to dj my preperation is really just selecting digital files and loading up USB sticks and making sure ive got back up USB sticks. Its great that i can have access to so much music to play and not have to lug all that heavy vinyl about anymore but you can also have too much choice so im always conscious of that when im sorting out tunes to play. There was a time i tried Djing with a Tracktor controller and a lap top but it was a complete disaster so i binned it instantly. I miss Djing with records however and miss the feel and sound of the vinyl but i adapted to the whole digital thing a while back and its all just so much easier with the sticks. I usually like to think i know what im going to play for at least the first couple of tracks but obviously it depends on the vibe on the the floor when you start your set. Alcohol also is an essential part of my preperation and set. :)

 

What are your top tip's for up and coming DJ’s?

 

Things are so different these days from when i first started out Djing and obviously the whole social media thing has changed everything and although i think social media is important to help to push yourself as a Dj, it also does my head in and i avoid most of them and just use Facebook really. I think its important to know your tunes and the music you are playing...try to do your own parties and start your own night...as a wise man once told me "Youve got to do it for yourself, nobody else will do it for you".

 

You’ve been quiet on the producing for a while - what’s the story there?

 

Yeah its been a while since ive had any of my own EP's out but ive never really been such a prolific producer and i can be quite lazy when it comes to producing, however ive been working on some remixes recently, one that came out two months ago is my remix of Swollen Heads - "Polythene Worlds" on Pat Scott's Acid Culture recordings and another just came out last week on Seattle's Tilted recordings which is my remix of Terry Jasinto's - "The B Side First". Also i was thrilled to be asked by Sheffield's Ozone records to remix their classic 1990 song by Track 1 called - "For This" which is one of my favourite old school tunes and that is due out for release next month.

 

How do you feel production has changed over the years (good or bad) - do you still get as much pleasure from it?

 

For me its changed a lot as i always worked out of Finiflex Studios in Edinburgh with John Vick which was always amazing as John has one of the best studios around however over the last years with all my moving about ive had to get used to working on my own without access to John's machines and all his production experience but the amount of new kit out there and especially portable kit has made it easy for me to work on music on my travels. Im just about to invest in some new kit so will be getting my head back down in the studio again soon. Ive always considered myself more a Dj than a producer but i still get great pleasure from writing a track from scratch and im still learning all the time. Ive always tried to stick to my own sound and stick to what i believe in and tried to keep on producing as much as possible as i know its even more important than ever these days to help me to continue to travel and Dj.

 

What labels are killing it for you right now - tracks your playing and loving?

 

There is so much music out there now and so many producers that i like its hard to keep on top of all the new music at times but apart from a lot of the older quality house labels ive always been into and still love like Lazy Days, Large, Freerange and Classic for example, i really like what the Detroit Swindle boys are doing with their Heist label as well as the Dirt Crew label out of Berlin and im loving Harri from the Sub Club's Manakinz project. I love the sound of Little Fritter from Australia and Austin Ato's sound and also what Jacques Renault is upto. Jay Shepheard has to be one of my favourite producers for sure. Other labels im also into right now are Fine records, Boutade Musique, Pretty Young Thing and Me Me Me.

 

Any DJ’s you’ve seen and think we should check out?

 

Yes a couple that spring instantly to mind are Peter Kiss aka Vittorio Waxman, one of Budapest's old school heads and a top quality Dj. Peter is well known on the Hungarian scene and has a great wealth of knowledge of music and is a fantastic selecter. Also Renato Lopes from Sao Paulo, one of the originators of the Sao Paulo scene and a brilliant Dj. We have a project together called Electrica Salsa which we toured all over Brazil playing back to back and although we havent jammed together for a while if you get a chance to check him Djing in Copenhagen where he lives now i would highly recommend it.

 

What’s on the cards for the next while - gigs to watch out for...?

 

Next up for me im back to London town to play alongside the Faith crew with Terry Farley, Stuart Patterson, Dave Jarvis, Dean Thatcher and also Sancho Panza's Jimmy K-Tel, Ronnie T and Simon Kurrage from Size Doesnt Matter which im well looking forward to as i always love a party in London. This is also a warm up for the "GOA IN 2020 Our Vision Of Paradise" tour which is happening in Goa in late January where ill be joining the sames crews again together for 2 weeks of parties at different venues right along the beaches of Patnem, Palolem and Agonda,,,which should be fun :) ... Then next April ill be heading to Budapest to base myself there for the Summer so look out for a new Rebel Waltz monthly residency and a special Rebel Waltz Euro 2020 party in June.

 

Where can people follow you?

 

 

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