"Carl's Garage and House Website"
Ruff N' Tumble, London, England - The Official Interview, 2002
1 How long have you been in the music industry for?
Junior - Over 20 years, Dave - 8 years.
2 What/Who initially inspired your love of music?
Many people think that the 70's have a lot to answer for, but if
you were a part of it, as we were, it was a very exciting time, with lots of
things happening that we could learn from.
1970's Jazz, Soul, Funk and
Reggae were all musician based, and the excitement came from individuals
playing separate instruments. Unlike today, where, more often than not, one
person will play all the instruments on a computer. Back then, you got a
completely different vibe. People like Earth, Wind and Fire, Cameo, Roy
Ayers, Stevie Wonder, Prince and Jeff Lorber Fusion are to name but a few
who are the key influences on the RUFF 'N' TUMBLE sound.
3 Dave - you've DJ'd for many years including stints in Ayia Napa with Luck & Neat - how would you describe your DJ'ing style?
I mix up 2 step UK with 4 to the floor and vary my style throughout
the set. I love long sets where I can build up the vibe with long smooth
mixes, chop the beat midway and kill 'em at the end with classics.
4. What have been the highlights of your DJ'ing career already?
DJ'ing in a packed club in Barbados, right next door to the beach
and the Caribbean sea ....
5 Where are you currently DJ'ing and do you find the club scene
healthy at the moment?
I'm only DJ'ing abroad at the moment - the sets are too short over
here. Bookings seem to be down, especialLy in London, where urban music is
seen as too high a risk for Club owners to take on. We have to remember
what Clubs are for; the joy of the music, and of course, to meet people.
6.Junior - you used to play Bass with influential Brit Funk band
Second Image - is live instrumentation still an important factor in the
music you make today?
Yes, especially now because there's a lot more live
instrumentation' coming back into the music scene.
7.What different influences do you both bring to productions?
The fact that anything goes, whether it's rock, soul, hip hop or
house, due to our different tastes, backgrounds and experience, we can and
will incorporate anything into our music.
8 What lead you to the name RUFF 'N' TUMBLE?
We tried to find a name that really reflected our experience in the
music industry and felt that RUFF 'N' TUMBLE really summed it up!
9.You've worked with the likes of Chaka Khan's sister, Taka Boom, Gary
Bardouille (who appears on M J Cole's latest album) and of course, Angie
Brown who features on 'Clear in my Mind' - What do you look for in a
vocalist/songwriter?
We look for a number of key attributes: flexibility, imagination,
originality, soulful content, and a temperament that is relaxed, but really
feels the music. Together these things make it easier to work with an
artist, and also make the work more enjoyable.
10 How would you describe your new single 'Clear in my Mind'?
This single is a Classic house tune, with great vocals, a catchy
melody and it is a brilliant dance track. It is a great 'all rounder', with
broad appeal.
11. How did you hook up with Angie Brown?
Angie and us are old friends, we go back years. Junior was a
sound engineer for a live Singers night where Angie used to be the Compare.
12.Angie will be performing the track in a series of PA's around the
UK and abroad. How important is it for you to have your tracks performed
live?
To see our music performed live is really important to us - it is
great for someone of her calibre to be performing our track - that's when
you see and feel the real magic of the music.
13.You've been involved in the Garage scene from it's early days - how
do you feel about the musical direction the scene is currently taking?
There is a distinct split in the direction of the dance music
industry at the moment.One influence is very dark, and the other has more
much more of a musical content. We believe that this split is not healthy
for the people (it is already creating a divide), and it should stay more
mixed. This music scene was based on 'real music' and it is in danger of
losing it's meaning.
14.You've produced both house and 2 step tracks but what would you say
are the ingredients that unite your different styles?
The key ingredients that unite our different styles are the fact
that we know each other very well and are therefore prepared to improvise
and experiment freely. As we said earlier, the fact is that anything goes -
whether it's rock, soul, 70's Funk, Reggae, Jazz or Classical. Due to our
different tastes, backgrounds and experience, we will incorporate it into
the music!
15. How do you feel about the current resurge in interest in the 4 to
the floor sounds in the UK garage scene?
It's about time!
16. You have produced 2 step including Changing Faces 'That Other
Woman' and Shola Ama's 'This I Promise You' - there have been recent cries
that UK Garage has "lost it's soul" - Would you agree?
Yes, we agree. Some of the recent UK Garage tracks have lost
their skip! We want to bring the 'Soul' back into UK Garage and if we have
anything to do with it, things are about to change!
17. How do you feel about the UK's funky house scene today - are there
any new producers that you are excited about?
In the last few years, the UK's funky house scene has grown to
have a constant following, and we feel it is here to stay. As for new
producers, we feel that there are a few who are making their mark, but that
RUFF 'N' TUMBLE will be bringing something fresh and exciting to this scene
in the coming year. Watch this space!
18.When did you set up RUFF 'N' TUMBLE Records and do you have any
plans to release records from any other artists/producers?
We set up RUFF 'N'TUMBLE productions 8 years ago. We now feel
that its time to start thinking about our own artists that have been on the
sideline for some time. We have a really diverse mix of artists that we are
working with at present and the time is right to start to give them the
chances they deserve!
19.What are your current projects and what can we expect from you in
the future?
A number of remixes are about to be released. Expect a few
surprises from the RUFF 'N' TUMBLE family and also, expect a couple of
albums next year.
Interview conducted by Jodie Stewart, London, England and Ruff n Tumble, London, England
All rights of the text and the images belong to Carl Brown, Jodie Stewart
and, Ruff and Tumble London, England.
If you which to use any of this interview.
Please contact us. Copyright laws apply.
