Ihouseu.com caught up with Baltimore's finest DJ Spen ahead of his set at Soul Heaven on Saturday November 26th at the capital's newest hotspot, Pulse, alongside original Master At Work, Kenny Dope, and the UK's Phil Asher, Atjazz, Andy Ward, Sy Sez and Neil Pierce plus many more. Here he talks about the Muthalode album, hot new talents like Sean McCabe, Aki Bergen and Damond Ramsey, the Basement Boys, and check out his mix and youtube clips.
http://www.connectedtalent.com/dj.php?thecode=1178811495
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wrpIohMhC4k&feature=fvst
Are you looking forward to November 26th's massive Soul Heaven event and what can we expect to hear from you at ?
You can expect some killer, uplifting, soul soul soul! and I CAN'T WAIT!
Have you played alongside Kenny Dope before and what do you think of his music?
Yeah, Kenny and I have played together before, although it was a long time ago! 8 years in fact, and oddly enough that was in London too. I’m a big admirer of Kenny Dope’s work both solo and as apart of MAW. Kenny is a phenomenal DJ, producer & musician and has been the front runner when it comes to drum programming since he first emerged on the scene.
Do you have any secret weapons and exclusives in your wallet that we can start salivating over?
Oh yeah, I've got a few secret weapons alright! But to be honest my biggest tracks will be formulated from the MuthaFunkaz Remix album 'The MuthaLode Reloaded', which incidentally has Kenny Dope on board too!
We loved the Muthalode album and it was great to hear such a powerful soulful house album. Were you happy with the way the music scene reacted to it and what are your current hot new projects musically and with what artists, producers and labels??
I was relatively happy with what the MuthaLode did, and as a producer in this climate you always think releases could do better. However given what is happening in the music industry today I’m pleased overall. We have a new Remix version of the MuthaLode LP due out at the end of November that basically takes the first album and brings in a load of stellar remixes from some of the big players in house music. We’re happy to have the likes of Kenny Dope, Joey Negro, Atjazz, Karizma & Gramophonedzie on this project, and are excited to get this one out to the people and there’s even a Bonus second disc on the CD format which showcases some of our best MuthaFunkaz remixes for other labels. It’s a dope package, and one's that gotta be checked out. On the remixing front, I’ve just finished a remix for David Harness for The Rainmakers which features Lady Alma on vocals, and have a forthcoming remix project coming soon for Sara Dash.
What producers are you currently into and who do you think is rocking the house scene right now?
There’s so much unbelievable talent out there it’s hard to pick just a few. I’m particularly loving Atjazz’s stuff right now, and his collaboration with my old sparring parting Karizma with their Exist project. Other artists getting some serious heat in my sets at the moment include Shawn McCabe, Aki Bergen, Master Kev & Tony Loreto, Neil Pierce/Fanatix and one of the young guys we picked up at Code Red, Damond Ramsey.
The internet has obviously changed the face of all digital industries but has in turn exposed the world to music they had no idea existed. There are obviously plus and minus points but are you happy with the way the industry is moving?
Yeah I’m happy with the way it’s moving forward. It’s brought the scene much closer together and created a level playing field allowing DJ’s that are out playing in the smaller bars & venues to have access to the music that the bigger DJ’s are also playing and more exposure can only be a good thing. Obviously it can lead to problems at times with the sad nature of file sharing but sadly we have to accept these things and keep taking steps to ensure that as little music as possible leaks through. Overall I think the digital era has been a good thing.
If you could relive any year which would it be and why?
Wow, tough question! I’d have to pick 2001 as so many great things happened that year but at the same time there were so many defining big changes too. You only really get to learn things by making mistakes and by learning from them. If I knew then what I know now then I’m sure things would have been handled differently.
Do you miss making the stuff you did as Basement Boys?
I miss making that stuff because back then I didn’t run a record label – I was just making music, and doing it to my heart's content. Obviously the Basement Boys music lives on through what I do as it was a big part in my musical career and one which I reflect on with a lot of happiness.
What releases do you have forthcoming personally and with the label?
We’ve got 3 singles lined up on Code Red for the rest of the year, all based around the album – ‘I Do Love You (alliwannado)’ is the next single and the reactions for this one have been of the hook in my gigs. It’s got that classic MuthaFunkaz vibe featuring my boys, Gary Hudgins and Irvin Madden, and we’re all especially proud of it. We’ve also got the official remix package from Atjazz on "OH I (Miss You)", and we’re wrapping 2011 up with remixes from Karizma and John Morales on "Muthaz Day".
......and to keep you all in suspense, we’ve got something HUGE planned for 2012.... It’s going to really take people by surprise when the news drops, but it’s going to make for one crazy year.
DJ Spen joins headliners Kenny Dope, Phil Asher, Atjazz Neil Pierce (Fanatix), Sy Sez (Aphrodisiax), Andy Ward (Vocal Booth),
DJ Rocco (Realtone Records), Risksoundsystem and Craig Smith (6th Borough Project) plus a Live PA from Taliwa singing her forthcoming track “ Dreaming” at the massive Soul Heaven party on Saturday November 26th at Pulse. For all info, please go to www.soul-heaven.com
