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THE JINKS:
2 TO MAKE IT RIGHT!
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Ask these young men how long it takes to make it right. They''ll then no doubt tell you how it takes some time… But not only has this upcoming pair of London-based producers managed to make it right, but with three simultaneous releases currently receiving a huge response (incl. the infectious ‘Like Music’ which we’ve welcomed as our Single Of The Week) and the imminent launch of their own Jinks Inc label, Dan Savidge & Chris Gau look set to make it happen!!!
Yaow boyz. Congrats for the quality of your music & welcome on board. Let’s get straight to the point if you don’t mind. How do you live what appears as a fast rising stardom?
We take each day as it comes and try to keep our feet on the ground, This is often hard, especially when supermodels and musicians alike are throwing their underwear at us on a daily basis!!!
Any pressure around that you feel as recognition grows?
Not really, we've always stucked to our style, and so any props we get are based on that. All we gotta do is keep on keepin’ on!
History tends to show how many are those who’ve ended up burning themsleves, such as admitted by Chicago early daze producer/remixer, Steve ‘Silk’ Hurley, while droppin’ too much stuff at the same time. One reaction?
You've got to draw a balance. Everything in moderation!
Judging by your bio, looks like you’ve carefully gone from a step to another in your maturation. Has this been sort of preconceived or do you see this as a natural way of evolution?
We certainly took cautious steps at first, and one thing led to another. DJing naturally led to producing our own edits of the songs we were playing and so on. Nowadays though, things seem to be happening in a stranger order, but that's all good!
Let’s talk about those you consider as the ones who’ve shown you the way?
We've got to give props to Mn2S, who have given us support for our releases and DJing. In terms of our music, Stevie Wonder has demonstrated that anything is possible, while Sly Stone showed us where to draw a line! MAW have produced consistently excellent music for years.
I understand both of you were teens when you’ve started working together. Let us know about your respective backgrounds, family environments and influences?
I was brought up around music, as my father used to take in stray musicians when they walked on his lawn. Family life was good and there was plenty to eat. You didn't wanna answer back though. As for Chris, he doesn't talk about his background
How have your respective families considered your choice of makin’ music as opposed some said regular job?
There has always been maximum support from both our parents, which we are very grateful for. It is easy sometimes in the harder days, to wonder if this path is the right one, and while our folks may have quite enjoyed seeing us as big city lawyers or egg salesmen, they also know that we are in this for keeps, and support us wholeheartedly.
UK has always been reputed for havin’ a boiling media environment as far as all sorts of dance music are concerned. For me, by the time I’ve been living there, this would be Radio One and Jeff Young’s Big Beat show, the late James Hamilton and his famous reviews on Record Mirror, Blues & Soul and Mixmag back then. What ‘boutcha?
Yes definitely. Agree…
Goin’ forward as far as this specific matter of reputation is concerned… The Brits have often been said of being capable of the best and the worst. Any comment?
That's true! We're our own worst enemies in loads ways. Look at Tim Henman. Actually don't, he's a twat!
In the mean time, there are no doubt much more opportunities to step into music in your homeland than probably anywhere else in the world, right?
Well, we've travelled all over the world, and it does seem that England and especially London is the place to be these days. It can depend though on if you want to be a big fish on a small pond or a little fish in a big one. We want to rule the seas!!! (laughs)
What has been your very first contact with music? Did you both guys already have some will to do something in the music field before meeting?
We met when we were 12 years old. So of course naaaah. It all started later on!
You’ve been together for quite some time now. How do you mutually see each other as a character and the other’s contribution in your work?
We both bring different aspects to the productions, but never the same ones twice. Dan may write the lyrics on a tune and I the bassline parts, but then on the next one, the roles may be totally flipped. That way, it's always fresh and we're both doing everything!!
Any specific working method which you’ve sort of established for yourselves?
Veto rules… If either of us don't like any aspect of the work, it goes, no questions asked. That way we always end up with a piece of work that we both know is as good as it can be...
How would you describe a typical working day?
We work in The Money Pit Studio, which is in a basement. This meaning that there’s no daylight. In other words, nights, days evenings and mornings all feel the same!
Who do you feel close to in the music arena?
Liquid People, Sir Piers, Tarantulaz, Aaron Ross…
Do you ever think you could have become who you are without DJing?
No way! You gotta rock a party before you can tell how to create the vibes that do it!!
The evolution of dance music has seen the DJ’s in the obligation to produce music in order to either build up their notoriety or have it maintained alive even though many of’em may not have the skills not to say the talent to achieve this properly. Your opinion?
Damned right.
And I’m not even talkin’ about nowadays where, with the decrease of the vinyl sales and the transformation of the economy, those peeps obviously look like getting most of their incomes with their bookings as compared to the fruit of their studio works. Quite ironical, isn’t it?
We look at DJ work as the fruits of our labour, and the tunes we make as promo for our skillz. The sad fact at the moment is that there is very little money to be made from the production side of things. This will change though, as it all goes in swings and roundabouts.
Looks like, for the aforementioned reasons, this is far from being the best environment to launch a label. I guess, judging by the obvious care you’ve taken to follow your own path, you then must have a/some good reason(s), right?
Absolutely. We've seen a number of our tunes get fantastic reactions from crowds and DJ’s alike, but they've not been taken on by labels who are afraid to take a punt. We know these songs will do well, and we'd rather build up our own profile releasing them. Do a degree though it's all a learning curve still.
Tell us about this collaboration with the distinguished Lady Alma…
We hooked up with her through Seiji from Bugz in the Attic. Alma stayed at Dan's flat while she was over from the States in return for a blistering vocal performance! We'd already written the vocal, so it was pretty easy. She's a legend, and sooo good on stage
This other with Zodiac who to me fairly sounds like Robert Owens…
We'll tell him. He'll be honoured!
Already thought about doing an album?
We've been working on an album on and off for a year or two now. Not necessarily all house music. That's all we can say for now, but watch this space!!!
There have been regular complaints along those last years with the dancefloors mainly dominated by tracks as opposed to songs, minimalism as opposed to orchestration, with many people talkin’ about the disappearence of soul and depth as opposed to beats and samples. And it looks like the things have slightly changed recently. D’you feel like it? Then if so, would you see this as the beginning of a new cycle?
Hallelujah! We've certainly seen the tracky trend of the last couple of years, and you're right, something seems to be tipping on the right direction at last. We've always been about writing songs with meaning and fonk, and the thought that the soul train is on it's way back is all good to us!
Leavin’ you for now with one last question. What’s next?
Goin’ for a pint. U comin’?
Most definitely, bottoms up guys. MFSB
THE JINKS featuring ZODIAC – Like Music (MN2S)
THE JINKS featuring LADY ALMA – Up 2 You (Jinks Inc)
THE JINKS featuring GINA ESTRADA – Brazilla (Sole Music)
Catch The Jinks Inc Records Label Launch Party featuring THE JINKS + Special Guests & Live P.A’s from ZODIAC who will perform 'Like Music', 'Wiggle' and 'Man Up', and RADHIKA, who will be taking a break from her UK tour with Mutya to perform The Jinks's 'Story To Tell' this Saturday, Sept 08 at INDUSTRY 1 Curtain Rd - LONDON EC2A 3JX
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