Ralph Lawson Interview
For years one label has single-handedly put Leeds on the house music map. What's more, they've proved to be one of the most influential dance imprints of recent times...
How did you get into Djing and producing?
Basically got into Djing from being a Drummer, I was in some school bands and I started to listen to hear a lot more electronic music coming over from New York. I come from Drums. I really started to wonder how they did the drums, they sounded really great. That got me thinking a lot more about electronic drums, when house came along most of the drums came from Drum Machines. Because I was a drummer I had an idea how to work with Rhythms already, so I picked djing up a little bit quicker than some other people. It gave me and edge when I was starting out, it was the same time of the DJ boom that happened around House music. I used to DJ at Places like The Warehouse, a rave in Leeds called Joint and of course BackToBasics, it basically progressed from there really.
Do you still play the drums?
No I don’t at the moment but I have been having a mid life crisis and getting another set of drums again!
You have 20/20 Vision Records and 20/20 Sound System , can you tell our readers what the difference is?
20/20 Vision is a record label and we put out music from all over the planet and 20/20 Sound System is a band, a 4 piece setup comprising of the original 20/20 Vision members. There are two guys from Silver City, they also play Bass and \keys, the drummer is a guy who produces under the name Dubble D aka Moodymanc and myself Ralph Lawson. We were all at the label and decided to do a live show, we play mostly our own tracks. When we started we did do a few covers and played different versions of other artist’s tracks. Now we are really just showcasing stuff from 20/20. We basically created 20/20 Sound System so we could play the labels stuff live.
You called your second album Falling, why?
It was just a feeling that I had at the time, There was a big fall out with some of my friends and I got caught in the middle of the whole thing. It was doing my head in; I felt I was out of control of the situation and falling. It happens too many of us on different scales, many people can relate to that. I have had a Journey since 2007 really.
Where do you get your inspiration from?
The Clash is one of my favourite bands, I love everything what they have achieved. I loved their musical vision. They were the only Punk band which dabbled with Dub and Reggae which I always have had a soft spot for. Magnificent Seven was one of the biggest club hits in 1983 even though it was made by a UK punk band. Loads of the New York club DJ’s were playing the dub version of it. I have always been into David Verne and Talking Heads. Detroit Techno from the late 80’s brought the electronic side into what I do, people like Juan Atkins, Derrick May where a a massive influence to what I do. A lot of early House obviously was a big influence also. People like Mr Fingers, Marshall Jefferson, Jamie Principal and Adonis I highly respect.
Out of all the artists that you have mentioned which ones have you met?
Pretty much all of them to be honest, even Bernie Worrel from the Talking Heads. I wish I didn’t because it ruined my mystery and faith in him, like a little kid I asked him if I could take a photo with him and he was quite rude about the whole thing and said no!! (laughs)
What 3 artists would you love to work with?
I would love to do some stuff with Robert Owens as I love his Vocals, Aaron Carl (RIP) who recently just passed away and David Bowie if it were ever possible!
What is your greatest achievement to date besides your record label?
I would say it has to be our 20/20 Sound System band, we have managed to play some really massive gigs. We played to 25,000 people in Argentina, 25,000 at Exit, Creamfields and 15,000 at Sonar. It has been a really nice sense of achievement looking back on playing to crowds of that magnitude. When anyone starts off performing live they will always rate their achievements by the size of the crowd. It’s ok in the studio, but when you are actually playing on a big stage nothing beats that.
What kind of music do you listen to besides House Music?
I listen to a lot of seventies music and funk, I love real live seventies funk bands. I have been reading recently about the Northern Soul movement, It doesn’t massively translate just listening to the music. I think you need to read more about it to understand where it came from. I listen to a lot of weird stuff when I’m sitting on planes I like listening to the early electronic godfathers like Raymond Scott who I’m a massive fan off. To many people think it’s just a bunch of bleeps and meanderings, I don’t know why but I like to listen to beat less music when I’m travelling on airplanes. I have also been listening to a lot of sixties like Velvet Underground. I have actually just got my record collection out of storage and I’m looking at it now. Just been putting on my records again and checking out what sounds good.
How many records have you got in your collection now?
I have stripped my record collection down so much that it’s very small. I have digitized so much of it and moved house so many times that I had to ruthlessly cut it down, I didn’t want any dead wood at all. I didn’t want a single record in my collection that isn’t a winner; It has take a very long time. I cut my collection down 50% four times, so I guess I only have about 5,000 records in my collection at present. It’s not all House music, I have 50’s, 60’s, 70’s till present. I have loads of film scores with composers like Vagelis (Blade Runner, Chariots of Fire) etc.
We know it’s going to be a live gig at Fabric, could you tell us a bit more about it?
Fabric is always a special one for us because it’s our bench March, we have been doing our 20/20 Sound System live at Fabric since 2004. We get one gig a year, so this will be our 6th show. We look at where the shows have got to; we strive each time to make it bigger and better by bringing something new and fresh to every performance.
