Sat Apr.16 at Le Melody in Marseille… The crowd is taken by storm, rockin’ on DJ Sosa’s ’The Music I Like To Play’ from his ‘Simply Gifted EP’ released last October on Chi-town label Bumpin City. I like this tune and I’m not the only one judging by the enthusiastic reactions of the clubbers every time I’m playin’ it. Enough reasons that made me want to know more about him…

Hey Sosa, what's up ?

I am fine, thanks...

Where do you come from ?

I come from a town called Huddersfield in the North of England, a place where Hotline due were also from. Hotline happen to the very first people who released a house track - "Hotline Rock This House" in 1988 on Rhythm King Records - in the United Kingdom. Also Huddersfield has been the home to the legendary club "Hard Times" for several years, which had guest DJ's from America on a weekly basis playing soulful US house & garage.

What about that Huddersfield Soul Project and Underground House Movement ... 

Huddersfield Soul Project is essentially myself  & my musical partner Martyn Henderson. We have been making music together for 2 years on and off. Our aim is to release quality soulful house music using live elements such  as live bass, horns, sax, guitars and keys and vocals. We use many session musicians to play on our tracks. Our sound is soulful house music. Underground House Movement is exactly what the name says. I want to put out quality deep house music in a raw fashion, purely using synths and modules and no live elements and I am likely to recruit the talent of Paul Ross to help me in this goal. This music will be the kinda shit that Mr V & Alix Alivarez, Kerri Chandler, Dermakus Lewis etc ... are putting out.

What are the main influences that contributed to shaping your sound ?

My influences come from a variety of sources. I listen to a whole lotta music From Steve Wonder, Joe Baatan, MAW, Kerri Chandler, Moodyman, Smack productions, Blaze, Tortured Soul, Tito Puente, Amp Fiddler, Louis Benedetti. I also listen to a a whole lotta hip hop, R&B, reggae & salsa. Visiting places and excellent food and drinks influence me too.

How would you say you've evolved from the ‘Simply Gifted EP’ to the huddersfield soul project ?

Well, when I did ‘Simply Gifted EP’, that was back in 2000. It has all been done on Akai MPC 2000 and Emu Proteus 2000 and there was no input from anybody else. It was just a straight raw EP created in a week-end. I just wanted to have the chance to put out a house record, it was my dream and Greg Cash from Bumpin City Records in Chicago signed it straight away. Where as today, I have a partner in making this music, who gives lots of creative input and we have use of a nice studio and we have contact with excellent musicians and vocalists all based in my home town of Huddersfield.

You're a DJ as well …

I have been DJing since 1996, seriously started collecting records on mass in 1995. I prefer to play straight house music, with disco classics and soul thrown in.

What is the best party you've ever been to ?

Wow hard question !!! Recent ones wer: First time at Body & Soul in NYC in 1999, Yellorange Party Miami WMC 2001, Frankie Feliciano in Manchester 2 weeks ago, anytime I have seen Theo Parrish, Louis Benedetti and Kerri Chandler play + anytime I go to the Southport Weekender.

Who are your favorite DJ’s ?

Frankie Feliciano, DJ Spinna, Kerri Chandler, Osunlade, Louis Benedetti, Matthias Heilbronn, Tony Touch, Jazzy Jeff, MAW (back in the day) Roger Sanchez (back in the day), Phil Asher, DJ Spen. I could go on all day.

DJ SOSA Tha Stray Dawg Groovelifters EP 2 (Stellar Records)

DJ SOSA Transforming Experience Vocal Project EP (Bumpin City)

DJ SOSA Simply Gifted EP (Bumpin City)

DJ SOSA & MARTYN HNDERSON Guitarra Del Verano (Waako)