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

I had a popular radio show in NYC doing good parties in colleges and then moving into clubs.

1a. Who or what had the greatest influence on what you listen to today?

1(a) Was through listen to your parents (Did they have an artists or performer that they constantly kept going on about that influenced you) 1(b) Was through listening at a early age to the Radio to a particular sound or artist 1(c) Was through going to the church (being part of a choir?) 1(d) Or was it by being forced to take musical lessons that influenced your choice?

I was a big WBLS fan (Radio) back in the day.

2. Who was your first musical hero? Was it Artists from the. Soul area, Hiphop scene, Rock/Heavy Metal scene, Motown sound, The Sound of Philadelphia or Stax Records artists, Jazz artists, Hip Hop Artist. Or just any particular artist?

JAMES BROWN Was my first hero

3. You are a DJ/Producer. What was the first club that you played that allow you to gain vital experience to that is invaluable now! Is it still there now; and have you gone back to play there from time to time?

The Choice in NYC (New York City, Usa) helped me gain that experience. It's no longer around. What was the first Club that you ran completely? I really never played the promoter game and never ran a club.

4. I posed this question to DJ Cosmo(USA), a couple of years back and now I'm going to pose it to you. Have you ever been given the chance to play on those famous Pirate Radio Show's; any of them at all? MY radio show on 91.5 fm was the most popular mix show station during my 10 year run. It was because of that show that I became the status dj I am today. Would or will you play on them?I was the first to break the ROGERS./ KERRI CHANDLER/ PAL JOEY sound.I was also the first to break acid house on the radio.

In short what do you think of the Pirate radio set-up within the London area?

Some are inspirational, some are dog food. Do there serve a purpose, or have they out stayed their welcome? For 2 Step Garage music they outstayed their welcome. It's time to get another underground sound.

5.Still on being a DJ. What would you considered to being the music that you like playing the best. USA Garage, Deep House, Disco House, Jazz House or 2-STEP Garage, Soul, Rnb or Funk or do you throw all of these music's into your set to get the best results?

Actually I'm feelin the pumpin dark tribal sounds at the moment. I'm over the "big-fat-diva-martha wash type vocal USA garage records. I still love USA garage but the kind thats cleverly done. UK garage has gone into some bling-bling R and B mode that's all too dispensible plus the MC's ruined it for the scene.

6. Are you a resident DJ some where, or do you work Freelance?

GBH in NYC, Usa and CLUB ONE in Dallas TX, Usa.

7.For the people that are new into Garage music I wondered if you could tell us. Have you ever travelled abroad to work?

Yup sure do. Where did I play.The only place I haven't played is South America, Russia, and Africa everyone except those three. Was it a success? definatly

I love Sona in Montreal, Release in San Francisco, and Motor in Detroit. Deep in Madrid, Pacha in Ibiza, Zouk in Singapore, Yellow in Japan, Various places in Olso in Norway.

7a. This has intrigued people across the world about you nickname. How did you get the name associated to you as "Disciple"? Yes how did you get the name DJ Disciple?

I was a gospel dj first.

8. Changing the subject. What are your thoughts on the music known as 2-Step Garage music that is busting out of London? (Artful Dodger, M.J.Cole, Ed Case, Wookiee, Sunship, etc etc) The music has bulldozed its way into the Garage and Soulful House music world. It's the newest hybrid within the music gender. Some people hate it. Some people love it. What are your views on the scene and the music?

I love properly produced 2 step. At the moment it's bombarded with alot of junk.Here's what I hate

(a) the mc's have taken over the scene. That makes it (b) harder for DJ's to break records in the club. (c) there are too many pirates and not enough dj's championing the scene. (D)The more popular tunes are 4 and 5 years old. Record labels are pimpin these artists as one hit wonders and while I love Wookie, Artful Dodger and Sunship, someone new needs to step in and take over where Craig David left off.

9. There seems to be a love for Soulful House and GARAGE music at the moment that resembles the early days of HipHop within the USA. Labels are being sought after, the pirates are canning the music. Underground clubs via word of mouth are becoming " Sought after places to visit". Is the bubble going to burst soon though do you think? What are your thoughts?

USA garage is the foundation of House music. It will never get lost. Need proof? Jakkatta, Bel Amour, Chocalate Puma, M&S, B-Jaxx, Daft Punk. Need I say more.

10. Kiss 100 Fm Radio station (London, England) has come in for a lot of stick a couple of years ago for moving away from its dance music ethos in favour of a more commercial and pop orientated sound, which has infuriated a large amount Londoners. Have you such a station within New Jersey, USA.

I'm not from Jersey so I don't know.Hip Hop has always maintained a better culture and success level than the house scene in the US. The same can be said for regional radio & video.

11. BBC Radio 1 (England) seems to be championing the cause of dance music. But is this fools gold? Is this only a case of dance music being fashionable so that the BBC are panicking and pressurised in putting on these soul, drum and bass and garage shows. Do you listen to much Radio when you are in England? Actually Radio 1 is on point. What about the USA. Do you listen to much Radio in the USA?

No it's too political. Dance music has no relevence.

12. Doing a little research on you that I have done on you. I have learned that you have appeared at the Club Zanzibar (New Jersey, USA); and that you took over from DJ Tony Humphries. Was there any pressure in taking over from a Man that really made the Zanzibar? What was special about the Zanzibar all those years ago?

Here we go... I never really took over. When Tony left 6 months later I becme resident DJ at a club down the block called the Shelter.The Shelter on a Friday took all of Zanzibars crowd. Ran for 2 years. Zanzibar came calling.We left Shelter. Mistake. I was promoting a diffrent style that worked in the Shelter but not in Zanzibar. I broke many records but polotics with the promoters failed the club. My crowd was definetly diffrent to Tony's.

13.The city of New Jersey, is a major player in the development of Garage music, yet New York gets all the play by the music media. Is this fair? You have produced DJ/DJ/producers of the quality of Blaze, Todd Edwards, Smack Productions, Cassioware, Sabynaah Pope, Adeva, Kerri Chandler, Tony Humphries and yourself, that it begs the question. How come such a relatively small city has produced these wonderful artists? Is it to do with the Church set-up within your city? Is the Church/Gospel musical set-up there strong within the dance music scene in New Jersey, USA?

Here's the way it works. Being from Brooklyn(New York, Usa) and playing both in NY and Jersey I played different styles. In NY(New York, Usa) it was ACID House the Early Detoit techno,and Todd Terry mixed with Ten City and the Chicago sound. In NJ(New Jersey, Usa) it was more Blaze ,BOP, mixed with some chicago and classics. NJ(New Jersey, Usa) always had a stronger Black music dance scene than NY because of the heros like NAEEM JOHNSON, DJ CAMACHO,HIPPIE TORRALES, and Larry Patterson.

14. You released a track/mix during 1995/96 time called "Addicted" by Plutonic. Do you remember it? It is still played to day by the more knowledgeable Garage and Soulful House DJ's. Was this easy for you to make this track?

It took me 1and 1/2 hours to do "Addicted". Boy did it rock London when it first came out.

15.In England we are led to believe that most American DJs play long, long sets that are given to DJ's such as Danny Tenglia? European DJ's can only dream of at places like the "Tunnel" and Twillo" in New York, etc, etc.Then the customary 1 or 2 hours that is given out to most European DJ's? Within your clubs past and present do or have you allow your DJ's to play for as long as 4/5 hours per set?

I've done 12 hours max.8 hours is standard for most US DJ's

13.Dubbed the "New Ibiza" by music critics and fashion experts alike. Do you fear for the islands (Ayia Napia, Cyprus) beauty? Do you think that the island will attract all the wrong types of people? Watching the film called the "Beach" starring Leonardo Da Capiro. We all saw what could happen if rules are bent and relax to accommodate wealthy holidaymakers. Do you think that Ayia Napia, as a holiday resort could be spoilt? What are your views as a Brit?

Whoa I'm not British. I don't live in the UK. I understand law. When you leave your counrty your rights are taken away from you. Respect the law and have fun.

14. Did you appear at this years Winter Music Conference (2001)? It has become the place where once a year DJ's from all over the world predominantly from the House and Garage World to meet up. Was it better then ever? Or is it getting to commercialised now?

Yup I appeared. It's commercial but it's great for networking, I love it.

15. Changing the subject again. Do you still do your own stint of record shopping or hunting? Or do you leave it up to being supplied by labels, etc to keep you up to date? I shop for my own records When you play out? (If you play out) A lot of DJ's nowadays survive by living of what given to them by Record labels of all shapes and sizes. What about you. Does this apply to you?

Hell no. DJing is my Identity. It's who I am. A record label can't give me my sound .I search

16. 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?

DEFECTED Records, London England

17. Record mixing. Your technique when playing out. Do you use a style of "blending" when you playing out; or are you a person who like to jump straight in and out of a track without warning! What styles do you like to use?

Various. I like to go with the flow but if I know the crowd I'll prepare something for them

18. Are you running a label of anykind? And if so, who have you got signed to the label? Any important Releases that we should keep a look out for?

DJ DISCIPLE-LATIN AFFAIR (CATCH 22/NYMPHO SOUNDZ)

19.Deep House music maybe isn't your cup of tea. However, this form of House music is probably the most followed style in House and Garage music worldwide. Are you a lover of the music? Do you listen to tunes from the labels such as Paper, Guidance, Glasgow Underground, Wave, and Yellow at all?

Also the West Coast of America is really making everybody stand up and takes notice with their brand of Deep House. Labels such as Grayhound, Naked Music and Panhandle records are making the city of San Francisco, Usa to sit up and take notice.

I play all of those labels and love them

20. Who do you rate as one to look out for in the future (DJ Wise?) Who should we keep an eye out for! From your own country? DJ/ music artist/s producer and from what you have heard or seen from abroad? DJ/ music artist/s producer.

DJ LAFLECHE

21.Todd Edwards from New Jersey, Usa hold a fascination over the UK Garage fans that still begs disbelief. Have you ever worked with him on any record release or project? Were you on a project together with a record label called "Grassroots" in the early 1990's? Is Grassroots records still going? What is Todd Edwards like to work with. Is he a perfectionist?

He is. I was the first person in the US to break the Todd Edwards sound in the UK. Did you know that?

I'll never forget Todd Edwards being frustrated that Louie Vega (Masters at Work) never played any of his records during his Sound Factory Bar run in 94-98. He always used to give me exclusive stuff that I would champion on my radio show of which he was a dedicated listner. Todd did a track on my Grassroots EP and remixed one of my songs. I believed in him so much that I showcased his talent on my record so people could see how good he was. I was the first to break his sound on BOBBY & STEVE'S SHOW (London, England). GARAGE CITY,RELEASE THE GROOVE , FEEL REAL and TROUBLES HOUSE (London, England). When he got popular he forgot about me. I rarely hear from him now.

22. Just thought I'd ask you created a huge track called "Hold your hands up in the air, hold hands up in the air". It really was huge. But I can't remember the track name. Whenever or where ever it's played everybody goes crazy? Was it easy to create such a track? Boy this track created mayhem on the dance floors when it was first released here in England.

It was by the BLACK & WHITE BROTHERS(DJAIMIN & MR MIKE) From Switzerland!!!!!!

22. What does the future hold for DJ Disciple? You just have completed a tour of England is that correct?yup Was it a success?of course What are the difference that you can see about playing in front of the UK/European clubbers and ravers?Styles are diffrent as well as vibes With against playing out in the USA. Please get back to me. Is there any difference? Is one more demanding then the other?

Nope 24. "Funky House" is the term that most UK Clubbers are witnessing in a big way the return of USA House and Garage on our shores. Are we going to be hearing more of "Hold your hands up in the air, Hold hands up in the air" types tracks from New York? Or more importantly from DJ Disciple?

No you wont!!!!

This is copyrighted. If you would like to use this or any of the images please contact Mr.Carl Brown(Ipswich, England) and Dj Disciple (New York City, USA) to do so.