Better nuttin’ than insignifiancy. As opposed to the whole bunch of common machines which have come to be a part of our daily life, made to instantly execute orders, human creativity would often give its very best when left in the approriate environment. In other words, space, time and surrounding which obviously is the case regarding Ron Trent who, after some hyperactive period in the beg of the 2000’s, has taken some time while relocating to his Chicago hometown in order to gather the necessary pieces for a winning return. Elements of explanation thereafter...
Yaow Mista T. Wassup ?
Greetings on Planet Earth!
Not really heard of you as compared to say 2 to 3 years ago. Would it mean like you felt the need to take some distance ?
I have been a bit quite in the public arena, but I have been bizzy in the lab creating new sounds for the future. Organizing my imprints and collecting material for them. Outside of that, I've been DJing a lot. I also started a very successful party in Chicago called Africa HI FI. For me, it is far more crucial to have quality work, work that is important and educational even, than a whole lot of stuff that isn't saying anything.
The start of a period of relative silence seems like corresponding to your relocation in your hometown. Any comment ?
Not at all. I have changed my focus to what I feel is important. As far as I am concerned, the good music that is out here is few and far between. The market has gotten saturated with a lot of brainless whimsical sounds. Very different from when I got involved in the 80's. Don’t get me wrong, I hear fresh material and I try to make contact with people to give them encouragement. When I play, I like to expose the new sometimes using the old to illustrate the new. With the state of affairs being the way they are, shit has got to change. I have come back to my roots to grow some more trees. Sometimes silence is a good way of building.
How and what have you been doin’ since ?
Studying the movements of people, places and things and applying it to my work.
Heard about you havin’ a new album in the pipeline. Anything that you could tell us about it ?
I have a couple of albums I have been putting together. Cinematic Travels with the first album released entitled Ancient Future which is an experimental Jazz/World music influenced project I worked on for about a year. It’s combination of live and electronic elements fused together. I got a chance to work with a few great musicans such as Karsh Kale from Tabla Beat Science, Angel Figarouea, a master percussionist who’s played with Herbie Hancock but also Sting, Celia Cruz, Mongo Santamaria, and Vinx just to name a few, another featured percussionist Ken Robertson and my friend Gary Durdan from the famous TV show CSI ( People don’t know he’s a great musician). The album is a fusion of traditional folkloric ryhthms and visual orchestration. The other projects are dance affiliated which will be released on my imprints. Classic is the tittle of one of ‘em which a salute to the old with new tools, if you know what I mean. I have several new compilations coming in the pipeline. One on BBE/R2 featuring various artists that I have remixed the works of especially for the occasion. As for the other stuff, I’ll just let be a surprise.
Any liaison with your Urban Blues concept, Africa & Fela or rather more with what you’ve released on French label Atal ?
I guess you mean African stuff. Well, we’ll see. I have a couple things up my sleeve.
The latest left an impression of being more abstract, dubby oriented, with a sort of link with Maurizio’s kind of approaches…
You’re making reference to Basic Channel. I love their material. I'm into a lot of dub. I collect a lot of it and I kind of incorporate that energy into my sound. So the jams on Atal are just an outlet for me to do "dance dub music".
I know while visiting you for years in NYC on a regular basis how you’ve always felt committed with The things of life. Could this be that those recent hard times we’ve been living have been of any influence on your work/approach/concept ? If so, to which extend ?
I have surrounded myself with people and the tools that I need to create my own world. The one out here is not in order. That's the best way I can describe my focus.
How have you seen the changes which have occured during those last 3 years and how do you see the future as far as music is concerned ?
Music is the future. Fela said "Music is the weapon" and it is true. In terms of how people out there in the world are abusing music, you can’t beat nature. Music is a force that will take care of itself. The right teachers with be elected to channel the right consciousness. The realness will stay in place and the others will fall into a non memory. Time is the true test.
From Chez to Anthony (Nicholson) and Richard (Worth), it looks like you’ve always kind of appreciated working with someone else, is it because it’s easier for you or more basically due to the fact that the basic principle of music as any other language as opposed to a dead one is to be spoken, this suggesting the existence of more than one person?That is a very good philosophy. Music a language, It’s the highest form of communication. One of the facets of music harmony. I like to collaborate from time to time. I also like to teach and learn. In the past, I did just that. After working with Chez, my co-producers were producers in training. I showed them the ropes as much as I could. I think each one teaching one is the best way to build a community. I had to be taught and I am still learning. I had people who helped me out when I was coming up. Some people like to put it out there that they just always had it and no one helped them. I do not feel that way. I am an independent thinker but there were those who helped me to develop my skills and operational tools over time. So with different guys along the way who have expressed to me that they wanted to do music - and I felt good about it - I have given back the way it was done for me. There is nothing stronger than a village that supports itself. That is always my goal.
We all know what technology has brought along the years. But on the other hand, isn’t that somehow like a golden cage emprisonning the creativity in an obligatory preformated system as opposed to human brain ?
Technology should be the tool and mankind should never be the tool of technology.
You know how we’ve ever used to get far while exchanging views as far as the way the world goes is concerned. Got a Q which comes instantly to mind regarding all of those who’ve come to work on machines somehow for economic reasons some 20 years ago, giving birth to the said electronic music. Haven’t you been somehow the pioneers of a reputedly modern society where people are to be more and more left alone on many aspects of life, such as work with the obligation to launch their own structures in order to have some chance to survive ?
The music industry is a big business. The basic nature of mankind is to survive. There are going to be those going to use this industry for the right and those for the wrong reasons. Because of the state of affairs. A lot of this business is driven off greedy unfortunately. That's what can tear away the fabric of the creativity. Remaining grounded while building is the key. Everything else is destined for failure.
If so, isn’t that the symbol of the victory of the System, knowing it’s easier to set up a reign on isolated people than on a family, not to say a tribe ?
Yes, this can be said. But true seekers know what the real deal is.
Stronger together, says the proverb, as opposed to individualism, jealousy and envy which looks like the proper of many people nowadays and an obvious sign of self destruction for the said modern world…
I agree.
How do you see Miami and all the fuss around it ? Isn’t that far, not to say further and further from the day to day reality ?
I have my own thoughts on what it has become but I will keep that to myself.
I came to see Chez who’s been spinning last year in Miami alongside Kai (Alce) and Brett (Dancer) but didn’t see you there although you was on da list at some other gig. What happened ?
Basically, I had other priorties that were more important, so I could not make it down.
You’re awaited to spin this year over there. What will you be up to ? Give a display of what you’re on now ?
Well, we’ll see. I will be spinning with Rich Medina and we will be displaying an eclectic range of music. Music that fits the vibe or our resident parties Africa HI FI and Jump and Funk. That is the best I can tell you.
What about your Africa HI FI monthly residency in Chicago? As interesting as what you was doin’ at the time in NYC?
The party has grown to be very special. No propaganda. Just good vibes for and with the people. It is truly refreshing for Chicago.
And now, if you don’t mind, a short comment on each word/group of words thereafter…
House music…
I do not know what it is any more. I know what it’s supposed to be.
(Urban) Blues…
Everyday. Everyone has a story.
(Current) Chi-Lites…
Hope.
Babylon…
Fight dem, man !
Devil…
Bizzy.
Love…
What you make it.
Ebony…
Mysterious power.
Tribe…
Keepers of da Family.
‘Fight The Power’
Stealth.
Gil Scott-Heron…
Revoultionary Artist.
Brother…
One Another.
Peace…
Fight for it!
One last word left to your choice…
Silence is the conerstone of a man’s character.
----------Native American Wisdom---------------
Thank you, MFSB
FUTURE VISION presents"Artifacts From The Future" (FV002) 12" Distribution - Wordandsound.net
Upcoming Releases...
- RON TRENT "Love To The World" (FV003)
- AYBEE "Ozzie Davis" (FV004)
- TRINIDADIAN DEEP "Caribbean Electric" (FV005)
Catch Ron Trent behind the decks Fri, March 24 at the Jump N Funk party alongside Rich Medina & Rob Rizk @ Marlin Bar, 1200 Collins Ave. – Miami Beach (beware: afternoon party)
Catch Ron Trent behind the decks Sat, March 25 at the Pocket party alongside Ron Carroll, Dwayne Jensen, Keith Worthy, Malik Alston aka Painted Pictures & Todd Weston @ Sushisamba Dromo, 600 Lincoln Road – Miami Beach
Catch Ron Trent behind the decks Sun, March 26 at the Miami 2006 @ Sushisamba Dromo party alongside Mr V, MKL, Edwin Adams & Rich Medina @ Sushisamba Dromo, 600 Lincoln Road – Miami Beach
INTERVIEW
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