NEWS
EVENTS
Getting deep and political with Justin Robertson
We had a quick chat about life, his musical past and what's coming up with the acid house/Balearic house master - Justin Robertson.
Breaking into the rapidly growing scene in Manchester in the early 90s, Justin made a name for himself as a tight selector and renowed producer. He has kept himself active in the global dance scene ever since with appearences across the country. He spoke to him ahead of his show at the We Love Balearic party to see what's happening with him.
Describe your current state of mind?
Concerned but determined
What's going on?
Bit shell shocked by domestic and world events, but keeping on. Back in the studio recording a new album, planning some new art shows for later in the year, and trying to get my first novel into some kind of shape - which is like walking through porridge currently!
That's the downside of multi tasking, but it's getting there.
You were a leading light in the Manchester scene, even influenced The Chemical Brothers. Did you ever think at the time that what you are doing would be so influential?
Not sure I ever think in those terms? I've always tried to just be as interested as I can. In the early 90s we were all trying to stick all our influences together, sometimes in quite a naive way. I think that led to some fascinating hybrids. Electronic music kind of threw out the rule book in terms of what was possible. So it was liberating and I think that was what was inspiring
You began Spice, what made you decide to start your own club night?
I loved the Hacienda and I use to play there form time to time. I loved house music, but I was really interested in the varied sounds of Balearic beat. I loved the idea of hearing Chris and Cosey next to Tyree Cooper, so Greg Fenton and I decided we should start a club where we could play those kind of records. Records no one else in Manchester was playing. This was obviously pre-internet, so we had to guess what it was like in some of those Ibiza clubs, or Shroom etc, so we just through let's start our own scene.
It was more legendary than successful, but it's where we cut our teeth. Greg went on to do Glitter Baby, which was amazing, and I went on to do Most Excellent, which I loved. But Spice was the seed.
What was life like in Manchester in the late 80s/early 90s? How did this drive the music?
Buzzing with creativity, still is. It was still pretty grey and run down in places. Pretty rough round the edges but full of joy and excitment, really a fabulous time. Manchester was so deep into the house sound from 86/86, jacking was a way of life.
How did you first get involved in the music scene?
Always been a devoted trainspotter, but most events in my life are just accidents!
I started by DJing at university parties, I cornered the market in revolutionary socialist DJing, playing at the Socialist Workers and Revolutionary Communist Party's christmas dos!
I worked at Eastern Bloc Records and just met people through there. My first studio experience was a total accident, the shop had signed a band called Mad Jacks, they wanted a new fangled dance mix. I said I'll do it despite never having been in a studio before, it went pretty well and here I am now. Except now I know what I'm doing!
What's the worst job you've ever had?
I worked in a graveyard... obviously depressing, despite my goth tendencies at the time.
What are you most in love with right now?
My wife.
What's the most trouble you've been in?
I got arrested at gun point on an American airbase. I was on a CND march and took a wrong turn.
If you could fill a swimming pool with anything, what would that be?
Can't beat water really, for swimming anyway. Anything else would either be too sticky or hurt when you dived in.
Tell us something about you that's weird?
I have three nipples.
What do you bring that's special?
A travel shoe care kit.
What would you do to make the world a better place?
Stop running the world y this ridiculous Neo-Liberal corporate agenda. Realise co-operation and coming together is a better option than selfish division and hate.
What ideas changed your life?
Studying philosophy at university. It made me question and probe, I was very into the Phenome Nologist and like all good long mac wearers; existentialism - I was standardly pretentious in that way!
Now I have a hybrid view, because I think the world is infinitely complex and cannot be reduced to any formula or dogma. We could all do with embracing this complexity instead of relying on hideous simplification which gets us into all sorts of bother. Just look at the referendum and the state of democracy.
My basic stance is 'we are connected and in the world; lets look after it and each other'.
If you had to start a new life in a new country, where would you go?
That is a real possibility, I love all sorts of places for different reasons. My wife is Swedish, so maybe a spot there, in a wood. I've always wanted to live in a wood. Or somewhere warm and exotic, like Cuba. Oh and a windy, haunted castle in Scotland would be good!
Having said that, on a good day I still dig London. And Manchester of course! Where I lay my hat, so to speak.
Justin Robertson - online - Facebook - Twitter - SoundCloud
