Micheal Proctor, Usa,
Is in the House everybody!!

Name: MICHAEL PROCTER
Born:USA/PEORIA, ILL.
Place where living now?:LAS VEGAS
Occupation: VOCALIST, PRODUCER, WRITER.

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

I HAVE BEEN IN THIS BUSINESS FOR MANY YEARS PRIOR TO DOING GARAGE HOUSE. I WAS THE LEAD VOCALIST FOR A GROUP BY THE NAME OF THE FIFTHE DIMENSION FOR 8 YEARS. PRIOR TO THAT CLUB OWNER, TELEVISION PRODUCER, SONG WRITER.

1B. You seem to be a big hit within the World of House and Garage music in regards to your melodic vocal approach to House music.For instances I remember first hearing your vocal patterns on the single called "Deliever Me" in collabration with Urban Blues Project.? Was there other singles before this in regards to Soulful House music?

THE FIRST " HOUSE " SONG FOR ME WAS DELIVER ME.

2. Who was the major influence for you within the World of House and Garage music and why???

WHEN I FIRST STARTED DOING HOUSE MUSIC I NEVER CONSIDERED THE MUSIC THAT I HEARD BEFORE AS HOUSE. I JUST CONSIDERED IT ALL R& B WITH AN UPTEMPO.

BUT I HAD BEEN LISTENING TO COLONEL ABRAMS, JOCELYN BROWN, SYLVESTER, MICHAEL WATFORD, BARBERA TUCKER. AND THEN OTHER MORE DISCO ORIENTED MATERIAL LIKE PETER BROWN, THE TRAMMPS, TWO TONS OF FUN, THE STYLISTICS, MOTOWN. I MEAN THE LIST COULD GO ON FOR EVER.

3. A few people that I have talked to about Soulful House and Garage music have become disillusioned by the state of affairs within the World Of House and Garage music.

This is strange because House and Garage music now can be mentioned in the same breath as Jungle, Techno and Acid House was years ago...Are you one of the disillusioned?

NO! GARAGE AND HOUSE SPEAK FOR THEMSELVES. WHEN WE RECOGNIZE THAT THIS MUSIC HAS VALUE BEYOND JUST THE $700.00 ADVANCE MONEY. WHEN WE RECOGNIZE THAT THIS MUSIC DESERVES TO BE ON THE RADIO AND ON THE TELEVISION THEN WE WILL FIGHT FOR THIS. UNTIL THEN WE WILL REMAIN IN THE SHADOWS BEGGING FOR SOMEONE TO PUT A CRUMB IN OUR HANDS.

3b. Garage City and the Loft ( both situated in London) are often mentioned over here as places to go if you want to hear or see playing Soulful type House within the capital of England...

Many people from aboard still have this image of London of being a place obsessed with Speed Garage and Break Beat tunes....Is this fair??? Have you ever visited England before, and have you played at any gigs...

I HAVE BEEN TO ENGLAND AND PLAYED MANY CLUBS, NOT ONLY HOUSE CLUBS LIKE THE LOFT BUT ALSO MORE MAINSTREAM COMMERCIAL DANCE CLUBS.ENGLAND LIKE EVERYWHERE ELSE HAS PEOPLE THAT LIKE DIFFERENT THINGS, DIFFERENT TEMPOS, DIFFERENT GROOVES, DIFFERENT TIMES, I FOUND ENGLAND TO BE A PLACE THAT CHASES AFTER THE NEXT TREND, BUT ALSO A PLACE WHERE WHEN PEOPLE LOVE SOMETHING THEY FIGHT FOR IT.

4.I posed this question to DJ Cosmo, and now I'm going to pose it to you. Have you ever been given the chance to play or being aired on those famous or infamous Pirate Radio Show's within London or Outside London in your career; any of them at all? Would you like to be featured on them at all?

In short what do you think of the Pirate radio set-up within the London area or in your area if you have any? Does Pirate Radio serve a purpose, or have they outstayed their welcome?

PIRATE RADIO WILL ALWAYS HAVE A PURPOSE. FREE SPEECH, AND FREE EXPRESSION WHEN MAJOR CORPORATIONS CONTROL THE COMMUNICATION ARENA, THERE WILL ALWAYS BE A PLACE FOR PIRATE RADIO. AND I HAVE NO PROBLEM WITH GOING ON THESE STATIONS BECAUSE THE PEOPLE THAT LISTEN TO THEM MOST OF THE TIME ARE THE PEOPLE THAT I WORK FOR ANYWAY.

5. Keeping on the radio subject...Have you had a spell as a Dj on Radio? Could you see this being you in a couple of years time...doing radio work..?

NOT REALLY UNLESS IT WAS A QUITE STORM TYPE OF FORMAT, I ADMIRE THOSE THAT DO IT, BUT IT IS NOT FOR ME.

6.Are you a record Horder? Do you still do your stint of record shopping or hunting? Or do you leave it up to being supplied by promo's to keep you up to date. A lot of DJ's, Music artists 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?

I DON'T GO OUT TO GET RECORDS SINCE I AM NOT A D.J. BUT I HAVE MANY D.J. FRIENDS THAT SEND ME MIX TAPES. AND SINCE I ALSO HAVE A BOOKING BUSINESS PARTNERSHIP I ALSO HERE A LOT OF MIX TAPES WITH A LOT OF THE NEW MUSIC. AND I HAVE A LOT OF VOCALIST FRIENDS THAT SEND ME MUSIC AND I IN TURN.

7.Being a Vocalist within the venue of Soulful House music, has the music strain reached such a saturation point that it has become stale....??? Is there too much vinyl being put out nowadays?

THERE HAS ALWAYS BEEN TO MUCH MUSIC ON THE MARKET, BUT THEN AGAIN HOW CAN YOU SAY THAT SOME GUY IN BUU FUCK , IDAHO DOESN'T HAVE THE RIGHT TO PUT OUT A PRODUCTION JUST BECAUSE NO ONE KNOWS WHO HE IS. A LOT OF THE PRODUCERS AND MIXERS TODAY HAD TO START WITH PUTTING OUT A PRODUCT THAT MAY NOT HAVE BEEN THAT GOOD AT THAT TIME, IF WE HAD STOPPED THEM WE WOULD BE AT A LOSS FOR SOME GREAT PRODUCTIONS TODAY. WHAT IS GOOD IS BASED UPON WHO IS LISTENING TO IT AND THEIR EXPEREINCE. HOPEFULLY WE EDIT FOR OURSELVES.

8.Other countries within the world of House and Garage are following the music religiously... Notably Finland and Norway....Is this something that you are aware of...??

I SPEND A GREAT DEAL OF TIME IN THAT AREA OF THE WORLD AND I AM ALWAYS SURPRISED BY THE REACTION TO THIS GENRE OF MUSIC. THEY ALSO SEEM TO BE VERY AWARE OF THE HISTORY OF NOT ONLY HOUSE MUSIC, BUT ALSO JAZZ, R&B OLD SCHOOL AND BLUES.

9.If you had a Club that was yours to do with what you will.. What would be you music policy within the the spectrum of House music...??

I THINK THE MUSIC WOULD BE ACROSS THE BOARD, DEPENDING ON THE TIME OF DAY OR NIGHT. I LIKE IT SMOOTH, AND I ALSO LIKE IT RUFF, I LIKE IT MELLOW AND I ALSO LIKE IT LOUD AND AGGRESSIVE. SO I THINK AS THE SUN GOES DOWN IT WOULD GET A LITTLE RUFFER AND AS THE SUN COMES UP IT WOULD GET A LITTLE MORE SMOOTHER.

10 If you were given the chance as vocalist would you like to work with in the World of House and Garage music to produce a track? Who would you choose?

Masters at Work, Don Carlos, Derrick Carter, Kerri Chandler, Grant Nelson, Joey Nergo, Urban Blues Project..who??

THERE ARE SO MANY GREAT PRODUCERS OUT THERE. BUT I WOULD LIKE TO WORK WITH THOSE THAT PUT THEIR EGOS INTO THE MUSIC AND NOT ON DISPLAY. I THINK THE BEST PRODUCERS AND WRITERS ARE THOSE THAT RECOGNIZE THAT WHAT THEY DUE IS A GIFT AND THE CREDIT IS DUE TO THE ALL MIGHTY. AND THERE ARE SOME GREAT ONES THAT WE HAVEN'T HEARD FROM YET.

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? Or do you sometimes have to muzzle yourself just in case you bring yourself down...???

I NORMALLY SAY WHAT I FEEL AND THINK, I THINK THAT IF A REPORTER MISQUOTES YOU IT IS BECAUSE THEY DON'T HAVE A COMPLETE UNDERSTANDING OF THERE CRAFT AND HAS TO SENSATIONALIZE TO DRAW ATTENTION TO THEMSELVES. BUT THE GREAT WRITERS AND REPORTERS CAN EXPRESS WHAT YOU SAY AND TAKE THE TIME TO UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU MEAN.

12. The very mention of UK Underground House brings about mummerings of "Here we go again", or "More please". It has led to some hefty and heated conversations/exchanges on the "World famous Global House-mail forum in the past" for instances.

And also many heated arguments in Us and Uk magazines as well.Many have see UK Underground House fans (* Speed Garage ) see it as a breath of fresh air by getting rid of the old and tired record promoters, producers, who go by the same old routine of producing and promoting the same sounds...Others who's views are just as strong with their detrimental views towards Uk Underground House claim it to be a pile of "Do Doo"... What are you thought's about it?... Have you heard any of it?

WELL " HERE WE GO AGAIN " haha WE ARE ALWAYS GROWING AND DEVELOPING DIFFERENT APPROACHES TO THE MUSIC, BUT THE BASE OF ALL OF IT IS THE SAME. HOW DO YOU TAKE YOUR MOTHER OUT OF YOUR GENES, HOW DO YOU REMOVE YOUR FATHER FROM YOUR HISTORY. IT CAN'T BE DONE. WE NEED TO RECOGNIZE THAT WHAT WAS IS RESPONSIBLE FOR WHAT IS! WE WOULDN'T EVEN KNOW WHERE TO GO IF SOMEONE HADN'T GONE THERE BEFORE US. I THINK WE SHOULD STOP THIS INSANITY AND RECOGNIZE AND GIVE RESPECT TO WHAT GOT US HERE AND THEN WE COULD BE MORE HUMBLE ABOUT WHAT WE ARE DOING WHILE WE ARE HERE.

14.Changing the subject again..Are you signed to any label of anykind? And if so, who else have they signed along side of you? Any important Releases that we should keep a look out for fom the label?

I DON'T REALLY GO AFTER BEING SIGNED BY ANY PARTICULAR LABEL UNTIL I FIND ONE THAT IS INTERESTED IN PROMOTING THE ARTIST AND CRATING A VISUAL FOR THE MUSIC. UNTIL WE PUT THE ARTIST OUT FRONT AND GIVE THE PUBLIC A VISUAL WE ARE GONNA KEEP ON LOSING THIS GAME TO HIP HOP, R&B, COUNTRY, ETC.

15.It seems as if New York via its records labels are hitting back of late which have definitely caught the eye of the Soulful Head buyers in England and Europe..

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

Is it a case of "The Empire Strikes Back!!!Or have you seen this all before with Strictly, Bottomline, Nervous, Easy Street, Area 10, Nu-Groove, during the early 1990's...???

I DON'T THINK THEY HAD TO STRIKE BACK, I THINK THEY ARE JUST DOING WHAT THEY HAVE ALWAYS DONE.

16. It great to see that the country of France with their growing roster of stars within House music are adding their influence to House and Garage music..also together with their disco influenced House and Garge sounds now being taken much more seriously. What do you think of the influence that Disco music is making in regards to House and Garage Music. What did you think of DISCO when it first cam around?

ISN'T IT ALL THE SAME ?

17. Can you see a day when we might be receiving imports from India, China and Russia in regards to House and Garage music.Or am I really being optimisic?

THIS IS ALREADY HAPPENING ! BUT THE ATTENTION WILL BE DIRECTED TOWARD SOME OF THESE PERFORMERS AND PRODUCERS MORE IN THE FUTURE.

18. The Body and Soul club on a Sunday in New York is often talked about as New York's finest Deep House and Garage club. Have you been? Or is it a case of not having the time. Would you go if you had the time?

NO ! YES !

19. Clubbing in England seems to be the thing to do for people from Thursday to Sunday...Surely the popularity of clubbing can't go on forever.. Many people are talking of preclub bars as taking over fully fledge night clubs to hear the most happening sounds on the dance music scene. Is this the case of what's happening in your area of the world.Any views of this in regard to your area of the world???

GOING OUT TO PARTY HAS ALWAYS BEEN THE CASE, IN EVERY CIVILIZATION AND CULTURE.I THINK THE CAVE MEN EVEN HAD A CLUB CALLED " THE CAVE "

20. 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?

NOT REALLY !

21.Bryon Stingly and Robert Owens are often in the news due to their vocal efforts with regards to House and Garage music. Yourself and Roland Clarke are probably the only other two that get most of us to sit up and take notice. However, it seems as if record producers prefer Women vocalists to front vocal based Garage tunes. Why is that? Is there Male discrimination taking place when vocalists are required to sing on House and Garage projects. Is it getting harder and harder to find work in regards to this?

WELL, THAT'S DIFFICULT TO ANSWER. BUT I THINK THAT THERE ARE MORE AND MORE WOMEN THAT WANT TO HEAR MEN SING ABOUT THEM, AND SING ABOUT WHAT THEY FEEL . I THINK THE MORE WOMEN THAT PUSH TO HEAR MEN THE MORE MEN WILL BE SINGING IN HOUSE MUSIC. MOST OF THE PEOPLE THAT GO TO CLUBS ARE WOMEN, AND THEY ALREADY KNOW WHAT WOMEN THINK, THEY WANT TO KNOW WHAT MEN THINK.

WOMEN GO TO A CLUB TO SEE A LIVE SHOW AND ALL THE MAY GET TO SEE ARE OTHER WOMEN, WHEN THEY REALLY WANT TO BE EMBRACED BY THE MASCULINE SOUND OF A STRONG AND CAPABLE MAN. AND SINCE I LOVE WOMEN WHAT BETTER PLACE TO BE THEN PERFORMING IN A CLUB PACKED WITH THOUSANDS OF BEAUTIFUL , HOT, SWEATING WOMEN. ( SO I GUESS WE PUT A LITTLE VIAGRA ON WAX ).

22.Do you, or have you attempted to write your own material in the past. Or are you a person who takes on other peoples projects, and give them your rendition of the piece written for you to sing?

I WRITE ALL OF MY MATERIAL !

23. Do you think that there is a danger of relying too much on instrumental tracks to get the crowds going within House and Garage raves? Do you prefer vocal based House and Garage tracks to "Deep House or melodic instrumental House music...or the playing of Dub tracks instead? What are you views on this?

THIS IS PROBABLY BECAUSE MOST PRODUCERS CAN'T PRODUCE GOOD VOCALISTS, AND DON'T WANT TO SHARE IN THE CREATIVE DEVELOPMENT OF THE MUSIC. SOME DON'T HAVE GOOD VOCALISTS AND DON'T WANT TO SPEND THE MONEY TO GET A GOOD VOCALIST. AND SOME DON'T WANT TO USE VOCALISTS AT ALL, BUT THAT IS BECAUSE THEY DON'T WANT TO HERE THE TRUTH !

24. As we enter the year 2000. We are seeing more and more of Soul or RnB based vocalists who used to consider Vocal House and Garage tracks as second class Soul Tracks making bonifide House tracks!!!. A few artists have noted that their real loves will always be rooted in Soul music. However, of late Jocelyn Brown and Marsha Wash have stated their love for the music. (House and Garage!!) Have you found this over the years. Soul and RnB vocalist artists were snubbing House and Garage music because it has an image that is rooted in Disco music..?

THAT'S THE WHOLE POINT, WHO IS GOING TO STAND UP FOR AND WITH THE HOUSE VOCALIST THAT MADE THE MUSIC AND KEEPS THE MUSIC POPULAR. THAT HAS GONE THROUGHT THE UPS AND DOWNS OF THIS MUSIC, BUT IN THE END GETS PUSHED TO THE SIDE BECAUSE RECORD LABELS AND PRODUCERS ARE ONLY RUNNING AFTER THE MONEY.

THAT'S WHAT I MEAN BY RESPECT. WHEN THE BIG LABEL COMES CALLING ALL OF THOSE SO CALLED HOUSE PURISTS STOP BEING SO PURE, THEY DON'T PUSH FOR THE VOCALIST THAT WAS DOING RECORDS WITH THEM FOR YEARS FOR 500 - 600 DOLLARS. ALL DAY AND ALL NIGHT IN STUDIOS TRYING TO CREATE SOMETHING THAT IS GOING TO SELL 2000 - 5000 COPYS.

25. Has House music gained in popularity in the USA? For instances how did the American public take to Armand Van Heldens recent offering called "You don't know me", and with a male vocalist to!!! Is it tracks like this that will help put House music back on top in the Usa do you think?

HOUSE MUSIC HAS ALWAYS BEEN POPULAR IN THE U.S. BUT THE COUNTRY IS SO BIG AND THE ENGINES THAT DRIVE THE MUSIC DON'T REALLY FIGHT TO BE HEARD, SO MOST OF THE MUSIC REMAINS UNDERGROUND.BUT THEN AGAIN HERE COMES CHER AND THEN HOUSE OR DANCE MUSIC AS IT IS CALLED IS ALIVE AND WELL UNTIL HER RECORD FALLS OFF THE CHARTS.

26.Talking about putting one's foot up. When you do get the chance to do so. Do you ever read the Dance Magazines? And if so which one and why this particular one?Or is it a case of using you spare time to get away from music all together?

WHEN I TAKE THE TIME TO GET AWAY, I GET TOTALLY AWAY. I GO TO A LAKE AND FISH, OR TO A FILM FESTIVAL, OR JUST TO THE MOUNTAINS WITH NO MUSIC AT ALL. OR I JUST KICK BACK AND READ A GOOD BOOK, OR TAKE A CLASS THAT I ALWAYS WANTED TO TAKE. OR TEACH SOME CHILD HOW TO COUNT AND SPELL. WHEN I GET AWAY I GET ALL THE WAY AWAY. AND I READ ALL OF THE DANCE MAGAZINES, AND CHECK OUT MOST OF THE ONLINE LINE RADIO SHOWS.

27. Have you got any advice for any aspiring record label producer, DJ, Vocalist or club owner within the world of House and Garage. Any rules that he should adhere to!!!

DO WHAT YOU FEEL IS THE BEST THING FOR YOU, FOLLOW YOUR OWN HEART AND SPIRIT !! AND WHEN THAT DOESN'T WORK , ( DO WHAT EVERYBODY ELSE IS DOING ) HAHA

28.NEW PROJECTS COMING OUT THIS YEAR...

POWER ( TIME RECORDS, ITALY ) SPIRIT ( THE DIAMOND MIXES ) CHANGE ( THE 3010 MIX ) PARADISE (THE 3010 MIX) THE 3010 ALBUM (FIRST DANCE ALBUM)

(This Interview is of the responsibility of Micheal Proctor, Las Vegas, Usa) and Carl Brown, Ipswich, England).Any part of this Interview that you Would like to use then you will have to gain the permission of these 2 parties to do so. This is copyrighted!!

Please e-mail me if you require further information.....