Yaow Calvin, I understand you’re hailing from Detroit which is known as one of the world’s capital as far as the groove is concerned. Has this been much of an influence on what you’ve become? To which extend?
Yeah, born and raised in Detroit and deeply influenced by the Music. I have always had music to keep me lifted and moving in a positive direction. I recall going to sleep to the radio as a kid, playing it just loud enough for me to hear yet not too loud so my mom wouldn’t ask me to turn it off. Even to this day I still love for my music to speak to me, I want it deep and soulful.
Although being based far down South, do you still feel some strong connections with your former citypals?
Oh of course I speak to my homies in the D on a regular basis, some everyday.
Looks like you’ve come quite a long way in all the senses of the term to satisfy your passion. Tell us a bit about it...
House music has been my love for some time now, as early as 1980/81, fresh out of High School right into College. .
What has decided you to move to Atlanta? Ever felt like wanting to get back to Detroit?
I moved to Atlanta because of my job, it’s been almost 23 years now with the same company. As far as getting back to Detroit, I visit at least once every 2 months depending on what’s going on, plus my entire family is still there.
How do you see the scene over there?
The scene here is good, could be better. The majority of the real househeads are older with responsibilities, jobs, kids, so we can’t party like we’d like to or use to. I mean looking back to when I was in my late teens, 20’s and early 30’s, I don’t party as much. I think in every city it's the same story, plus we are dealing with the domination of hip-hop and krunk!!!
In Chicago?
With Chicago being the home of house music I am certain the scene there is hopping. Several parties each weekend, world class DJ’s/Producers and a city that respects what you are doing.
New York?
New York will always be New York, ahead of it’s time. With an endless list of world class DJ’s on any given night, you can find a house event that is off the chain. Everyone supports each other and the music is handed down and crosses all lines.
The West Coast?
Not too sure about the West Coast, it has been several years since I was last out there. I do understand that Mr. Wyatt is doing his thing at Deep, as well as Halo, David Harness, the list goes on and on.
Europe?
Europe... Waow! I love it and want to get back there soon. I recall one event in Fribourg, Switzerland where the promoter suggested I play soulful. After several tracks, I realized the crowd wanted something a bit harder. I had a few folks on the floor but I needed everyone to meet me in the Bass. So I went deep into my crate and pulled out the tribal tracks that I brought for back up. Within minutes I obtained the response I was looking for. The Promoters reply after my set: “Man, I had no idea you could play so hard”. In Europe house/dance music is felt in a different way, it’s excepted and appreciated by so many more. I mean, to turn on the car stereo and hear house music being played over the air or dance music videos on TV, it’s great.
Globally?
Elsewhere and globally, I think more and more people are opening their arms to house. With so many on-line radio stations that broadcast great music, it’s so easy to hear some sweet, deep, soulful & funky house.
Ooops! Was to forget... What’ bout yer city?
Atlanta, home of Crunk, Soso Def and Lil Jon. Did I spell that correct? We are doing all that we can to maintain the scene here, trying to make sure that there is one house event on any given Saturday night and maybe a Friday. Real house music, not the watered down cheesy stuff. As I stated before, in any city, each event has to be supported, House divided will not stand. Give your crowd quality house in a mature atmosphere with a banging sound system and you can’t go wrong.
You’ve got to Atlanta sumthin’ like... 20 years ago. How was it at the time? Have you really felt an evolution?
When I arrived there, no one wanted to hear house at the time. I was being told that it was gay music. Coming from Detroit where house was everywhere, I was shocked. I mean I couldn’t understand those feelings. I had never looked at house as being anything but the fuel for my soul, a place for peace and harmony, my drug. Did I mention that I am and have always been smoke and drug free? I knew I loved DJing and wanted to continue, but if I was going to get work here I had to obtain other genres of music.
Atlanta is considered a Mecca. So many people from so many different places, East Coast, West Coast, North, Mid West, all with a desire for house. Ted Patterson was the first that I knew out there to play house at the Color Box. Ted also worked at ED’s Gourmet records, he was my wax drug dealer. Then you have Kai Alce, he kept the vibe going at MJQ. Over the past several years a lot of underground house events have sprung up hosted by several different promoters.
What has got you to have your own nighter? How long has this been? Did you feel like encountering any difficulties facing a crowd not that familiar with house music as opposed to other genres such as hip hop and R&B?
I run a very successful Mobile DJ company and have gained a reputation of being the guy to call for a serious sound system for house events. From time to time I would DJ as well as provide sound, but it wasn’t the same. After being urged by Kai, a few of the other DJ’s and several people that had received my mixed CDs, I felt it was time for me to get back to house here, were I live.
My reason for establishing SWEAT with Michael Alan is that it a was place for me to share my love of house music. I have been blessed to play in Germany, Switzerland, Spain and several cities here in the USA, but there’s no place like were you live. Detroit will always be home.
SWEAT is about house, not me or Mike. We don’t get caught up on our names becoming huge or anything like that. The main focus is creating an evening, an event that is deep, soulful, sexy, uplifting and eclectic. We want SWEAT to be a place you’ll want to call home and want to come back to again and again and bring a friend.
We have those that come out not knowing what to expect. Of course they would request the Top 40 stuff and we just have to explain them what the evening is all about. Once they settle in, get caught up in the vibe, see that everyone else is in their own world, they go with the flow. Then we get those that leave, but being here in the Atlanta, you can’t reach every one, I realize that.
Could you say that the SWEAT event has become a meeting point for the local scene?
SWEAT is becoming a meeting point for those that seek real house music. We feature different DJ’s at our events, as long as they can keep the floor moving, they stay on the decks. I think with us being open to letting different DJ’s spin, we continue to broaden our fan base.
Do you have regular contacts/eventually work on some collaboration projects?
We stay in touch with DJ’s nationally and internationally, we will continue to feature other DJ’s at SWEAT. We are frantically seeking sponsorship in order to continue to reach out to DJ’s we respect and admire. Yes, we are currently working on collaborations with other promoters. Can’t say exactly what, but be on the look out. Coming to a city near you, real soon!!!
What about the local medias?
There are a few avenues that we pursue here, but again for the most part the media is Hip-Hop and Top 40 dominated.
There was a little dedicated fanzine, quite interesting as a matter of fact. Is it still in activity?
I’ll have to get back to you in regards to this specific matter. I am a laid back kind of guy, for me it’s all about the music. I speak through what I play.
You now look set to have your own nite in Miami. What has decided you to take the step?
Well, we wanted to share the SWEAT vibe with everyone, and there’s no better place than the WMC. If you go to NYC you have to check out the Shelter or APT. In L.A. it’s Deep. Every city has it’s club/event that out-of-towners know they must visit for that true house vibe. When you plan to visit Atlanta, plan to visit SWEAT. Again, the best place to let the world know about SWEAT is Miami and the WMC. And since the world will converge on South Beach, SWEAT has to be there.
How do you see Miami?
I see Miami as a place to have a great time, the weather is awesome and the people laid back. Other than the WMC I understand the music isn’t all that good.
What 'you expect from it?
To make some lasting friendships and some serious business relationships. We want to be able to call upon DJ’s after the Conference and them already having knowledge of who SWEAT is and what it’s all about.
Looks like you’ve got an eclectic line-up. A few words about your guests?
I can’t say enough about how honored I am to have such a great line-up. The DJ’s for the night are Ralf GUM (GoGo Music/Germany), Minx (Women On Wax/Detroit), Halo (BlueM/City Deep), Rick Wilhite (3 Chairs /Philosophie Music /StillMusic), Pope & Oji (Poji Records), Geoffrey C (Handz On Radio/Edge Mix), Kervyn Mark (The Melting Pot/NYC) Shaheer Williams (Soul Groove Records). Live, we have Diviniti (Women On Wax), Diamondancer (Dark River Media /StillMusic), Tamara Wellons (Ocha Records), Ecco, and the legendary Cassio Ware (Groove Music), waow! The response to the event has been overwhelming and the artists have shown so much love. We expect a great party, great music, everyone brings their own special flavor to the event.
We understand that you're gonna welcome GoGo Music label head Ralf GUM who you'll also happen to be the collegue of while joinin' the IDMW.Com editorial team. How do you feel at the perspective of this new experience? What is to be expected on your monthly column?
I am honored to become a part of IDMW.Com. You guys were such a joy to meet in Miami a couple of years ago. The energy, knowledge and love of the music on IDMW.Com is great, I only hope I can keep the readers and listeners coming back the way that I’ve become hooked.
I want to provide the same quality information that IDMW.Com has become known for. I want to contribute information and stories pertaining to what’s going on here in the States, events, new music and just basic knowledge on the house music scene.
Thank you Sir. Can’t wait to welcome your first contribution... MFSB
INTERVIEW
