Name: Matt Campbell
Age: 24
Sex: Male
Born: London, England
Location: Hackney, East London - England

1. 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 would say a mixture of b and d from the questions above.

2. Who was your first musical hero? Was it Artists from the.. Soul area, Hiphop scene, Rock/Heavy Metal scene, Pop artists, Drum and Bass artists... Or just any particular artist/s?

My first musical hero was Jimi Hendrix. I learnt most of his tunes on the guitar!

3.You are a DJ and only recently a DJ/Producer. However, 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, or is it a pile of dust? If it is still there have you gone back to play there from time to time?

I used to play every week at "Camouflage" in the Complex, London , along with a pirate radio show on London underground 89.4 fm. I left the station, and the club no longer exists!! - (*I have been producing since late 96 ).

4.Are you more of a Dj Producer then a Dj nowadays? Mentioning Djing again. How did you get into that world? Who influenced you into Djing. And was it easy for you to learn all the rudiments of Djing?

I would just say that I am a Remixer/Producer who Djs occaisonally!

I have never really taken djing seriously. I learnt the skills through friends who had decks.I just picked up the knack, which I didn't find it hard to learn.

I think the skills of djing really do help me produce because I understand the structures / programming that make records Dj friendly. I have been buying house and garage records since around 1994.

I would love to get into djing though...... watch this space.

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

I can do both, I like to smack up the tunes and ride the mixes... But I will also do smooth blends. It just depends on the tune really! I play better in clubs, when there is a vibe. I just pull out some crazy skillz and surprise myself.

7.As House and Garage is now your chosen style of music. Who was it that got you hooked to the music. Was it Smack Productions,Kerri Chandler, Masters at Work or even Todd Edwards. Or was it the English producers such as Grant Nelson, Joey Nergo, Smokin Beats or Tuff Jam??

A mixture of all the above. But Todd Edwards's style really intrigued me in the early days. He is my biggest influence within House and Garage music terms, with a bit of Kerri Chandler in my basslines, and a bit of Masters at Work and Smack Productions influence in my drums.

8.From the research that I have done on you, it appears that you tried your hand at running a few of your own nights. How did that come about? And were they successful?

I have a party coming up at Smoove in the Ministry of Sound,London, England on October 11th, 2002....

Thats about it. I am not / never been a promoter and don't plan to be.

9. I've posed this question to quite a few dj's and dj/producers for more than a couple of years now, and I'm going to pose it to you. Have you been given the chance to play on those famous Illegal Pirate Radio Show's; especially here in London?; any of them at all? Did they help you in anyway? In short what do you think of the Pirate radio set-up within England? Do they serve a purpose, or have they out stayed their welcome?

Pirate radio is really the backbone of the Uk/2-Step garage music scene. Stations such as Kiss fm, Girls fm, Freek Fm and the London Underground were the pioneers of Uk/2-step Garage music and Soulful House music movement in London. By doing events and changing things up.

Pirates give the people what they want to hear, something that they will always continue to do (I hope )

10. Have you ever experimented with your style in the past. I know of alot of dj's from the Uk(*Especially) have tried experimenting with a harder breakbeat approach to their styles of Garage and House music. Did this happen to you? Where you happy with the results?

The heaviest thing I have done is a remix of "Back up" - "Back up" by "Blowfelt". They wanted a heavier sound so I used their bassline and put a heavy beat on it. It was called the Disqualifide Dub coz it was a different style for me.

I will stick to what I have been doing though. I will be doing some original full vocal stuff soon. But there will always be the qualifide dubs!

11. From some research that I have done on you - you decided to make a move into the world of re-mixing. But were you producing your own tracks before you decided on "remixing" path? Was this a hard step for you? What made you decide that "remixing" and "producing" were the next steps? What was the first remix that you ever did. And were you happy with the results?

The first remix (that came out) was by Nite life by Kim English. It took me ages! But I did my best at the time, and listening back to it now it still sounds ok.

I had produced a lot of tunes that I never played to anyone from 1996-1999.

A few of them are really good, and they are gonna be re-vamped and vocalled.

The way I make a tune is the same whether its a remix or a production so it was not a hard step from me.

12. What was the first track that you ever "made", or produced of your own? Were you happy with it?

The first tune that I made that and released was called "Use your head". There were at least 30 tunes that I did before that that are now lost in the archives!

13. You known as "QUALIFIDE". Who gave you this name? Was this something that you came up with yourself?

Yeah there is a little story behind that one which I wont go into..

But I thought of it as an alias until I was ready to put tunes out as Matt Campbell. But Qualifide stuck!!

14. What's your latest release for instance? Please give us the low down. Who does it feature - vocalists, etc, etc....

My latest release is Qualifide Dubs vol3 which will be on a limited release. There are some full vocal projects coming soon. Also, I have just done a track using a sample that I have been getting cleared, could be big (hope i get the clearance).

I have produced two tracks with El-b that should be coming soon. There is quite a lot of other stuff on the way, including a few remixes..

15. When it comes to making up a new tune what tends to come first. Do you write up the lyrics first, then come along with a "groove". Or is it the other around?

I usually I sample what I need, knock up a beat, then just jam....!!

16.Do you like working with vocalists via your productions? Or do you just like beats? Are vocalists generally hard to work - in respect of coming up with an end product? Has there been a vocalist who you would like to work with again?

I have never worked with a vocalist before, but this is something that will change very soon.

17. I have heard that you have also set up your own record label. Is this true? If so what is it called? How long has it been running for?

Qualifide recordings. I am on my forth release now, and its building up slowly, as I get other producers and artists involved. My last release was the El-tuff project........it has been going for about a year now

18. You have worked with an English Uk Garage legend in the form of Karl "Tuff Enuff" Brown. What was he like to work with? Is he fun to work with. Or is he a person that hasa more serious approach to his work. Are you going to working with him in the future??

I have not worked with Karl. I did a remix for his label 2tuff4u of brown & brown "Good life". I will be possibly working with karl in the future

19.You are more known for your work within the 4 to floor side of Soulful House and Garage music. Is this something that might change in the future? Or are you happy with the styles of House and Garage music that you are making at the moment?

I am happy at the moment with what I am doing.

20. What are your thoughts for the music called Uk Garage /2-Step Garage music. Alot of people have mentioned on the fact that the music has lost its Soul.

Others claim that the music is progressing, and developing like any other. Do you like the Soulful aspects of the music by artists such as M.J.cole, T.J. Case, Sunship...?? Would these creep into your box - when you are djing?

There's always an M.J Cole tune in my record box! Yeah the Uk garage scene at the moment is pretty dire. The tunes are all Drum and Bass with no soul, apart from a select few who are keepin it real.

21. Out of all the artists, dj/producers within the music of House and Garage that you have heard over the years which has become your favourite?? Any in particular?

It has to be the Masters at Work for consistency and pure quality!

22. Is there anyone still within the world of House and Garage music that you would like to work with?

No not really. I am more interested in working with musicians to take my productions to a different level.

23. Within the field of this music. Have you had the chance to travel aboard? If so where. Please let me know where you have travelled with regards to either Djing. Or remixing or production duties!!

I haven't worked out of London yet. But there may be a trip to Canada djing on the cards!.

24. You are based in Hackney, East London, England. Have you ever met up or with and worked alongside the great Grant Nelson? He's from your neck of woods isn't he? The same goes for Joey Musaphia. Do you ever see them on your travels - musical travels !! Do they talk to you?

I have met Grant Nelson once. I don't know Joey Musaphia personally.

Alot of people/s within the English, Uk/2-Step Garage and Soulful House music scene rate yourself, and another London producer called Landslide as ones to watch out for. Do you like being under this much pressure, or spotlight???Or do you think that this is ridiculous. Do you feel that you still have alot to learn as yuo are still young?

I don't mind the pressure, and a bit of media attention doesn't bother me at all! But i do have a lot to learn and i am always trying to evolve.

25. What are your ambitions and goals within this business. You must have some?

Just to keep on doing what what I am doing, and try to revive our scene with a Soul injection!

26. What do you think of interviews in general. Do you like doing them. Yes, I know that you are doing one as we speak. But in general, do you like doing them?

yes

27. Lastly but not least. 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!

Keep the business tight. Make sure you always get the contracts sorted in advance and keep those tunes swingin!

Interview conducted by Carl Brown, Ipswich, England and Matt Campbell, London, England

All rights of the text and the images belong to Carl Brown, Ipswich, England and Matt Campbell, London, England.
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