Brian Tharme, London, England - The Official Interview

Brian Tharme, London, England

Brian "Keys" Tharme from
Catch Records and Productions
London England....

Name:Brian ' Keys' Tharme

Born:London

Age:36 years Old

Occupation: Producer/ Songwriter-composer/ Session Keyboardist/ Husband & Father

1.For the not so clued up person in regards to the world of Soulful House,Garage and Uk Underground music could you tell us how you got started in this game?

I've been in the business on a semi-pro level since 1980 starting out as a founder member of the London based jazz-funk outfit 'Private-Funk shun' featuring a young Angie Brown (Bizarre Inc fame) as vocalist. I formed the Tony Bartelli Jazz Quartet in 1985 to serve as a vehicle for my love of Jazz. In 1993 I met my former partner Gavin Mills to form Catch Productions.

2.There seems to be a huge support for the music of Soulful and Melodic Underground Garage music at the moment within England at the moment? Is this more the rule then a passing fad.Three garage music icons comes to mind here Tuff Jam and Sunrise, M.J.Cole

If I might be so bold as to say most of the Tuff Jam stuff you refer to was in fact recorded at the Catch recording studios and I, was their resident keyboard player.

Check out 'Loveshy' - Kristine Blond, 'Whatever' En Vogue and their single 'Need Good Love'as perfect examples. With the Catch stuff, Gavin and myself were into soulful/jazzy/Garage long before the 'Speed' tag was added. We had some 30-40 productions under our belt before the emergence of 'Closer than close'.

I would say that after considerable major record company support during '97, the 'Speed' flagship has now set out on a transatlantic journey leaving the 2-step vessel to scurry around keeping the UK underground scene afloat. It seems the whole 'underground' thing has gone full-circle and many UK labels are once again adopting the US influenced sound.

3. How did you get involved with first Gavin Face to form Catch Productions?

I hooked up with Gavin in the Summer of '93 where we met on a session that Gavin was producing and I was a session keyboardist.
From this we decided to get a track together at Gavins studio and eventually put it out on the newly formed Catch Records.

With me from my jazz-funk background and Gavin from the original House scene of '89, our style adopted influences from the likes of
MAW, Roger Sanchez, Jazz and Groove and Grant Nelson.
We also produced a whole series of EP's (6 Volumes) of disco-house samplers entitled 'Anorak Trax for UK garage label Underground Vibe.
The latter with major influences of Joey Negro.

4.Is it true that you gave Tuff and Jam their first chance to release their first single via your label?
Or have I got it wrong.... Do you still keep in touch?

No! Tuff Jam were already putting plenty of tracks out on their own Undavybe label amongst others.
They still keep in touch with us mainly to collect up-front DATs of forthcoming productions. Especially as I now have my own 'SugarBeat Records' label.

5.One track that even now when
"Dropped gets the crowd going at any time is...
"Catch a Feeling" by Tuff and JAM...

Did you give any assitance on that track at all as
it was released on your label... Its still selling today!!

5A. You also went under the moniker of
Banana Republic as well for a number of releases...why?

For instance you had a huge hit with
"Bad Boys move in Silence" Did this surprise you at all?

'Catch the feelin'' is actually by Banana Republic (the Remix name that Gavin and I use). Tuff Jam did a quick dub for us at the end of a studio session. Their mix went on to become somewhat of an anthem. Although as a purist I still prefer ours! Regarding "Bad boys..." it didn't surprise me with its success - look at the similarities with "Sugar Daaaaaaaaaaaaddddddddddyyyyyyy....."

6.Being a Dj/Producer? Where you surprised at the speed of which
Speed Garage reached the heights it did during 1997...

Has it been harmful to Uk House..
Or has it allowed it to clear some of the dead wood within the music...

I am not actually a DJ. I am merely a producer.
All right closet DJ - but I have to think like a DJ if I'm making Club music.

My theory is that after the Jungle heyday of 94-96, including a massive
Jungle orientated Pirate radio scene
the 'kids' were looking for a natural progression to this
hard , bass-driven, ragga-influenced British phenomenon.

Suddenly, British producers were taking the elements of Jungle and combining them with the sped-up swingy Garage beats from Stateside.
And it worked. Take Armand's mix of 'Sugar Daddy' and 'Professional widow'.

Immediately a combination of every underground producer trying to emulate this, an infectious pirate scene giving the tracks air-time
and a Record Industry not wanting to be caught with its pants down (as with jungle) meant that a new genre burst forward.

It didn't really affect UK house in general - just gave it a long overdue kick up the arse! Many complacent labels and radio stations found them selves embracing the new fresh sound, whilst many purist DJ's began slagging it having lost their residencies and being forced to reinvent themselves.

2 Step has closer links with Jungle in that it is very break beat based.
The Cream productions/producers (MJ, Dem 2 etc...) make it a very credible genre.

However there are too many wannabes with an
S1000 and a DAT machine making total toilet!

7.You are not only a Dj/Producer, but you are a
Keyboard session musician as well..

Has this helped your career. Who have you worked with...?

7 As I have already stated " I am not a DJ!". There are already too many talented DJ's for me to interrupt. Through Catch I have had numerous opportunities to work with many top producers. Tuff Jam, Bobbi & Steve, Joey Negro, Dreem Teem and Baffled to mention a few.

I have always been a musician first then a House producer.

8. Catch Productions even through the hazy heavy duty Speed Garage releases of 1997
that were influenced by Ragga...have always seemed to put across a more
softer approach for the Uk Underground Garage..

Are you planning to have other types of music to come from the Label
...Jazz music or Soul even..

Catch have always tried to put out serious Garage.
Vocals and jazzy vibes being the standard. Although Gavin and myself are now working independently.
Catch still runs and is being looked after by One Step Music.

Through them and as silent partners we are now able to put out tracks like " Hit' n' run" by Loleatta Holloway licensed from Salsoul...
and we'll probably remix some back catalogue e.g.
"Just Gets Better" by TJR!!! and " Catch the Feelin'" by Banana Republic.

9.Who, if given the chance would you like to work with in the World of House and Garage music?

The Masters at Work, Don Carlos, Derrick Carter, Kerri Chandler, Grant Nelson, Shazzz..who??

It has to be MAW - maybe the next nu-yorican project?

10.Who do you rate as one to look out for in the future? Who should we keep an eye out for!

From your own country? DJ/ music artist/s producer.
From what you have heard or seen from abroad? DJ/ music artist/s producer

Not actually being a train-spotter DJ type,
I'm not really in tune with names and fresh talent.
However, at present I'm into the French scene and the whole Disco House revival.

11. Are you at peace with the press?

Do you still constantly worry about being misquoted. Or do you have a good relationship with the press as a whole?

I'm fortunate not have really been misquoted in the press, but that's probably because I try to be extremely clear about what I want to say.

12. Are you planning to Tour Europe or the Usa soon? Or do you have a to hectic a schedule at the moment?

No tours! But..... I've been offered some production work in Switzerland on some big Pop-y project.

13. The label of Catch was one of the success of 1997...Do you worry about maintaining this popularaty, or isn't this the main aim of the label...Please tell us of your main aim of the label!!!

Catch Records/Prodcutions will carry on servicing the followers of quality soulful underground house and garage. Gavin and I will be remixing for the label independently as 'DJ Face' and 'BKT' but all my new work will surface on SugarBeat Records.

14. Will we be seeing a album release of the label
in the form of a Compliation later this year..

Having spoken to One Step recently, a compilation could be 'on the cards' with some new remixes.

15. There was talk of the label being shut down.. Is this true or just paper talk, or your industry profession..magazine talk?

Catch Records will keep on rolling but Gavin and I have ... divided and multiplied.

16. New York via its records labels seems to hitting back of late which have definitely caught eye of the Soulful Head buyers in England and Europe..

Can we see more Usa Underground labels appearing within the record shelves of England/Europe..

Next year maybe? Or is this a case of wishful thinking..

Already Spiritaul Life, Ibadan and Wave Records
are starting to become cult status over here...

Is it a case of "The Empire Strikes Back!!!

Take most specialist record shops in London.
They have two sections designated to US and UK house.
Previously the UK shelf was bigger, before that it was the US
and now maybe it's back to the U-S-of A!

17. As labels go..Have you a favourite One that you always stop by as you flick
through the piles of Records in your specialist record shop?

I personally now shop for sample fodder. But no-one can ignore MAW.

18.Its getting nearer to Christmas and New Year Festivities now, and its that time of year when promoters have already, or are looking to book their star line upsfor their Christmas and New Year bashes..

Are you part of any star line booking either in the States or in Europe for this year? Or is it "Feet up for you, and enjoy the Holiday?

(*Reputedly some Dj's in the past have been paid in excess of 20,000 pounds
or more to play Christmas, or New Year Bashes..

Is this right, or could this harm the music in the long run...What are your views on this?)

With regard to the £20k fee... I'm obviously in the wrong game!

22. How do you seek out talent for Catch, or any other label/s that you might be running. Do you receive tapes in regards to your label nowadays.Or do you go out and seek the talent that you feel is right for your labels, etc...

We received tapes but mainly tracks were our own or collaborations.

23. Have you got any advice for any aspiring
record label producer, DJ or club owner within the world of House and Garage.

Any rules that he should adhere to!!!

23 Unless you're loaded when you start out, remember it's a business.

The business of selling records. If you're a producer make records that will be played, easily programmed into sets and maintain originality.

If you are a label then a firm contact data base of DJ's and press is essential. Seek feedback.

Try to get your tracks to up-front DJ's to test the water before pressing.

Most importantly, you must have - like Roy said- dedication! It's the second most competitive business after film and TV. There are thousands of wannabes! Are you still sure you want to do this?!

Finally, SugarBeat Records is part of my new production company EPM Productions.

http://www.cwd.co.uk/epmproductions/index.htm

e-mail: briankeys@aol.com

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