Detroit is definitely much more than the usual stories you may read here and there from a year to another. In other words, this ain't just about techno, unless the latest embodying much more, like a local state of mind as opposed to a sole genre. Those last months - or should I rather say years – have seen the progressive emergence of new names such as Dwele, Slum Village and Amp Fiddler at the forefront of a young generation firmly decided to show us how much they've got what it takes meanwhile bringing us back to the souvenir of their city as the cradle of soul. Musician/producer/DJ Maurice 'PirahnaHEAD' Herd, who’s heavily contributed to the recognition of Diviniti  last year, is no doubt one of’em…

Yaow Maurice, wassup ? Isn't that too much of freezin' in Michigan

these days ?

Yeah, brother… it’s cold ! I can’t wait until WMC in MIAMI !!!

Where does this pseudonym of yours come from ?

There is this genius named “The Blackman”.  He’s a producer and DJ from here. When he was the frontman for Enemy Squad (a band for which I was the guitarist), at rehearsal one day he just nicknamed me, “PirahnaHEAD.  That’s your name from now on! Muthafu*#a!” We all laughed and it just stuck. But what’s really something is he also nicknamed this guy named Bob Ritchie KID ROCK, and really he was the one who put him on the map in the first place. As a DJ, The Blackman is phenomenal, but he’s also an excellent concept guy.  You will be hearing from him soon trust me !!!

You look like quite aside from everyone…

In a way I am.  I’m really a little bit of a social butterfly.  I love people, but I’m naked under my bare skin just like anyone else. I’m not withdrawn ; well, just enough to know me better than anyone else does.

Funny as time goes, how the Detroit scene seems much more diverse as compared to the way it has been described for years. As if the press had somehow manipulated the local history. In others words : the truth !!!

The truth is the 4 P’s. Politics, Propaganda, Press, and Paper. Would it sell to the world as it has if it didn’t seem as “self-invented” as it is ? There was a scene before this scene became a big thing. Detroit music has always been diverse. There was a big jazz explosion here in the 30’s through the 50s, which birthed some of the musicians from Motown, and Motown (the genre) was born here. So were the voices of Aretha Franklin, The Dramatics and P-Funk.  They were all connected. So in esscence, from that influence came groups like Was (Not Was). From the Riots in ’67, we had serious turmoil here in the city.  When the music explained the pain of the people you got the diversity because cats like Marvin (Gaye) told the truth about life, while someone elsewhere was singing about getting some lovin’, dig ? The press will tell you techno started from these 3 geniuses/innovators who were all influenced by each other, which no doubt is true. But those 3 geniuses will tell you that they were influenced by cats like Ken Collier who played a lot of disco and R&B classics, The Electrifying MOJO who played Prince and Kraftwerk long before the world knew anything about them, and everybody in Detroit watched the local TV dance show “The Scene”. The big 3 just decided to mix it up and give it their groove. So, as well as anyone else here, they learned it all from living and loving music in Detroit.

Have you somehow suffered seing techno taking all the attention ?

No, not really. I actually like some techno. I like anything if it’s played right to me when I’m on a dance floor. But it does get a little straining seeing techno take the attention because there are so many other things here that people really get into. There are other types of music, and real musicianship and skill. Really, the mechanics of today’s techno make me unhappy because of the kids who jump on it so quickly not knowing what it came from or how it got there. These new kids buy laptops instead of records, but if that breaks down in the midst of a set, how can they back it up with their skills? Digital stuff is great, but unless you know the fundamentals of true DJing and production, you’re lost and vice versa. You can’t just be old school and not know what’s happening now. I use Logic and Protools just like anyone else nowadays, but I learned on analog equipment. I could use a Yamaha Motif but I like using a Fender Rhodes. I think final scratch is good for travelling purposes, but I carry records.

Could it be at the end of the day that techno was more a state of mind than a genre on its own? That techno would be more like a local response to the UK punk period back at the end of the 70's, having people making sort of DIY (Do it Yourself) music with the progressive help of technology as opposed to hiring musicians ?

Well, just like any situation, you deal with what you have. When techno started, no one had big studios to work with, nor could they afford to hire musicians. It’s the same as the house thing. It was a drum machine, some records, a beat to make the party last, and really it started with love, so that’s the reason why its DIY. Do it yourself because your “self” lives from what you are doing. Punk was a response to society, just like Hip-Hop was and is and that could be political.

Although the so called techno pioneers are still around, a vast majority of names who've recently came to our attention (Dwele, Slum Village, Amp Fiddler, Lathun…) have chosen a quite a different expression form, as if reestablishing a link with their prestigious predecessors such as Stevie Wonder, Smokey Robinson of the famous Tamla Motown era… Any comment ?

Well really these people being close friends of mine (esp. Lathun and Amp), I can at least say that we are very influenced by our musical predecessors. Really because of our influence by these masters, I think we have the ability to go on. It’s as if our living influences gives us the truth on an ancestral level.

NYC singer CeCe Rogers said to me one day : we're the result of our history. What has been yours ?

My goodness... CeCe is right ! That’s true. Telling my history would make me type for days. So I’ll try to give you the short version. My sisters and my brother would listen to the radio and play records. So when I was a baby, (we’re talking 1 and a half yrs old) I was wearing diapers, crawling and putting records on the record player. Seriously! They would babysit me but they would always go skating and to the discos, and concerts, and since I was the baby, where they went, I went. So that was my training ground. My mom taught me some chords on piano and she played gospel. My dad was not a musician, but he dug jazz and blues heavy because he could relate. When I was about 5 and my sisters were teens, they would put me in the booth with the DJ so they could be teenage girls and I would watch him do his thing-mezmerized by what he did. I used to always play records as an infant. So I knew what was going on, but I loved it more. It’s funny when I think about it knowing what I do now, but that’s how I grew up, and I am proud of that. Very.

I understand that it has been quite consistant although you're still a student.

As consistant as I allow it to be. Diviniti keeps trying to put me into this “recording rehab” because I am always awake. I’ll study and read, and get stuff together for school but an idea will hit me and it there it goes! I’m turning on my computer and picking up an instrument. The next day she will stop by and the first thng I say is,”Baby, I got this idea..”..

How old are you then ?

32.  I feel either 17 or infinite…I am not sure which one more though.

Tell us about Your background. Your heroes ? Your goals ?

My mom and I were just discussing this in fact. My beginnings were with a brood of 9. I have seven sisters and one brother and I am the baby. We are all very close. Family is the most important thing to me. So that is where I started, barely able to crawl, putting records on the stereo to amuse my sisters. My heroes list is way too long. Let’s just say John Coltrane, Prince, Frank Zappa, Jimi Hendrix, Mozart. Clare Fischer - anyone who innovated anything and stood his or her own ground. Musically I would like to fuse genres or  get away from genres, ‘cause it’s all music. Otherwise, my goal is just to “be.” Are we not human “BEINGS”?

We've noticed the progressive arrival of new faces these last years Including those we've mentioned thereabove but also Diviniti and DJ Minx you're working with, these added to Theo Parrish and Moodyman on the funk/soul front. Are you close to each other ?

Yeah. We’re all really close. Diviniti is my manager, soulmate, and Minx’s best friend. Minx is like the one who keeps it all in line, but if I’m around she can’t keep a straight face. We all crack each other up. Minx is my sister from another mister. Theo and MM are my brothers from other mothers, dig? When Diviniti and I were on our first date we talked about our extreme love for dance music. Both of us are “househeads”.   I spoke about how much I loved it and my memories of certain events, like these basement parties with Terrence Parker behind this basement bar with turntables and a telephone mixing.  It turned out that it was her basement and she was the host. This was back in 1984-85 ; and here we are today… Funny.

Could it be that you embody the new Detroit alternative ?

I just embody this simple guy who digs music of all genres.  If I have helped the house scene in Detroit get a little recognition, cool, but I’m not gonna gloat, because it’s about a collective.  Who am I without the people? I’m talking about that brother or sister who lives through a week of hell, just to go to Agave on Sundays in Detroit to listen to Beatdown (Norm Talley, Delano Smith, Mike Clark), or family in NYC who go to Shelter, Together in Spirit or 718 Sessions, and just stomps, dances, sweats and screams because a record just said “I understand.” That’s what I embody.

Words have been said here and there as the reputed techno makers being like a family but reality ended up being sort of different seing all the guys working on their own to the sole exception of the Movement (DEMF) festival… Meanwhile seing you networking the way you personaly do tends to make me think that you've got lessons from this. Any comment ?

As far as where the business is, I think the flow of things can go much better wih a networking system. We are a big family. Like Theo, KDJ, Mr. Pittman, & Rick, work together toward a specific goal, So do Minx, Reggie Dokes, Diviniti, & I. That is not to say that KDJ & Minx don’t work together. Or that Theo & I have been living our lives musically separate. If it could be seen how closely knit some people in the Detroit music scene really are, the world would be shocked. This is a family affair, and we’re all in it together!

What about your night in Detroit? Its concept ?

The concept of the once a month Delicious Party happened as I was discussing starting a new night with the manager of Palladium because I used to do Fridays there with Darryl G, and John Collins when it was Regine’s. I was eating some peach cobbler Diviniti made that reminded me of my mom’s.  Have mercy!!!  That’s where the delcious part came from.  The Thursday speaks for itself.

The way it's doing ?

Pretty good. I will be honest and say that it is in its infancy. The vibe is really nice. Diviniti sets it up with candles, incense, and candies so you can really taste the ambience. We just had the second night last night, so it was kinda light as far as the crowd. There is food and stuff too as well as CDs from the night itself.  I plan to have guests, but I play unreleased material a lot so it’s really fun.

Your activities as a remixer ? What does this bring to the musician you are ?

I have done remixes so far for Moods & Grooves and I also do and have done a lot of remixes for Minx because we are partners and work so well together.  Reggie Dokes and I (as NapiHedz) just did a remix for a John Beltran song called “Dream On”. That was really fun. As far as my being a musician, I consider it a blessing but everyone is a musician – even the dancers on a dancefloor. Claps are rhythmic and screams, whistles and all that have tonal quality. You see, certain tribes in mother Africa consider the latter to be more musical than another because there is no ego with it. Dig ? It’s just a human thing.

Your relation with Moods & Grooves and his CEO (Mike Grant) ? How did you come to know each other?

We have known each other from just being around in the scene, but he and I would always talk tech about palm pilots and new gear. It just happened one day. We linked up. Who knew ?

How do you see the fact of him having an online record shop dedicated to the local production ?

I think it’s great. He’s taking care of business with that well I think. Most people just talk about what they are gonna do. He DID it !

Have you been suprised to see Diviniti gaining such a recognition ? Is It something of a help for the future ?

Not at all surprised. In fact, I'm ecstatic. "Find A Way" happened as response to her asking me to write her a song. After the music was written, we ended up at Minx's pad recording and writing lyrics. Thank Heavens that we saved her vocals, because that big mulitstate blackout happened five minutes later. About the future of Diviniti, expect great things because she writes some heart-felt, beautiful songs. Her lyrics and melodies are something serious to deal with. We nurture each other constantly so beautiful things happen when we are around each other.

A few words about her ? About Minx ? What to expect from you ?
Diviniti knows what I have to say about her (143), and Minx is a genius. We can't be around each other too long cause we'll be in knots from laughing so much. But musically, she's got some powerful stuff, man. She can take the simplest things about a track and bring them forward, and the nuances in that track become a hit with me. She is a monster in the studio as well as on the decks. Like the bassline to her track "A Walk In The Park"- I run that track without question, ALL the time.  Just expect me to keep making music, cause it's what I do, man. I can't see a day that has nothing to do with music.

You're due to have an album released very soon. When ? On which label ?

Yes, a full-length album is coming, which is funny to me because I never envisioned myself as a frontman. It should be released in mid to late April on Mahogani Music. It was fun recording it, and since the first single (‘Dreams’) did well, I think the album will give the listener a look into my world, my thoughts, etc.

Any guests ?

Yeah. The family is really involved in the creation of it. My late father's voice is on the record, which was really heavy for me. I did mostly dedications to the places, lives and people who I love and who are close to me. The first song after the intro is a nice groove 4 my best friend. No hints, just surprises. An excellent poet is on it. Mathias. That brother is baaad! My string section is featured in some of the songsI wrote a song for my mom, which she digs a lot. Also I wrote 4 some political causes, some childhood memories, of course I wrote a song for Diviniti that Minx co-wrote with me. Yes, Diviniti is on the album, and her own full-length is coming too.

What to expect from you in Miami ? Any live P.A. in the pipeline already ?

Minx and I will be playing on Thursday the 24th at the Chamber Lounge with Venus 7, Marcus McGowan, and DJ Genesis. We (Minx and myself) will also be doing an in-store appearance that Friday. I will definiely keep you posted. Hey man, I'm grateful that you wanted to do this interview with me.  I've been a big supporter of the site for a while… So this has been great. Thanks so much. Peace.

Catch Pirahna Head & DJ Minx Thur, March 24 as parts of the Texture Party @ Chamber Lounge

More info on our diary