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KERRI CHANDLER:
THE HOUSE OF RAISING SUN…
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Bein’ asked about one song describing how I perceive the man, I’d then certainly go for Anita Baker’s ‘Givin’ You The Best That I Got’… And God knows how he would never miss an opportunity to behave so + the fact that he’s always stayed true to who he is. Nuff reasons to explain the strong fidelity linking him with his people and countless fans and vice versa along the years, as notoriously demonstrated by the release of the sixth installment of the Southport Weekender compilation havin’ Kerri Chandler in the driver’s seat…
Yaow Mista C! Glad havin’ you on board for another round. How have you been since last time we met in Paris, right before the Summer?
Wonderful. Lots of traveling and finally had a minute to get back in the studio, experimenting with DJ gear building new gear. Just really expressing the way I feel creatively.
You don’t respond that much to the sollicitations as far as interviews are concerned. Any specific reason apart from the fact that you’re obviously busy?
I just never like saying things that I have said over and over most of the time, And Most of it really is because I never have time. But most of the time, I answer all my emails from my friends and admirer. Those to me are the most important, and you know how I feel about my friends.
Would you tend to think that music is supposed to speak for itself? Could this have anything to do with your obvious attachment to the concept of underground, considering the fact that bein’ given exposure is sort of incompatible with the latest?
I have always just made what happened in my life. As far as records are concerned, I never followed anyone's trend or sound. It was expression for me, and if people get it wonderful, if not I had a moment in time where I felt I could share and tried to do it with music.
I’ve sometimes heard people including some big names occasionally telling me how, in regards to their position, there was no real need for them to have their music/events being pushed to the light. Isn’t that somehow contradictory with the fact of having works published? This meaning havin’ them per definition becoming public…This is underground music, Some people do it for other reasons to be famous or paid. My Reason is because I love what I can express. It's just like writing a book about my life only it’s done to music. Each year begins a new chapter, And you’ve been a part of it, so you saw it first hand, ‘Sun's Coming Up’, ‘Bar A Thym’, ‘So Let The Wind Come’, all because of the Sunslice festival. And you personally know them, and witnessed how and why. So not to much changes with me, I just found a way to channel my energy, with the songs I make.
We both know how house music has been the subject of so many interpretations since day 1, with the addiction of the baddest we would ever have thought of at the time. The latest being the cause of a certain misunderstanding by a part of the crowd, not to say a rejection. What is it to be a house producer nowadays?
Funny enough a couple of weeks ago, I was sitting at a table with Funky Chocolate and his Mrs, DJ Deep, DJ Gregory, Yass, Dennis and a few other friends. At one point, I can tell you for sure, no matter what the angle is of any DJ, I know first and foremost there is a passion and the reasons for it may vary. But there is a serious one and they all have beliefs that I feel will never change when you are doing house music.
There’s been quite some time – more than 30 years – since the release of the first DJ remixes which would have the latest progressively jumping into production, although being far for a vaste majority of’em from havin’ the skills, not to mention the talent. Your reaction?
I personally feel for myself. I need both, I take what I learned out and go in to the studio with it. It keeps me consistent, with what I feel. And I do everything from feel. I try to better both always. When I DJ, I make it like it was the first and last time I ever DJ'ed. I still have the same energy when I walked in to a club and but my first song on, I don't feel that will ever change for me, if there are 2 people in a room or 200,000. (and I did both), it will always feel the same for me.
The ironical side of the things comin’ to the fact that most of the DJ produced music appears nowadays more like promotional tools in order for them to make their incomes. One comment?
I think that there has been a shift due to slumping record sales, and more and more people are DJing to make incomes. Also house has turned around and become about the DJ somehow becoming the artist. I can't tell you why most people do it, but I can tell you I became a DJ at 13 years old and for me that never changed. The first time I sat in front of a keyboard or saw a studio, I knew I wanted to do that. That has never changed, I always wanted to be what I am today, I just got older.
Isn’t that to be taken somehow as blackmail, if not modern slavery?
I don't feel that these people have a gun to there heads!!! It's a matter of the promoters and people who feel they are worth going to see and tastes really vary. It could be a magazine saying they are the best and people get into it, or it could be that they really are the real McCoy. The fun part of house is you can't lie to the music. Thank God, most people can feel the honesty when it come to the DJ and the music and production. Everyone has a freedom to choose who they would love to hear, that’s all there is. If you’re not in to someone, then so be it. I will never put a black eye into the house music scene, the music speaks for itself. It's an intelligent style of music with I feel pretty smart listeners.
You’re quite up to date with technology, not to say an addict. How do you see the current situation and its evolution?
I am a geek at heart. The only thing that I have ever wanted to do is express myself. I want no limits to how I do what I do. So I re-build and/or "Chandlerize" most of my gear or make something from scratch from my workbench. I will wake up in the morning and tell myself why not, how can I make this work a different way. I love to push myself to the mental limit: Man vs Machine.
Productionwise?
Same way, I try and do something that I haven't done yet and still express myself doing it.
As far as this precise matter is concerned, much has been said about house music in general with negative critics based on too much of repetitions for instance, but also the lack of lyrics with real sense leading to the inexistence of relation with day to day life. A situation which seems like havin’ slightly evolved over those last months on an observer’s perspective with the recent release of good material. Is this something that you’ve also noticed behind the decks?
That's the fun part of DJing. You have to look beyond the norm, find those gems that express your mood and stories you feel, and I love making them up on the fly. There is a balance to all of this. After all it still is "Dance" music. The key is even without words or minimal conversation. Cause most places I DJ at they barely speak English, the message I make with my music still somehow come across. Unity, Love, Respect, Peace, Admiration… When I see someone in the room I DJ'ed in crying because of a song or a track I played… That is the reason I am there in the first place, to express myself as an artist, to show that there is something in the music, and to bring what I have to offer to the night, and to bring my own personal best to the forefront of the night.
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If so, could this mark the arrival of a new cycle after months not to say years dominated by cut’n’pasted stuff, noisy beats’n’bops and other senseless electro minimal blurps???I feel everything has a moment and time if it's done right. It can act as a segway to experiment. Overkill on any one style to me shows just how open minded the DJ is, and this is deep house music I like to play not shallow house. My favorite saying I have heard while I was out listening to a DJ was from another friend, "Are we being educated or misinformed ?". To this day I keep that in mind.
As a musician, how has the fact of havin’ a family and becomin’ a dad affected your view when comin’ to produce?
I have to live up to that Chandler Standard that my family has set. I'm not the only DJ/Producer in my Family. Like my 2 cousins for instance, Phillip Damien and DJ Jessryte and about another 20 DJ's in my family will come and kick my ass if I start doing something that wasn't true to what they know of me.
You told me a looooong while ago about an album project with live musicians… Where are you at as far as it is concerned?
Very, very close to being done. I’m about halfway there. I have just found the right string people and horns, so it's coming together pretty good. I hope to be all done by early next year.
You’ve made quite some waves after the release of the famous biographical ‘Bar A Thym’, synonymous with so many good souvenirs for a whole bunch of peeps (notoriously in France), not to mention you, Dennis (Ferrer) and I. Never tempted to give it a sort of follow up?
Well, Dennis did, with "A Drum Stick And A Light Fixture". You know that story! lol…
Hard not to have a few words in regards to the now defunct Sunslice Festival in the South of France… What would be yours?
In that moment in time, I felt that each of us showed what we were all about, who would share love and music. And the reasons of why, we all have our reasons, and I feel that Sunslice/Bar A Thym Really showed that side.
Been said although it’s on a much bigger scale, that there’s also a sort of family atmosphere floating around at Southport Weekender. Your comment?
To me, this is the reason I love house. The people there understand and live for the music nothing else, just music so I am drawn to that, and over the years I have grown to know a lot of people there. It's like a reunion in a way, and I also see lots of new people being welcomed in too, but it's all about sharing music and the vibe, ruffing it, and music. If you stayed in one of the Chalets out there, you really know it’s about the music. If you had the food there you know it's about the music.
This leading us to your position, in the driver’s seat, at the command of the 6th volume of their s/t series. Any specific people you’ve wanted givin’ a push while selecting their music on this mix of yours?
It's mainly a vocal compilation, to me SP has been a soul driven artist song oriented place, So I just put the compilation together to reflect that. I am one of the first DJ's to have done both CD's and play back to back SP' events. I feel really blessed and honored to do both.
There are also your imprints including Grei Matter to which you’ve given birth a little less than a year ago. How do you feel with them so far?
They are literally like my Children, I named them both after my kids so I’m having fun with them and helping them to become better.
Upcoming projects?
Studio Apt featuring Monique Bingham – ‘Found Him’ (Remix) - Computer Games LP – ‘Je t’aime’ and ‘All I Have Is This Feeling’ - The Dick Dickler EP - A new Tears Of Velva Single - and the Southport Weekender Mix CD.
What can we wish you at the approach of your B-day?
I’m doing it in Paris this year, Hope to see you there.
Last but not least, you’re awaited to spin in Toronto in a few days by the time we publish this conv. One word about the people over there?
The last time I was there it was Hot and Sweaty, Packed in and great vibes, I just want to continue where I left off.
As usual, all my love to you and your family. Peace,
Cool man, thanks for the chat. Gotta get you back around for Thanksgiving again, lol... MFSB
SOUTHPORT WEEKENDER # 6 – KERRI CHANDLER CD/LP (Endulge)
KERRI CHANDLER – ‘Je t’aime/All I Have Is This Feeling’ (Grei Matter)
Catch Kerri Chandler Sun, 09/02 live @ The Mod Club Theatre: 722 College St. West – TORONTO,ON
INDAMIXWORLDWIDE.COM: Only the best, No time for the rest!
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